The project developed an automatic system for configuring hydraulic power units, based on parametric and associative modeling.
ATOS S.p.A
Parametric Design S.r.l
Atos S.p.A. is an Italian company specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced electrohydraulic components and systems. Its technology integrates hydraulics and electronics to improve the performance of modern machines.
The company faced long design and production times due to its “Engineer to Order” approach, which involved a rigid sequence of activities that could not be parallelized. This traditional methodology limited ATOS Sistemi’s competitiveness, increasing operating costs and delivery times. The lack of an automated product configuration system made it difficult to effectively manage the bill of materials (BOM) and customized components.
The project resulted in the development of a design automation system for configuring hydraulic power units. This system is based on a modelling architecture that uses parametric and associative programming. Starting from the customer’s specifications, this system automatically generates the complete product model, including bills of materials and design drawings. This approach has drastically reduced design times, optimised workflow and improved the quality of results.
Parametric and associative modeling software: PTC Creo Parametric for geometry configuration.
Automation systems: based on “IF” cycles for the automatic generation of drawings and bills of materials.
Software integration: between Creo Parametric and SAP-PLM, to support the creation of the eBOM (Engineering Bill of Material).
FEM simulation: required for the structural analysis to configure the lifting points of the ‘Skid’.
In the long term, the project will boost ATOS Sistemi’s competitiveness in the industrial hydraulics sector by increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs. Automating the design process will reduce time-to-market, improve product quality, and optimise system and subsystem design and engineering in line with Digital Industry 5.0 requirements.
The ‘Master Models’ created allow for multiple configurations in ETO (Engineer to Order) mode, offering the same lead times and perceived quality as ATO (Assemble to Order) and DTO (Design to Order) set-up modes. The outcomes are:
Reduction in time to market
Simultaneous system configuration processes, as they are assisted by the computer
Almost total reduction of non-conformities detected during setup.
Production of technical product documentation associated with the models for the following documents:
– Manual, commissioning, maintenance and use.
– Technical file.
– Manufacturing dossier.
This methodological system enables ATOS to create parametric and associative configurations for any product that can be specified by rules that are not only technical.
Resource optimisation and easier access to new markets allow ATOS to offer tailor-made solutions with greater speed and precision.
