Metalform: Advanced tools driving the cutting edge of innovation

Autodesk Inventor: A design powerhouse

Autodesk Inventor has empowered Metalform’s design team to explore and refine design concepts virtually, allowing for faster iterations and more informed decision-making. This not only streamlines the design process but also enhances product quality and innovation. “One of the benefits of Inventor is around virtual prototyping,” says Campbell Easton, Metalform CEO. “A robust 3D CAD model probably cuts out 2 or 3 prototype iteration loops. It short circuits that time-to-market.”

By leveraging Inventor's advanced 3D modeling capabilities, Metalform has significantly reduced the need for physical prototypes, saving time and resources for themselves and their clients. Through virtual simulations and testing, designers can identify and address potential issues early in the development process, minimising costly rework and expediting time-to-market.

“Nothing goes into our factory unless it goes through Inventor,” adds Geoff Easton, Metalform Mechanical Design Engineer. “We get sent 2D drawings from our customers, but we just send them straight through Inventor – then we get our folding right, we get all the K-factors correct, and it just makes life easy.”

Autodesk Vault: Mastering data management

Campbell Easton points to Autodesk Vault as instrumental in improving collaboration and efficiency within their design team. By providing a centralised platform for managing design data, Vault has enabled multiple engineers to work simultaneously on complex projects – without stepping on each other's toes. “It's been quite transformative when multiple people are working on one job. With ten design engineers, having the horsepower to put multiple people on a project and not be tripping over each other has sped up the design process,” says Easton. This collaborative approach has significantly accelerated the design process. “We can have a real sprint and get something done that's quite complex.”

Furthermore, the transition to a paperless environment using Vault has empowered Metalform's team to access and visualise 3D models directly at their workstations. This has eliminated the limitations of 2D drawings, providing a more comprehensive understanding of product designs and facilitating better communication and decision-making.

The Value of Expert Guidance

Metalform has worked with Cadpro for over two decades, with Geoff Easton first crossing paths with Cadpro founder Hans Grootegoed the late 1990s. “I don't know the exact date, but it goes back a long way!” laughs Easton.

It’s a testament to the technical capabilities, insight and enduring value that Cadpro has continued to offer throughout the 25+ year partnership.

Campbell Easton emphasises that the experienced guidance of a trusted partner like Cadpro is invaluable when implementing and integrating complex software solutions like Autodesk Vault and Inventor into existing business systems and processes. “Without Cadpro in the early days, us onboarding to the Inventor system would have been really, really challenging,” says Easton. Cadpro's deep understanding of these tools and their practical applications has helped organisations such as Metalform navigate the challenges associated with new software implementations. An approach which ensures a smooth onboarding process – minimising disruptions while unlocking the full potential that software can provide.

This expertise is particularly crucial for complex systems like Vault, which require custom configuration to deliver maximum value. “Cadpro’s support was really critical to the success of that roll out. It's a pretty complex system that needs setting up properly. That would have been impossible for us to do without Cadpro’s assistance.”