Fey Industries Success Story
Challenge
Upgrade to new CAD system to increase design offerings and capabilities.
Solution
Complete 3D CAD solution for workgroups, providing product design teams with all the mechanical design and data management tools they need in one package.
Benefits
- Simplify design reuse by creating multiple product variations within a single document
- Reduce design steps, lessen visual clutter, and minimize fatigue with intuitive display and control functions
- Secure and efficient control of CAD file revisions and project data management
Design Communication Tools Facilitate a Streamlined Product Development Process
Headquartered in Southwestern Minnesota, Fey Industries is a subsidiary of Blackbourn Packaging, and the all-around leader in packaging. Their expertise extends more than 40 years as the complete source for packaging. From concept to completion, and prototype to production, it is their mission to provide exceptional packaging products, on-time delivery and the industry's best customer service.
Fey Industries' expertise, equipment and staffing enable them to offer the latest in packaging and packaging services. Whether it's stock packaging with same-day shipping or special, custom-designed packaging, Fey Industries is committed to providing the best packaging solutions. Products are designed using the latest in CAD/CAM technology and graphic design software, delivering results in the finished product. In order to expand design offerings and capabilities, Fey Industries needed a CAD solution that was compatible with their CAM software that maintained quality with ease of use on the shop floor. Timely support and technical expertise were also imperative in a solution.
"Before Alignex and SolidWorks, we received limited training with absolutely no support," said Clark Stoel, Senior Engineer for Fey Industries. "It was not convenient."
Fey Industries looked at a variety of solutions and vendors. "SolidWorks proved to be the solution most easy to use." said Stoel. "We had been dealing with another reseller in the past, and heard about Alignex through a local event. We were impressed with their presentation and technical expertise, and decided to go with Alignex base on their support. Responses were faster and issues were resolved quicker and with more quality."
Efficient Communication Beyond the Shop Floor
Fey Industries uses SolidWorks to design the tooling used in their thermoforming department on items such as molds, fixturing, and any parts necessary to enhance the operation of equipment. The products from this area are blister and clamshell tooling, which are commonly used in the packaging industry. SolidWorks is also used to design all of the dies, fixturing, and the majority of the equipment enhancements in the radio frequency departments. Using SolidWorks has saved time in the design department through familiar Windows functions like drag-and-drop, along with the SolidWorks Toolbox that accesses a library of standard components.
Having the ability to communicate product designs more effectively with eDrawings has eased the review of 2D and 3D product design data across the extended product development team. eDrawings lets reviewers provide design input without having to purchase their own markup tools. Using this capability, Fey Industries was able to incorporate eDrawings into their factory intranet to allow viewing of tooling and product descriptions on the production floor.
Easy to Set-up and Use PDM Software for Workgroups
Increased production efficiencies were realized through the product data management function.
"By using PDMWorks, we have the ability to link our CAM data to the SolidWorks model," said Stoel. "PDMWorks' revision and file access controls make it easier for guys in the tool shop to ensure they are programming and machining the correct iteration."
Fey Industrires was able to use product data management to streamline their machining processes. "We can open SolidWorks files natively in our CAM software, which eliminates the extra steps required to make CAM files, " said Stoel.
Alignex Improves Company Efficiencies
Since Implementing SolidWorks Office Professional with Alignex, production at Fey Industries has improved through the elimination of many steps previously needed to get the shop ready. Alignex also enables the team at Fey Industries to visualize assembly parts for improved communication and design.
"Through using Alignex and SolidWorks, revisions were cut down considerably," said Stoel. "The product was ready to assemble, ready to be manufactured, and out the door to market faster."