FARNBOROUGH, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 21, 2012--
Schindler,
one of the leading global manufacturers of elevators, escalators and
moving walkways, is using Autodesk
Digital Prototyping software to cut the costs and risks of replacing
or retro-fitting escalators in existing buildings.
Schindler’s escalator division is a long-term customer of Autodesk
manufacturing solutions and uses Autodesk
Inventor as its standard 3D mechanical design and engineering
software. Working with Autodesk Consulting, the company has now expanded
its Autodesk software deployment to include Autodesk
Navisworks and Autodesk Showcase.
To perform a simulation for an installation of a new escalator at a
Vienna railway station, the Schindler escalator division migrated its
Autodesk Inventor escalator digital prototypes into Autodesk Navisworks
project review software, which enables the integration of multi-format
data into a single 3D model. This enabled Schindler to combine scans of
the surrounding environment with digital models of the escalator to
create a more accurate virtual model of the entire metro station.
Schindler’s escalator division then used Navisworks to simulate the
installation of the escalator, calculate space requirements and minimize
the number of times an escalator needs to be divided to fit into the
building. Every time an escalator needs to be divided, there are
significant overhead costs, so exploring digital alternatives helps to
reduce installation costs significantly.
The project team then used Autodesk
Showcase to create a high-end presentation from the Navisworks
simulation. Schindler uses the presentation to show colleagues across
the globe how installing an escalator virtually, before actual work
begins, can save time, money and reduce the risk of damage to existing
structures. Presentations such as this will also be valuable in
demonstrating to clients how an escalator can be installed and
illustrate how downtime can be minimized.
“A large portion of our business comes from maintenance and service,
including the replacement of existing escalators,” explains Gerhard
Lindstädt, head of marketing at Schindler’s escalator division. “When
working on a new-build project, the installation of an escalator can be
scheduled before certain walls are built to ensure both simplicity and
safety. However when replacing or transforming we need to work with an
existing building and install the escalator with minimum disruption.”
He adds that the Schindler escalator division is currently seeing
significant demand from shopping centers for simulations and
presentations where the management is looking for evidence that
disruption will not lead to loss of business or an installation won’t
damage the building and surroundings.
“We are working closely with Autodesk Consulting to optimize our
Autodesk portfolio. The Vienna project is a good example of how we can
gain significant added value from our software, and we foresee this
being replicated by Schindler teams worldwide,” concludes Lindstädt.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D
design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the
manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and
entertainment industries -- including the last 17 Academy Award winners
for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software to design, visualize
and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in
1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of
state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information
about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.
About Schindler
Founded in Switzerland in 1874, the Schindler Group is a leading global
provider of elevators, escalators and related services. Its innovative
and environmentally-friendly access and transit-management systems make
an important contribution to mobility in urban societies.
A pioneer of sustainable mobility, Schindler is once again at the
forefront of technological advance through its partnership with Solar
Impulse, a cutting-edge project to fly around the world in a plane
powered only by solar energy.
In 2010, the Schindler Group generated operating revenue of more than
CHF 8 billion. Schindler mobility solutions move one billion people
every day all over the world. Behind the company's success are 44,000
employees in over 100 countries.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Inventor, Navisworks and
Showcase are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.,
and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other
countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names
or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the
right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and
pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2012 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: Autodesk, Inc.
Autodesk, Inc.
Mikael Löwenhielm, +46 31 726 0137
mikael.lowenhielm@autodesk.com