Hyphen Design, Ltd. Cuts Development Time with SolidWorks

Hyphen Design, Ltd. Cuts Development Time with SolidWorks

U.K. design consultancy Hyphen Design, Ltd. is using SolidWorks(R) 3D CAD software to develop a broad range of consumer, medical, and industrial products including everything from hardware tools to mobile phones and respirator masks for premature babies. SolidWorks allows Hyphen to cut weeks out of product development while exploring more design options for customers such as Virgin Mobile, GlaxoSmithKline, Speedo, and Hasbro.

Design creation for globally recognized brands means Hyphen usually has to push innovation to its limits in a short timeframe. After standardizing on SolidWorks software for 3D design, the company has cut weeks out of product development, completed more complex customer projects, and reduced prototyping costs.

“Fifty percent of the geometry we create never gets used because we have to try myriad approaches to get the design just right,” said Hyphen Design Director Cameron Treeby. “SolidWorks is an invaluable exploration tool that lets us quickly see the best path to take. It also allows us to do complex surfacing, detailing, filleting, and other finite work with ease. That’s why we love it. It does what we want it to, without a lot of unnecessary steps or errors to fix. It doesn’t hold us back.”

Hyphen recently put SolidWorks to the test when the consultancy had to design a digital TV handset for Virgin Mobile in two weeks. The sleek, ergonomic profile and complicated organic shapes, including the buttons, presented a challenge. Treeby and his team completed the solid modeling in five days with SolidWorks, a process that would have taken up to three weeks with the company’s previous software.

Hyphen exports 3D models from SolidWorks to prototyping partners who quickly generate models that customers, designers, and manufacturers can review. SolidWorks helps Hyphen ensure that its designs are accurate before prototyping begins, reducing costs and the time to pass changes back and forth with prototypers and manufacturers.

“Hyphen boasts an impressive client list and an even more striking list of innovative products designed,” said SolidWorks Marketing Manager, Europe Simon Booker. “It is a strong example of a design shop whose reputation is built on creativity, fast turnaround, and designing better products – enabled by SolidWorks software.”

Hyphen Design, Ltd. relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller Cadtek for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.

About Hyphen Design, Ltd.

Founded in London in 1998, Hyphen Design Ltd. develops innovative products for the consumer, medical products, and industrial design markets. The company’s engineers have the expertise to work with clients of all sizes in a variety of markets to solve design challenges and develop products suited to their customers’ ergonomic and functional needs. For more information, visit the Web site (www.hyphendesign.com).

About Cadtek Systems Limited

Cadtek Systems is one of the U.K.’s leading engineering software solutions providers helping businesses improve how they design their products, share their ideas, and manage their data. A customer base of over 800 companies includes organizations that have worked with Cadtek for more than 17 years – a testament to real engineering partnership and expertise. Cadtek holds sales, training, and support certifications from organizations including SolidWorks, Microsoft, SmarTeam, and Hewlett-Packard. More information about Cadtek Systems Limited can be found at www.cadtek.com or by emailing info {at} cadtek(.)com.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).

SolidWorks is a registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2007 SolidWorks Corporation.