Article Air&Cosmos: CoreTechnologie optimizes the preparation and the production by 3D printing

Leader of the software of conversion of data 3D CAD, CoreTechnologie spreads its offer with 4D_Additive, a complete tool dedicated this time to the 3D printing

Founded in 1999 in Germany, CoreTechnologie was originally a software sales company. From 2001, the company became Franco-German at the same time as it decided a strategic repositioning. For seventeen years, CoreTechnologie has focused exclusively on the development of its own software dedicated to R & D (research and development) that it markets through ten subsidiaries and distributors located from the United States to Japan, via Ireland, Italy, India, Russia and Korea. It is in France, in Lyon, that are designed software that make the reputation of the company, leader in the field of 3D CAD data conversion tools.

Recognized specialist in inter-company interoperability - which facilitates data sharing in their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environment -, CoreTechnology employs 80 people worldwide, 35 of whom work within its French entity, the most important: of the group. Among the tools it has developed, the 3D_Evolution software suite is already used by more than 350 companies specializing in the production of complex and innovative products for the consumer goods, automotive and aerospace industries (30% of turnover of CoreTechnologie in 2017, set at € 9 million).

"Our software facilitates the exchange of data between a client and his subcontractors, but also between departments of the same company such as design and simulation teams, for example. They all need the same data to work, but they do not treat them the same way. 3D_Evolution acts as translator, it converts the data so that it can be used by all the actors involved in the design of a product developed in 3D CAD ", explains Gauthier Wahu, general manager of CoreTechnologie France and director of development. Airbus (conversion and exchange of data with airline maintenance services, validation for long-term archiving of aircraft design data ...), Safran Helicopter Engines, Liebherr Aerospace, Thales and Lufthansa Technik are some of the customers European companies. Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Gulfstream, Bombardier and NASA have also adopted CoreTechnology solutions.

FROM DESIGN TO 3D PRINTING.

In September, the company launched 4D_Additive, an end-to-end tool for model preparation and 3D printing production. "Printing metal parts, in particular, is complex, in order to obtain the cleanest possible surface state, it is necessary to define a precise direction of printing." Take into account the problems of cooling which can lead to a deformation of the product, providing support in the right places to prevent a part from collapsing when it is manufactured are also fundamental parameters that will help determine the orientation of a part before printing. " Gauthier Wahu. 4D_Additive allows you to simulate and prepare these operations.

Other advantages of this tool according to CoreTechnologie: the universality of the input data (4D_Additive is compatible with all 3D CAD formats) and the optimization of the available space on the printing plate, possible thanks to the exploitation of 'a large database of manufacturing machines also customizable. All additive manufacturing processes are also covered, including SLM (metal powders) and HP Multijet (plastic powders), which have been particularly worked on.

Under three years, about fifteen additional employees will be recruited at the group level. 50% of job creations are planned in France, CoreTechnologie France wishing to create an additive manufacturing department. The company is also working on the manufacture of 3D spare parts, printing on demand offers the advantage of limiting inventory (only the raw material for the manufacture of parts is necessary) while simplifying the supply and logistics.

KEY FIGURES

- 35% of the group's annual turnover reinvested in the development of new products

- Annual growth of more than 20% per year since the creation of CoreTechnologie in 1999

- € 9 million turnover in 2017