CASE STUDIES
Forestry Equipment
SATCO is the brand name of forestry equipment produced by Forest Systems of
Tokoroa. Owners Warwick and Rodney approached MD&A to suggest
design changes intended to increase the reliability of the 528 tree
Feller/Delimber. Field-testing had identified that changes were
needed, but arbitrarily increasing marginal sections wasn't the
answer. Motovated analysed the structure using the COSMOS Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) software, and immediately highlighted areas that had
proven to be overstressed. Together FS and MDA were quickly able
to review several solutions, soon highlighting the most economical.
That solution has now progressed to be a defining feature of a
phenomenal machine. The 528 so undercuts it's nearest competitor in
weight that it can be used on a smaller excavator, saving hundreds
of thousands in up-front costs.
Solid Modelling is necessary prior to FEA, and being able to see, rotate
and check inferences in their design struck a cord with Warwick and
Rodney. The speed and accuracy of the Solid Edge solid modelling
software seemed a perfect way to maintain a complicated set of
working drawings, while implementing the constant improvement
necessary to the 528 product line. Minutes after Warwick discusses
design changes with Motovated in Christchurch, a fax comes through
documenting desired changes. Within hours new flat patterns are
emailed to the profiler's shop, bend details are faxed to the
rolling shop and fabrication drawings have been faxed to the weld
shop. What can take weeks or months for most firms is literally
accomplished by Forest Systems in days, with a little help from
Motovated Design and Analysis!
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