Ford Performance Racing (FPR) has entered into a long-term agreement with PhoenxPLM which will see the factory Ford team adopt the company’s leading-edge Siemens NX and Teamcenter product lifecycle management (PLM) software solutions.
The new partnership comes at the ideal time for the factory Ford V8 Supercar team as it looks to further strengthen its technical capabilities ahead of the introduction of the Car of the Future (COTF) program in 2013.
NX will provide FPR with integrated Computer Aided Design, Manufacturing and Engineering (CAD, CAM & CAE) capabilities, while Teamcenter PLM software will improve the productivity and lifecycle management of the team’s design and manufacturing divisions.
The first phase of the partnership will see FPR’s in-house design team utilise the power and performance of the NX CADCAM software, a move technical director Campbell Little believes is a critical step to provide the team with sustained success.
“The entire technical team at FPR is excited about the many benefits our new partnership with PhoenxPLM will deliver to our program as we move from our current car to the Car of the Future program,” Little said.
“V8 Supercars has very tight technical controls and these will be further tightened with the upcoming introduction of COTF. Therefore software solutions like Siemens NX and Teamcenter will be crucial for us to gain an advantage over our rivals.
“The programs we are adopting are the same as those used by current World Champions Red Bull Racing as well as other world leaders in the fields of aerospace and aeronautical engineering, so we know we are well-placed for the future.”
The second-phase of FPR’s partnership with PhoenxPLM will see the introduction of Teamcenter PLM software during the 2012 season.
PhoenxPLM’s technical sales executive, Graham Dix believes both companies have as much to gain as each other from the new partnership.
“The people at PhoenxPLM are delighted to be joining the Ford Performance Racing team,” Mr Dix said.
“We are working with FPR to provide an integrated engineering solution. NX supplied by PhoenxPLM is an integrated software solution featuring Computer Aided Design, Engineering, Manufacturing and information management on one platform.
“This approach significantly reduces the time and cost overhead associated with designing, engineering and manufacturing components. NX’s ability to model and test the entire assembly of FPR’s cars inside the computer will revolutionise the way in which the organisation can go about its development.
“We are also excited about the partner program and working with other FPR partners on mutually beneficial relationships. This unique formula of business partnership and sports sponsorship was very attractive to us as we seek to build strong relationships will all of the people we work with.
“Our technical partnership with FPR will allow us to develop learning opportunities for young engineers as we work together on new and innovative product development strategies which fully utilise the technology that is available today.
“Above all we look forward to making our contribution to FPR’s future race winning successes!”
PhoenxPLM is the Australian and New Zealand provider of Siemens NX and Teamcenter software solutions and their related support networks.
Siemens applications are used by more than 6.3 million people and 63,000 customers worldwide every day.
Visit www.phoenxplm.com.au for more information.