|
|
 |
Service to Software Customers in India – Ricardo Quarterly, Q2 2007
01/07/07
The announcement of an agreement between Ricardo and Pune-based computer aided engineering (CAE) consultancy, Caepro, opens the way for the Indian auto industry to improve its powertrain design capabilities through the application of the very latest in simulation technologies.
In recent years CAE has become something of a key enabler for the world's leading automakers in the design of new engines and vehicles. The ability of CAE software to evaluate new designs in virtual space before any commitment is made to prototype hardware has enabled manufacturers to employ right-first-time design principles. In this way the type of problems which used to be found only when prototypes were tested can now be eliminated, and the design optimised, before a single component has been manufactured. Not only does this improve the quality and optimisation of new product design, but it also allows potentially huge savings in development time and cost.
Ricardo is a global leader in the development of advanced powertrain CAE simulation software. While its software products have long been available to Indian customers, it is often stated that their effective application has been held back by a lack of applications experience and limited availability of training and support services. The new agreement aims to address this requirement through the appointment of Caepro as the representative of Ricardo Software in India, providing front-line support, guidance and training in the use of the company's range of advanced powertrain CAE software products.
In selecting a partner in India, one of the key attributes sought by Ricardo Software was in-depth skills and experience in powertrain CAE applications.
"It's important for licensees to fully understand the advanced capabilities of the software as well as the nature of its intended CAE applications in order to deliver best value from their work in automotive R&D," explains Steve Sapsford, president of Ricardo Software. "For this reason it was important for us to appoint a representative with in-depth powertrain CAE applications experience, as well as both an understanding of the underlying engineering principles of the software and a local presence in one of the hubs of the Indian auto industry. We feel that Caepro is ideally suited to fulfil this role and think that our customers in India will derive considerable benefit from this new collaboration."
Caepro is a CAE company with offices in the UK and Pune, India, which provides analysis services to the automotive industry. It is led by CEO John Roebuck (left), a former CAE group leader at Ricardo's Chicago Technical Centre, together with a number of other highly experienced automotive industry professionals. "We are extremely pleased to have entered into this agreement with Ricardo Software," said Roebuck. "We firmly believe that Ricardo Software offers globally leading powertrain CAE technology and that, coupled with our application skills and local presence, we will be able to transform the effectiveness of our customers' CAE activities."
The new agreement with Caepro is just part of Ricardo's on-going strategy to develop the quality of service offered to its customers in the rapidly developing Indian automotive industry. The company has a long-standing representative organisation, Kalra Consultants Pvt Ltd, which supports the engineering services it provides in this market. The relationship with Kalra will remain unaffected by the agreement on CAE software with Caepro and Ricardo will continue to work with Kalra to further develop the engineering services and strategic consulting that it offers to customers in India.
|
|
|
