Rapid and accurate data exchange using Delcam's PS-Exchange pay-per-use translation software is helping Nova Tool & Mold deliver moulds in shorter lead times. The company, which mainly produces moulds for exterior and interior automotive trim parts, is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, one of the world's leading toolmaking centres.

After several months of steady use of PS-Exchange psEXCHANGE, Jim Columba, CADCAM manager at Nova, is enjoying numerous benefits. One is the speed of translation. "PS-Exchange is very quick," Mr. Columba said. "The file is not being sent outside so there is less waiting. We can be viewing a file in the CAD package of our choice, Delcam's PowerSHAPE, for example, within fifteen to thirty minutes of the customer sending it to us," he added. "That's important in getting the job done faster. Six to eight weeks is now the norm for delivery times - some customers demand moulds in four weeks."

This speed results from the unique way in which PS-Exchange operates. The translation software is held on the user's own computer. For each translation, the user simply obtains an authorisation file from Delcam's web site. Transferring this short file is much quicker than sending large data files back and forth over the Internet.

Secondly, files always come in cleanly. "PsEXCHANGE PS-Exchange rarely makes errors", Mr. Columba said. "If there are errors in the geometry, they usually come from the customers' original files."

Taken together, these advantages provide Nova with quick turn-around times in responding to new quotes from customers. "Straight out of psEXCHANGE ,PS-Exchange , we can see what the geometry looks like," Mr. Columba said. "The translated files tell us right away what we will have to do. This lets us quote accurate prices to the customer for changes and fixes without loosing any time. This is vital when there are problems in the geometry."

In addition, using PS-Exchange gives total security with client's confidential data. Since the data always stays on the user's own computer, there is no chance of models being intercepted or mailed to the incorrect address.

Nova also saves money by using PS-Exchange. "If we didn't have this translation capability, we'd have to buy one seat each of our customer's CADCAM systems." Mr. Columba explained. "At about $40,000 per seat, that would be prohibitively expensive."


For further information on Delcam's PS-Exchange data translation software, please contact:

Peter Dickin, Public Relations Manager
Direct phone: 44 (0)121 683 1081         e-mail: marketing@delcam.com

Delcam plc
Small Heath Business Park,
Birmingham, B10 0HJ, UK
www.delcam.co.uk

Delcam Inc.
3270 Electricity Drive
Windsor, Ont. N8W 5J1, Canada
www.delcam.com