Bramptons Lift Manufacturers is using SolidWorks 3D CAD software and design automation technology from SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner DriveWorks to deliver more customised elevators to customers faster, thus generating increased annual revenues. The integrated system has allowed the company to increase elevator design and manufacture from 75 to 200 in a year, while enabling customers to choose from myriad options such as hardwood panelling, hand rails, and glass walls.
The €32 billion ($45.1 billion) global elevator market is extremely competitive, and the small London-based company has carved a niche for delivering stylised, functional passenger and cargo elevators for a broad range of clients throughout the UK. Bramptons Lift had been using 2D drawings and manual drafting when it chose to standardise on SolidWorks and DriveWorks software.
“We have a skill shortage in the UK., so streamlining the design process is crucial,” said Neil Dowse, Bramptons Lift managing director. “DriveWorks makes it fast and easy to capture customer specifications. SolidWorks minimises the detailed engineering knowledge our designers need to develop elevators, fuelling more creativity. In a market where artistry is often the deciding factor, SolidWorks and DriveWorks give us an advantage by allowing us to transcend standard lift design.”
To begin an order for a new or refurbished elevator, customers work with Bramptons Lift staff to specify all of the necessary dimensions. Bramptons Lift staff then plug that information into the DriveWorks interface. DriveWorks automatically configures the lift design based on a set of pre-prescribed rules that ensure design accuracy, and generates a SolidWorks 3D model or 2D drawing.
As a SolidWorks Gold Partner Product, DriveWorks is seamlessly integrated with SolidWorks software, allowing Bramptons designers to exchange information between the two applications within the design window. They can refine the design, relying on SolidWorks’ sheet metal capabilities to finalise parts like the landing doors without having to know all of the engineering involved. According to Dowse, the time to create an initial design for customer review has dropped from a week to 15 minutes. Manufacturing typically begins within 24 hours of the initial design input.