France : Lectra displays newest automotive technologies in China

The latest installment of the Lectra World 2007 for Automotive congress was held in Shanghai, China on September 24-25.
Following up on the first congress, held in Bordeaux, France, in March, some 200 additional customers from the Asia-Pacific region were able to discover the full range of Lectra’s latest offering dedicated to the automotive market.
“China’s automotive industry is developing rapidly, and we are pleased to offer our customers this opportunity to learn about Lectra’s newest technologies for this sector,” said Bob Agnes, President of Lectra Asia-Pacific.
“We work closely with our customers, providing them with innovative solutions that enable them to boost their productivity, flexibility and profitability.”
DesignConcept Auto, the first 3D/2D software solution entirely dedicated to the automotive market, provides extremely realistic virtual simulations to facilitate the analysis of finished product quality and estimate costs.
It enables companies to explore a multitude of creative paths for the development of auto interior components, and make key decisions in the product development phase and thereby minimize manufacturing costs.
The new generation VectorAuto automated cutting solutions provide a powerful response to the needs of automotive manufacturers and subcontractors, including optimization of productivity and quality, reduction of costs, and improved process flexibility and reliability.

Lectra’s MFC Leather Auto cutting solution provides extremely high cutting quality and process repeatability. It optimizes material utilization, automatically scanning leather hides with an integrated camera to instantly identify quality zones.
The FocusAirbag laser cutting solution optimizes manufacturing processes to guarantee increased productivity and substantial material savings.
Its new operating software provides a more effective tool path, and traceability is ensured through detailed activity reports.
The solution’s new vision system automatically scans and analyzes the material, taking account of the geometry of the components, the position of the airbag, and any possible distortions.
The congress also provided guests with a tour of Lectra’s Shanghai International Advanced Technology Center (IATC), as well as a visit to local Lectra customers Tachi-S Taicang (car seat specialist), which is equipped with two VectorAuto cutters, and airbag specialist Automotive Safety Components International (ASCI), which is equipped with two Focus laser cutting systems.
“We have invested in two FocusAirbag solutions since 2003,” explained Mr. Shen, Vice President of the Jinheng Automotive Safety System Company. “They deliver incredible productivity and high quality of cut pieces, helping us to satisfy our demanding customers.”
“The Faurecia group has worked with Lectra's technologies for years,” said Xinghai Mai, General Manager of Faurecia Shanghai.
“We have been operating a Vector automated cutter in our Shanghai facility since this spring, and we're very satisfied with its productivity and efficiency.”
The system’s on-board intelligence provides a revolutionary response to manufacturers’ demands for reliable solutions in a context in which delays are heavily penalized.