This analysis examines the pivotal trends and technological innovations defining the future of manufacturing robotics. I explore how these transformative technologies impact production methodologies and outline strategic considerations for organizations navigating this industrial evolution.

The Emergence of Intelligent Automation

Conventional automation has served manufacturing through predictable, high-volume operations. Today’s robotics generation distinguishes itself through cognitive intelligence. By incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities, robots now perceive environmental conditions, execute autonomous decisions, and evolve through operational experience. This evolution from programmed automation to intelligent systems represents a fundamental pillar of contemporary smart manufacturing.

AI-enabled robots address task variability that previously exceeded automated system capabilities. Advanced vision systems enable robots to identify and categorize diverse components on conveyor systems. These systems conduct quality control inspections with accuracy and consistency surpassing human performance, detecting microscopic defects invisible to traditional inspection methods. This intelligence creates adaptable, resilient production lines that respond dynamically to shifting operational demands.

Collaborative Robots: Integrating Human Intelligence with Machine Precision

Manufacturing robotics has witnessed a paradigm shift with collaborative robots, or “cobots.” Unlike conventional industrial robots operating within safety enclosures, cobots integrate seamlessly with human operators. Advanced sensor arrays detect human presence and trigger automatic deceleration or stoppage protocols to prevent collisions.

This collaborative methodology harnesses complementary human and machine capabilities. Cobots assume strenuous, repetitive, and ergonomically challenging operations—lifting heavy components or executing precise assembly motions. This redistribution enables human workers to concentrate on higher-value activities requiring critical analysis, problem-solving, and complex dexterity. The outcome is enhanced operational efficiency and workplace safety, where human potential is amplified rather than replaced.

Key Technologies Accelerating Robotic Capabilities

Several breakthrough technologies are expanding advanced robotics capabilities and broadening manufacturing applications.

AI and Machine Learning Integration

AI serves as the cognitive foundation for modern robotic systems. Machine learning algorithms enable robots to optimize movement patterns, predict maintenance requirements, and adapt to new tasks with minimal reprogramming. This continuous learning capability ensures robotic systems achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness over operational lifecycles, driving sustained process improvements.

Advanced Vision and Sensing Technologies

Sophisticated 2D and 3D vision systems provide robots with precise environmental interpretation capabilities. This technology proves essential for bin-picking operations, where robots must identify and grasp specific components from mixed-part containers. Force-torque sensors deliver tactile feedback, enabling robots to handle delicate components and perform intricate assembly tasks requiring precise pressure application.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Connectivity

Robots function as critical nodes within comprehensive Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks. Connecting robots to sensor networks, machinery, and enterprise systems enables manufacturers to collect and analyze extensive real-time data streams. This connectivity provides comprehensive production process visibility, facilitating predictive maintenance, optimized resource allocation, and data-driven decision-making.

Robotics Advancing Sustainable Manufacturing

Advanced robotics plays an instrumental role in sustainable manufacturing initiatives. Process optimization through robotics significantly reduces material waste and energy consumption. Robotic coating systems apply materials with superior precision compared to manual operations, minimizing overspray and reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) usage.

Automation enables efficient recycling and remanufacturing processes. Vision-equipped robots sort mixed waste streams with exceptional accuracy, recovering valuable materials that would otherwise reach landfills. This capability supports circular economy principles, promoting responsible resource utilization.

Industries Pioneering Robotic Implementation

While robotics impacts all manufacturing sectors, specific industries lead adoption initiatives.

• Automotive: The automotive sector pioneered robotic automation and continues advancing implementation across welding, painting, and final assembly operations. Manufacturers deploy cobots to assist assembly line workers, enhancing both ergonomics and operational efficiency.
• Electronics: High-volume, precision-demanding electronics manufacturing aligns perfectly with robotic capabilities. Robots handle component assembly onto circuit boards, conduct quality inspections, and manage product packaging. Cleanroom requirements further validate robotic solutions.
• Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical manufacturing demands precision and sterility. Robots execute vial filling, medication packaging, and laboratory testing operations. This implementation improves accuracy and consistency while reducing contamination risks.

Strategic Robotics Integration

Organizations considering advanced robotics adoption require comprehensive planning and strategic analysis. Success extends beyond equipment acquisition—it demands process re-evaluation and organizational preparation for operational transformation.

Identify optimal automation opportunities by focusing on repetitive, physically demanding, or error-prone tasks. Conduct thorough return-on-investment analyses considering productivity increases, quality improvements, and enhanced worker safety.

Prioritize workforce development initiatives. Robotics integration transforms employee roles across operations. Implement training and upskilling programs preparing teams for new responsibilities including robotic system operation, maintenance protocols, and production data analysis. Effective robotics strategies empower workforces rather than displacing personnel.

Select experienced technology partners capable of designing and implementing customized solutions. Collaborate with proven integrators who understand specific operational requirements. Phased implementation approaches, beginning with pilot projects, mitigate risks while building organizational momentum for broader adoption.

Manufacturing’s future is inextricably linked with robotic advancement. Organizations embracing these transformative technologies build resilient, efficient, and competitive operations, establishing foundations for the next industrial innovation era.

DELMIA, a brand of Dassault Systèmes’, provides a unified environment for designing, simulating, programming, and commissioning robotic systems using a physics-accurate virtual twin. Built on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, it supports 2,000+ robot models, multiple PLCs and all major processes, generating validated trajectories and native robot code from a single data model. The virtual twin, combined with AI-assisted automation, cuts programming and commissioning time while enabling fast, reliable adaptation to product or production changes.

High-tech innovation moves fast. Product development cycles for smart electronic devices now average just three to four months. Yet engineering teams face a massive hurdle. Studies show that over 70% of simulation time goes toward non-value-added tasks like model cleanup or manual meshing.

Traditional sequential workflows cannot keep up. Disconnected tools lead to wasteful handoffs and slow iteration loops. This prevents teams from simultaneously optimizing for structural integrity, thermal performance and signal integrity. The industry needs a new approach. It requires a strategy that unifies modeling, simulation and artificial intelligence.

The Three Pillars of Generative Simulation

You can view a generative simulation strategy as the braiding of three capabilities into a single framework. This approach combines AI technologies, integrated modeling and advanced exploration methods. It generates optimal design results efficiently.

The three essential components include:

1. Unified Modeling and Simulation: This removes data exports and handoffs. Teams receive real-time feedback as designs and simulations evolve together rather than in isolated stages.
2. AI-Powered Assistance: Optimization algorithms and machine learning streamline simulation setup. This guides intelligent design exploration. Teams can generate designs that meet multiple performance KPIs early in the process.
3. Collaborative Environment: A central repository secures intellectual property. It ensures a single source of truth for all data. This includes models, parameters and materials.

Consider a high-speed connector design for a smart device. Engineers must balance electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with structural reliability. In a disconnected workflow, every CAD update forces a model rebuild. A unified platform instantly updates the parametric CAD model across all disciplines. The EMC engineer runs signal integrity checks while the structural engineer evaluates insertion forces. This integrated process minimizes the need for physical prototypes and shortens development time. 

Applying AI and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning (ML) introduce new ways to improve the user experience for experts. You can use AI-powered assistance to guide the simulation process. One option is using Virtual Twin Physics Behavior. These provide a data-driven approximation of complex physics-based simulations. Trained on a curated set of results, they predict performance much faster. This allows designers and engineers to explore a vast range of design options without running computationally intensive simulations.

Case Study: EMC Shielding vs. Thermal Management

Designers often need to balance conflicting requirements. Electronic devices need metallic enclosures for EMC shielding. They also need ventilation apertures for thermal cooling. However, ventilation reduces shielding effectiveness.

Performing a full parametric study for all variables is costly. An effective method breaks the problem down. You can run two focused Design of Experiments (DOE). One focuses on thermal performance. The other focuses on electromagnetic shielding. You then construct two machine learning models.

These models allow you to perform a trade-off study efficiently. In one example, this approach reduced total simulation time by a factor of 121 compared to a full parametric optimization. The ML models maintained high accuracy while enabling rapid design balancing.

Unified modeling and simulation stores models and results using one common data model on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It serves as the single source of truth, ensuring transparency and concurrent access to project details and status, as required, thereby enabling collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. By capturing and supplying technical and simulation knowledge & know-how, it speeds up simulation processes and supports the democratization of simulation.

Future-Proofing Your Engineering Stack

The generative simulation strategy represents a paradigm shift. It fuses unified modeling with machine learning technologies. This approach accelerates time-to-market and drives continuous innovation.

The synergy between data-driven AI and physics-based simulations will only deepen. Future advancements will focus on automated model calibration and training AI to understand physical laws. Organizations that adopt this unified approach now will gain measurable advantages. These include reduced development cycles, fewer physical prototypes and higher design quality. Learn more and download our whitepaper, Transforming High-Tech Innovation with Generative Simulation.

Every year on March 8, people around the globe celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). Now in its 115th year, IWD has grown into a worldwide observance dedicated to honoring women’s achievements throughout history and across all cultures. Since its inception in 1911, IWD has remained a call to action for progress. The United Nations has officially recognized IWD since 1975, but the day’s legacy reaches back much further. This post explores how IWD began, highlights the 2026 campaign theme #GiveToGain and hashtag #IWD2026, and examines the event’s ongoing global impact.

How IWD Began and Why It Matters

Many are familiar with the modern celebrations of International Women’s Day, but its origins are found in a period of great social and political change. In the early 1900s, the industrialized world was experiencing rapid population growth and the rise of new ideologies. Amid this unrest, women’s inequality spurred them to organize and demand change.

Why was March 8 the Turning Point for Women’s Rights?

The significance of March 8 traces back to a pivotal moment in 1908. On this day, over 10,000 women marched through the streets of New York City. They were demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and the right to vote. On that same day, women working in the needle trades also protested against child labor and poor sweatshop conditions while demanding women’s suffrage. These powerful demonstrations marked a turning point. By 1910, March 8 was established as the annual day to celebrate women and advocate for their rights.

Driving Change in Manufacturing

This year, the IWD focus is on how the manufacturing industry can play a pivotal role in advancing gender equality. The core message is simple: when we give, we gain. The #Givetogain campaign highlights the power of reciprocity. In manufacturing, this means creating opportunities, breaking down barriers, and building support systems for women in the industry. Giving isn’t a loss—it’s an investment in a stronger, more innovative workforce. When women thrive in manufacturing, the entire sector benefits through increased diversity, creativity, and productivity.

So, what can the manufacturing industry give to help achieve gender equality? The possibilities are:

• Donations to women-focused STEM and trade programs
  Support scholarships, apprenticeships, and initiatives that encourage women to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering.
• Sharing knowledge and expertise
  Host workshops, webinars, or factory tours to inspire and educate women about opportunities in the field.
• Providing resources and infrastructure
  Invest in family-friendly workplace policies, such as on-site childcare or flexible scheduling, to support women in balancing work and life.
• Increasing visibility for women’s achievements
  Celebrate and promote the contributions of women in manufacturing through awards, case studies, and leadership spotlights.
• Advocating for policy changes
  Push for industry-wide standards that promote pay equity, safe working conditions, and inclusive hiring practices.
• Offering education, training, or mentorship
  Create mentorship programs and training initiatives to help women advance into leadership roles within manufacturing.
• Volunteering time
  Partner with schools and community organizations to encourage young women to explore careers in manufacturing.

By contributing in these ways, the manufacturing industry can help build a more inclusive and interconnected workforce. The question posed by the 2026 campaign is one for all of us in manufacturing to consider: What will you give to gain gender equality?

This version ties the campaign’s message directly to the manufacturing sector, emphasizing actionable steps and industry-specific contributions.

The Influence of IWD Today

IWD continues to drive meaningful change across critical industries, including manufacturing. The sector faces a significant labor challenge. According to a study by Deloitte, 3.8 million jobs will need to be filled over the next decade. Without targeted efforts to address skills and hiring gaps, nearly 1.9 million of these roles may remain vacant. The need to engage untapped talent is urgent.

IWD spotlights on these challenges within manufacturing, supporting conversations and initiatives that call for broader gender inclusion. By raising awareness and prompting industry leaders to reevaluate recruitment, development, and advancement strategies, IWD helps shape new pathways for women to enter and grow within the field. This focus on gender equality strengthens both the workforce and the competitiveness of the industry, highlighting that tapping into diverse talent is essential for innovation and sustainable growth.

What is the Best Message for IWD?

Women’s participation in manufacturing has been steadily rising but progress remains gradual. According to Women in Manufacturing.as of October 2025, women make up 29% of the manufacturing workforce. This illustrates both momentum and room for improvement. Addressing the gaps in hiring and leadership opportunities for women will remain essential for shaping the future of the industry and driving manufacturing career opportunities for girls around the world. 

In the modern era, International Women’s Day serves as a powerful catalyst for global change. What began as a protest has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon that shines a light on the persistent challenges women face in areas like education, leadership and economic opportunity.

Today, the day is pivotal in uniting millions of people, often through digital platforms, to spark crucial conversations. These discussions cover everything from workplace equity and political representation to women’s health and safety. From grassroots campaigns in local communities to diversity initiatives in corporate boardrooms, IWD mobilizes resources and commitment toward building a more balanced and equitable world for everyone.

How You Can Make a Difference

IWD provides a valuable moment to reflect on the journey of women—from our historical contributions to their present-day roles and future aspirations. It is a day for celebration, reflection, and, most importantly, action.

As we look toward March 8, 2026, let’s embrace the spirit of the #Givetogain campaign. Consider how you can contribute to the cause of gender equality. Your actions, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect that helps forge a more just and prosperous world for all.

This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for academic institutions. As demand for a new generation of innovators heightens, how will educators be able to train the right skills to students and adopt new teaching methods?

That’s where the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence (CoE) come in. Read on to learn how they are supporting industries’ digital transformation.

CoE meaning and definition

A 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence refers to an educational and training institution, recognized by Dassault Systèmes for utilizing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to support students or industry professionals in learning industry-relevant skills and processes required of the current landscape in fields like manufacturing, infrastructure and cities and life sciences.

CoEs are typically facilities or programs hosted within an academic institution and offer a unique blend of simulation-based education, hands-on projects, and real-world problem-solving experiences. Students gain experience with advanced concepts, such as virtual twin experiences, which allow users to create digital replicas of physical systems, to bring innovation from abstract concepts into tangible results. For example, students can simulate aerospace systems or manufacturing processes, ensuring they are equipped with future-ready skills needed by industries worldwide. 

With over 43 active centers across five continents, there are many opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration. Working within diverse teams that blend new learners and industry leaders benefits both students entering a competitive job market and long-time professionals who have witnessed first-hand a rising industry problem: the skills gap.

What is a skills gap? How can a CoE help with upskilling the workforce?

A skills gap exists within an industry when the skills a company needs and the skills its employees possess differ.

According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, an estimated 59% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2030 to meet changing skill demands. Some leading companies, such as Dassault Systèmes, are upskilling the workforce by creating centers of excellence that prepare the workforce of the future for Industry 4.0.

These centers are designed to build awareness within academic institutions and universities about new skills and processes required by the industry and even provide hands-on experience working with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Students gain technical & soft skills needed to be attractive to a job market like Model-based systems engineering (MBSE), simulation, data science, 3D modeling, sustainable engineering and collaboration – and provide the expertise required to tackle the challenges of the industry.

What is the objective of a CoE program?

The objective of a CoE program is to enhance employability and innovation by providing opportunities to use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform within specific business situations.

Participating in a CoE program offers an opportunity for students and professionals to acquire the practical skills necessary for employment and stay current with the rapid pace of digital transformation and sustainability across industries. CoEs are contributing to closing the skills gap by working jointly with employers to identify the required skills, methods and processes necessary for success in the real world.

How does Dassault Systèmes select a CoE?

To become a CoE, a rigorous process is completed to prove competency on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The prospective institution must prove that they not only have a recent version of the platform, but have used it long enough to showcase their competencies and ability to adhere to the Charter for 3DEXPERIENCE Edu CoE. From there, a self-evaluation is conducted, and an interview is held. If these steps are done successfully, a contract is signed and the institution becomes an official CoE. The center receives a plaque, they organize an inauguration ceremony jointly with Dassault Systèmes, and they appear on the Dassault Systèmes website.

What is the Charter for 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence?

The Charter for CoEs is a list of 10 articles that an institution must follow to become and remain a Center of Excellence. It includes the following:

1. 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence are facilities that provide 3DEXPERIENCE expertise to learners in academia, individuals and/or to professionals in the economic sectors of manufacturing, infrastructure & cities and life sciences.

2. Centers of Excellence work jointly with employers to maintain their continuous awareness about required skills and new methods and processes.

3. Dassault Systèmes promotes Centers of Excellence on the basis of their verified area of competency and supports their continuous efforts to maintain and enhance their expertise in 3DEXPERIENCE and related best practices.

4. Centers of Excellence provide academic learners with project opportunities to contextualize the 3DEXPERIENCE platform within specific business situations, especially SMBs.

5. Centers of Excellence make appropriate investments to provide learners with knowledge and know-how of the digital thread from ideation to physical product, using established and emerging methods and processes.

6. Centers of Excellence combine their own knowledge and know-how in various domains with their 3DEXPERIENCE expertise to develop innovative practices and their subsequent learning experiences.

7. Centers of Excellence actively promote the jobs and innovative methods, and approaches of selected economic sectors among school students and the public, with the aim of demonstrating the attractiveness of studies and careers in those sectors.

8. Centers of Excellence maintain their globally competitive awareness, accelerate their educational development and optimize their operational efficiency by actively participating in a worldwide network of peers established and coordinated by Dassault Systèmes.

9. Centers of Excellence actively display their membership and promote the program to disseminate its value to the public, learners, companies, educational institutions and governments.

10. Centers of Excellence review their status on a yearly basis with Dassault Systèmes to guarantee that the 3DEXPERIENCE knowledge and know-how they provide is continuously state-of-the-art.

How does a CoE benefit from partnering with Dassault Systèmes?

By partnering with Dassault Systèmes, a CoE not only gains access to a network of peers who have similar problems they are seeking to solve, but also access to Dassault Systèmes’ very best educational and technical experts. Each center has the opportunity to speak with a Dassault Systèmes expert, learn best practices on the current industry landscape, and receive learning materials specific to their topic of interest, whether it be MODSIM, digital logistics, 3D printing, and many more. Technical support with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, as well as marketing to promote CoE programs, is also available to CoE members.  

CoE Spotlight: Trier University uses MODSIM for neurosurgery training

To mill or not to mill. That is the question students at Trier University in Germany seek to help neurosurgeons answer before a medical procedure.

As part of the student project HAMLET (Haptic Applications for Medical Learning, Experimenting and Teaching), students are building a virtual twin of the human brain using advanced modeling and simulation (MODSIM) technologies. This enables surgeons to practice precise procedures in a risk-free simulated environment. By replicating real-life surgical scenarios, the platform helps medical professionals refine their techniques and build confidence in their skills before performing on patients.

The integration of MODSIM into this project showcases the immense potential of virtual twin technology in healthcare education. Additionally, it highlights how Edu Centers of Excellence empower students to solve real-world problems with cutting-edge tools—and prepare them to lead advancements in their respective fields like mechanical engineering and medical engineering.

“We’re very much oriented towards what the big players use,” said Michael Hoffmann, head of the “Digital Product Development and Manufacturing” lab in the Department of Engineering at Trier University of Applied Sciences. “The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is such an advanced interdisciplinary solution and gives students a complete, end-to-end view of the product development lifecycle of strategic projects. Students learn to use the system but also apply strategic and methodical working methods. We also value the fact that it’s cloud-based so that students can access the platform at university or at home and continue their studies wherever they are.”

CoE Spotlight: Robotics and intelligent automation are redefined at KLE Technological University

KLE Technological University (KLE Tech) is committed to remaining at the forefront of industrial innovation and inspiring the next generation of engineers. Using a Project-Based Learning approach with advanced tools like the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, students work on real-world, industry-relevant scenarios and gain experience with tools commonly used in manufacturing, robotics and automation.

CoE Spotlight: Civil & environmental engineering at USC

According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme, the buildings and construction sector accounts for roughly 37% of global emissions. With mounting pressure from climate change activists to shake up an industry that is both a major energy consumer and slow to adopt new technologies, the University of Southern California’s Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) is changing the narrative.

“There’s a misconception that civil and environmental engineering is somehow distinct from the tech sector – but actually, contemporary civil and environmental engineering is very computational,” said David Gerber, professor of practice in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, at USC. “By promoting innovation in the industry, we’re determined to affect the livability of the planet – acting as environmental stewards by developing energy-efficient and economic solutions.”

CEE is the first center in the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence program to focus on skills for sustainable innovation in the cities, infrastructure and construction center. Students can take courses in advanced design and construction technology to solve real-world sustainability issues through the application of computational tools such as advanced visualization, modeling and simulation, and data analysis. The goal is to spearhead the next generation of civil and environmental engineers and shape a better future for the planet.

CoE Spotlight: Werk150 is honored for pioneering solutions in industrial engineering

Werk150, a high-tech learning factory at Reutlingen University in Germany, is the newest facility to be honored by Dassault Systèmes as a 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence. Students learn about the opportunities and challenges of innovative technology in the manufacturing sector by using a real-world environment to test digital engineering skills using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Frequently asked questions about the 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence

You may have some more questions about the Centers of Excellence. Let’s answer them.

Related resources:

• Soaring to new heights with Delf University of Technology Center of Excellence
• Meet the engineer who bridges technology and education
• Upskilling the workforce at every career level

The Challenge

Before a molecular dynamics simulation can model how a drug interacts with its target, every atom in the molecule must be classified into a specific “atom type” that determines the physical parameters (bond lengths, angles, charges, etc.) governing how the molecule behaves. Traditionally, this classification relies on rule-based tools that can be brittle, slow on large datasets, and difficult to extend. The Spring 2025 capstone team set out to replace that approach with machine learning.

What the Team Built

The result is atoMLtype, a modular Python toolkit that learns the mapping from molecular structure to atom type in the widely used GAFF2 (General AMBER Force Field 2) framework. The team implemented and compared multiple modeling approaches, from a Random Forest baseline using hand-crafted atomic features to several Graph Neural Networks that operate directly on the molecular graph. They also developed thoughtful solutions for handling chemical symmetries in the force field’s type system, demonstrating real depth of understanding of both the underlying chemistry and the modeling challenges.

The toolkit provides a complete workflow: loading molecular datasets, training and evaluating models, and producing detailed analysis; all aimed at making atom typing faster, more scalable, and more accurate for computational chemistry pipelines.

Fresh Perspectives, Real Impact

As with the first capstone, my colleague Reed Harrison and I served as project mentors, guiding the team through the intersection of software engineering best practices and scientific rigor. These collaborations continue to demonstrate the value of pairing BIOVIA’s domain expertise with the energy and fresh thinking of Berkeley’s MSSE students..

Brandon Robello, one of the students on the team, reflected on the experience:

This project was an incredible opportunity to apply modern machine learning techniques to a real-world scientific challenge. Working with Dr. Rohith Mohan and Dr. Reed Harrison on atom-type prediction from molecular graphs sharpened my skills in model development and software engineering, while deepening my appreciation for the complexity of chemical representation.

Jeremy Millford, another team member, shared a similar enthusiasm:

Exploring the project, learning new tools, and creating an impactful deliverable was a wonderful opportunity to let our scientific curiosity and new skills run wild. The balance between the freedom to explore and the structure of a professional assignment made the experience both highly valuable and genuinely fun. I found myself proactively wrapping up coursework, so I could work on it just a bit more. I also feel like I learned a ton.

Looking Ahead

Our partnership with UC Berkeley’s MSSE program continues to be a rewarding experience for both sides; providing students with real-world challenges at the forefront of computational science while bringing innovative approaches into BIOVIA’s work in drug discovery. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and seeing what the next cohort of talented students will build.

Want to find out the latest news about BIOVIA events, customer stories, blogs and more? Join the BIOVIA newsletter today!

This figure is alarming. It doesn’t indicate that these programs merely underperform or delay their return on investment. It means they fail completely. Despite the high stakes, many Medical Technology (med-tech) organizations continue to approach Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) software as a simple plant IT upgrade. They fail to recognize it for what it truly is: a strategic operating model decision.

When leadership views MES as a box-checking exercise or a localized software installation, they miss the broader picture. To succeed, manufacturers must fundamentally rethink how they approach digitization, standardization and global governance. This blog explores why MES programs falter and how a platform strategy can drive transformative success.

MES Is Not Just a Compliance Project

In the medical device industry, leaders often justify MES investments based on regulatory necessities. The business case typically revolves around Device History Records (DHR), Unique Device Identification (UDI) traceability, electronic work instructions and audit readiness.

These elements are undoubtedly critical. However, they aren’t transformational. They represent the baseline requirement for doing business in a regulated environment. If your primary business case relies solely on “we need better compliance,” you’re aiming too low. Compliance keeps the doors open, but it doesn’t drive competitive advantage or operational excellence.

The real challenge med-tech leaders face is scalability. The pertinent question isn’t whether you can pass an audit, but whether your manufacturing system can scale with SKU proliferation. Can you support accelerated New Product Introduction (NPI) and global tech transfer without eroding your margin?

This is the specific problem a modern MES must solve. It needs to function as a mechanism for efficiency and speed, not just a digital filing cabinet for regulatory documents.

The Hidden Risk in Med Tech Manufacturing

The complexity within med-tech manufacturing is exploding. Companies face shorter product lifecycles, a vast increase in variants and configurations, globalized production footprints and a heavy reliance on contract manufacturing partners.

Within this complexity, many companies still run fragmented, plant-specific systems. These legacy systems often rely on heavy customization to fit the unique preferences of a single site.

The consequences of this approach are severe. Organizations experience slow NPI transfer because every site operates differently. Validation costs skyrocket as teams must validate unique software instances for every location. Data models become inconsistent, limiting enterprise visibility and making it impossible to compare performance across sites.

Perhaps most damaging is “upgrade paralysis.” When a system is heavily customized, upgrading to the latest version becomes a risky, expensive and time-consuming project. As a result, systems stagnate on outdated versions, security vulnerabilities increase and leadership wonders why productivity stalls.

The Real Reason MES Programs Fail

It’s rarely the software itself that causes failure. The technology usually works as designed. The failure stems from organizational behavior.

Companies frequently try to automate variability instead of eliminating it. They approach the market with 400-page Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that detail every existing manual process and demand that the digital system replicate them exactly.

This approach allows every site to maintain its “unique” way of doing things. Teams over-customize the software to preserve local habits, effectively paving the cow path. They treat MES as a feature checklist to satisfy current operators rather than an opportunity to redesign the operating model for the future.

When the project inevitably runs over budget, misses timelines and fails to deliver value, stakeholders blame the vendor. In reality, the flaw lay in the strategy to automate chaos rather than standardize processes.

The Hard Truth About Strategy

If your MES strategy is led by individual plants, driven by IT and justified solely by compliance, statistics suggest you’ll fail.

Winning MedTech manufacturers take a different path. They execute three specific strategies differently:

1. They standardize before they digitize. They define a common way of working across the enterprise before applying technology.
2. They govern globally. Decisions about the manufacturing model happen at an enterprise level, not a local one. Site autonomy is reduced in favor of enterprise agility.
3. They measure transformation correctly. Success is measured in margin impact, scrap reduction and release velocity, not just in documentation or “going live.”

These successful organizations build a global Manufacturing Center of Excellence (COE). They deploy global templates that enforce standardization while allowing for controlled configuration. They protect this standardization rigorously. They align their MES implementation to high-level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like right-first-time metrics and release velocity.

Why Platform Strategy Matters Now

This need for standardization is where enterprise-scale capability becomes decisive. A platform approach connects disparate elements of the product lifecycle into a cohesive whole.

Dassault Systèmes positions itself to solve this by connecting product design and engineering directly with manufacturing process definition, execution systems, quality and traceability.

For MedTech manufacturers, this design-to-manufacturing continuity is no longer optional. Rapid NPI and global tech transfer demand a connected thread of data. When engineering changes a product design, that change must flow directly to the manufacturing floor and the quality checks without manual translation or data reentry.

MES can’t live in isolation anymore. It must exist as part of a broader ecosystem that links the virtual world of design with the physical world of production.

The Leadership Question

The fact that 75% of MES initiatives fail shouldn’t cause leaders to delay investment. Digitization is inevitable and necessary. Instead, the statistic should prompt a serious evaluation of strategy.

Leaders must ask themselves tough questions:

• Are we redesigning our operating model or are we just digitalizing legacy habits?
• Are we building enterprise standardization or are we protecting site autonomy?
• Are we driving margin impact or are we just checking compliance boxes?

MedTech leaders who treat MES as a strategic enterprise platform will outpace competitors. They’ll achieve greater agility, better cost control and true scalability. The rest will continue to digitize complexity. And as the market has shown, complexity never scales profitably.

Where to Learn More

Discover more insights by downloading the LNS Research Paper, Unlock the Secrets to Successful Manufacturing Operations Software Implementation and Med-Tech MOM Whitepaper, Unlocking Growth Through Innovative Manufacturing Solutions. Start your journey toward informed decision-making today.

DELMIA, from Dassault Systèmes, enables manufacturers to keep factory operations running smoothly. Powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, our Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) solutions establish a unified digital environment that provides real-time visibility and AI-enhanced control. By connecting the virtual and real worlds, we enable you to streamline complex processes, minimize waste and guarantee quality. Harnessing data-driven insights and intelligent automation allows for optimized production, enhanced adaptability to disruptions and the delivery of sustainable, customer-focused manufacturing performance at scale.

Batteries are everywhere, from tiny cells in flashlights to massive packs in electric vehicles. They have evolved significantly, starting at the cell level with electrolytes and electrodes to battery packs with structural and thermal elements. The future of batteries is being shaped by virtual twins.

Virtual twin technology is transforming how batteries are designed, tested, and optimized. By simulating real-world environments, engineers are able to enhance battery performance, improve safety, and develop sustainable solutions. This blog will explore how batteries are improved for electric vehicles and other products through virtual twin simulation.

What are virtual twins?

Virtual twins are scientifically accurate digital replicas that start with a 3D model that captures the shape, dimension and properties of a product. Using simulation, virtual twins show a full lifecycle and evolution of a product or system, providing insights and predictions that help engineers to make better decisions in technology innovation.

This means companies can model, simulate, and optimize complex infrastructures in one environment. By virtually simulating designs, companies are reducing the risk of investment in batteries, enabling better decisions and minimizing costly mistakes. Virtual twins provide real-time insights into performance which helps to address challenges and improve reliability.

Virtual twins also play a critical role in ensuring there is always enough energy available when needed, while also improving reliability and keeping costs in check. They help companies take on challenges by providing a deeper understanding of how systems perform under a variety of conditions.

Batteries and virtual twins

Most batteries today are made with liquid electrolytes, which are a type of medium that contains ions and conducts electricity through movement. However, researchers are exploring different paths to improve battery safety and performance.

A few years ago, Vikram Deshpande, a professor of materials engineering at the University of Cambridge, who presented at the Dassault Systèmes Regional User Meeting in Manchester, explored replacing traditional liquid electrolytes with a solid, ceramic electrolyte. This would solve the problem of batteries short circuiting because of the lithium within them.

To solve this problem, the Deshpande turned to simulation. With SIMULIA’s 3D solvers, he was able to identify the issues affecting the batteries performance. By simulating solid electrolyte batteries, Deshpande and his team discovered key insights into the behavior of electrolytes. Simulation proved to be a critical tool, enabling them to identify the best solutions.

Deshpande said, “In batteries, the simulations have helped us not only in the design, but also in understanding how things work. That understanding is very useful when you’re trying to come up with new designs.”

The use of simulation has advanced Deshpande’s battery research. He believes simulation will continue to help researchers like him to develop solutions that benefit both the planet and its people.

Flint’s paper battery

While batteries are essential in everyday life, they are often toxic, expensive, and difficult to dispose of sustainably. Flint, a deep tech impact startup and 3DEXPERIENCE Lab member, took on the challenge of creating paper batteries that store energy using natural materials. The batteries use a type of engineered cellulose that has been reinforced with a hydrogel that functions as a separator and an electrolyte. The battery uses zinc and manganese to ensure safe and reliable performance.

As a water-based battery, it is fire safe and leak proof while also composting within six weeks with no harmful waste. To ensure safe and reliable performance, Flint used the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to help with the design, simulation and production.

• BIOVIA for materials and chemistry modeling,
• SIMULIA for performance and safety simulations,
• SOLIDWORKS for flexible battery design,
• ENOVIA for lifecycle and project management,
• DELMIA for scaling production lines efficiently.

Flint’s paper battery is a significant advancement in the battery industry, offering a safe and sustainable option. It allows for clean, accessible energy storage without harming the environment. This innovation not only reduces toxic waste but also offers a sustainable alternative to traditional batteries, making it a gamechanger for clean energy.

Electric vehicles and batteries

With the growing rate of electric vehicles being introduced, batteries have to be adapted and improved to ensure safety and performance. Batteries are the core component that powers an electric vehicle’s movement.

Batteries are typically located on a vehicle’s floor, so engineers must carefully consider the correct weight distribution to ensure the car is safe for all passengers. Not only does the battery power the car for driving, but it also provides electric power for auxiliary systems of the vehicle like HVAC. Virtual twins help catch potential failures before harming those who use the cars. Electric vehicle designers are responsible for balancing battery health and efficiently at a specific temperature range for the battery to best perform.

Dassault Systèmes provides technology that enables the design and development of batteries. This means starting at the molecular level to analyzing full vehicle performance. Through virtual twin technology, simulations can show engineers how heat moves through an electric vehicle and how the energy is used by its climate system.

Electric vehicles are now going to go beyond being passenger cars. Global mining companies are also transitioning to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to replace traditional diesel-based cars. BEVs reduce noise pollution and emissions, but mining companies have to ensure they are optimizing charging strategies to make the switch successful. To accomplish this, virtual twin simulations help minors collect data quickly and efficiently, ensuring they meet reporting standards and ESG requirements.

Batteries in aircraft technology

Batteries are often overlooked until we need them, like when we open a box and realize we’re out of AAA batteries. But batteries are more than just helpful tools; they are essential for survival and safety.

Imagine saying that you flew on an electric aircraft with batteries in its wings. VÆRIDION, a Germany-based aircraft manufacturer, has the goal to transform regional air travel with battery-electric aircrafts. Defined by its innovative “battery wing integration,” the Microliner’s advanced battery packs are uniquely mounted into the wings to power its electric engines.

The company leverages the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to address challenges beyond the traditional scope of aeronautical engineering. This platform has significantly accelerated the pace at which engineers can bring the Microliner to the skies. By utilizing SIMULIA’s automated simulation capabilities, engineers reduce time-consuming manual tasks during the design phase.

The virtual twin capabilities enable the team to simulate and test various battery placements, optimizing both installation and maintainability. They can also troubleshoot design issues as they arise. For a project of this complexity, the power of the right tools in an accessible location cannot be overlooked.

Netherlands-based aerospace company, Elysian Aircraft, founded in 2023 after two years of research, is redefining air travel with a large-scale, zero-emission aircraft.The company envisions placing 50% of all scheduled flights worldwide with a zero-emission electric solution. The company is developing its flagship aircraft, the E9X, a 90-seat, battery-powered plane capable of flying over 800 kilometers on a single charge. To bring this vision to life, Elysian turned to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud.

By leveraging virtual twin simulation, Elysian can optimize the design of its aircraft. The platform allows the company to simulate the performance of different materials and assess the impact of critical safety features, such as failure modes, to achieve the ideal battery composition.

To build the world’s first large-scale battery-electric aircraft, Elysian recognized the need for tools and partners that could match their ambitious pace. Dassault Systèmes provided the solution. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables virtual testing of battery performance under varying temperatures, charging cycles, and discharge rates, maximizing energy density, lifespan, and reliability. This innovative approach reduces material waste, shortens development timelines, and minimizes costs.

The future of batteries and virtual twin technology

As we continue to innovate, batteries and virtual twins will not only power our devices but also pave the way for a sustainable and connected future. With the help of virtual twin simulation, engineers can explore innovative ways to improve batteries safely and sustainably.

As technology continues to advance, the combination of batteries and virtual twins will drive innovation across industries, creating a cleaner, more efficient future.

Read more

• Battery Cell Engineering in Modern Vehicle Design
• Rethinking Battery Module and Pack Engineering with Modeling and Simulation
• Flint Paper Battery
• Optimizing Battery Range and Thermal Comfort in Electric Vehicles
• Transitioning to battery electric vehicles in mining

Rail networks are essential to modern infrastructure, moving millions of passengers and vast quantities of freight daily with precision. Maintaining this flow requires a strong commitment to safety, reliability, and engineering excellence. Over time, railway components like tracks, signals, and bridges degrade from constant use and environmental factors. To ensure safety and reliability, operators must conduct regular maintenance and upgrades—work that can’t be done while trains are running. This necessitates a carefully planned process called rail possession.

What Is Rail Possession?

Rail possession, or track possession, is a planned period when a section of railway is closed to train traffic. This allows engineers to safely perform maintenance, inspections, or construction work. It’s a coordinated engineering operation where control of the railway temporarily shifts from train operators to engineering teams. Understanding this process sheds light on how rail systems maintain safety while meeting the demand for reliable, around-the-clock transportation.

The term “possession” is literal—train operators relinquish track rights, transferring authority to the engineering team. This clear handover ensures there’s no confusion about responsibility for the track section. The track remains classified as a construction site until the engineers formally return control, preventing any operational overlap.

Main Aspects of Rail Possession

Effective rail possession involves strict protocols and careful planning to create a safe environment for workers and ensure efficient use of downtime.

Safety First

The primary purpose of rail possession is to eliminate risks posed by moving trains. Engineers secure the area with safety measures, such as Possession Limit Boards (PLBs). These boards, often equipped with red lights, mark the boundaries of the work zone, acting as a clear stop signal to prevent unauthorized train entry.

Transfer of Control

A critical aspect of rail possession is the formal transfer of control. Under normal conditions, train movements are directed by signalers and controllers. During possession, this authority shifts to the Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP), who oversees the work site. The PICOP manages activities, controls site access, and ensures all workers and equipment are accounted for before the track is returned to service.

Strategic Scheduling

Track closures disrupt services, so they are carefully scheduled during off-peak times, such as overnight hours. For larger projects, operators may plan “possession weekends,” lasting 48 hours or more. These extended closures allow for significant upgrades, minimizing the need for repeated disruptions.

Common Activities During Rail Possession

The work carried out during possessions varies in scope, from routine checks to major infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure Replacement

Railway components like tracks, sleepers, and ballast have finite lifespans. Possessions provide an opportunity to replace aging parts. Specialized machinery is often used to lift and replace track sections efficiently, ensuring precise alignment for smoother rides and reduced wear on trains.

Major Construction

For network expansion or modernization, longer possessions are required. These projects may involve building new bridges, upgrading signaling systems, or modifying tracks to accommodate larger trains or electrification. Such upgrades are critical for improving capacity and efficiency.

Routine Maintenance

Not all possessions involve large-scale work. Routine tasks, such as inspecting tracks, testing signals, and clearing vegetation, are equally important for preventing delays and ensuring safety.

Operational Procedures

Rail possessions follow a well-defined process to ensure safety and efficiency.

Taking Possession

Before work begins, the designated track section is formally closed. All signals are set to danger, and the section is cleared of trains. Only after these safety measures are confirmed is the track declared under possession.

Giving Up Possession

At the end of the possession, the site is inspected to ensure it is safe for train operations. All equipment and personnel are removed, and control is returned to train operators. This process, known as “giving up possession,” ensures the track is ready for normal service.

Possession Management

Successful rail possession requires meticulous planning. Closures are scheduled months or even years in advance to align with the needs of passengers, freight operators, and contractors. Detailed logistics ensure materials, labor, and equipment are ready, maximizing productivity during the closure.

Exploring Rail Possession with DELMIA Rail Service, Fleet, and Crew Planning

DELMIA Quintiq Rail Service, Fleet, & Crew Planning  enhances rail possession management by aligning maintenance schedules with crew and rolling stock availability. This includes:

Integrated Multidisciplinary Planning: Eliminates siloed decision-making by integrating network, service, rolling stock, and crew planning.

Comprehensive Planning Horizon: Covers long-term (tactical), short-term (pre-operative), and real-time operational planning, enabling quick responses to disruptions and strategic decision-making.

Demand-Driven Service Schedules: Balances customer satisfaction and efficiency by creating timetabled or on-demand services while resolving service conflicts with advanced detection capabilities.

Efficient Rolling Stock Plans: Maximizes rolling stock utilization, reduces empty repositioning, and ensures robust plans by considering maintenance and availability.

Comprehensive Crew Scheduling: Incorporates driver skills, route knowledge, preferences, and labor rules to create efficient and adaptable crew schedules.

Conclusion

Rail possession is a critical aspect of railway maintenance and engineering. While it causes temporary disruptions, it ensures long-term safety and reliability. By creating controlled work zones and adhering to strict procedures, operators maintain infrastructure that meets today’s demands and prepares for future growth. Effective possession management is essential to keeping rail networks safe, efficient, and ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

Discover A New Approach to Rail Possession Time Management.

DELMIA’s Back to Basics blog series is your go-to resource for foundational insights into manufacturing, operations, and supply chain management. Designed for both newcomers and those seeking a refresher, this series delves into core topics and addresses key industry questions. Explore the essentials with DELMIA today.

Challenge

Daimler Truck set out to develop a new powertrain concept for a fully electric truck, aiming to optimize both range and performance. The team needed a way to evaluate innovative electric axle systems early in the design process.

Solution

Leveraging the capabilities of SIMULIA’s Simpack multibody system simulation software, Daimler Truck was able to simulate and validate new electric axle systems at a detailed system level, early in the development cycle. By integrating multibody and finite element models early in development, the team could identify potential issues and optimize performance before physical prototypes are built.

Results

• Enabled early-stage simulation and validation of a new rear axle design
• A shared model ensures consistency and reduces duplication
• Facilitated the creation of finite element and multibody system models
• Reduced dependency on costly prototypes and physical testing, expediting development

—

For over 100 years, Daimler Truck has led innovation in the commercial vehicle sector. “Our core purpose is ‘we work for all who keep the world moving’,” said Marc Lässing, a computer-aided engineering expert at the company. “That purpose has remained unchanged since the beginning and drives everything we do.”

Today, Daimler Truck’s approach to innovation is focused heavily on developing more sustainable logistics solutions. However, integrating electric propulsion into heavy-duty trucks presents significant engineering challenges.

“To provide the best solutions for our customers – whether that’s trucks that offer long range or high performance – we need to develop entirely new powertrain concepts,” Lässing said. “But that’s not easy, especially when working with electric motors and components that weren’t part of traditional combustion-engine designs.”

Daimler Truck has risen to the challenge with the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 – a fully electric vehicle that redefines standards in performance, engineering, and real-world usability for long-distance haulage. The vehicle, which was named ‘International Truck of the Year 2025’, has a real-world range of 500 kilometers on a single charge and can cover well over 1,000 kilometers per day with intermediate charging during statutory driver breaks.

To achieve this impressive range, Daimler Truck had to rethink the entire rear axle design of the vehicle. “The compact design of the new axle allows for more space for batteries and other components essential for long-range electric driving,” Lässing said.

This is where simulation has played a vital role – delivering early insights that helped accelerate the development process.

“We use simulation early in the development process – what we call ‘front-loading’,” Lässing said. “Before any physical prototypes are built, we can simulate loads, forces and accelerations.”

SIMULIA’s Simpack software solution was particularly useful for developing the rear axle system, enabling designers to create finite element and multibody system models. “Simpack has been our key simulation tool for the last 25-30 years,” Lässing said. “We’ve built strong internal expertise with it and we use it across different teams. It has a wide variety of predefined elements and modules, which makes it easier and faster to build models with different levels of complexity.”

Lässing is particularly impressed with how, using Simpack, Daimler Truck can build a single model that can serve multiple teams. “If every team created its own simulation model, we’d end up with many divergent versions over time,” he said. “By using a shared model that supports varying levels of detail, we ensure consistency and reduce duplication. Each team can adjust the model as needed for their specific analysis.”

This approach has clearly paid off. Building and testing prototypes is expensive and time-consuming, but simulation helps Daimler Truck identify problems earlier and develop more efficient solutions faster. It’s no surprise, then, that Simpack will remain central to the company’s simulation strategy for the years to come.

“The Mercedes star will continue to stand for modern, powerful and efficient trucks,” Lässing said. “Tools like Simpack, which allow us to do the simulation work we need efficiently and effectively, will remain crucial as we face new challenges, particularly as we push further into electromobility and digital development processes.”

A NASA-awarded aerospace mechanism didn’t start in a laboratory or with complex equations. It started on a mountain trail, with a bag of chips swelling under low pressure. For Fabien, curiosity is not a soft skill, it is a design method. Through the Static Pressure Launch (SPL), he demonstrates how CATIA, MODSIM, and Generative Design can translate a simple physical law into a flight-ready system, without stored energy, pyrotechnics, or complexity.

Curiosity as a Design Engine: Where SPL Really Began

Fabien Chancel’s work has always lived at the intersection of intuition and calculation. Trained as both a designer and an engineer, he never separated emotion from precision.

Engineering gives me the skeleton, and design gives me the soul.

That mindset shaped SPL long before any CAD model existed. The breakthrough came from observation: a bag of chips inflating at altitude, quietly demonstrating the power of pressure differential.

What I was holding wasn’t just a bag of chips. It was a perfect little physics experiment.

Instead of fighting the environment, SPL was conceived to use the atmosphere itself as an energy source, turning a natural pressure difference into controlled motion. No stored energy. No added force. Just physics, doing what it already wants to do.

From Hands to Numbers: Prototyping, AI, and Physical Truth

Before launching CATIA, Fabien built SPL with LEGO Technic, a deliberate choice.

Sometimes, the best way to understand a concept is to think with your hands.

The LEGO prototype revealed movement, friction, and balance. But intuition needed magnitude. That’s when AI entered the process, not as an answer engine, but as a quantification partner.

AI is not the painter. It’s the mirror.

Together, they explored pressure curves, Boyle’s law, altitude effects, and force conversion. The results were clear and elegant:

• ~10 kPa pressure difference at 27 km
• ~150 N of force on a 50 mm piston
• 11 m/s ejection speed for a 1.3 kg probe

At that point, intuition and physics aligned. SPL was ready to become geometry.

CATIA, MODSIM, and Generative Design: Turning Physics into Form

Launching CATIA marked the transition from concept to reality.

CATIA is more than a design tool. It’s a laboratory of imagination.

Using MODSIM, Fabien modeled and simulated SPL as a single, continuous process, adjusting air volume, piston travel, and friction while watching the mechanism move in real time.

To ensure industrial feasibility, Festo off-the-shelf components were integrated directly into the CATIA assembly. No speculative parts. No fantasy engineering.

Simulation validated performance.
Generative Design shaped the structure, light, skeletal, efficient.

The best designer in the room is still nature.

The final system was compact, silent, and buildable: a sealed chamber that naturally stores energy during ascent and releases it in less than 0.1 seconds, without explosions, gas cartridges, or risk.

Conclusion

The Static Pressure Launch is more than a mechanism. It is a statement. A reminder that innovation does not always come from adding power, but from listening more carefully to the laws already in place.

With CATIA, simulation, and a philosophy rooted in curiosity, Fabien Chancel turned an everyday observation into a NASA-winning design. From pressure to release. From Earth to sky. From curiosity to creation.

FAQ

• How can we define MODSIM ?

MODSIM unifies the power of CATIA modeling and SIMULIA simulation on a common data model within a single user experience on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

• How was CATIA used in the Static Pressure Launch project?

CATIA was used to model, simulate, and validate the SPL mechanism using MODSIM, enabling real-time interaction between geometry and physics.

• What role did simulation play in the SPL design?

Simulation confirmed that atmospheric pressure differences at altitude could generate enough force to eject a probe safely and predictably.

• Why is MODSIM critical for this type of project?

MODSIM allows modeling and simulation to evolve together, reducing iteration time and ensuring physical accuracy early in design.

• How did generative design contribute to SPL?

Generative design optimized the structure for strength and weight, creating an organic geometry aligned with physical loads.

• What makes SPL different from traditional aerospace launch mechanisms?

SPL uses no stored energy, no pyrotechnics, and no compressed gas, only natural atmospheric pressure, controlled through design.

Want to see the behind-the-scenes of Fabien’s work ?

Click here to see his approach and workflow

Who is Daniel Pyzak?

Daniel Pyzak is graduated in Mechanical Engineering.

He has more than 42 years of experience in CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM.

After positions held in technical support and product management in various CAD/CAM/CAE companies (Cisi, Cisigraph, Matra Datavision), he joined Dassault Systèmes Provence in 1999 to manage the Competency Center. The main activities of DSP Competency Center are around Tooling, Manufacturing both Substractive and Additive, Reverse Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, Data Exchanges.

21 years ago, he started to manage a European CATIA Technical team, dealing with the full spectrum of CATIA Engineering solutions… and since the beginning of 2020, he’s part of  the worldwide CATIA Industry Process Success organization in charge of CATIA Mechanical Engineering with a special focus on Lightweighting (Generative Design , Composites, Mold & Die….), MODSIM (Modeling & Simulation), Additive Manufacturing and Sustainability.