How to achieve sustainable innovation with digital twins

More accessible technology

Dassault Systémes describes itself as a world leader in sustainable innovation. More specifically, it is about digital solutions that enable all kinds of testing and verification before the product is actually manufactured. Opportunities that challenge traditional industry through faster, cheaper and more sustainable product development.

  - We see this today in the automotive industry, where for a long time there was only a small number of companies that owned 90% of the market. Now new companies have come in and are producing electrified products in a very short time at a lower cost. Why can they do it? Well, because the technology makes it possible," says Thomas Andersson.

  An important part of the development is cloud computing - that is, cloud-based services - which make digital technology much more accessible, even for smaller companies, in terms of both economy and performance.

  - Companies can build their product virtually, do all the testing, send it for market analysis and 3D print it - all at a fraction of the cost of a prototype. And with minimal impact on the environment," says Thomas Andersson.

Sustainability with digital twins

Around the same time that United Airlines flew the Boeing 777 for the first time in scheduled service, the SolidWorks CAD system was introduced in the Nordic region. It is through SolidWorks - and other well-known programs such as Catia - that Dassault Systèmes gives the manufacturing industry the ability to test a product from idea all the way to the end consumer.

Not least thanks to the new 3DEXPERIENCE cloud-based platform, which brings together all the elements required for innovative product development in real time in one place.

  - With 3DEXPERIENCE you can, for example, invite suppliers, end-users or other people you consider important to design and manufacture your particular product. All this before there is a physical product. We think it's very timely now that we're facing rising raw material prices and a greater focus on sustainable products. If we can get manufacturing companies to work with this concept instead of traditional testing, we'll all be doing a service on the journey towards a more sustainable society," says Thomas Andersson, who continues:

   - The environment is a focus for us and this means increased traceability of products throughout their life cycle. How are they shipped? What happens when they are discarded? The beauty of 3DExperience is that you do everything from design through testing to customer experience in a single platform. All the data is in one place and you choose who or what has access to the data during the product development process.

Technology for every business

In principle, you can make a digital twin of anything, as long as there is a product at the core. It could be an aircraft like the Boeing 777, a toy, a piece of furniture or even a human heart. The latter has been developed by Dassault Systèmes in partnership with the US Food and Drug Administration, among others.

  - We believe that we have come so far now in terms of technology and hardware that we can take the Boeing 1989 virtual twin concept to smaller companies. The availability is completely different today and the technology has matured, so any company can use it.

  This is also the starting point for Dassault Systèmes at Elmia Subcontractor. For the first time in years, the company is exhibiting at its own stand and at the Subcontractor Tech Arena. The increased accessibility means that there is a strong focus on SMEs in virtually all industries and sectors. 

  - Elmia Subcontractor has a focus that makes it the show to be at. For us, it is the perfect forum both to show what has been produced and how technology can create opportunities for a small contracting company. There are no excuses anymore, you can't say it's too advanced or it costs too much, if you want to produce sustainable products the technology is there. It can be difficult to know how to start the journey and this is where we can offer new business models with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as the hub of the product development," says Thomas Andersson.

Facts: Dassault Systèmes

Founded: 1981, as an independent part of Dassault Aviation, part of the Dassault Group.

Headquarters: Vélizy-Villacoublay, France.

Number of employees: around 20,000 in 140 countries.

Business: provides software solutions in 3D and PLM.

Known brands: CATIA, SolidWorks, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA and 3dvia.

Latest News: Exhibiting at Elmia Subcontractor 2022 in its own stand for the first time in many years, and participating in the Subcontractor Tech Arena.

Subcontractor Tech Arena

Showcases innovative and successful cases from companies working to digitally make industry smarter. The arena also includes a stage that will be filled with lectures highlighting digital technology in different contexts.

The Tech Arena is the place for exciting new solutions!