Software partnerships add components, flexibility to several applications

By Control Engineering Staff September 6, 2005

San Rafael, CA; Fort Collins, CO — Partnerships between several major software vendors are extending and expanding application of best-in-class services and best practices to more users. Collaborative players include Autodesk and Parker Hannifin, and CoCreate Software and Virtual Services.

Autodesk Inc. and Parker Hannifin Corp. are collaborating to include Parker component designs directly into Autodesk Inventor’s Content Center 3-D mechanical design software. The expanded relationship between the software firm and motion and control technologies and systems manufacturer is aimed at providing engineers with best-in-class software and services.

The Content Center addition will speed design functions for Autodesk customers and allow early collaborative relationships between Parker engineers and engineers who use Parker for their designs. Parker has deployed Autodesk Inventor Series and Professional software among its core design tools, and has recently signed a three-year agreement giving 800 of its engineers access to the Autodesk software.

On another software front, CoCreate Software Inc. announced it has added Virtual Services , a major provider of engineering solutions to the automotive industry, to its partner program as an authorized reseller of OneSpace.net and other products. CoCreate is a supplier of flexible CAD and collaborative PLM software applications.

Virtual Services is a system integrator and value-added reseller that provides best practices and technologies needed for the product development process, from new business acquisition through product launch. The company will sell and recommend CoCreate products to clients working with automotive suppliers, a relationship reportedly having growing importance in major automotive supply chains. Combined expertise of the two firms is said to equip suppliers with technologies, processes, and knowledge they need to work effectively across multiple tiers of the supplier community.

—Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jeanine Katzel, senior editor
jkatzel@reedbusiness.com