Press Release
» Black Ops Brothers’ Create Jaw-Dropping Vehicles with SolidWorks
Twins from Maine Grow Up Tinkering, Become Prime Defense Contractor
CONCORD, Mass., USA, Feb. 15, 2011 – At eight years old, they built a log cabin with a new hatchet. At 10 years, a robotic arm from bike parts. At 27 years, the world’s fastest robotic tank and, now, the smallest all-terrain armored vehicle.
Today, with the help of SolidWorks® software, the Howe twins, Geoff and Mike, are able to invent extreme “Mad Max”-style vehicles with astonishing capabilities. Known in Defense Department R&D circles as the “The Wright brothers of the military,” the prime defense contractors also star in Discovery Channel’s “Black Ops Brothers, Howe & Howe Tech” show.
Through their main business, Howe and Howe Technologies Inc., of Waterboro, Maine, the brothers have produced:
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The Ripsaw® high-speed tank, dubbed “the future of combat” by Popular Science, capable of 80 mph and zero to 50 in 5 seconds;
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“With everything we build, we
take the top technologies available and push them to the limits,” said
President Michael Howe. “We take the same approach when choosing design
and fabrication tools. We want the best software and hardware that we
can find, so we can test the boundaries of what is possible.” After trying other software, Howe and Howe settled on SolidWorks because it’s easy to use and compatible with other tools. “SolidWorks is definitely on the cutting edge of interface design,” Howe said. “It has a short learning curve, and our new engineers pick it up in about a week. We can also output different CAD formats, because SolidWorks plays well with others. This makes us compatible with a wide range of customers.” |
Adopting SolidWorks has dramatically streamlined development. The Howe and Howe team makes extensive use of tools for efficient design of weldments, and 3D models drive plasma torch and CNC cutters. Roll-cage fabrication now takes one-tenth the time, and scrap costs are down by 85 percent.
The success of Howe and Howe Technologies has also attracted the interest of Hollywood. The company recently created a highly modified version of the Ripsaw for use as a prop in an upcoming Hollywood film.
“The efficiencies that we’ve instituted using SolidWorks allow us to compete successfully against the big defense contractors,” Howe notes. “We’ve gone from two guys working off hours to a multi-million dollar research and development company.”
About Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
Dassault Systèmes
SolidWorks Corp.,
a
Dassault Systèmes S.A. subsidiary, is a world leader in 3D solutions
that help millions of engineers and designers succeed through
innovation. Our products deliver an intuitive experience in product
design, simulation, publishing, data management, and environmental
impact assessment. For the latest news, information, or an online
demonstration, visit our Web site (www.solidworks.com)
or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
solutions, Dassault
Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80
countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault
Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that
support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire
lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The
Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of
CATIA for designing the virtual product –
SolidWorks for
3D mechanical design –
DELMIA for virtual production –
SIMULIA for virtual testing –
ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and
3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares
are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA). For more information,
visit
http://www.3ds.com/.
SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation in the US and other countries. 3D VIA is a registered trademark and 3DVIA Composer is a trademark of Dassault Systèmes in the US and other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2010 Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
