Altair and Summitech Develop New Methodology for Vehicle Chassis System Development
New process targets reductions in resources, timing, and costs for OEM’s and value chain
TROY, Mich., Jan. 14, 2010 – Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of technology and services that empowers client innovation and decision-making, announced today that Altair ProductDesign has collaborated with Summitech Engineering, a subsidiary of Tempo Group, to develop an efficient method for creating correlated passenger car multi-body dynamics (MBD) models without requiring OEM information. The process employs a combination of computer simulation and physical testing performed at Altair’s Troy, Mich. world headquarters and Summitech’s, Detroit Technical Center in Canton, Mich.
Summitech partnered with Altair ProductDesign for its broad expertise in chassis development, including subjective vehicle evaluations, objective lab and proving ground measurement, target setting, MBD model creation and correlation, CAE driven design and vehicle development. The goal of this initial engagement was to establish a repeatable process, without requiring OEM and supplier data and resources, that allows a deeper understanding of benchmark vehicles and determination of baseline performances to employ simulation-driven design methods.
“We are delighted with the methodology this partnership has produced,” said Dr Hong Su, Engineering Director Summitech Engineering. “Using a combination of Summitech facilities, Altair MotionSolve software, and the experiences of both organizations, we have successfully created correlated vehicle dynamics models of two very different vehicles. These models will be central to the optimal design of future vehicle components.”
Tony Norton, Land Vehicles Practice Leader at Altair ProductDesign, stated “The model building process starts with key benchmark data and judicious population of half car models. After a comparison with kinematics and compliance test results, full vehicle models are assembled. The process has provided great correlation with the proving grounds data measured by our team.”
About Altair ProductDesign
Altair ProductDesign is a global, multi-disciplinary product development consultancy of more than 500 designers, engineers, scientists, and creative thinkers. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Altair Engineering, Inc. (
www.altair.com), this cross-functional organization is best known for its leadership in simulation driven innovation. Altair ProductDesign firmly advocates a user-centered, team-based design approach and uses proprietary simulation and optimization technologies to help clients bring innovative, profitable products to market faster. To learn more, please visit
www.altairproductdesign.com.
About Altair
Altair Engineering, Inc., empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for product design, advanced engineering software, advanced computing technologies and enterprise analytics solutions, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit
www.altair.com.
About Summitech Engineering
Summitech Engineering, Inc. is the North American engineering base for the Tempo Group. Tempo is a conglomerate of vehicle and auto part manufacturing entities founded during the 1980’s in China. Summitech’s mission is to develop automotive chassis systems and components for clients, either in China or the rest of the world. Summitech supports Tempo’s sales to the OEM’s or Tier-1’s with engineering services, and its capabilities span the entire product life cycle. To learn more, please visit
www.summitechinc.com.