26 March 2012
Why have you developed a 7th generation of TopSolid?
The development of TopSolid’Cam 7 began 6 years ago. Our main motivation behind the development of this generation was to be able to offer a completely rewritten and new software to our users. TopSolid as we currently know it (version 6) has been around since the 1990’s. Our aim with TopSolid 7 is to be the first CAD/CAM software on the market to launch a product line that is completely up-to-date with the technological advances of the 21st century and to offer our customers a future with a new, rewritten software.
Does TopSolid 7 have the same philosophy as version 6?
Yes of course… Missler Software continues to offer a completely integrated CAD/CAM/ERP solution for our customers. We offer tailor-made, integrated solutions for the mechanical engineering, sheetmetal and wood industries. These have and will continue to be the main differentiating points of TopSolid with the competition.
Can you summarize TopSolid’Cam 7 in 3 key points?
I will try but it’s not easy… I would have to insist on PDM, user-interface and performance.
- Firstly with TopSolid’Cam 7 the user is not only working with a geometrcial software but also a solution that has an integrated database. This enables TopSolid’Cam 7 users to easily manage their tools, machines and toolpaths. All drafts and BOMs can be directly consulted within the software by the R&D Department. The end result is significant time gains for the user who can manage all technical data easily and transparently with TopSolid’Cam 7.
- TopSolid’Cam 7 is without a doubt a very user-friendly solution that enables users to be operational very quickly (The software has progressed enormously in terms of user interface compared to version 6). We have developed a software which we believe to be the closest possible to customer needs and is better adapted to modern day CAD/CAM software use. (TopSolid’Cam 7 is native Windows 7).
- Today’s industrial reality shows us that companies produce increasingly complex parts and machines are increasingly sophisticated. Our aim is to provide a CAM software that can manage all these technological advances while offering increased performances for users. TopSolid’Cam 7 easily manages large assemblies and the most complex machines in record times.
- What is Missler Software’s commercial strategy for TopSolid’Cam 7? Is it the same for France as for the export market?
TopSolid’Cam 7 has been available for sale in France since the middle of 2011, in fact we already have about 50 customers. At the moment we are mainly targeting new companies with somewhat « regular » needs; for complex mill turn machining we are waiting for TopSolid’Cam 7.7 which will be ready at the end of 2012. In this version we hope to attain the version 6 level of functions. Throughout this transition period we insist on the new interface and increased performances to attract new customers. Our GOelan customers will progressively migrate to TopSolid’Cam 7 in 2012 offering thus a more modern product that offers full CAD/CAM integration for GOelan users.
In fact France is our test market for TopSolid’Cam 7. For this reason we are somewhat “timid” with this product internationally. We do have some TopSolid’Cam 7 customers in the USA and Italy (we cannot stop the enthusiasm of some of our resellers for this new product generation!) but the real launch will happen from September 2012 onwards.
How can you imagine the cohabitation of the 2 TopSolid generations?
In 2012 we will continue to develop and improve the 2 generations of TopSolid’Cam with new functions in TopSolid’Cam 2012 (version 6) because at the moment TopSolid’Cam 7 has not yet reached the level of functionality of version 6.
In the longer term version 6 will continue to evolve but not very significantly as we will be concentrating all our efforts on TopSolid’Cam 7. At the moment 90% of our technical after-sales support teams work on version 6 and only 10% on TopSolid’Cam 7. Over the coming 4 to 5 years this tendency should be inversed.
What will be the next TopSolid 7th generation product to be developed?
It’s hard to say as the decision depends on several factors. We started the development of the 7th generation for the mechanical engineering sector for milling and turning (and soon for swiss turning) to manage design, manufacturing and data management. The logical order to follow would be toolmaking with TopSolid’Mold, TopSolid’Electrode and TopSolid’Progress. We will then finish the product range with TopSolid’Wood for the wood industry and TopSolid’SheetMetal for the sheetmetal industry.
I would like to finish by saying that Missler Software is for the moment the only CAD/CAM developer to have completely rewritten its CAD/CAM product line. Such an R&D project seemed absolutely necessary for us in order to answer evolving customer needs. By offering a simple-to-use and powerful solution we have a competitive advantage on the market and we can better respond to industrial needs. The future is bright for TopSolid’Cam and its more than 1000 users across the globe.
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