ZERO ZONE, INC.Desiging the best display freezers on the market with SolidWorks software

Zero Zone, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of display coolers, freezers, and refrigerated cases. For years, company engineers used AutoCAD® to design its products. In 1997, according to Project Engineer Owen Warr, Zero Zone hired an engineer intern who had experience using the SolidWorks® 3D CAD software system.

“The intern asked to use SolidWorks software on the project he was assigned,” Warr recalls. “Within months, the amount and quality of his work was a real eye-opener. In one week, he was able to design a complete product with four different-sized variations. We were impressed with the intern’s effort, and realized that 3D modeling could provide significant advantages over 2D.”

Although Zero Zone engineers had a good impression of SolidWorks software, they decided to compare it against another CAD system to confirm their choice. “We also reviewed Pro/ENGINEER®,” Warr explains. “But we wanted something that was easy to work with and ran effectively on Windows NT®. We believe we made a wise choice.”

Zero Zone standardized on SolidWorks software because of its ease of use, sheet-metal features, configuration capabilities, large assembly functionality, and compatibility with other engineering and desktop applications.

Configuring sheetmetal assembliesZero Zone products comprise large assemblies of 1,000 to 2,000 individual parts, many of which are fashioned out of sheet metal, with a minimum of four different configurations per product. Warr says the sheet-metal, interference checking, and configuration capabilities in SolidWorks software have enabled Zero Zone to reduce prototyping costs, expand its product line, and increase sales dramatically. “All of our products are variations on an existing theme, and we work heavily with sheet metal,” Warr points out. “With SolidWorks software, we can create a model once and use design tables to create several different-sized configurations automatically. In the past, we had to develop each configuration individually, which took time. We have also eliminated a large percentage of our prototyping costs. The main benefit is the ability to use collision/interference detection to check for fit and function before building a prototype.

C A S E S T U D Y

Results:• Shortened design cycle by 66 percent

• Increased sales by 335 percent

• Reduced ECO process by 85 percent

• Cut number of prototypes by 78 percent

Zero Zone relies heavily on SolidWorks software sheet-metal and large assembly capabilities to design its products, such as the freezer case design shown here.

“SolidWorks software provides the sheet-metal functionality we need,” he adds. “We make extensive use of this functionality in combination with configurations. Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. has been very responsive in adding new features. We believe SolidWorks software is one of the best design packages out there for handling sheet metal.”

Slashing the design cycle, boosting salesZero Zone has reduced its engineering change order (ECO) process by 85 percent, slashed prototype production by 78 percent, compressed its product design cycle from nine to three months (66 percent), expanded its product line, and increased sales from 3,724 to 12,500 cases per year, an increase of 335 percent. Warr credits CATI, Zero Zone’s SolidWorks software reseller, for providing the training and support services that helped the company successfully transition to 3D.

“There were uncertainties in 2D, and tasks that are no longer necessary,” Warr says. “SolidWorks software makes us more efficient, and enables us to do things that were impossible before. For example, we can customize our products on an as-ordered basis with fast turnaround. A customer can order a customized unit, and we can design, manufacture, and ship the special-order product in just four to six weeks.”

Leveraging compatible solutionsZero Zone has also improved the quality of its products, accelerated the development of product documentation, and enhanced design communication by leveraging complementary applications, including elements of SolidWorks Office, now called SolidWorks Premium.

“We use SolidWorks Simulation for component analysis and SolidWorks Simulation Premium for assembly analysis, maximizing our load capacity. We use analysis software to determine the effects of temperature on shelving materials,” Warr notes.

“We also use SolidWorks Flow Simulation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to evaluate our air curtain. When a consumer opens one of our freezer doors, it interrupts the air curtain. We use CFD to prevent condensation, ice buildup, and other adverse effects.”

Zero Zone uses components of SolidWorks Premium, such as SolidWorks Toolbox for purchased parts, PhotoWorks™ for graphics creation, and SolidWorks eDrawings® for communicating with vendors and customers. The QuickSilver DDM PDM package, which the company uses for revision control, also generates eDrawings information automatically.

Warr adds that engineers download models of valves, switches, and relays from 3D ContentCentral® and use a combination of SolidWorks software, PhotoWorks, Visio®, and Microsoft® Word to develop product manuals.

SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ©2010 Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. MKZERCSENG1110

“WE BELIEVE SOLIDWORKS SOFTWARE IS ONE OF THE BEST DESIGN PACKAGES OUT THERE FOR HANDLING SHEET METAL.”Owen WarrProject Engineer

Using SolidWorks software, Zero Zone is able to design complete lines of its refrigeration display cases in 66 percent less time and with 78 percent fewer prototypes.

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. 300 Baker Avenue Concord, MA 01742 USA Phone: 1 800 693 9000 Outside the US: +1 978 371 5011 Email: info@solidworks.com www.solidworks.com

Zero Zone, Inc. 110 North Oakridge Drive North Prairie, WI 53153-9792 Phone: +1 262 392 6400 www.zero-zone.com