InnovMetric Case Study
Market: Point Cloud Processing



Summary
InnovMetric wanted their 3D point cloud processing software to offer the same CAD import capabilities that are available from large software companies. One of their priorities was to offer nearly 100% flawless import of CATIA v5.
InnovMetric selected Spatial’s 3D InterOp software for its high-end CAD translators, particularly its ability to flawlessly exchange CATIA v4 and v5 data. In addition, the frequent releases and service packs that Spatial offers enables InnovMetric to maintain competitive edge.

We are excited to be working with Spatial. We feel its InterOp translators have been a great asset to our product development and we look forward to using its translators to improve the future of PolyWorks.
The Company
Founded in 1994, InnovMetric Software Inc. pioneered the market for software that transforms high-density 3D digitizers into true metrology instruments. A privately owned company, InnovMetric’s PolyWorks® inspection and modeling solutions are
at work daily in more than 30 countries, providing users such as BMW, Boeing, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Porsche and Toyota with the most complete, accurate, and robust 3D point cloud processing software solution on the market.

The Challenge
CAD Translation for Inspection and Modeling Software
InnovMetric wanted to offer the same CAD import capabilities in its products that are available from large software companies. To be competitive in the automotive and aerospace industries it’s imperative for the company to offer nearly 100% flawless import of CATIA v5. It wouldn’t be cost-effective for InnovMetric to try to develop a data exchange capability itself because commercially available products already exist to solve this problem. So it sought out a reasonably priced, effective third party tool to meet its high demands and expectations.



The Solution
In 2002, InnovMetric found the answer in 3D InterOp translator technology from Spatial and has been integrating it into PolyWorks ever since. Spatial’s InterOp components allow it to offer high-end CAD import capabilities and increase its penetration in large automotive and aerospace accounts. “Naturally we turned to Spatial,” said InnovMetric President Marc Soucy. Spatial’s InterOp translators provide InnovMetric access to stable and actively-developed high-end CAD translators, which the company is highly comfortable passing along to its customers. InnovMetric’s customers expect to have as flawless import as possible without any translation errors and full content of the files available.
Spatial’s 3D InterOp translators enable InnovMetric’s customers to easily integrate advanced 3D data interoperability capabilities into applications that use 3D information, including CAD/CAM/CAE applications; data management systems, such as PDM/PLM collaboration systems; and visualization applications. “Spatial’s CAD translation technology has reached a great level of maturity – it’s a very, very good product,” notes Soucy. After the initial integration of the InterOp library into its PolyWorks application, InnovMetric has reached a point where adding a translator now takes less than an hour because of the Connect API.



The Results
InnovMetric purchased Spatial’s 3D InterOp so that it wouldn’t be faced with the resource, economic, and time-to-market challenges that would have come with developing the technology itself. “We’ve been working with Spatial on the development of the library since the beginning and are pleased that our recommendations and requests are continually being factored into new releases and service packs.” Spatial’s business model is flexible and accommodating to a company such as InnovMetric that may be small in size but needs to cater to some of the world’s largest companies.
Spatial enables InnovMetric to be very competitive in the CAD translator market. In its largest accounts, most of the sales come with either a UG or CATIA translator; sometimes customers buy both CATIA v4 and v5. The company finds its biggest advantage in the fact that Spatial’s CATIA v5 - used by almost all automotive
companies - stays in the native CATIA libraries, as opposed to a reverse engineering translator. Plus, because it’s such a stable technology, customers can expect nearly 100% flawless import without translation errors, according to Soucy.
Key Insights
Solutions
InnovMetric was able to integrate 3D InterOp in less than an hour because of the Connect API. The frequent releases and service packs that Spatial offers enables InnovMetric to maintain competitive edge.Download the Full Case Study
Want to see a more detailed breakdown of how InnovMetric put 3D InterOp to work for their application? Download the full case study by clicking below.
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