Leverage Design Across Enterprise

By DE Editors

During National Manufacturing Week in Chicago this week, ActifyInc.,announced SpinFirefor Microsoft Office, a plug-in that works with Microsoft Office. According toActify, the plug-in allows knowledgeworkersto leverage the company’s .3D file format to embed and distribute 2Dand 3D CAD design data across the enterprise.

With SpinFire for Microsoft Office, users can leveragedesign information in common, everyday tasks by delivering CAD informationinto Office documents for quoting and estimating, technical publications,manufacturing specifications, and supplier collaboration materials. Usershave access to 2D and interactive 3D design information, both graphical andtextual, from Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPointand Outlook, without having to access the native CAD system or knowing howto use a CAD system, says the company.

“The exchange of design information has typically been a major pain pointfor manufacturing enterprises,” said Don Richardson, director, manufacturingindustry unit at Microsoft. “SpinFire for Microsoft Office brings a newlevel of collaboration to the enterprise and is a great example of how ISV’sare leveraging the Microsoft Office platform to allow product designinformation to be exchanged easily within the context of an already familiarapplication suite.”

Actify will consider additional Microsoft Office applications for inclusioninSpinFire for Microsoft Office later this year, and the company has already developeda Visio plug-in for Microsoft Japan for use in a pilot program with a largeJapanese manufacturing customer. The plug-in was created so manufacturers couldembed 3D models directly into Visio to allow easy, shop-floor access and reviewof 2D and 3D productdesigns.

SpinFire for Microsoft Office will beavailable in late April and will sellfor $299. For more information or to purchase SpinFire for MicrosoftOffice, please visit the company’s website.