Oerlikon Solar selects Intergraph SmartPlant 3D and P&ID design software

HUNTSVILLE, USA: Oerlikon Solar, the leading supplier of high performance solutions for cost-effective mass production of thin film silicon solar modules, has selected Intergraph SmartPlant 3D and P&ID engineering design software to increase productivity and accelerate plant project completion.

With business doubling in just two years, Oerlikon Solar outgrew its previous CAD 2D design software. To meet growth demands, the company chose SmartPlant 3D, Intergraph's next-generation, data-centric 3D design system combined with SmartPlant P&ID.

Oerlikon Solar will use SmartPlant 3D and P&ID for end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. The end-to-end production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both throughput and process technology.

SmartPlant 3D engineering design software is the most productive, highest quality, multi-discipline 3D modeling environment in the world for global multi-office execution of process and power projects. Customers using SmartPlant 3D typically realize 25- to 35-percent initial increases in productivity compared to other systems, higher quality deliverables and shorter schedules.

"After realizing the limitations of our previous design system, we expect to have measurable improvements in the quality of our designs with SmartPlant 3D and P&ID," said Orlando Derungs, project manager Fab Engineering & Planning for Oerlikon Solar. "Our growth necessitates that we maintain a more organized and productive design environment, and we look forward to working with Intergraph to improve our Basic and Detail Engineering."

Gerhard Sallinger, Intergraph Process, Power and Marine president, said: "We are pleased to welcome Oerlikon Solar as a SmartPlant 3D customer, adding a new dimension to our expanding power industry customer base. Oerlikon Solar is a great example of how Intergraph solutions enable our customers to grow and gain a competitive edge."

The ARC Advisory Group, a leading industry analyst firm, ranked Intergraph the No. 1 overall engineering design 3D software and process engineering tools (PET) provider worldwide according to its PET Worldwide Outlook Market Analysis and Forecast through 2013.