Fogg Filler Company uses the integrated Smap3D Plant Design software for the planning and design of its rotary filling, rinsing, capping, and enclosure systems. The combination of P&ID, piping and isometric for 2D / 3D plant and pipeline planning and the smooth exchange of document information with the CAD, ERP and PDM systems ensured consistent processes, that are up to twice more efficient, and a significant increase in productivity.
The company, based in Holland, Michigan, USA, develops filling machines for global customers in the beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries, which are available with a filling bowl up to 12 feet in size and with up to 120 filling valves. To meet the high demands of these industries, filling systems must be designed down to the last detail. Fogg Filler Company therefore uses the plant engineering solution Smap3D Plant Design to design pipes and create pipelines. The software of the same-named provider from Nittendorf near Regensburg, Germany, has the advantage that it works flawlessly with the company's existing systems Solidworks CAD, the custom-built ERP solution and the PDM system Solidworks PDM Professional.
In the design and engineering process, this enables Fogg Filler to exchange document information smoothly and to avoid duplicated information. Jesse Reda, Engineering Manager - Systems, says about Smap3D Plant Design, "We are very happy with how it blends into our PDM workflow so seamlessly. This has saved us considerable time and costs configuring specialized software.”
The intelligent solution combines the creation of 2D flow diagrams, 3D piping design, and isometrics to map the entire design process for the machines that can fill water, antifreeze, but also dairy products. In Smap3D P&ID, all data is available to create the 2D flow diagrams as well as the associated bills of materials (BOM) or to automate recurring tasks. In the next step, all relevant information can be provided to the piping model in Solidworks, that automates the 3D pipeline planning. “With our past process of part numbering and detailing every cut to length pipe, spool weldment, and then plumbing the system we can work up to two times more efficiently with Smap3D. We can then invest this saved time in further improving our processes and in developing new products."
The Smap3D Plant Design team, which consists of knowledgeable and experienced plant design engineers, not only assisted Fogg Filler with on-site implementation, but also continues to provide training and support services, as Maxim Lich, CEO of Smap3D Plant Design, points out: "It is important for us to support customers in the best possible way during implementation and during operation. Fogg Filler can contact our American support team directly - without having to consider the time difference to Europe."
