Using Solidworks®, Herbold Meckesheim creates and visualizes 3D layouts of large machine lines. The task is particularly challenging due to the highly complex, detailed assemblies that make up Herbold’s systems. With Lino® Simplify, the company found the right solution to streamline its designs.
To recycle plastic waste into valuable raw materials on an industrial scale, Herbold Meckesheim GmbH develops powerful machines that turn incoming materials into pure plastic flakes. For this purpose, the long-established company designs and builds plant systems up to 200 meters in length. These consist of shredders, granulators, hot washing units, dryers, agglomerators, and other machines, all designed using the 3D CAD system Solidworks.
CAD software plays a central role in this process: Herbold not only constructs individual assemblies and machines in it, but also designs entire layouts for complete production lines and systems. These layouts are used consistently throughout—from sales discussions to project implementation at the customer’s site. Because even the smallest components defined during design flow into the layouts, they are extremely detailed, and this also increases the file size of each layout.
Processing and visualizing this data pushes even powerful IT hardware to its limits: Opening large layouts or making minor changes often caused hardly acceptable waiting times. In addition, Herbold wanted a simple way to selectively hide individual assemblies in Solidworks. After all, innovations and intellectual property must remain protected even when layouts are shared with third parties.
The special-purpose machinery manufacturer found an immediately convincing solution with Lino GmbH and its Solidworks add-on, Lino Simplify. This software is precisely designed for such challenges: drastically reducing the data volume of assemblies and selectively hiding sensitive details. For Herbold, seamless integration into Solidworks was another key advantage. Employees quickly became comfortable within the familiar software environment and were soon producing impressively simplified 3D layouts.
Step by step, Herbold Meckesheim is replacing old layouts created from unsimplified models with new, streamlined versions. In doing so, the company benefits from customized adjustments to the Lino solution that fit perfectly into Herbold’s workflow. This flexibility is part of Lino Simplify’s DNA: within each layout, Herbold can freely define which elements should be simplified and to what degree. As a result, technological innovations remain protected even when detailed 3D visualizations are shared.
Most importantly, the lightweight models can be easily exported as Parasolid or STEP files and opened effortlessly on laptops or tablets. They help clarify details with customers and support installers and assembly teams on-site. Almost as a side effect, Herbold Meckesheim is significantly speeding up its internal processes—delivering more projects in less time than ever before.
