staying competitive advanced technology laser inspection

PROVIDING
AUTOMATION
SOLUTIONS
TO
COMPANIES
AROUND
THE
WORLD
FOR
MORE
THAN
FORTY
TECHSIGHT
YEARS
PRODUCT INNOVATION
STAYING COMPETITIVE
on small lot orders with the new
GERBERcutter Z1.
PAGE 4
MARKET INSIGHT
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
enables Turkey’s clothing
manufacturers to compete
on quality.
PAGE 8
QUALITY CONTROL
LASER
INSPECTION
PAGE 16
MARCH 2012
system enables precise
quality control and generates
detailed customer reports.
EV ERY
C U S TO ME R
I S U NI Q UE
Meet today’s Gerber Customer. He/she is
one of thousands of individuals throughout
the world who relies on Gerber’s automation
solutions to improve his business. But, to
Gerber Technology, he is exquisitely unique
– unique not simply because he does
business in a particular country or speaks a
certain language, but because, every day, he
is looking for ways to improve his business
and serve his customers more effectively.
EDITOR
Deborah Marconi
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Perhaps she manages a global lingerie brand,
and one of her primary challenges is communicating with her many partners around the
world. Or, maybe his company is a supplier of
leather interiors for the world’s largest automotive manufacturer. He may even focus solely
on manufacturing composite fuselages for the
airline industry’s newest commercial aircraft.
Whatever he does, it’s unique. And our team of sales, applications and technical support specialists thrive on helping him improve his business processes.
For our team, success is being able to successfully share best practices with
the customer to drive improvement. And, by working closely with thousands of
customers over the last 40 years, our experts have uncovered some best practices that are sure to give you an advantage over your competitors. Thanks for
letting us continue to serve your automation needs.
Betty Comolli
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Yvonne Heinen
Chris Xiang
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jeff Dehaes
Tom Tiernan, President & CEO
Gerber Technology
Read Tom’s bio
contents
4 STAYING COMPETITIVE
on small lot orders with the new GERBERcutter Z1 single-ply cutting system and its optional
part identification/part recut station.
8
page 4
ADVANCED AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS
enables Turkey’s clothing manufacturers to bolster production of high-quality, read-to-wear
garments and fend off competition from Asia.
10 RELEASE OF ACCUMARK 8.5 SOFTWARE
simplifies many day-to-day tasks including generating orders and planning markers and offers
improved integration with Gerber’s YuniquePLM software.
12
VIETNAM’S GARMENT PRODUCERS
gain the respect of foreign trading partners and meet firm customer deadlines through the use of
high-tech pattern design, material spreading and cutting solutions.
16 LASER INSPECTION SYSTEM
page 8
enables precise quality control by rapidly inspecting parts and generating detailed reports that
instill customer confidence.
18
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
and its Vanity Fair, Russell Athletic and Spalding divisions will rely on Gerber’s YuniquePLM
page 12
page 10
software to share tech packs, track individual responsibilities and workflows and communicate
with global suppliers.
20 WITNESS GERBER’S AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS IN ACTION
at industry trade shows around the world. Connect with Gerber’s product, industry and
applications experts who can help you find the right solutions for your business challenges.
page16
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 3
P R O D U C T I N N OVAT I O N
STAYING
PRICE COMPET
on small lot orders with the new GERBERcutter Z1.
4
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 TITIVE
I
F YOU’RE AN OUTDOOR
sporting and recreation enthusiast, chances are you’ve seen
Commercial Sewing’s canvas
covers for boats, snowmobiles,
motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and
personal watercrafts.
The company’s customer list is a
“Who’s Who” of U.S. sporting companies including Chaparral, Cobalt,
Honda, Kawasaki, MasterCraft,
Polaris and Yamaha, to name a few.
PRODUCT DIVERSITY SHIELDS
AGAINST DOWNTURNS
“Our product line is more diverse
today than ever before,” explains
David Mazzarelli, vice president of
Engineering and Research for the
family-owned company. “While this
diversity helps shield us from downturns in one market, it makes managing the business – everything from
new product development, to operations, to customer service – more
complex.” Commercial Sewing operates according to a just-in-time production strategy that focuses on minimizing in-process inventory. It is a
“soup-to-nuts” business that handles
design, material cutting, silk screening, sewing, assembly and even
product prototyping.
Nearly 20 years ago, the company
purchased its first multi-ply
GERBERcutter® to cut material for
large orders. As business grew, they
purchased an additional two cutting
systems, each capable of cutting up
to 7.2 cm. (2.8 inches) of compressed
material. “About five to seven years
ago, we started to notice a shift in how
orders were coming in,” explained
Stephen Mazzarelli, vice president of
Manufacturing. “Rather than ordering
200 units at one time, we were getting
requests for two and three units at
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 5
one time. It was difficult to be price competitive when we were
taking time away from cutting multiple plies of material for large
orders to cutting material to produce only two or three snowmobile covers.” So, the company relegated an older multi-ply
cutter to cutting single plies of material.
VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER
In April of last year, Stephen was made aware that Gerber was
in the final stages of design on its new single-ply cutting system
that could significantly improve his throughput. Commercial
Sewing agreed to
serve as a beta
test site for the new
GERBERcutter
Z1. In November,
they purchased
the system. “We’re
delighted by what
the Z1 is doing for
us. Based on the
time and motion
s tu d i e s w e ’ ve
conducted, results show that the Z1 is five times faster than
our older cutter and produces much more accurately cut parts
and precise notches. And by being a beta test site, we had an
opportunity to recommend enhancements to the system that
we wanted.”
The GERBERcutter Z1 is the next generation computer-controlled, automated cutting system and the optimal solution for
single- and low-ply cutting of a wide range of challenging composite materials, upholstery fabric and technical textiles. It is
designed using a distributed control system that improves processing power and reliability and enables options like part identification devices to be easily added. Powerful Axis™ software
delivers comprehensive reports and delivers multiple productivity enhancements, including job queue functionality, that
enable simultaneous loading of all jobs to be cut during an
entire shift or day’s work. The cutting head accommodates up
to three cutting,
notching and
punching tools as
well as a pen for
annotation.
“...the GERBERcutter Z1 is five times faster
than our older cutter and produces much more
accurately cut parts and precise notches.”
6
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 Terry, a 35-year
veteran
of
Commercial
Sewing,
was
charged with
learning
to
operate the new GERBERcutter Z1 system and for providing feedback to Gerber’s engineering and product management teams throughout the testing process. She noted, “The
only exposure I’ve ever had to computers was with our older
cutting system. I don’t even use email at home. But, this was
P R O D U C T I N N OVAT I O N
so easy to learn, and it enables me to work so much faster, I
can’t imagine life without it now. I challenge myself to keep up
with it. If I can pick all the cut parts without allowing any to drop
on the floor, I’ve really accomplished something.”
After purchasing the GERBERcutter Z1, Commercial Sewing
added an optional part identification/part recut station. “This
station helps me recognize the smaller cut parts in a nest as I
pick them,” Terry said. “And if there’s a flaw in my material, all
I have to do is touch the part or parts on the screen that I want
to recut, and the system adds it to the end of the job.” On this
day, Terry was cutting a mooring cover for a 27-foot Cobalt
luxury powerboat – a product comprised of 54 individual parts.
“After weathering the economic downturn of the past few years,
last year was one of our most successful,” noted Stephen. “Of
course, much of that is due to everyone carefully considering
every dollar we spend, but it’s also a result of investments in
automation. Last year, our production folks worked about 28
percent less to generate nearly the same revenues as we did
in 2008, and our cutting team operated at 40 percent above
target. It’s obvious to us that improving our internal efficiencies
is the best way for us to remain price competitive.”
LEFT AND RIGHT
Commercial
Sewing designs,
manufactures and
even adds silkscreened logos to
all types of covers
for recreational
vehicles.
CENTER
User testing
revealed the
GERBERcutter Z1
cuts notches much
more accurately
than the company’s
previous cutter.
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 7
MARKET INSIGHT
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
enables Turkey’s clothing manufacturers to compete on quality
rather than price alone.
T
URKEY IS THE FOURTH
LARGEST EXPORTER of
clothing worldwide, according to a global ranking list,
and holds the tenth position in the textile segment – making it
one of the leading textile manufacturing countries in the world. The Turkish
textile and garment industry, which
accounts for 10 percent of the country’s entire gross domestic product and
about 20 percent of the production in
the manufacturing industry, continues
8
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 to be a dominant factor in propelling the country’s overall
economy forward – especially as it relates to income and
employment. Furthermore, this segment accounts for a large
portion of the country’s foreign exchange revenue. The textile
and clothing industry represents the most important export
Turkey has – recently exceeding the US$20 billion mark.
Despite its success, Turkey continues to experience strong
competition from countries in Asia that are able to produce
lower-cost products. But, rather than trying to compete in this
low-price arena by expanding the manufacture of cheaper products (while dealing with high Turkish labor costs, as well as
the strong Turkish lira), Turkey concentrates on increasing
RIGHT
Premium menswear
brand, Ramsey, is
sold throughout
Italy, France and the
U.K., among other
countries.
its production of high-quality textiles and
ready-to-wear garments.
To guarantee improved productivity and
the highest-quality standards, Turkish
clothing manufacturers look to the latest
advanced, contemporary technologies
in the manufacture of their products.
One such company riding the wave of
this trend is Gürmen Giyim. Gürmen
Giyim, a member of the Gürmen Group
of Istanbul, manufactures outerwear for
top-of-the-line menswear brand, Ramsey,
for export to Italy, Germany, France, the
U.K., Russia, Sweden, Belgium and
Israel. One of the details that shine from
the brand’s latest winter season is the
Zero Weight suit weighing 50 percent
less than the traditional suit without sacrificing its elegant look.
In Gürmen Giyim’s production plant in
Safranbolu/Karabük (in northern central
Anatolia), a group of specially-trained
operators, running five GERBERcutter®
GTxL automated cutting systems,
produce approximately 1,450 blazers
and 1,000 trousers daily. A sister production facility, located 60 kilometers away in
electrical costs. With its low initial capital
investment, low cost of ownership, and
superb accuracy and throughput, the
Arac/Kastamonu, produces another 600
blazers and 1,000 trousers, and employs
375 people.
GTxL delivers the best price-performance
in its class.
The GERBERcutter GTxL is ideal for
quick response environments where
cutting high volumes of smaller lots is
essential. The conveyorized system
cuts up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) of compressed
material, using Gerber’s reciprocating
knife technology. It is designed to use longer-lasting consumables and to minimize
“Here at Gürmen Giyim, we are able to
produce our premium menswear products at the highest possible output
levels,” said Managing Director Metin
Saltik. This is, in large part, due to Gerber
Technology’s sophisticated manufacturing automation products – both hardware
and software. We are extremely satisfied
with the high level of technical service for
these products, which is provided locally
by Gerber’s partner, Glengo Teknoloji
A.S. Furthermore, Gerber’s large inventory of consumable parts keeps our
GERBERcutters and GERBERplotters
u p a n d r u n n i n g c o n t i n u a l l y. ”
TOP CLOTHING EXPORTERS
1. China
2. European Union
Extra EU
3. Bangladesh
4. Turkey
5. India
6. Viet Nam
7. Indonesia
8. United States
9. Mexico
10. Thailand
% of world
exports
36.9
28.1
6.3
4.5
3.6
3.2
3.1
1.9
1.3
1.2
1.2
Source: WTO Report, 2011
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 9
NEW SOFTWARE RELEASE
G
ERBER TECHNOLOGY
RELEASED AccuMark®
8.5, its latest version
of the leading pattern
design, grading and
marker making software to improve productivity, simplify workflows and generate
more accurate material costs. The latest
release offers a fresh, new interface and
simplifies many day-to-day tasks, including ordering and planning markers. It also
offers improved integration with Gerber’s
YuniquePLM™ product lifecycle management software.
AccuMark 8.5 includes “Easy Plan” order
planning functionality that enables users
to specify customer order sizes and
quantities by color and set maximum
ply height and number of bundles. The
system then plans the markers and generates the orders automatically to maximize material utilization.
With version 8.5’s “Easy Marking”
enhancements, users can now configure their work area to their liking using
customized hot keys, color palettes and
tool bars. And, because the system now
supports fabric backgrounds, users can
import fabric prints at actual scale, define
repeats and use this information to match
pattern pieces visually. The system also
enables users to enter fabric weight to
calculate material costs more accurately.
AccuMark 8.5 also contains expanded
pattern design functionality that enables
users to quickly create sleeves and create
NEWEST RELEASE
of AccuMark software improves productivity, simplifies workflow and
enables more accurate costing.
10
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 diamond or rhombus-shaped darts. The
latest version also includes improved
grading for pleats and darts and support
for multiple turnback corners and folding
of pleats and darts.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE
ACCUMARK TIP OF THE DAY EMAIL
Mary McFadden, director of CAD
product management for Gerber said,
“Once again, this latest version of
AccuMark delivers improved integration with Gerber’s YuniquePLM system
to save users time by not having to reenter similar information in two systems.
No other company offers state-of-theart pattern design, grading and marker
making functionality and a powerful PLM
system designed specifically for the retail
and apparel market and integrates the
two. Gerber is the only provider that delivers such rich functionality across the
value chain.”
WHAT’S NEW IN ACCUMARK 8.5?
Pattern Design
- New functionality to easily create and edit darts
- All measurements update with pattern changes
- Improved annotation capability
- New functionality to create sleeves
- Multiple asymmetrical folds
- Grade pleats and merge pieces more easily
- More choices for turnback hems
- Modify grading on multiple points and pieces simultaneously
Easy Plan
- Facilitates creation of simple cut plans
- Open models directly from AccuMark Explorer
- Plans the markers and generates orders automatically for
maximum material utilization
- Calculates model combinations based on the sizes, quantities and fabric type in each marker
- Submit orders to Batch to automate process
- Helpful to quickly calculate fabric usage
Easy Order
- Create orders and process markers quickly and easily
- Experienced users can define order templates and select lay limit options for each piece
Import fabric prints at actual scale, define
repeats and use this information to match
pattern pieces visually.
Easy Marking
- Import fabric prints at actual scale, define repeats and use this information to match pattern pieces visually
- Enter fabric weight to calculate material costs more accurately, particularly with knit fabrics
- User configurable work area, including colors, hot keys and tool bars
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 11
MARKET INSIGHT
VIETNAMESE
GARMENT
manufacturers gain respect from foreign trading partners because of
manufacturing automation systems.
Text by John Doe, photos by Doe Johnson
12
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 P
RESTIGIOUS VIETNAMESE
GARMENT MAKER, An Phuoc Co.,
was established in the early 1990s and
began manufacturing jackets on a production line consisting of 30 sewing
machines. Nguyen Thi Dien, general director of An
Phuoc, said that by 1997, the garment manufacturer had recruited about 1,200 workers to make
a broader range of garments, including shirts and
clothing for children. Swamped by the increase in
orders and stricter customer deadlines, Dien and her
colleagues decided to invest in a computer-aided
design (CAD) advanced automation system to assist
in their pre-production process.
training, and a large inventory of consumable parts
– which were critical points in our decision-making
process,” Dien stated. An Phuoc now has 80 shops
nationwide and utilizes four computer-aided design
(CAD) systems. Dien said that these CAD systems
have decreased their design labor by 75 percent.
In other words, a workshop of 500 employees typically needs four workers to design and make markers
manually, but only one technician is needed to run a
CAD system. Another advantage is that if any of An
Phuoc’s partners also use Gerber systems (or even
other CAD systems); they can send patterns and/
or markers directly to workstations via email instead
of by costly and time-consuming courier services.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AT AN PHUOC
The company’s next investment will be in Gerber’s
automatic spreading and cutting systems – which will
further cut labor costs and boost production efficiency.
Then, in mid-1998, after researching all the different options, the company decided to purchase
automated solutions from Gerber Technology. “We
chose Gerber Technology because its systems are
user friendly and very durable. Gerber also offers
strong technical support, including on-site service,
BOTTOM LEFT
An Phuoc employs
3,200 workers in
the manufacture of
4.5 million garments
annually, in addition
to its underwear
and footwear
product lines.
BOTTOM RIGHT
An Phuoc’s factory
in Dong Nai in
southeastern
Vietnam.
IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AT VIET TIEN
Another premier company that attributes part
of its manufacturing success to investing in the
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 13
MARKET INSIGHT
latest advanced technology is Viet Tien, Vietnam’s
leading apparel maker. Tran Minh Cong, deputy
general director of Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock
Corporation, says that Viet Tien was the first local
company to utilize Gerber Technology’s AccuMark
system – the most powerful design, grading and
marker making software for the apparel industry.
14
Tien’s combined revenues from domestic sales and
exports was VND 2.5 trillion (U.S. $119 million).
Over the past decade, Viet Tien has been acquiring more and more automated equipment, and
now its nationwide workshops and subsidiaries utilize a total of 32 Gerber AccuMark pattern
design, grading, marker making and 3D design
simulation workstations, 10 digitizers, 32 plotters,
two Gerber automated spreading systems, and two
GERBERcutter systems. Cong says that Gerber’s
vast experience, combined with its full maintenance, training and customer service offerings,
allows Viet Tien to achieve outstanding productivity.
An Phuoc believes that
foreign trading partners
have a higher level of
respect for the company
because it uses Gerber’s
advanced technology on its
manufacturing floor.
In addition to improved productivity, owing to the
utilization of technically-advanced manufacturing
systems, Viet Tien is also experiencing enhanced
operations and workforce management. This has
resulted in an annual growth of 20-30 percent in
revenue. In the first nine months of last year, Viet
An Phuoc and Viet Tien are just two of nearly 300
local (Vietnamese) customers of Gerber Technology,
which supplies automated CAD, CAM (computeraided manufacturing) and PLM (product lifecycle
management) solutions for industries including
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 The company considers the expenditure of
resources for any goal
other than the creation of real value for
its end-customers to
be wasteful; and purchasing Gerber systems
has been an important
part of upholding that
philosophy.
apparel, aerospace, composites, furniture, automotive, marine and industrial
fabrics. According to Ngo Huy Duong,
general director of Gerber Vietnam,
Gerber now holds 50 percent of the
market share for apparel technology
systems in Vietnam.
VALUE FOR END-CUSTOMERS
AT BOWKER
Besides Vietnamese customers, scores
of apparel companies around the globe
have been investing in Gerber’s automation solutions for over four decades.
One such company is Hong Kong-based
Bowker (Vietnam) Garment Factory Co.,
an adidas® sports clothing manufacturer.
Wielly Chen, the company’s production manager, says that since its establishment in October 2005, Bowker has
used Gerber systems to manufacture its
products.
the creation of real value for its end-customers to be wasteful, and purchasing
Gerber systems has been an important
part of proving that philosophy.
Bowker believes that the strong selling
points of Gerber’s equipment include
quality, speed, and ease of maintenance. Bowker Vietnam operates an
array of Gerber systems from pattern
designing and marker making to material spreading and cutting. Since the
introduction of these systems, they
have reduced labor costs by 70 percent.
“We invested in Gerber’s advanced technology equipment years ago at our two
original workshops, where we employed
1,500 workers. We have since recouped
all of our capital investment,” says Chen.
Bowker Vietnam opened its third factory
last year and plans to reach full capacity this year with expected output of 4.5
million garments.
LEFT
In 1997, An Phuoc
acquired the rights
to distribute Pierre
Cardin fashions in
Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia.
RIGHT
Bowker has
reduced labor
costs by 70
percent using
automated pattern
design, marker
making, material
spreading and
cutting systems
from Gerber.
The company considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 15
QUALITY INSPECTION
“
FOR MORE THAN 40 years,
our family-owned business
has grown through honest and
straightforward business interactions, and by delivering a consistently high-quality part at a competitive
price,” explains Jason Vining, president
of Salem Metal Fabricators, Inc. “The
Virtek® LaserQC® system enables us to
substantiate the quality of our fabricated
parts with detailed inspection reports
that help our customers meet their ISO,
TQM, Six Sigma and lean manufacturing reporting requirements. Having the
ability to provide first article inspection
reports to customers who request them
goes a long way in instilling customer
confidence. In some cases, these reports
have even helped us work with our customers to identify and correct issues in
the design of a part.”
In 2005, Salem Metal purchased a
Virtek LaserQC system, a non-contact precision inspection system that
employs lasers to capture more than
500 data points per second. Prior to that,
the company performed quality inspections using a camera system which was
faster than manual inspection but still too
slow. “We needed a system that could
LASER
INSPECTION
system enables precise quality control; generates detailed reports
that instill customer confidence.
16
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 perform accurate first-article and in-process inspections, was easy to use and
– most importantly – fast. The Virtek
LaserQC is the fastest way to get to 100
percent inspection of a part.” By identifying issues immediately on the shop floor,
Salem Metal reduces scrap and rework.
“To keep things moving, in our facility,
we have six individuals trained to use
the Virtek LaserQC system – but we’ve
found it takes only about an hour to learn
“The Virtek LaserQC
system enables us
to substantiate the
quality of our fabricated parts with
detailed inspection
reports...”
the basics, so it’s a quick learn. If shop
owners calculate the cost of having to hire
an experienced quality control person to
perform manual part inspections, you can
imagine how quickly the return on investment in the laser system is realized.”
The company is serious about its reputation as a provider of high-quality parts.
In recent years, Salem Metal implemented an ERP system with computer
workstations on the production floor so
team members can access the details
and specifications of each job during any
phase of the production cycle. “We understand the benefits to us and our customers by constantly reinvesting in the business through technology,” Vining said.
TOP
Virtek LaserQC eliminates bottlenecks
associated with manual quality inspection.
BOTTOM
Lasers measure the accuracy of twodimensional parts to tolerances within
0.05mm (0.002 inches). They are used
for any application where precise quality
control is essential.
Vining added, “The Virtek LaserQC
ensures that we maximize the green
light time of the hundreds of thousands of
dollars of equipment in our facility. If manufacturers consider the amount of money
they have sitting on the shop floor, anything that will help keep those machines
producing throughout the shift is worth a
hard look.”
Salem Metal is a 30,000-square-foot,
full-service job shop in Middleton,
Massachusetts, USA, that fabricates
sheet metal to fashion components for,
among other things, computer chassis
used on offshore oil rigs and defibrillator machines for the medical industry.
The company employs about 50 craftsmen who perform laser cutting, punching, press brake forming, milling, welding
and finishing tasks – including painting
and silk screening – in the fully air-conditioned, highly-organized facility.
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 17
P R O D U C T L I F E C YC L E M A N AG E M E N T
F
RUIT OF THE LOOM, INC.,
one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of
underwear, intimates, sportswear and sporting goods,
will implement Gerber Technology’s
YuniquePLM™ product lifecycle management system. The implementation will
enable Fruit of the Loom and its Vanity
Fair, Russell Athletic and Spalding divisions to unite under one system for the
creation and communication of product
tech packs, tracking of individual responsibilities and workflows and communication with global suppliers. Together, the
three companies employ nearly 34,000
individuals in more than 50 locations
worldwide.
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
implements YuniquePLM to streamline product development,
production planning and sourcing.
18
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 “Choosing a software system that affects
all areas of the business can be quite a
challenge,” said Cameron Bailey, SVP
Product Development and Customer
Service for Fruit of the Loom. “But, based
on our past experience with Gerber, and
after working closely with them during
the discovery phase of this project, we
Because YuniquePLM
integrates with
existing ERP and
other third-party
systems, it provides
powerful business
intelligence to guide
decision making.
became confident in their broad knowledge and deep expertise of the day-today product development process that
occurs at all levels and across all areas of
the organization. Our users are excited by
the potential YuniquePLM has to streamline the product development process.”
“Fruit of the Loom is a longtime user of
Gerber’s webPDM™ data management
system,” said Donny Askin, president of
Gerber Technology’s Software Solutions
business. “By migrating to YuniquePLM,
the organization will be able to take
advantage of the enhanced functionality,
mobility, scalability and CAD integration
that YuniquePLM offers. And, because
YuniquePLM integrates with existing ERP
and other third-party systems, it provides
powerful business intelligence to guide
decision making.”
Fruit of the Loom’s major national and
international brands include Fruit of the
Loom ®, BVD ®, Underoos ®, Lofteez ®,
Russell Athletic®, Russell Outdoors®,
JERZEES®, Spalding®, Brooks®, Bike®,
Moving Comfort®, AAI®, Dudley®, Cross
Creek®, Sherrin®, Vanity Fair®, Illusion®,
Bestform®, Gemma®, Belcor®, Value in
Style®, Lily of France®, Lou®, Curvation®,
Intima Cherry®, Vassarette® and Exquisite
Form Fully®.
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 19
TRADE SHOWS
SO L U TI ONS
I N AC TIO N
Visit us at these upcoming trade shows around the world where you can witness
Gerber’s powerful automation solutions in action.
JEC Europe Composites
Show
March 27-29, 2012
Paris, France
Serves the automotive, aerospace,
construction and marine industries,
among others. Here, visitors have
access to composite processors, raw
material producers and equipment
providers.
20
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 China International
Textile and Clothing
Industry Fair
March 28-31, 2012
Dongguan, Guangdong, China
Large-scale fair for the Chinese textile
and clothing industry. Visitors include
factory owners and suppliers for spinning, weaving, knitting, printing and
dyeing, finishing and industrial textiles/
non-woven fabrics.
Texprocess Americas
April 24–26, 2012
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
One of the largest sewn products
and equipment trade shows in the
world.
F R O S T & S U L L I VA N
Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM software received the 2011 Frost & Sullivan
Global Fashion Product Lifecycle Management Product Leadership Award. Frost
& Sullivan analysts evaluated several PLM contenders based on product features and functionality, product innovation, product acceptance in the marketplace and customer value enhancements. Their findings state, “YuniquePLM is
a well-drawn solution created by a team of people from the industry who have
hands-on expertise in addressing the needs of the fashion PLM industry across
the globe. This has enabled the wide adoption and acceptance of YuniquePLM
across various end-users in the fashion industry.”
VIDEOS
Interested in seeing the latest GERBERcutter in action? Want to understand the benefits of YuniquePLM? Or perhaps you’d
like an overview demonstration of the latest functionality in AccuMark? Check out our YouTube and YouKu channels.
Gerber Technology channel: GerberTechVideo
Virtek channel: VirtekVision
Gerber Technology channel: GerberTech
UPCOMING SEMINAR: REALIZING THE BUSINESS BENEFITS OF PLM
Last month, Gerber hosted fashion retail executives,
manufacturers and branded apparel makers from
around the U.K. during a one-day seminar at the London
College of Fashion. The event, entitled Realizing the
Business Benefits of PLM, profiled how several leading
global retail and fashion companies have implemented
and are using the YuniquePLM product lifecycle management system to eliminate major pain points and
achieve an advantage over competitors. For details
on the event, read the summary by Ben Hanson on
WhichPLM’s website.
Join us in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, in May for the next seminar. To ensure your name is on the invitation list, click here.
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 21
AUTOMATED, INTEG
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
YuniquePLM™ software helps you speed products to market by
managing images, tech packs, quotations, product lines and materials,
and organizing and tracking samples and production processes in one
easy-to-use system. It also delivers powerful business intelligence in
highly-graphical formats to aid in decision making.
Product Design
CONCEPTUAL AND TEXTILE DESIGN
Vision Fashion Studio™ conceptual and textile design software helps
designers create new styles in hours rather than days. Use it to also
develop impressive presentations, product catalogues and storyboards.
3D PATTERN VISUALIZATION
Vstitcher™ 3D design and visualization software accelerates the
product development lifecycle by quickly transforming 2D patterns
into 3D garments.
PATTERN DESIGN, GRADING
AND MARKER MAKING
AccuMark® pattern design, grading and marker
making software is the industry benchmark
for ultimate functionality and ease of use.
Silhouette™ drafting table operates like
a tablet PC. Images that are drawn or traced on
the interactive table are automatically converted to
digital formats to be used and/or edited as necessary.
AccuNest™ automatic marker making software
generates the most efficient markers, helping to
save time and money when making sample,
costing and production markers.
MADE-TO-MEASURE
AccuMark Made-to-Measure™ software
helps automate the process of producing
custom-tailored garments.
PATTERN DIGITIZING
Explore a variety of solutions that enable
you to digitize your existing hard patterns
quickly so you can take advantage of the
power of computer-aided pattern design.
22
TECHSIGHT
MARCH 2012 GRATED SOLUTIONS
Plotting
Gerber offers a full line of high-speed inkjet plotters at a competitive
purchase price and overall low cost of ownership, including the
GERBERplotter XLp 1.8- and 2.2-meter-wide models.
Material Spreading
Explore our complete line of affordable, automated material
spreading systems that deliver tension-free spreads of flat-folded
or rolled materials at speeds up to 100 meters (109 yards) per minute.
Fabric Matching
InVision™ check and stripe matching system, available as an option
on some GERBERcutters, matches fabrics with thread-to-thread accuracy.
Cut Part Identification
InfoJet™ inkjet system identifies cut parts by printing alpha-numeric text
on materials during the cutting process. It is offered as an option on
some single-ply cutting systems.
Cutting
Gerber offers a complete line of static and conveyorized single-,
low- and high-ply cutting systems to cut everything from
one-off samples and prototypes to up to 7.2 cm (2.8 inches)
of vacuum-compressed material for mass production –
achieving perfectly cut parts every time.
Gerber Service
Gerber Service protects your investment through a global network
of highly-skilled technical support staff and by providing the most
comprehensive service offerings, highest quality consumables and
aftermarket products available.
GERBERconnect™ remote diagnostics enables Gerber service
professionals to analyze your system via a secure Internet
connection and take steps to ensure it’s always in optimum
working condition.
FOR SEWN PRODUCTS
MARCH 2012
TECHSIGHT 23