Russia’s Largest Wheel Rims Manufacturer to Use Virtual Testbeds

K & K LLC, the largest alloy rims manufacturer of Russia, will now start using virtual testbeds for testing new products. This R&D project was carried out by the CompMechLab Engineering Center, the core of the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Center of the National Technology Initiative (NTI) of Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). This project is aimed at helping increase cost-efficiency of the manufacturing process by reducing the number of physical test cases. Experts say that using a virtual testbed will certainly give a huge boost to the process of developing and launching new products. From now on, developing and releasing new rim models will take only 2 to 4 weeks. Interestingly, the same process used to take months and even years previously.

Anatoly Yermolaev, director of the technology department of “K & K” LLC said that advanced simulation technologies ensure higher quality, greater product reliability, and full compliance with the ISO 7141 quality standard used across our industry. At the same time, it helps in bringing down the costs and duration of new development efforts. Teaming up with the Engineering Center of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, they have made a significant step in this direction, he said.

Alexey Borovkov, the vice-rector for advanced projects at SPbPU, head of the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Center of the National Technology Initiative, said that this solution is yet another example of highly adequate computer models of complex products, which are also known as ‘digital twins’. Significantly, it is now a key tool for developing globally competitive products for any industry with materials, manufacturing and cost constraints in mind. They have been successfully using this tool for several years by now to solve complex high-tech problems for the world’s largest car makers, he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Russia, since 2013, has been implementing Project 5-100, – a state support program for Russian universities. The main objective is to raise the standing of Russian higher education and have at least five member universities in the top-100 of three respected world rankings.