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Custom construction is not a catalog affair
At Gunboat, each catamaran is designed differently, according to the owner's wishes. This level of customization, right down to the interior layout and sailing configurations, implies a considerable volume of technical data. For engineering and production teams, it's less a question of managing a product than of managing a unique project every time. This logic has given rise to a need for greater structuring of technical information, from the digital mock-up right through to the workshop.
Manage data, but above all exchanges
To meet this requirement, Gunboat deployed PTC tools, in particular Creo CAD software for 3D modeling and Windchill for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). The main challenge: to enable coherent collaboration between design offices, production, suppliers and subcontractors. This is where the model-based design methodology comes into play: a single digital model serves as a reference for all trades. This common architecture facilitates the management of complex assemblies and the traceability of modifications.
Measurable impact on the shop floor
Beyond the organization, this digital shift has had a tangible impact. According to Gunboat, the number of errors in the final design phase has fallen by 15%. The time between modeling and launching has been reduced by 15-20%. These gains are linked to better integration of components, particularly on composite hulls where tolerances are critical. The workshop now has more reliable information, with synchronized updates, which reduces rework.
Towards new tools: simulation, generative, cloud
Gunboat is now exploring the possibilities of real-time simulation with Creo Simulate Live. The idea is to test constraints on a part or assembly without leaving the CAD environment. Generative design, for its part, offers a glimpse of shapes derived from optimization algorithms, not yet widely used in shipbuilding, but promising for certain secondary parts. Finally, collaborative working in the cloud aims to reduce dependence on local tools, facilitating remote access to models and data.
The key role of the integrator
Behind this musical setting is PTC partner 4CAD Group. This type of player plays an inconspicuous but essential role in the marine industry. It provides parameterization, training, tool customization, and sometimes even business support. In the case of Gunboat, the link between the needs of the shipyard and the capabilities of the software required long-term follow-up, with a real dialogue between the workshop and the IT specialists.
