Haier Molds Relies on Cimatron for Flexible and Efficient NC Processing
Quality, price and delivery have long been the foundation for any successful manufacturing operation. Nowhere is this truer than in the moldmaking sector, where the industry knows that quality and time-to-market will win and retain new business. “This is where Cimatron plays an important role,” says Zhou Limin, General Manager of Haier Molds. “Cimatron’s powerful functions have made it one of our leading systems.”

Haier Molds, a subsidiary of Haier Group, is one of China’s leading manufacturers of household appliances. Products include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and washing machines. Haier Group controls nearly 35% of China's household appliance market and close to 70% of the market share in Beijing alone, making Haier Group the most recognized brand name in China.

Founded in 1985, Haier Molds grew from a small neighborhood workshop into one of Haier Group’s most successful subsidiaries with over 150 employees. Located in Qingdao, Shandong, Haier Group boasts over 9,000 dealerships and retail stores throughout the country. The Company has succeeded in developing a marketing and service network that spans the globe in 31 countries, including the United States, France, Italy and Spain.

Haier Molds specializes in the design and manufacture of high-precision and complex plastic injection molds, die casting molds and rapid prototyping, producing over 450 standard injection molds per year.

Powerful NC Processing
Haier Molds owes its success to its investment and achievement in technology. The increasing need to produce complex molds quickly and efficiently persuaded Haier Molds to purchase its first Cimatron seat in 1994. Today, Haier Molds has seven Cimatron seats, with an additional two seats in a sister subsidiary, Haier Equipment. “Cimatron is an excellent CAD/CAM system,” says Zhou Limin, General Manager of Haier Molds. “It has powerful surface functionality, advanced Intelligent NC and strong Re-Enge capabilities.”

Haier Molds has come to trust Cimatron’s robust and flexible NC processing. “We are especially pleased with the Intelligent NC available in Cimatron Version 9.0, which increased the efficiency of our NC and program editing,” says Wang Zenbao, Manager of Haier Molds’ CAD/CAM CAE/PDM Center. “Cimatron has become one of our primary systems.”

Improved Efficiency
In an effort to increase productivity, Cimatron provides Haier Molds’ engineers with advanced modeling, surface editing, surface repair, and strong blend capabilities. Engineers have since improved development cycles and ultimately shortened production lead times. “We believe that modern enterprises should be outfitted with modern tools. Haier Molds intends to strengthen its ties with Cimatron in the future and this means increasing the number of Cimatron seats,” adds Mr. Zenbao.

The Company’s production level drastically increased since it began the design and manufacturing process with Cimatron. When the number of seats grew from one to seven Cimatron seats, overall production dramatically jumped to a record 460 Molds per year.

Partner to Moldmakers
An important advantage Haier Molds considers when working with Cimatron is the ability to talk with Cimatron’s developers, and to express specific concerns directly to Cimatron’s technical support personnel. “We use Cimatron because it is a leading CAD/CAM system,” comments Mr. Limin. “Not only does Cimatron have excellent functions and huge development potential, but we can always depend on Cimatron’s strong technical support.” This is the commitment that sells Cimatron. Haier Molds is one Cimatron customer who knows that this level of commitment translates into manufacturing a quality product.