HyperWorks Optimization Capabilities Streamline Unilever's Packaging Design Process
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
Applicable Industries
- Equipment & Machinery
- Packaging
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Intelligent Packaging
- Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
- Testing & Certification
About The Customer
Unilever, a company with over 120 years of experience in developing consumer products, is one of the world's most well-known companies. The company aims to meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good, and get more out of life. Today, Unilever produces more than 400 brands focused on health and wellbeing, from food to soap, and other household care products. Unilever's Global Packaging Design Group, based in Trumbull, Conn., develops hard-plastic containers for such brands as Dove, Suave, Caress, Axe, Degree, Ponds, Lux and other hair care, skin and deodorant products. The group works with outside design agencies to develop package concepts and then brings those ideas into a 3D modeling environment to ensure that the initial designs are able to be manufactured.
The Challenge
Unilever's Global Packaging Design Group was faced with the challenge of identifying potential packaging issues early in the design process. The discovery of problems after manufacturing had begun could lead to costly impacts, sometimes necessitating modifications in the tools used during production. This made the design process time-consuming as designers had to consider a wide range of possible issues. The group used simulation to validate potential designs and ensure they could be produced. However, outsourcing the simulation work was considered, which would require an average of two months to develop and carry out the appropriate testing.
The Solution
Unilever turned to Altair HyperWorks suite of computer-aided engineering tools to reduce the time required for simulation and significantly lower costs. HyperWorks allowed Unilever to automate the meshing process, as well as the set-up of loads and boundary constraints. The designer could input CAD-based models and simply select a prepared set of parameters. Unilever also used other HyperWorks tools, including the RADIOSS solver, HyperStudy and OptiStruct for topology and topography optimization. These tools helped Unilever ensure that new designs used less material and were more optimized than the ones they were replacing, without compromising their structure.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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