Company founder/owner Hans-Joachim Schott says, "Our aim is to enable our customers to invest in the very latest CAD/CAM technology, for every single CNC machine tool, while keeping both purchase and operating costs to a bare minimum." Further supporting that goal, the company continues its 25-year policy of not charging for yearly maintenance, offering fee lifetime support, and giving users a choice on when to upgrade.
The cost for a complete mold/tool package for design and machining continues to be less than €10,000/$15,000, and though the cost is the same, the newest version delivers multiple new and upgraded features to streamline the design/machining process. The software accepts the latest versions of STEP and 3D IGES Solid formats, and includes an advanced "healing" suite to speed up repair of low quality data. There is also a new suite of mesh analysis, repair, and handling tools. The full package will be on display at Euromold 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany, December 2-5.
