Granta Design announced that Autodesk, Inc. has introduced a new tool for sustainable design within Autodesk Inventor 2012 software, called Eco Materials Adviser, the result of a strategic partnership between Granta and Autodesk. Eco Materials Adviser will help designers to estimate a product's environmental impact and to make more sustainable design decisions.
Using Eco Materials Adviser, a designer can quickly generate an eco impact analysis for a product part or assembly within Autodesk Inventor software. An easy-to-read dashboard display shows key indicators such as energy usage, CO2 footprint, water usage, and materials cost. The user can interactively explore the effect of changes in the materials choice or design of their digital prototype. The tool is powered by Granta's expert materials database and proven sustainable design methodology. With Eco Materials Adviser, designers and engineers can:
- Address environmental requirements early in the design process - when changes matter most and cost least
- Access a practical eco design tool that does not require the user to develop expertise in sustainability, or to hunt for the right eco data
- Design more sustainable, cost-effective, and durable products
- Clearly communicate the benefits of enhanced materials selections
An introductory version of Eco Materials Adviser is available to Autodesk Inventor users as part of the 2012 Manufacturing Software Portfolio release, announced by Autodesk on March 22, 2012.
"Autodesk is committed to providing the best 3D design and engineering software to address the world's environmental challenges, making sustainable design easy and accessible for manufacturers and designers," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. "Through the Eco Materials Adviser and our partnership with Granta, we are helping make environmentally preferred material selections a reality for enterprises of all sizes."
"It's very exciting to see Granta's eco design technology applied through an easy-to-use tool and fully integrated into a CAD environment," said Dr. Patrick Coulter, chief operating officer at Granta Design. "Granta is delivering practical tools that embed eco design into routine engineering and design workflows."