Customer demands are forcing the buyer today to produce more complicated styles in small order quantities in much shorter durations. In such a situation a manufacturer has no choice but to turn to technology and automation. 2D/3D CAD is a tool which has the potential to drastically reduce time to market. OptiTex has been a pioneer in 2D/3D CAD solutions for the past 20 years. Saar Machtinger, CIO and West Asia Regional Manager, OptiTex, interacts with Team StitchWorld to discuss their products and new features as well as innovations to be expected in the times to come.
‘OptiTex: Next generation 2D/3D CAD’, that is the tag line OptiTex uses and that is also what they strive to provide. In India for the past six years, the company has rooted itself firmly and has many success stories to boast of. Their virtual models like Eva and Adam have become quite a hit and the demand for their 3D Runway Suite of Tools is ever increasing. “The Indian market has accepted us and now we can say that we are well placed,” says Machtinger, adding that they have nearly 200 companies in India as their clients, out of which 20-25% are using their 3D Runway Suite of Tools and a further 10-15% are undergoing training for the same. About 70-80% of all their clients are based in the Delhi and NCR region. It was very encouraging to know that, though earlier it was only the bigger exporters who were investing in OptiTex’s solutions, in the last couple of years, they have also got good response from small and medium size companies. Citing the need of the companies to cut costs in these difficult times as the major reason for this demand, Machtinger elaborates that “Everybody knows they need to cut sampling costs, and therefore they need to improve efficiency, accuracy, and that using CAD software is the basic tool to take sampling to the next level.”
OptiTex will soon allow the user to write their own software and use their own tools as well. A forum on OptiTex website allows people to talk to the OptiTex engineers and get answers to their questions
So what is it that sets OptiTex apart from the rest? The answer was given by Machtinger in one word: ‘Novelty’. OptiTex was the first one to have an association with Microsoft and they are still the only 2D/3D CAD solution providers who are certified partners with Microsoft. They were the first ones to talk about the use of animation in CAD. Also OptiTex gives its users the flexibility to move data from one format to another. Their main strength lies in the fact that they do not bind the user to a certain type of hardware. Going a step further, they will soon allow the user to write their own software and use their own tools as well. They have a forum on their website where people can talk to the engineers of OptiTex also and get answers to their questions or ask for the inclusion of features which they think might be useful. In the words of Machtinger, “Being simple and original is what the company aims at.”
The company is well known for their virtual avatars like Eva, Adam and Tim. OptiTex is soon going to introduce Eva Version 11 in the market. Machtinger excitedly tells us about this version. “A lot of facial enhancements have been done. Her (Eva Version 11) expressions are better. We have added small details like better eyebrows, earrings, etc. all that will help make Eva look more ‘real’.” The modified Eva avatar has a new morphing system with the help of which one can change the parametric of the mannequin.
A lot of measurements can be updated easily. This new morphing system will also have animation. So, if needed, a movie can be made where the customer can see the fit of the garment on Eva in different postures as she sits or moves her hands. They also have a pregnant version of the avatar.
To grow in the world market, one needs to judge in advance the needs of the market. Since OptiTex is so aware of the market, it is anticipating that companies will now be more interested in outsourcing software services. The company prides itself in the fact that they have already addressed this issue in terms of online services which they are providing on their website. One just needs to register and login for the service. Initially, five free demos are made available for the trial, after which one can pay for the facility and use it as they like. Says Machtinger, “We are working towards giving the customer more tools for better usage.” The nesting or the conversion can be tested by using the free trials available on their site. Further, they are working on more tools which will help the customers in outsourcing of services.
OptiTex considers India as one of their most important markets. For the benefit of their Indian customers, they have recently introduced the 3D Runway Suite of Tools in Hindi. Of the opinion that training plays a major part in the acceptance and maximum utilization of OptiTex’s 2D/3D CAD solutions, Saar Machtinger concludes on a positive note that “For every customer we provide training sessions until we are sure that they have become well equipped to use the software. They should feel 100% confident and we don’t leave them until we feel 100% sure.”
