SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. today announced that BigToys, Inc. (BigToys), a manufacturer of environmentally friendly commercial playground equipment, has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for March 2007. The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community of customers using Autodesk Inventor software, which provides manufacturing companies with the power of 3D design without compromising investments in 2D processes.
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For nearly 35 years, BigToys has earned a reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality commercial playground equipment for children. With an emphasis on caring for the environment as much as on children, BigToys continues its role as a leader in the playground equipment industry by promoting environmental awareness and responsible stewardship of natural resources.
BigToys makes significant use of recycled, recyclable and renewable materials for its commercial playground equipment. BigToys' sturdy and durable steel and plastic structural system contains 100% U.S. made recycled materials. This gives BigToys one of the highest percentages of recycled content available in playground equipment today, and their use of post-consumer, high-density polyethylene plastic in its decks, roofs and enclosures helps keep hundreds of thousands of milk jugs out of landfills every year.
Autodesk Inventor software plays a vital role in helping BigToys design these environmentally friendly play structures. The world's best-selling 3D mechanical design software, Autodesk Inventor creates 3D digital prototypes that help companies experience their ideas before they're real. As a result, companies can optimize and improve their designs early in the design process, saving time, money and valuable resources.
BigToys has used Inventor software exclusively for design and development since 2004, having previously used Autodesk Mechanical Desktop with great success. During the transition period, Big Toys' staff relied on IMAGINiT Technologies, a leading provider of Autodesk software solutions, for support of the design and engineering functions and the use of Inventor.
The flexibility and faster iterative capability that BigToys has realized through the use of Inventor has led to more innovative product design and a more efficient design process.
"Designing with Inventor software is seamless," said Brian Lovgren, Engineering Manager at BigToys. "We can go from a crazy initial idea to a finished part with very little redesigning or duplicated effort. We also have the added benefit of sophisticated rendering and animation which helps us better communicate our design intent to others, and eliminate potential manufacturing errors."
"BigToys is using digital prototyping to be more efficient in its manufacturing operations and to create a safer, more environmentally friendly play space for our children," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "We are pleased at the role Inventor is playing in this endeavor, and happy to name BigToys as our Inventor of the Month for March."
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 600,000 users of Autodesk Inventor software, its best-selling 3D mechanical design software. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information on Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at
About BigToys, Inc.
BigToys produces commercial play equipment products that encourage children of all ages and abilities to play, exercise, think, communicate and cooperate. Its award-winning activities provide equal emphasis on physical skill enhancement and social interaction. BigToys is proud to produce environmentally friendly, PVC-free play equipment that utilizes proven materials to enhance the lives of children. The company's significant use of recycled, recyclable and renewable materials offers a responsible choice for commercial playground equipment. For additional information about BigToys, visit http://www.bigtoys.com/ .
About IMAGINiT Technologies
IMAGINiT Technologies, a RAND Worldwide Company, is a leading provider of design and engineering solutions to the building, manufacturing and infrastructure, media and entertainment industries. With over 40 offices in North America and Asia-Pacific, IMAGINiT is a leading provider of Autodesk software solutions and the largest North American Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC) partner. IMAGINiT delivers knowledge, expertise and design processes to clients through proven technical support, training and consulting services. Our locations are supported by a vast pool of engineering resources that are focused on developing real-life business solutions for their local clients. For additional information about IMAGINiT, visit http://www.rand.com/imaginit .
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com/.
NOTE: Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
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