MAI Launches New Automotive Technology Center
The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), an agency of the Ministry of International Trade & Industry serving to advance the local automotive industry, has launched a new advanced automotive technology center – the MAI Intelligent Technology Systems (MITS).
This first-of-its kind center in Malaysia aims to boost product design capabilities and innovation within the domestic automotive components and parts supply chain by filling the technological gap in the domestic automotive sector with software, hardware and technical consulting support for parts design and development.
MITS is designed to serve the entire domestic automotive parts and components supply chain targeting mainly Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies. It plays a key role in facilitating and helping these companies in their product design and development initiatives without the need to invest in expensive software, hardware and technical consulting services.
The system’s main hub is based in MAI’s headquarters in Cyberjaya. Altair Engineering Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altair Inc., a US-based simulation technology and engineering services company, is collaborating with MAI as the ‘simulation’ technology partner for MITS.
“In line with strategies laid out in the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014, it is important that the industry’s technological edge is strengthened, particularly in the key areas of engineering design, prototyping, product validation and process development. It is against this backdrop that MAI embarked on this innovative MITS lab project,” said MAI Chief Executive Office Dato’ Madani Sahari.
“This is a breakthrough project for local automotive parts suppliers and manufacturers to move up the product value chain, by adding local design and engineering into their present manufacturing base. This is vital in creating a competitive and sustainable intellectual property and talent pool eco-system to position Malaysia as an automotive hub for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs) in the region,” he added.
Altair, an MSC-status company, is the number one in engineering simulation in Southeast Asia region, providing both software and engineering consulting services. Altair has served the Malaysian market since 2012, providing a rich portfolio of advanced engineering software and on-demand computing technologies to industry and government clients.
As Altair Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Brett Chouinard, explains, “The Malaysian automotive sector is a growth engine for the nation’s economy. The next immediate challenge for automotive suppliers and companies in Malaysia is to move forward to emphasise product design and engineering works, not just manufacturing. Altair is delighted that MAI has chosen to implement our market-leading simulation solution in its inaugural MITS.”
“For the past 25 years, Altair has been working with auto OEMs and suppliers around the world to support them in their journey towards simulation-driven design. We look forward to sharing our expertise and experiences with the local auto parts players and help them to jump- start their innovation-driven design journey,” said Chouinard.
By applying simulation technologies upfront in the product design process, automotive design engineers will be able to develop innovative, weight-optimized products with better performance. It also allows them to validate design and optimize safety and durability parameters, while reducing design cycle times, bringing new products to the market quicker.
Altair’s HyperWorks Unlimited (HWUL) solution which is installed at MITS will form the backbone of the facility. Users will be able to undertake different simulation tests to validate their product design and engineering processes, including crash, electromagnetic, Noise-Vibration-Harshness (NVH) and manufacturing simulation, while working closely with Altair’s experts in light-weight engineering and composite.
