World’s Only Solar-Powered Compaction System Designed in SolidWorks

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eating its way to the forefront of the “green” movement, the BigBelly^® trash bin designed in SolidWorks^® 3D CAD software is the world’s first and only on-site solar-powered trash compactor. BigBelly is used in busy places around the world like shopping districts, food courts, and entertainment venues, or in remote places such as parks and beaches.

Standing at 50 inches tall and weighing 300 pounds, BigBelly uses only the sun’s energy to compact and store five times the amount of garbage as receptacles of the same size. The machine uses up to 1, 250 pounds of force to compact trash periodically until it is full. Municipalities and city parks that formerly emptied garbage cans twice a day can now empty BigBelly once a week, reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions from garbage truck trips. Headquartered in Needham, Mass., the BigBelly Solar company standardized on SolidWorks software to optimize the unit’s design and accelerate development to meet customer demand.

“Escalating steel prices forced us to rethink our approach to early development models,” said Jeff Satwicz, BigBelly Solar product manager. “SolidWorks’ sheet metal features along with simple load analyses in COSMOSXpress^™ enabled us to re-design the machine with 30 percent fewer steel parts. That not only cut costs for a young startup company, but also jibed with our eco-friendly philosophy.”

The unit, which stores energy even on cloudy days, can operate for a full day with the equivalent energy it requires to toast a slice of bread. It can operate for eight years on the equivalent energy it takes to drive a garbage truck one mile. These feats are possible in part because BigBelly Solar, its manufacturing partner, and their suppliers have good design communication.Most of BigBelly Solar’s suppliers use SolidWorks, and they share design concepts with eDrawings^® e-mail-enabled design communication tool. eDrawings lets users send and receive 3D models or 2D drawings of product designs that recipients can view, rotate, and study as if they had a physical prototype in front of them. “It’s important to have everyone speaking the same language. That helps us look at the big picture as well as the details,” said Satwicz.

BigBelly Solar recently unveiled recycling units that connect to BigBelly or can stand alone, for customers who want to extend their environmentally friendly waste solutions. Designed in SolidWorks, the BigBelly Recycling Unit looks similar to the BigBelly, but offers an insertion hole for cans and bottles, mixed paper or both.

“The ‘green’ movement’s success is measured in increments,” said SolidWorks CEO Jeff Ray. “BigBelly is a great example of innovation in the face of a global problem. Its rapid adoption across the U.S. and in foreign countries demonstrates that we can find ways to reduce our impact on the environment – in this case, one BigBelly at a time.”

BigBelly Solar relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller CADD Edge for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.

About BigBelly Solar

Founded in 2003 in Needham, Mass., BigBelly Solar develops trash compaction systems to help municipalities, universities, parks, zoos, transportation authorities and retail outlets to save money and reduce the environmental impact of waste management. The BigBelly is the world’s first solar-powered, cordless trash compaction system. BigBellies are deployed in over 35 cities and towns across the US and in 15 countries around the world. For more information, visit the Web site (www.bigbellysolar.com).

About CADD Edge, Inc.

CADD Edge is the developer of the Mechanical Engineering Productivity Machine ™. The CADD Edge Productivity Machine enables engineers to design imaginative products exceptionally fast with superior quality. Customized for industry-specific SolidWorks environments, this performance-driven machine is fueled by four components – auditing, implementation, multi-level training, and software utilities – all working together to help companies be first to deliver winning designs from concept to customer. For more information on CADD Edge, please visit (www.caddedge.com) or contact the company at (508) 475-2900.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).

SolidWorks and eDrawings are registered trademarks, and COSMOSXpress is a trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2008 SolidWorks Corporation.

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