The program decreases by up to five times the cost of launching a new product in this sector

The technological centre of wood and the furniture of Andalusia (Citma), integrated network of technological spaces of Andalusia (Reta), the Ministry of innovation, science and enterprise, is driving the implementation of a new design software in the industry of the Andalucian furniture that can reduce up to five times the cost of launch of a new product in the companies in the sector. He is an application in CAD technology in three dimensions, called 3D CAD, allows a company to make a new design and modify it without making several prototypes before launch to the market.

Until now, when a company linked to the furniture industry launched a new product up to five prototypes of the same were made before the adoption of the final design, says the President of the Citma, Quim Larrea. However, this new software, developed by the SolidWorks company, gives the opportunity to do just one. This brings with it a saving of about 8,000 euros for each new design, aims Larrea.

Thus lowering the cost of a new product launch, application of this tool can improve profitability and productivity of a company, because the 3D CAD ensures the reduction of the time required for the manufacture of a productwhich translates into a greater margin to new projects by the company or to give added value to the product launch.

With this initiative, the Citma Foundation aims to promote design as a factor of added value for the industry of wood and furniture in Andalusia, which faces every day to higher levels of competitiveness against other emerging markets. Responsible for Spain, Oscar Torres, SolidWorks considers that the introduction of this software in the 'cluster' companies of the furniture of Lucena (Cordoba) "would invest less time in developing their products and, therefore, they would be able to improve its profitability".

According to both experts, the implementation of such tools in a company of the wood and furniture sector can increase its turnover by up to 80 percent. In this regard, the President of the Citma highlights that the Centre will work especially in entrepreneurs from the sector on the need to raise awareness of "develop products different, indigenous, but with international will, incorporating the design in a tutorizado way".

To enhance the value of design within this industry, Citma organized last December, a first Congress on the furniture design, with the participation of renowned professionals and experts related to the sector.

Time of the first Congress of design of the furniture organized by Citma.

The industry of wood and furniture of Andalusia is composed of some 5,000 companies that represent 11.2 per cent of production in the sector at the national level. The largest concentration of companies in this industry in Andalusia is situated in the surroundings of the Cordoba town of Lucena, where is located the Citma, and forms what is known as Andalusian 'cluster' of the wood and furniture.

Aspect of the area of furniture design conferences.