It was a stunning win for Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards, with Winterbottom holding his nerve to take the biggest victory in the team’s history at Bathurst 1000 on the weekend.
But across the country PhoenxPLM celebrated its own success with making the win possible.
PhoenxPLM and FPR – The Relationship:
PhoenxPLM are proud to support and sponsor the FPR team.
We have established a great relationship with the team and know just how sweet this victory is for them. The team have been supported with our software and technical team’s expertise for 3 years now and use NX CAD/CAM and CAE integrated with Teamcenter. This set up allows them to produce models and drawings faster than ever before so they can concentrate on the engineering.
Behind the story of FPR’s drive to win in better, faster and more technically ready cars is that the FPR’s machine shop took delivery of a new Mori Seiki NXT2000-1500S Twin spindle 5 axis Mill/Turn machining centre last January.
With PhoenxPLM’s assistance this Machine was fully up and running with NX CAM within 1 week of the Machine being installed, and was producing complex parts.
The NX Postprocessor for this Machine is complex and consists of 7 posts all linked together to produce the G Code. Along with the Postprocessor FPR have the full Integrated Simulation and Verification (ISV) which allows FPR’s NC programmers to prove the NC program before it goes to the machine. They can also perform a full collision check, which with a 1/2 million dollar machine is needed. In essence the software integrated into their machine shop allows them to manufacture accurate car parts faster, and with better precision, and less human error; and when races are only weeks apart this is vital to ensure the cars are not just ready but in the best condition possible in the shortest time frame.
Matt Nilsson – Engineering Manager FPR –
“In my role as Engineering Manager, I just wanted to say a big thank you for your support and contribution towards FPR’s first victory at the Bathurst 1000!
It is a defining moment in FPR’s history, and the technical support provided by PhoenxPLM has played a key role in that success.
FPR have become the first team to win at the Mountain with the new generation Car of the Future.
Over 18 months of design and manufacturing went into that project just to get the cars up and running for the beginning of this year.
Let alone a very fast paced 6 months of ongoing development this year.
The introduction of Unigraphics NX CAD and CAM capabilities was vital to this success.
The FPR Engineering group and manufacturing departments are very appreciative.
We are very excited about the current implementation of Teamcenter, to take another step.”
The car of the Future, where PhoenxPLM steps in:
Ford performance racing chose NX and Teamcenter to manage all aspects of their product development process. Their 3 year sponsorship deal with PhoenxPLM includes all of the necessary support and training required to help FPR become the most innovative racing team on the V8 Supercar grid
Ford Performance Racing approached PhoenxPLM in December 2010. With the car of the future project on the horizon they needed to modernise their engineering platforms and ‘play to win’ in the V8 Super car arena.
Bathurst:
During the race the pair was in the lead group all day and a decisive final pit stop which saw Winterbottom emerge just metres ahead of chief rival Jamie Whincup proved the difference in the end. The pair was never more than one second apart for the final third of the race with Winterbottom resisting a last-lap lunge from Whincup to claim his and the team’s maiden victory at Mount Panorama.
Mark Winterbottom – #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford said yesterday:
“Today was just unbelievable. The way the race unfolded and to win it the way we did and alongside Richo just makes it that more special. Doing it with this team and Ford is a reward for a lot of people for many years of hard work. The response on the podium was just ridiculous – to see all those fans and the sea of blue Ford flags, to hear them chanting ‘FPR’ was something I will never forget. ”
Tim Edwards – FPR Team Principal said yesterday:
“I don’t know where to start. Today is without doubt the greatest day in our team’s history. Winning at Bathurst has been the biggest thing on our list to tick off since we started 11 years ago. Everyone knows our history at this race so to win in the manner we did just makes it that much sweeter. Mark and Steve were faultless, the pit stops were faultless and our strategy gave us track position at the right times in the closing laps so to come here and execute our plan to the letter all day is very satisfying. This is for all our loyal fans that have stuck by us over the years.”
Australian Manufacturing in General – the good news story:
Siemens PLM software and PhoenxPLM’s team of Technical Specialist is making it possible for Australia to compete on the world stage. The software allows companies to design, simulate and manufacture better products faster by enabling smarter decisions in an integrated product development environment. NX software shortens the product development cycle and gets products to market quicker.