How KTM Leverages Creo and Windchill to Handle Growth

Earlier this week, PTC announced that KTM had increased its use of Creo – PTC’s computer-aided design (CAD) software – and Windchill – PTC’s product lifecycle management (PLM) software. KTM also selected the ThingWorx Navigate role-based apps for company-wide data management. It’s reason for the investment: Because the company is experiencing high growth and it needs a better way to design, manage, share, and disseminate product information.

The Challenge: High Growth

KTM is an Austrian motorcycle and sports car manufacturer. It is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe and is one of the leading global manufacturers for off-road motorcycles. 

The company has an exacting standard of excellence with its motorcycles. It’s “READY TO RACE” philosophy aligns with its key differentiator in the market: it’s comprehensive in-house development of parts – from the engine, chassis, suspension components, and beyond. With tight control over development, KTM can ensure that each part is optimized for maximum performance and meets standards. 

As its product range expanded, so too did its engineering team. Today, the company employs over 450 designers and engineers. To continue meeting their standard of excellence, KTM needed a way to manage various workflows and to keep all team members aligned. 

DISCOVER HOW KTM USED CREO AND WINDCHILL TO KEEP THEIR GROWING TEAM ALIGNED

The Solution: Creo and Windchill 

As Kevin Wrenn, divisional general manager of the PLM segment here at PTC said: “Facing the challenges of fast and strong growth is a good problem for KTM to have.”

By using both Creo and Windchill, KTM is able to avoid the growing pains that other high growth organizations might experience. Creo’s flexible modeling approach makes it possible for all stakeholders – from long-time employees to newer hires – to access, use, and modify existing designs. Meanwhile, Windchill enables KTM to manage concurrent workflows between design and engineering to keep all teams aligned. 

The addition of Thingworx Navigate will further help expand information throughout the enterprise. One example that Philipp Habsburg, director development at KTM, calls out is how product development needs to transfer parts and technologies into its serial models within a short timeframe. To achieve this, they needed software that was flexible, powerful, and made the work simpler. “ThingWorx Navigate is the additional tool we needed, as it provides the exact information required by each department and reduces the complexity of the PLM system, enabling our team to be more productive.” 

Results

It’s too early to say how ThingWorx Navigate will affect KTM’s development process but the results from using Creo and Windchill on the development of the KTM 690 DUKE were staggering:

• 15% reduction in time-to-market with the 690 DUKE being developed – from first concept to start of production 
• 10% improvement in fuel consumption making it the highest fuel efficiency in its class

The KTM 690 DUKE was featured the lightest weight in its class with the most powerful engine while also reaching new levels in comfort with new counterbalance, seat, and frame design. 

Read the full KTM Creo and Windchill story here. You can also view the recent press release here.