Alphacam Sets Up 200th Homag woodWOP Postprocessor

SOUTHFIELD, MI, Dec 10, 2007 - Homag AG and leading CAD/CAM specialist Alphacam celebrated the 200th installation of the Alphacam woodWOP interface during Homag’s recent open house event in Schopfloch, Germany.

With its advanced postprocessor concept, Alphacam combines with Homag’s woodWOP software to provide an ideal method of programming Homag and Weeke CNC router machines.

The Alphacam woodWOP postprocessor perfectly complements the advanced features of Homag’s woodWOP software. Written by the German Alphacam team, the interface is regularly updated to ensure Homag’s latest machinery system developments are fully supported by Alphacam’s CAD/CAM solutions.

Alphacam was personally invited to attend Homag’s annual open house event by Jean-Marie Pattberg, chief of IT-Engineering CNC department, who commented, "A key feature of Alphacam’s woodWOP postprocessor is that it uses all woodWOP functions. Whenever possible, it creates woodWOP standard macros. Machining programs produced in Alphacam can be easily visualized and modified with woodWOP, ensuring fast and effective machine operation."

"The other important aspect for Homag is that the same postprocessor is used worldwide, guaranteeing the same high quality for all our customers. In addition, Alphacam continually strives to innovate and enhance this interface, allowing us quite justifiably to talk of a privileged partnership."

Alphacam’s presence at this year’s Homag event was underpinned by a series of new product developments.

"Of particular interest was Alphacam’s Solid Machining module," commented Stephan Schneider, managing director of Alphacam Germany. "With its easy to use feature recognition and a wide variety of different machining strategies, the software brings big benefits to customers ­ whether working in-house with solid modelers, or receiving solid based CAD files from their customers."

High levels of interest were also generated by Alphacam’s own solid modeler, Alphacam Part Modeler. This Parasolid based, easy to use application allows constraint driven and parametric designs to be created in an ideal 3D format for all wood applications. Its strong link with Alphacam V7 provides new and existing customers with a wealth of new functionality and design opportunities.

About Homag AG

Homag Holzbearbeitungssysteme AG is a world leader in sizing and edge banding, with a product range tailored to the widest range of requirements ­ whether for the furniture industry or its suppliers, cabinet making shops or interior fitters.

The company’s core field of competence lies in sizing and edge banding, soft forming and post forming, as well as stationary CNC machines and complete production lines. In addition, customers can rely on receiving identical system components, standardized control technology, the same open-ended interfaces and comprehensive documentation from every member of the Homag Group. Furthermore, because each group company concentrates on its own particular strengths, the Homag Group is able to draw on a unique synergy potential - from research and development, through planning and production, to sales and servicing.

About Alphacam

Alphacam is a principal brand of the Planit Group ­ recently ranked by CIMdata as the world’s fastest growing CAM vendor, with most industrial users.

Alphacam’s world-class CAD/CAM software for the engineering, woodworking and stone sectors provides rapid return on investment for manufacturing operations ranging from simple 2D profiling to complex 5-axis machining.

For more than three decades, Alphacam has provided products and services that enable customers to improve the productivity of their machine tools, shorten design and manufacturing time, optimize material usage and deliver high quality goods and services to their customers. For additional information, visit www.alphacam.com.