SPDM with Ansys Minerva: Up to 30% Time Savings in Simulation at Sumitomo Drive Technologies

As in many calculation departments, technical data management at Sumitomo (SHI) Cyclo Drive Germany GmbH – the EMEIA headquarters of Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Markt Indersdorf, Upper Bavaria – was highly fragmented. “Information was scattered across different channels: in the PLM system, in SharePoint, on local drives, or in emails. Compiling project data was correspondingly tedious and time-consuming,” summarizes development engineer Matthias Wackerl. 

A fragmented data management system also costs a lot of time in simulation. | © Sumitomo Drive Technologies 

Even Small Simulation Teams Benefit From Smart Process and Data Handling

In 2024, Sumitomo Drive Technologies decided to consolidate data management and introduce a professional SPDM system (SPDM: Simulation Process and Data Management). A key impulse came from attending the CADFEM Conference in April 2024 in Darmstadt. There, employees from machine builder Dieffenbacher demonstrated with real-world examples how Ansys Minerva simplifies simulation work: a solution from Ansys for Ansys. 

Not only did the technical benefits outlined by Dieffenbacher convince Matthias Wackerl and his colleagues. The presentation also made it clear that Ansys Minerva is worthwhile even for companies with smaller simulation teams and that the platform can be implemented quickly and according to specific needs. 

Everything in One Place: With CADFEM to a Powerful SPDM in Just a Few Months

Soon after deciding on Ansys Minerva, Sumitomo Drive Technologies began planning, starting with aligning the necessary hardware with internal IT strategy. CADFEM was on board from the outset. The actual implementation – installation, configuration, training, and hypercare support – took place just a few months later, in June 2025. After the smooth migration of 160 legacy projects from the previous Microsoft Teams structure, Ansys Minerva has been in productive use at Sumitomo Drive Technologies since July 2025. 

Only one year passed between Sumitomo Drive Technologies’ decision to implement SPDM and its productive use. | © Sumitomo Drive Technologies  

The Advantages of SPDM With Ansys Minerva at a Glance

“Previously, I had to download and open each project to check its relevance. Today, I can see that directly in the browser. Overall, structured data organization saves up to 30% of processing time,” says Matthias Wackerl, describing one of the major benefits. 
Other key improvements include: 

• Faster, more targeted access: Projects are fully accessible with a single click, including a preview of simulation results and a personalized dashboard. 

• Structured storage: All relevant data is centralized, complete with history and traceability for all stakeholders. 

• Transparent processes: Tasks are clearly assigned, and project status and responsibilities are visible at all times. 

• Time savings: Organized data ensures much faster retrieval and use of all project-related information. 

• Data security: RAID backup and centralized storage significantly reduce typical IT risks. 

Central, clear, and up to date: A systematic SPDM with Ansys Minerva ensures transparency and easy access to all project data. | © Sumitomo Drive Technologies   

Audience in 2024, Speaker in 2025: SPDM Recommendations From Practitioners 

Matthias Wackerl also attended the CADFEM Conference in 2025 – this time as a speaker, sharing the efficiency gains he and his team achieved through implementing Ansys Minerva. His experience can be summarized in the following recommendations: 

• Data organization should not consume the already limited time of calculation engineers. 

• In-house solutions often seem cost-effective at first glance. On closer inspection, their development and maintenance are time-intensive and tied to the know-how of individuals. 

• Professional SPDM systems deliver efficiency, future readiness, and comprehensive protection against data loss or unauthorized access. 

Outlook: Automated Reporting and Integration of Meta Information 

Ansys Minerva has proven its value at Sumitomo Drive Technologies and is being rapidly expanded. The next project phase includes automated reports based on templates and integration of the current order form with all relevant meta information into Minerva. Matthias Wackerl: “We have many ideas and now know they can be implemented in a flexible system like Ansys Minerva together with CADFEM. Every extension and automation makes our system more valuable – we want to leverage this potential.”

Conclusion 

The introduction of Ansys Minerva at Sumitomo Drive Technologies demonstrates in a practical and transferable way that even smaller development teams can optimize their simulation processes through targeted data management.