PACE lab opens at McMaster

HAMILTON — McMaster University has officially open the university’s PACE Lab for automotive engineering and design.

Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) is a collaborative initiative between GM, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens PLM Software, Sun Microsystems. The organization provides computer hardware, software, training, automotive parts and industry-related projects to the engineering and design departments of selected universities around the world.

Currently, there are approximately 50 PACE universities globally, including McMaster, University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, Queen’s University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.

PACE’s goal is to develop and promote product lifecycle management (PLM) as a business method. PLM, as it relates to PACE, is an integrated, parametrics-based approach to all aspects of a product’s life-from its design inception, through its manufacture, marketing, distribution and maintenance, and finally into recycling and disposal.

Currently, PACE is focused on concept development, styling, detailed engineering design, simulation, manufacturing engineering, PDM, supply chain collaboration and digital collaboration.

At the McMaster PACE lab, sixty-seven computer workstations have been installed in two locations at the university, one in the new Engineering Technology Building and the other in the John Hodgins Engineering Building. The workstations are used by students in both the Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Technology programs. PACE software on the computers includes Siemens PLM Software NX and Teamcenter; and Autodesk Alias Design, Maya, and Sketchbook Pro.

As part of the opening ceremonies, a student engineering team demonstrated their work for the PACE Next Generation Sustainable Urban Transport (SUT) project. The students are collaborating with their peers at the University of Cincinnati to develop a near-pollution-free vehicle propelled by compressed air. McMaster is developing the propulsion system. Cincinnati is developing the frame and chassis. The project will be presented at the 2011 PACE Global Annual Forum this July in Vancouver.
www.pacepartners.org