Tag: SolidWorks headquarters

Jon Hirschtick at SW Corp HQ

When Jon Hirschtick talks, his excitement is infectious.  Maybe reason for this is that he is excited about what he’s talking about.  At the recent visit to SolidWorks headquarters, several of us SolidWorks bloggers got to met with Jon again, but it never seems like enough time.

He talked about how he likes to keep up on what’s going on in the world.  He’s always looking for new technologies that may be worked into a new feature within the SolidWorks business model (my wording).

One particular area he talked about again was that 3D modelling isn’t owned by the 3D CAD industry.  It is owned by the Gaming industry.  The guys in the Gaming industry are the ones working with unique motion control within huge 3D worlds. This is a point he also made at SolidWorks World 2009.

He also is trying to keep updated on hardware technologies that may be used on the side of CAD but within the CAD context.   Again, he pointed to the Gaming industry and such devices as the Wii and Xbox.  Jon seemed fascinated by the fact that his son rather voice talk to him via the Xbox instead of the traditional land-line or cellphone because it is easier, its better quality and more reliable. He also mentioned that “kids” do not voice talk much on their cellphones.  They rather text.  Voice is reserved for emergencies. It is fascinating that the methods of communication used by older generations is much different than what is now being used now by the newer generations.  This process of change is likely to continue.

One prediction that he made is that cellphones will all soon be equipped with a projector that will allow human interfacing within the projected image.

Secret Spy Photos within SolidWorks Headquarters

Several fellow bloggers and I were recently fortunate enough to be taken on a tour of the SolidWorks headquarters in Concord, MA. Not many have the clearance for such an honor. (The last of such tours was conducted on April 1, 2005.) The onsite DNA analysis required samples that I now regret giving up. The lie-detector test took over 5 hours. After all that (and more that I will never speak of again), the tour started. They allowed me to take photos just as long as they were able to redact any secret information before I published them. Unfortunately, this meant that a great many photos simply got removed. Here’s what I am allowed to show you.

Secret Area 1

The only fact I’m able to share about this photo is that this is Secret Area 1.

Power Plug

I was told that this power outlet generates enough electricity to power 2 vacuums at the same time. The blanked-out areas adjacent to the outlet are ÞÐsΛ Θ♣É−‡Ñ for other purposes.

Skunk Works

I’m not allowed to say that this stair well leads 18 levels underground to Secret Area 5 where current tests are now being conducted on something called t-virus in a joint venture with Umbrella Corporation.

England rules!

Although SolidWorks Corporation is wholly owned by Dassault Systemes S.A. of France, there continues to be rumors of an English connection. I personally found no evidence of this.

Secret Area 7

This is Secret area 7. I’m not allowed to specifically mention the individual who is blocked out in this photo.

Processing Lab

This may or may not be a secret processing lab where much of the development of SolidWorks may or may not occur.

Pretty boring

This was the only photo that wasn’t redacted at all. Frankly, it’s just a chair. I’m sorry that I was only able to provide this boring photo in its original form.

SolidWorks headquarters

The visit to SolidWorks headquarters in Concord, MA has been very eventful.  This has been on busy trip.  The schedule has been full from each early morning to evening.  The SolidWorks bloggers definitely have a lot of material to work from in the up coming months.  There is a lot of detail on already available information, as well as a ton of info about what’s to come soon. One thing that is coming up that SolidWorks Corp is very proud is Sustainability and SustainabilityXpress.  There’s also a lot of exciting improvements to SolidWorks 2010 that make it worth a look when it comes out.  More to come, including “secret” photos of the SolidWorks operations.  😉  For now, I’m heading out to my long flight back home.

Lexington, MA

Lexington is a small community just outside of Boston on your way to Concord in Massachusetts.  It’s one of those places visitors may not expect to find themselves when coming to this grand state.  It has a quaint downtown with simple flare.  SolidWorks Corp (aka DS SolidWorks Corporation) has invited many of the SolidWorks bloggers to this locale for what looks to be an all-you-can-eat buffet of their product offerings in the Concord headquarters, with glimpses of what is to come for SolidWorks 2010.  This is my first visit to Concord, MA and to the SolidWorks Corp headquarters.  There’s a few returnees to the headquarters in our group of attendees.  Every attendee has been a SolidWorks Corp guest to press events in the past.  This event is technically not a press event (being just for SolidWorks bloggers); it is my first time I am a guest of SolidWorks Corp at an event outside of SolidWorks World.  I’m a excited about that and the prospect of being able to see the SolidWorks Corp headquarters.