General Biodiesel streamlines operations
October 25, 2010
BY Bryan Sims
Posted Nov. 3, 2010
General Biodiesel Inc. tapped digital prototyping and piping and instrumentation diagramming (P&ID) software from Autodesk Inc. to streamline the production process at its 15 MMgy multi-feedstock facility in Seattle, Wash. The improvement project cut more than $500,000 on traditional upgrade costs to the plant, according to the company.
As part of its plant improvements, General Biodiesel used Autodesk Inventor and Auto CAD P&ID software to design a sophisticated pretreatment system that allows higher yields from converting used cooking oil into biodiesel. By using Autodesk Inventor software, General Biodiesel could produce compelling 3D digital prototypes of the plant and equipment to quickly visualize and explore the viability of proposed changes.
"Autodesk software was extremely helpful in streamlining and organizing our processes," said Cameron Hewes, president and chief financial officer for General Biodiesel. "Using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD P&ID helped us design and make real-time incremental process changes that improved efficiency and throughput for our plant."
The company also used AutoCAD P&ID to generate the bill of materials, making for more accurate reports and saving money through greater efficiency. Autodesk's partner IMAGINiT assisted with training and to ensure successful deployment of Autodesk's software.
"By creating process flow diagrams, bill of materials and piping and instrumentation diagrams with Autodesk software, we significantly reduced our costs while improving our collaboration and efficiency," Hewes said.
The plant improvement project was part of Autodesk's Clean Tech Partner Program, which aims to provide software for emerging cleantech companies in North America and Europe, such as biodiesel producers.
General Biodiesel Inc. tapped digital prototyping and piping and instrumentation diagramming (P&ID) software from Autodesk Inc. to streamline the production process at its 15 MMgy multi-feedstock facility in Seattle, Wash. The improvement project cut more than $500,000 on traditional upgrade costs to the plant, according to the company.
As part of its plant improvements, General Biodiesel used Autodesk Inventor and Auto CAD P&ID software to design a sophisticated pretreatment system that allows higher yields from converting used cooking oil into biodiesel. By using Autodesk Inventor software, General Biodiesel could produce compelling 3D digital prototypes of the plant and equipment to quickly visualize and explore the viability of proposed changes.
"Autodesk software was extremely helpful in streamlining and organizing our processes," said Cameron Hewes, president and chief financial officer for General Biodiesel. "Using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD P&ID helped us design and make real-time incremental process changes that improved efficiency and throughput for our plant."
The company also used AutoCAD P&ID to generate the bill of materials, making for more accurate reports and saving money through greater efficiency. Autodesk's partner IMAGINiT assisted with training and to ensure successful deployment of Autodesk's software.
"By creating process flow diagrams, bill of materials and piping and instrumentation diagrams with Autodesk software, we significantly reduced our costs while improving our collaboration and efficiency," Hewes said.
The plant improvement project was part of Autodesk's Clean Tech Partner Program, which aims to provide software for emerging cleantech companies in North America and Europe, such as biodiesel producers.
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