Many small to mid-sized manufacturing companies do not use high performance computing (HPC) to create and test potential parts and products virtually because of cost concerns. But one firm that did make the investment in HPC developed a new product line - and subsequently doubled in size.
The company, L&L Products, in Romeo, Mich., is an automotive supplier that makes proprietary chemicals that can be used in any number of applications. Its products include high-strength adhesives that will bond to any material and structural composites used to strengthen vehicles.
L&L began using high performance computing about six years ago to build a new structural composite line for automotive makers. The product line for the company would have been impossible to start without HPC resources, said Steven Reagan, the computational modeling manager at L&L.
"It doubled our business," said Reagan, adding that the firm now makes about $220m annually and has about 900 global employees.
