Lectra To Preview Its Automated Grading Solution For The Fashion Industry At IMB 2006

Cologne, Germany — Lectra, the world leader in software, CAD/CAM equipment and related services dedicated to the fashion businesses, will preview its innovative automated grading solution at the IMB 2006 trade show in Cologne, Germany, from May 10 to 13. This solution facilitates and accelerates the grading process for fashion-sector companies while satisfying quality requirements and ensuring perfectly-fitting garments.

Lectra's automated grading solution is based on an innovative "template" concept; the operator selects a graphical representation, with grading information, by product type (pants, shirt, skirt, etc.) from a custom library. After selection of a measurement chart, the operator loads the pattern pieces and positions them onto the template either manually or automatically. The grading is then performed with the click of the mouse.

Capitalizing on grading knowledge and best practices
"With this innovative solution, which results from more than 30 years of experience in the fashion market, grading of the majority of garments can now be performed by anyone," explains Amandine Roy, product manager at Lectra. Our solution enables fashion professionals to save time in the grading activity and greatly increase their productivity while capitalizing on the company's knowledge and best practices. From now on, grading takes only four clicks and a few minutes."

Based in Italy, Penta Service creates numerous models and develops patterns for more than 40 major Italian brands. With 14 pattern designers, this service office has used the automated grading concept with Lectra's pattern-making solution for several months. "We have created our own templates, including one for shirts, one for pants, and two for skirts, which we use to grade all of our women's garments," explains Dante Giovannini, Associate Partner at Penta Service. "Automated grading has enabled us to cut grading time in half. We get reliable results and avoid repetitive tasks."

Compatible with all existing CAD solutions
Completing Lectra's offering for design, development, manufacturing and product lifecycle management (PLM), this automated grading solution?which will be released in the fourth quarter of 2006?benefits from strong interoperability capabilities which enable it to be used with Lectra's renowned pattern-making applications as well as with any other existing CAD software.

"By improving the development of garments, this innovative solution offers further proof of our ongoing commitment to simplifying and accelerating industrial processes in order to ensure the success of fashion professionals," stated Lectra CEO, Daniel Harari. "We are proud to preview this automated grading solution at the IMB, before its official launch."

SOURCE: Lectra