Mikasa Industry Co., Ltd.
Industry: Plastic bottles and caps
Location: Koryo-cho, Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara-pref, Japan
Website: www.mikasa-ind.co.jp/en
The Company
Founded in 1912 as a manufacturer of wooden spouts for sake barrels, MIKASA transitioned in 1963, with the widespread adoption of plastic materials, to the production and sale of plastic caps, bottles, and various packaging materials. In the same year, MIKASA developed the "GS Crown Cap," an innovative opener-free plastic crown cap. Following this breakthrough, MIKASA continuously introduced products that improved liquid packaging, one after another.
A consistent element throughout the company's history is its commitment to "creative ingenuity." For over 100 years, MIKASA has relentlessly pursued continuous improvement, paying attention to the smallest details and implementing necessary reforms to guarantee the quality and reliability of its products. Looking ahead, MIKASA is committed to maintaining this trust by consistently delivering top-quality products that meet and exceed clients' expectations.
The Challenge
Before introducing ThinkDesign into their plastic bottle design process, MIKASA was using two other 3D CAD systems. However, these systems lacked the ease of use and the flexibility for surface modeling that the company required.
ThinkDesign as a Solution
MIKASA has chosen to adopt ThinkDesign into the manufacturing process of their plastic bottles, leveraging its advanced parametric design capabilities and the versatile Global Shape Modeling (GSM) tools. This decision was driven by the need to enhance design flexibility and streamline modifications, which are crucial for meeting diverse client requirements and rapidly changing market demands. Since the introduction of ThinkDesign, the design time has been reduced by approximately 70%. This reduction translates into faster project turnaround, allowing the company to bring products to market more quickly. Additionally, the time saved in the design phase contributes to overall cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
The bottles that MIKASA produces with ThinkDesign are specifically designed for seasonings like dressings, sauces, soy sauce and oil. Within the Bottle Development Department, designers focus on creating plastic bottles with ThinkDesign that meet both functional requirements (such as optimal volume, shape, and durability) and aesthetic design standards. Ensuring adequate strength and thickness is crucial to support the industry trend towards lighter plastics that can withstand repeated use.
PARAMETRIC MODELING
One of the main benefits of using ThinkDesign is that it allows for both direct and parametric modeling approaches, offering the ability to create highly flexible and adaptable designs. When designing plastic bottles, parametric modeling becomes quite important because it allows for precise control over dimensions and shapes, facilitates rapid adjustments, and ensures that all changes are automatically reflected throughout the model. This maintains the integrity of the design and leads to increased efficiency in the production process. This flexibility is especially valuable in projects where design changes are frequent, enabling designers to explore multiple variations and optimize their designs without having to start from scratch each time. Thanks to ThinkDesign’s parametric modeling capabilities, MIKASA can achieve greater efficiency and save significant time, thereby streamlining the entire design process.
ThinkDesign enables us to design and produce customized plastic bottles tailored to specific client requirements. Whether it's a unique shape, size, or functionality, it allows for rapid prototyping and adjustments, ensuring the final product meets exact specifications.
FREE-FORM MODELING
ThinkDesign allows you to make precise changes during the design process with its Global Shape Modeling (GSM) commands. Specifically, "GSM Twist” can be used to modify surfaces through twisting, making it particularly useful for designing various models of plastic bottles.
Designers can create more accurate and aesthetically pleasing products, which are essential for both the functionality and appearance of the bottle, ultimately leading to higher quality and more reliable products.
2D AND 3D INTEGRATION
The seamless integration between the 2D and 3D environments has been also one of the factors that prompted MIKASA to choose ThinkDesign. It proved to be particularly effective, allowing designers to quickly explore and visualize different shapes, sizes, and features of the bottle before committing to more detailed 3D models.
TDTOOLSPLUS
TDToolsPlus is a collection of utilities seamlessly integrated into ThinkDesign, providing users with a rich set of functionalities that expand ThinkDesign's features. One of its standout capabilities, the “Target Volume” command, has proven to be particularly beneficial in bottle capacity design, significantly reducing the time required for accurate volume calculations. This tool is especially valuable for designers in MIKASA working with plastic bottles, as it streamlines the entire volume determination process, ensuring precision and saving valuable resources.
Conclusion
MIKASA has a long-standing tradition of innovation and quality, dating back to its founding in 1912. The company has continually evolved, transitioning from wooden spouts for sake barrels to pioneering plastic packaging solutions. The adoption of ThinkDesign into the manufacturing process has been a game-changer for MIKASA. The advanced parametric design capabilities and the flexible GSM tools have not only reduced design time but also enhanced the company's ability to deliver high-quality, customized plastic bottles efficiently.
Looking forward, MIKASA is well-positioned to maintain its competitive edge and drive future success through ongoing improvements and technological advancements.