Sumitomo Riko, a major global maker of rubber automotive components, has teamed up with Ansys (of Synopsys) to bring AI-driven simulation into its design and manufacturing workflows. Using Ansys SimAI, the company reports it can now run high-fidelity simulations more than ten times faster than traditional methods, enabling engineers to go from idea to validated model in minutes rather than hours.
Traditionally, creating accurate multiphysics models—covering mechanical, thermal, chemical effects, and more—requires time-consuming geometry setup and expert-level simulation skills. Sumitomo Riko is now training AI models on legacy simulation data to bypass much of that manual work: new component predictions can be made in under five minutes, achieving accuracy close to full simulations. The initial focus is on vibration isolators, hoses, and components like rubber bushes (which help absorb shocks in suspension), but the ambition is broader. The company plans to roll out workflow automation spanning from design through manufacturing and even retirement phases.
According to Sumitomo Riko’s R&D leadership, this shift helps democratize simulation results—making them accessible not just to specialists, but to cross-functional teams—and accelerates iteration cycles. Ansys emphasizes the balance between speed and fidelity as a key benefit of AI-augmented simulation, allowing design decisions to be made earlier, with less reliance on costly physical prototypes.
Source: PR Newswire
