--- title: "Leveraging AI to Speed Product Design Simulations" id: "3848" type: "post" slug: "leveraging-ai-to-speed-product-design-simulations" published_at: "2024-02-23T13:26:15+00:00" modified_at: "2024-02-23T13:37:19+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/02/leveraging-ai-to-speed-product-design-simulations-003848/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/02/leveraging-ai-to-speed-product-design-simulations-003848.md" excerpt: "Altair Engineering is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technology to speed product design simulations." taxonomy_category: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "Automation" - "Design" - "Materials" - "Software" - "Sustainability" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AI" - "Altair" - "Artificial Intelligence" - "digital twin" - "Simulation" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Trending](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/) » [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/artificial-intelligence/) » Leveraging AI to Speed Product Design Simulations # Leveraging AI to Speed Product Design Simulations Ismail Benhayoun discussed Altair’s digital simulation software in the firm’s suite at the CES 2024 show in Las Vegas. Photo by Robert Grace### Altair software – from a ‘geometric deep learning’ tool to digital twins – is giving product developers powerful new weapons [Artificial intelligence](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/artificial-intelligence/) is everywhere. That certainly was the case at the recent CES 2024 consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas, where exhibitors were touting their use of AI in everything from vehicle engineering to sporting goods and household appliances. David Byron, innovation strategy director at Michigan design studio [Sundberg-Ferar](https://sundbergferar.com/) , even used the term “AI washing” to draw attention to companies overhyping the technology. But AI certainly is real and can bring huge benefits when employed properly. One company doing so is Troy, Mich.-based [Altair Engineering Inc.](http://www.altair.com/) , which used a customer suite at the event to showcase its broad portfolio of software solutions for designers and engineers. **You can also read:** [AI for Enhanced Materials Development and Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/12/ai-for-enhanced-materials-development-and-manufacturing-002734/) The 39-year-old firm’s [physicsAI](https://altair.com/physicsai) “geometric deep learning” package, for example, is helping product developers to speed the digital simulations of their designs significantly. ## **Using AI to Slash Simulation Time** Dr. Fatma Kocer, Altair’s VP of engineering data science Dr. Fatma Kocer, Altair’s vice president of engineering data science, said in a telephone interview after the show that this product allows a client to use existing simulation data to train a machine learning (ML) model. Once trained, this model can slash “what-if” simulation studies from months to days, she said. Traditional computer-aided engineering (CAE) programs are effective, but way too slow to satisfy most product developers. “Once trained, physicsAI models can deliver predictions up to 1,000 times faster than traditional solver simulations, enabling teams to evaluate more concepts and make better design decisions.” This AI-powered technology operates directly on mesh or computer-aided design (CAD) models to quickly produce fully animated physics outcomes across diverse physics applications. These fast physics predictions, noted Kocer, eliminate the time-consuming hand-crafting of parameters needed with other training methods. ## **Leveraging Digital Twins** Ismail Benhayoun, meanwhile, demonstrated another example of the company’s expertise in the Altair suite at CES. Benhayoun, Altair’s senior technical director for product design in the U.S., highlighted a coffee case study. Gruppo Cimbali SpA, an Italian maker of espresso coffee machines, uses Altair’s technology to create a precise digital twin of its machines. These allow Cimbali engineers to run simulations that improve both the appliance’s energy usage and fine-tune its design aesthetics. ## **The Physics Behind a Cup of Coffee** Altair’s DigitalTwin solutions are powered by its sophisticated AI, simulation, data analytics, and high-performance computing (HPC) software. In [this video](https://altair.com/resource/boost-barista-business-with-digital-twins-join-gruppo-cimbali-for-a-virtual-coffee-break) , Luca Gatti, a Cimbali energy and sustainability expert, explains why they found it necessary to model and study the physics behind a cup of coffee. Gruppo Cimbali used [Altair TwinActivate](https://altair.com/twin-activate) software, which simulates the entire system and enables real-time digital twin deployment. [This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcguz5K00v4&list=PLD0Zw95Qr2iF8w8aQB3qx12h9pjuLfJfK&index=13) , meanwhile, features John Skabardonis, polycarbonates technical marketing manager for the electrical/electronics industry at Covestro LLC, interviewing Benhayoun at CES about Altair’s digital twin capabilities. ## **A Portfolio of Materials Data Resources** Altair also offers [product lifecycle management software](https://altair.com/sustainability-solutions) to model alternate materials that can help not only improve end-product performance but also enhance overall sustainability. The company describes its [Material Data Center](https://altair.com/material-data-center/) as a resource for engineers, designers and scientists. It has been developing in the area of material modeling for years but bolstered that when it acquired M-Base Engineering + Software GmbH in October 2020. With its broader portfolio of software products, Altair aims to optimize the applied convergence of AI, data analytics, high-performance computing (HPC), Internet of Things (IoT) and simulation. As with the Cimbali example, a key part of this involves its significant [digital twin capabilities](https://altair.com/digital-twin) . (Download its 48-page [2022 Digital Twin Global Survey Report](https://altair.com/docs/default-source/pdfs/altair_dt-global-survey-report_web.pdf?sfvrsn=b5aceaa9_28) here.) With these tools, the firm says, teams can design, build, test, optimize, evaluate what-if scenarios, [perform predictive maintenance](https://altair.com/machine-learning) , and extend the remaining useful life of their products –– all digitally — without needing physical prototypes. By **[Robert Grace](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/bobrcgrace-com/)** | February 23, 2024 ##### [Robert Grace](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/bobrcgrace-com/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [March 31, 2026FlexForum 2026: Key Policy Shifts in Flexible Packaging](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/03/flexforum-2026-key-policy-shifts-in-flexible-packaging-011125/) [April 29, 2026Renewable Functional Coatings for Advanced Applications](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/renewable-functional-coatings-for-advanced-applications-011134/) [April 2, 2026Circular Automotive – IKV Colloquium Drives Real Change](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/circular-automotive-ikv-colloquium-drives-real-change-010990/) [April 21, 2026Flame-Resistant Polymers for Space Safety and Aerospace Use](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flame-resistant-polymers-for-space-safety-and-aerospace-use-011162/) [April 20, 2026Real-Time Melt Monitoring in Extrusion and Injection Molding](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/real-time-melt-monitoring-in-extrusion-and-injection-molding-011167/) [April 6, 2026Thermotropic LCEs Power Soft Robotics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/thermotropic-lces-power-soft-robotics-010984/) [April 9, 2026FlexForum 2026 Brings Flexible Packaging Leaders to Fort Myers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flexforum-2026-brings-flexible-packaging-leaders-to-fort-myers-011346/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2024/02/leveraging-ai-to-speed-product-design-simulations-003848/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&text=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&text=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&t=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&t=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&title=Leveraging%20AI%20to%20Speed%20Product%20Design%20Simulations&summary=Altair+Engineering+is+leveraging+artificial+intelligence+%28AI%29+and+digital+twin+technology+to+speed+product+design+simulations.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&title=Leveraging%20AI%20to%20Speed%20Product%20Design%20Simulations&summary=Altair+Engineering+is+leveraging+artificial+intelligence+%28AI%29+and+digital+twin+technology+to+speed+product+design+simulations.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&title=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3848&title=Leveraging+AI+to+Speed+Product+Design+Simulations) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ab94d8dec9c1cec8df96fbc7cad8dfc2c8d88beec5ccc2c5ceced9c2c5cc8b868be7ceddced9caccc2c5cc8beae28bdfc48bf8dbcececf8bfbd9c4cfdec8df8befced8c2ccc58bf8c2c6dec7cadfc2c4c5d88dc9c4cfd296c3dfdfdbd8918484dcdcdc85dbc7cad8dfc2c8d8cec5ccc2c5ceced9c2c5cc85c4d9cc8494db9698939f93](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ab94d8dec9c1cec8df96fbc7cad8dfc2c8d88beec5ccc2c5ceced9c2c5cc8b868be7ceddced9caccc2c5cc8beae28bdfc48bf8dbcececf8bfbd9c4cfdec8df8befced8c2ccc58bf8c2c6dec7cadfc2c4c5d88dc9c4cfd296c3dfdfdbd8918484dcdcdc85dbc7cad8dfc2c8d8cec5ccc2c5ceced9c2c5cc85c4d9cc8494db9698939f93) - [#comments](#comments)