Tetra4D Converter is revolutionizing the Indian manufacturing industry by enabling the seamless conversion of major CAD formats into 3D PDFs. Ashish Ramdas Satao, the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Pune-based CAM TECH Solutions Private Limited, has spearheaded this transformation. After earning his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth and gaining extensive industry experience, Ashish’s partnership with Tech Soft 3D in 2013 marked the beginning of his mission to bring Tetra4D to India, Singapore, Australia, and the UAE.
Ashish Ramdas Satao is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pune-based CAM TECH Solutions Private Limited, a company dedicated to supporting the burgeoning Indian manufacturing sector, particularly small and medium-sized industries, with affordable Computer-Aided Design (CAD) solutions. Partnering with Bengaluru-based Hope Technologies, Ashish and his team have been instrumental in serving industries across Maharashtra with ZW CAD, an economical CAD software. This software has not only benefited large and medium-sized companies but also micro enterprises such as laser and profile cutters, introducing digital tools into their workshops and enhancing their operational efficiency.
Ashish believes that Tetra4D Converter will revolutionize the integration of production and design for Indian manufacturers. He emphasizes the practicality of this solution, stating, “It is not feasible that manufacturers can purchase all kinds of CAD/CAM tools which are available in the market. Tetra4D is a communication and collaboration platform, where most of the digital tools are already integrated, and helping many industries.”
The Tetra4D Converter stands out as the world’s leading solution for converting native 3D CAD data into interactive 3D PDF documents, facilitating easy sharing and collaboration. This innovative product evolved from a collaboration between independent software developers and Tech Soft 3D, Adobe’s exclusive partner for delivering 3D technologies to OEM developers, and is now wholly owned by Tech Soft 3D, complementing their HOOPS product lines.
Navigating Challenges and Innovations: Initial Journey of CAM Tech Solutions
After completing his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2006 from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth, one of India’s first autonomous engineering institutions in Pune, Ashish Ramdas Satao embarked on his professional journey. He worked with FOne System, Adroitech, and Extent Care before joining Hope Technologies in 2009. In 2012, Ashish founded CAM Tech Solutions, which has since become a leading provider of engineering products in Maharashtra, offering a range of solutions including 3D PDF, CAD communication software, 2D/3D CAD software, CAM software, and PLM solutions.
“Our focus was on providing affordable and cost-effective CAD solutions to manufacturers, and we are very happy that we were able to offer solutions at less than half the price of multinationals in the market through ZW CAD. We urged manufacturers to opt for genuine licenses and bring more productivity to their business,” shares Ashish. Initially, MSMEs were the primary customers for CAM Tech’s CAD solutions, but the clientele has since expanded to include medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, and even OEMs.
ZW CAD, developed by ZW Soft, a company based in China, occasionally becomes a topic of discussion due to emotional and political sentiments in India. “It’s the functionality that matters,” adds Ashish. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent issues at the Indo-Chinese borders, along with the Indian government’s ban on certain apps, concerns were raised. However, these concerns have subsided over time. “We cannot neglect China’s role in manufacturing. China is one of the largest importers to India, and we should strengthen our local supply chain. We are working towards that goal,” Ashish explains.
Expanding Horizons with Tetra4D Partnership
In 2013, Ashish Ramdas Satao connected with Tech Soft 3D, the American company behind the PRC format, an integral part of the PDF standard. The PRC format is used in Tech Soft 3D’s HOOPS Publish 3D PDF publishing toolkit and is also provided to Adobe for use in Adobe Acrobat® and Adobe Reader®. Securing an exclusive partnership, Ashish began marketing Tetra4D in India, Singapore, Australia, and the UAE. “When a production engineer faces challenges, they typically need to consult a design engineer to review the 3D design, which can be time-consuming. With Tetra4D Converter, we are eliminating this step. Now, even before production starts, the production engineer can easily check the 3D design in a PDF on a computer or even on their mobile,” explains Ashish.
With the Tetra4D Converter, you can seamlessly share your 3D CAD data while controlling what specific information is included, such as precise solid geometry, PMI/views, and metadata, all in a highly compressed, viewable format. Given that Adobe Reader is installed on 98% of desktops worldwide, anyone who needs to view your 3D data already has the necessary software. The converter supports the conversion of major CAD formats like CATIA®, PTC® Creo, Pro/E, NX™, Solid Edge®, SolidWorks®, Autodesk® Inventor®, and Autodesk AutoCAD® into 3D PDFs. It also enables conversion to neutral formats such as STEP, JT, Parasolid, 3MF, IGES, and JT. Additionally, Tetra4D Converter provides control over whether recipients can measure, section, comment on, or export the 3D data, leveraging Adobe’s powerful security features.
“Think about huge applications for Defence, Shipbuilding, and Aerospace. Sometimes it takes hours to open a CAD file. With Tetra4D Converter, handling 3D CAD data is becoming very easy,” shares Ashish. CAM TECH Solutions boasts numerous customers from emerging industries in India, including the Aerospace, Defence, and Marine sectors. The benefits extend beyond manufacturing; the sales teams can now carry 3D designs on their laptops and mobiles, providing better demonstrations to their customers. “I am delighted that the journey started to strengthen MSMEs in India with CAM TECH Solutions is now achieving greater goals. I am happy to be part of India’s growth story,” concludes Ashish Ramdas Satao.