SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — January 31, 2012 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has kicked off the company’s official Inventor of the Year voting process. Autodesk is encouraging members of the Autodesk Manufacturing community to visit the community website and choose one of the 2011 Autodesk Inventor of the Month winners as Inventor of the Year.

The Autodesk Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made among the hundreds of thousands of advancements users make using Autodesk Inventor software -- technology that enables Digital Prototyping. A digital prototype helps users design, visualize and simulate product performance before it is built, helping reduce costs, speed time to market and enhance competitive advantage.

Community members will select the next Inventor of the Year by voting for the best of the monthly award winners from 2011. The company with the highest rating from community members will be named 2011 Inventor of the Year. Voting is under way and closes Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

The Contenders: 2011 Inventor of the Month Winners

January 2011: Valiant Corporation, a global provider of manufacturing solutions, uses the advanced dynamic simulation functionality in Autodesk Inventor to increase load capacity while reducing costs, and to minimize design weight while meeting customer performance requirements. In a recent project for The Boeing Company, Valiant designed and engineered a portable cargo loader 30 percent more efficiently.

February 2011: Nitto Sangyo, a Japanese playground equipment manufacturer, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop Link Mini rocking toys. The toys are designed to be safer and more durable than standard commercial playground equipment. Eliminating reliance on physical prototyping shortened Link Mini development time by almost two months, reducing overall costs by nearly US$6,000 (500,000 yen) per product.

March 2011: Weatherhaven provides portable shelters, camps and systems for remote sites around the world. Using Digital Prototyping in Autodesk Inventor, Weatherhaven has significantly shortened product development time from concept to manufacturing, while reduced the number of more expensive physical prototypes typically necessary to explore and validate designs.

April 2011: Federal Equipment Company, a supplier of specialized military replacement parts, used Autodesk Inventor to design an advanced elevator system for the U.S. Navy. The new system enables efficient transport of munitions on board new aircraft carriers. Testing is costly, but with the help of Autodesk software, FEC can simulate the elevator’s shock response in just one $400,000 test, enabling the company to quickly identify and fix potential problems and avoid often costly retesting.

May 2011: Hawkes Ocean Technologies (HOT) designs and builds manned and remote vehicles for deep-ocean exploration. Autodesk Inventor enables HOT to create entirely new ideas and change the way submersibles operate, transforming them from “underwater balloons” to underwater crafts capable of flight.

June 2011: Carousel Works is the world’s largest manufacturer of custom wooden carousels for zoos, parks and the world’s largest cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean’s “Oasis of the Seas” and “Allure of the Seas.” With Autodesk Inventor, Carousel Works marries old-world craftsmanship with 3D design, and creates its custom wooden carousels up to 50 percent faster.

July 2011: Pankl Aerospace Systems uses Autodesk Inventor LT software to more effectively manufacture helicopter rotary systems, increasing the performance and reliability of critical components, while significantly improving pilot and passenger safety. Autodesk software helps Pankl save time, reduce manufacturing costs and increase customer quality, all while operating at optimal performance.

August 2011: Illini Prosthetic Technologies, a nonprofit organization, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop more affordable and more easily fitted prosthetic arms for below-elbow amputees in developing nations. Digitally exploring and refining its ideas, IPT provides access to affordable prosthetic care, helping amputees around the world regain use of their limbs, return to work and better care for themselves and their families.

September 2011: PMB Façade, a Malaysia-based company, uses Autodesk Inventor to develop architectural façades for some of the world’s most astonishing buildings, including Qatar’s 43-story Al-Bidda Tower, also known as Tornado Tower. The ability to digitally simulate and predict real-world performance before construction has helped PMB Façade reduce material cost and waste by as much as 15 percent, and deliver projects up to 30 percent faster.

October 2011: Kelly Racing, an Australia-based racing team, uses Autodesk Inventor to precisely design and validate new car components that give the team a racing edge. After a race weekend, designers modify existing car parts with Inventor, increasing traction and grip by as much as 8 percent, which leads to faster lap times and increased performance.