Rubber automotive components maker, Sumitomo Riko, has integrated Ansys' SimAI to improve efficiency during auto component design and manufacturing processes.

The artificial intelligence (AI) platform of Ansys, part of Synopsys, is expected to expedite a range of computation-intensive tasks.

These include anti-vibration design and thermal analyses, which are crucial for battery cooling in vehicles.

SimAI is designed to enable engineers to predict the physical behaviour of components under various conditions.

It is deemed a vital step in ensuring vehicle safety and reliability, particularly when components are subjected to extreme loads and stress.

Traditionally, this process is said to have been laborious, involving numerous multi-physics simulations with extensive pre-processing requirements, such as defining geometric parameters for models.

To overcome these challenges and expedite product development, Sumitomo Riko is utilising SimAI in conjunction with previously collected data to train AI models.

These models are designed to predict the performance of high-performance rubber products, like vibration isolators and hoses, without the need for detailed geometric parametrisation.

This approach claims to have slashed the time taken to make performance predictions from over an hour to less than five minutes for each new design.

Sumitomo Riko advanced systems research and development (R&D) Center analysis and experiment division head Noritaka Matsuoka said: "The first challenge is to promote the adoption of AI across our product development cycles.

“SimAI is an ideal platform to start this journey due to its robust capabilities that eliminate the need for parametrised geometries, making it easier for multiple teams to collaborate on one project."

Sumitomo Riko is working with Ansys to implement these automation capabilities, which span from initial product design to eventual retirement.

Ansys worldwide sales and customer excellence senior vice president Walt Hearn said: "Modern product development begins with quality data and leading simulation solutions.

"One of the biggest challenges in R&D is balancing speed and accuracy during the early design phase. Ansys AI capabilities enable lightning-fast predictions, regardless of how large or complex the computation is, so that customers can make data-driven decisions before prototyping begins."

In August 2025, Ansys agreed with Nvidia to incorporate Nvidia Omniverse technology into its autonomous vehicle simulation solutions.