In a recent interview with Wood & Panel, Christophe Vermeloux, CEO at EFICAD, discussed the company’s key strengths, technological innovations and of course market strategies. Being the ultimate innovation seeker of technological solutions, EFICAD continues to build on its founding values along with the urge to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We are happy to have an in-depth conversation with them. Excerpts.
WPE : As one of the leading providers of technology, how would you describe your company’s approach and key strengths?
Christophe Vermeloux : EFICAD, the editor of SWOOD, develops its products within SOLIDWORKS. A software offering advanced 3D parametric features and technical responses to the most complex mechanical engineering projects. Its intuitive environment and worldwide presence make it the reference software for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in industrial sectors. Integrating the SWOOD vertical approach and features into this environment completes and adapts the SOLIDWORKS technical solution to meet the needs of the woodworking industry from design to manufacturing. EFICAD leverages its talent and expertise to create solutions that address the daily challenges faced by industry professionals. Based on our user-focused approach, we keep our solutions at the forefront of technology by regularly releasing new versions of our software, providing access to the latest components, and ensuring compatibility with the most advanced machines and tools. In addition, we’ve built a strong international network of partners with expertise in industrial processes and digital transformation, who are trained and certified on SWOOD’s solutions, providing local support and presence for our users.
WPE : What are the most recent technological innovations you are focusing on, and how do they reflect current industry trends?
Christophe Vermeloux : Thanks to our close relationships with users and partners, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the market and its evolution. We have identified a growing trend in the industry: mass customization. Companies that initially focused on mass production are increasingly offering customization services or modular products. To efficiently address this challenge, we developed an automation product that links design and manufacturing without manual input. SWOOD CENTER allows users to create 3D models in various configurations defined through a customizable questionnaire. By connecting their internal system to SWOOD, the solution leverages its parametric features and shape recognition capabilities, recalculating preconfigured models based on order data. When the system receives a new customer order, SWOOD gathers the data, recalculates the corresponding model, and automatically generates all production documents and data, including the machines’ programs, without manual intervention. This solution provides users with reliable, detailed data to produce custom models at large volumes, saving time by automatically utilizing each product’s full capabilities.
WPE : How does log EFICAD’s technological solutions contribute to optimising the productivity and efficiency of woodworking industry?
Christophe Vermeloux : Reliability is at the heart of our solution development. We aim to make our interfaces as intuitive as possible and are working on optimizing project data collection and sharing without ever compromising the reliability of the project data. Indeed, data reliability between design and production is essential to ensure high-quality finished products and maximum profitability for our users. To achieve this, we created a report that allows data to be collected and displayed in a customizable way by department, team, or position, and enables project data sharing from a web browser without connection or software limitations, simplifying collaboration. This report ensures data reliability through its parametric design features. Any changes made to the model during design are automatically updated in the project report. Users can generate and view the latest project data with just one click. In this way, we offer an easy-to-use solution that enhances collaboration, significantly reducing production errors and raw material waste, and speeding up the time-to-market of our users’ projects.
WPE : With CAD/CAM technology especially in woodworking industry is gaining prominence globally, what core strategies do you implement to ensure your solutions stand out in the market?
Christophe Vermeloux : Our strategy is based on technological innovation, user experience, and accessibility. We provide scalable solutions compatible with all wood CNC machines, featuring the latest machining strategies for woodworking manufacturing, alongside parametric design capabilities, reusable projects, and project data generation, ensuring 3D design reliability. An international network of certified experts ensures local support and personalized service. At the same time, partnerships with leading brands supply users with hardware, tools, and components in a unique environment, ensuring accessibility and precision for their projects. As a result, we evolve by bridging market needs, the latest CAD/CAM technologies, and key industry manufacturer products, delivering comprehensive solutions tailored to our users’ daily requirements.
WPE : Lamello, a Swiss company known for its expertise in joining and assembling solutions, has recently brought an exclusive innovation for SWOOD users. Could you provide more details about this development?
Christophe Vermeloux : SWOOD developed a scalable library tool called Library Installer, integrated within the CAD solution. It offers users hundreds of ready-to-use components for quick 3D project design, including hardware from suppliers like Blum, Hettich, Grass, Hafele, and more. Those intelligent components combine multiple product references into a single library component, integrating all the product configurations (slide dimensions, drilling patterns, etc.) and options (color, materials, etc.) proposed by the supplier. Each time the intelligent component is used in a design, it proposes the most optimized hardware configuration to users, based on the insertion context, and applies the correct drilling pattern to the surrounding panels (sides and front), enabling smooth design-to-manufacture workflows. This year’s significant update is the integration of connectors—including models from Lamello—directly into the Library Installer. Users no longer need to recreate these components manually; they can download and instantly reuse them in their projects. This update reflects SWOOD’s ongoing effort to expand and regularly update downloadable libraries, providing relevant, ready-to-use content tailored to each user’s needs without added complexity. Thanks to a strong partnership between SWOOD and Lamello, their latest innovation, the LCP16, has been made available in the Library Installer for its official market release.
WPE : Lastly, what marketing strategies will you adopt to stay ahead in the evolving market?
Christophe Vermeloux : Gathering users’ needs and market trends allows EFICAD to expand its physical and digital international presence. Our global partner network enables SWOOD to be showcased at local and international trade shows, industry and technical events, and manufacturers’ showrooms, and to grow a worldwide user community, keeping SWOOD solutions at the forefront of the market. Our strength lies in our willingness to collaborate with users, key industry players, partners, and others to adapt to market changes and new challenges.
