New door design system implemented

Antti Marine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ship doors. Our doors are known for their durability and ease of installation, and the precision of our deliveries is widely appreciated. Still, we continuously strive to further improve the quality of our operations. Our new design system marks a clear step forward on this journey.

Antti Marine Technology Manager Tuomas Okker, why did Antti Marine decide to develop a new design system?

– The new design system, Antti Design System (ADS), is part of the overall development of our door delivery process. It improves the quality of design work. The old system was laborious for the designer, which could sometimes lead to measurement errors. Naturally, this caused challenges for the efficiency of our production and delivery processes.

How long did it take to develop the new design system?

– It has been roughly a one-year project. Our development engineer Sauli Hakala, who was recruited specifically for this project, has taken the main responsibility for the practical development work. The new system is already partly in use, and full implementation will begin during 2026.

What is the new design system used for?

– The Antti Design System is built on the SolidWorks 3D CAD platform, customized with in-house developed add-ons. In the future, all ship doors designed by Antti Marine will be created with it. Drawings of door parts and details are transferred directly to Antti’s ERP system, which allows the production planner to proceed with the manufacturing of components.

What kind of tool is ADS from a designer’s point of view?

– With the new system, designers can focus more on overall management and quality control. Repetitive routine work is reduced as processes are increasingly automated.

What benefits does the new design system bring to Antti’s customers?

– The Antti Design System enhances the overall quality of Antti’s operations by increasing standardization in design. The accuracy and reliability of door deliveries improve as the risk of internal errors decreases.

What is the most challenging aspect of designing ship doors?

– The diversity of input data and details. In the end, there are many features and functions in a door that people don’t usually think about—materials, surfaces, dimensions, connections between frames and surrounding structures, seals, hinges, locks, handles, and opening directions.

– Of course, door certificates and the specifications from customers set the guidelines, but much still remains for us to figure out at our desks. In the case of a large cruise ship, we may receive an order covering several thousand doors, but not all of them are alike. Some types might be made in batches of 500, others in 30, and some only in two units. This diversity is a challenge that keeps us alert.