Central Innovation, now operating as a full-service software provider, has unveiled its Data Solutions Business Unit and MaXXlink – a new CAD/ERP/PLM/MRP Integrator and BOM automation tool.
For over 35 years, Central Innovation (CI) has operated as a value-added reseller for engineering and architectural design solutions across Australia, New Zealand, and global markets. The company has primarily supported the Dassault Systèmes software ecosystem, including SolidWorks, and is also a developer of its own intellectual property.
“Our proprietary products include #Task (pronounced SharpTask), a batch processing and custom macro toolset that compliments SolidWorks, MaXXlink an intelligent solution that connects CAD systems with ERP and provides digitalised bill of materials management" said Damien Davis, general manager of Data Solutions at CI.
Beyond this, CI has evolved into a consulting and data solutions house, providing expert engineering and consulting services to industrial manufacturers and the broader engineering community. The company has capitalised on Industry 4.0 initiatives and aims to help manufacturers navigate and implement Industry 4.0 transformations.
“Our goal is to provide unified data solutions that help bridge gaps in siloed systems across the industry,” said Davis.
A future-proofed business unit
Davis explained that CI’s new Data Solutions Business Unit helps engineering and manufacturing businesses unlock the full potential of their operational and business data. With a team of engineers, consultants, and solution specialists, we enable clients to transition from fragmented legacy systems to unified data solutions.
“That transition delivers substantial returns on investment in operational efficiency, data visualisation, and the ability to use real-time information that impacts planning, scheduling, manufacturing, resourcing, and procurement,” said Davis.
“We aim to improve data visibility and accessibility, streamline production and planning systems, and enhance inventory and supply chain management,” said Davis. “We implement modern data management and integration solutions that close the gaps between ERP, finance, CRM, manufacturing, procurement, engineering and design.”
This business unit emerged from research and customer feedback on Industry 4.0 adoption. “72 per cent of manufacturing businesses in Australia and New Zealand cite barriers due to cost, complexity, and a lack of skills and knowledge”
A data solution standout
A highlight of CI’s Data Solutions Business Unit is MaXXlink.
MaXXlink is an intelligent solution that connects CAD systems with ERP platforms, filling the critical integration gap that often slows manufacturers down.
Unlike other connectors, MaXXlink integrates disparate or siloed systems—such as SolidWorks, Inventor, Epicor, and MYOB Advanced—and transforms eBOMs into production-ready M-BOMs with precision and speed.
Its configurable processing engine and visual interface let engineers restructure assemblies, automate data transformations, and push validated BOMs through approval workflows without rebuilding from scratch. With direct connectivity to procurement workflows, MaXXlink ensures that approved BOM data flows seamlessly to purchasing—providing accurate part lists, approved substitutes, and real-time availability for sourcing decisions.
The result: seamless CAD-to-ERP integration that accelerates engineering-to-procurement hand-offs, reduces manual intervention, and maintains full traceability—fuelling next-gen manufacturing with real-time, actionable data from design through to the factory floor.“ MaXXlink also acts as a risk mitigation tool, ensuring high confidence in BOM accuracy and costing for procurement,” said Davis.
The tool consolidates datasets within the CAD & ERP for seamless integration, presenting exploded CAD assemblies visually rather than as basic Excel tables. Users can click on 3D imagery to view item attributes and add items or processes by drag and drop.
“The relationships, numbers, and metadata for each item are automated, fully digitalising what was a manual process,” said Davis.
Cloud-based and hosted on Azure, MaXXlink is accessible on any device, with lower training needs due to its intuitive interface. If complications arise, training and implementation are handled by CI’s expert engineers, with ongoing developer and customer support.
Putting data solutions in motion
Feedback so far has been positive. One company benefiting from MaXXlink is Clutterbot, a firm designing AI-powered household tidying robots that autonomously detect, pick up, and organise clutter using computer vision and deep machine learning.
“Five years ago, Clutterbot set out to take the stress out of coming home to a lounge scattered with toys and baby clothes. By that August, cofounder Justin Hamilton and the company’s first employee, Kalen Wolfe, had opened Clutterbot’s inaugural office in Wellington, marking a major step in turning that vision into reality,” said Kimberley Attwell, production team lead at Clutterbot.
While bringing its flagship robot to market has been a long road, the company plans to move towards production, with a soft launch at ROSCon in Singapore on October 31st and a public launch at CES in Las Vegas on January 7th.
Along the way, Clutterbot partnered with CI, which provided SolidWorks as its main CAD program for mechanical design. CI’s latest support came via MaXXlink, which Attwell said the company is “very excited about.” The tool links directly with his role overseeing production, inventory, and the BOM, one of the most challenging job aspects.
“CI gave us a lot of support as we worked through the design process and the technical issues that naturally come with complex software systems,” said Attwell.
Clutterbot uses MaXXlink to extract the BOM from SolidWorks and integrate it into their ERP system via APIs, aligning design work and inventory to reduce the risk of missed changes.
“MaXXlink is a key piece of software. I’ve done a lot of manufacturing and design over the years, and it’s one of the most useful tools I’ve seen for production,” said Attwell.
Setting up the BOM for Clutterbot's robot involves large amounts of manual data entry, so MaXXlink saves time, reduces errors, and frees Attwell to focus on more important work. He found the interface quick to install and seamless to integrate into SolidWorks, with setup through CI’s web portal and straightforward data extraction.
“It was really easy to implement, and their support was great – communication was clear and the process straightforward,” he said.
Due to its cost-effectiveness, value, and strong support, Attwell would recommend MaXXlink to other manufacturers.
“From our end, it’s definitely been a good decision – we’re very happy with the choice,” he said.
This case exemplifies CI’s shift from software reseller to full software solutions provider by expanding services to include integration, consultancy, and ongoing support tailored to client needs. It allows them to deliver customised solutions that drive innovation and efficiency beyond just selling products.
Originally printed in Manufacturer's Monthly