Case Study: Sport Systems Unlimited Corp. achieves 62% faster production and triples throughput with SolidWorks

A smooth skate to faster hockey rink board manufacturing with SolidWorks software

Sport Systems Unlimited Corp., a leading Canadian manufacturer of hockey rink board systems and a preferred supplier to the NHL, needed to move from manual 2D methods to lean, automated production to shorten cycles, reduce errors, and expand capacity. The company implemented SolidWorks 3D design software (and DriveWorks knowledge-based engineering) to drive robotic and CNC operations and replace its legacy AutoCAD workflows.

By using SolidWorks to automatically generate tool paths and robot/CNC instructions from 3D models, Sport Systems Unlimited cut custom rink production from 1,200 to 450 staff‑hours (a 62% reduction), tripled manufacturing throughput, captured roughly 35–40% of the Canadian market, and placed boards in 22 of 30 NHL arenas; with material in stock, delivery can be as fast as three days. SolidWorks’ automation also improved quality, lowered costs, and enabled the company to enter new markets such as indoor soccer and pharmaceutical partitions.

Sport Systems Unlimited Corp.

Chris Henhoeffer

Project Manager and Design Coordinator