Technology retrospective · United States
Eastman’s 2017 pattern center put installation software alongside PPF development
The SEMA announcement brought pattern design and software investment together for LLumar, SunTek and V-Kool.
Eastman announced its Performance Films Pattern and Software Design Center on October 31, 2017, during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The initiative supported its LLumar, SunTek and V-Kool brands and focused on the patterns and cutting software used by film installers.
The company described a globally resourced pattern team, vehicle access and investment in design tools and software functionality. It also outlined software releases over the following 18 months, with the aim of improving flexibility, reducing waste and raising productivity.
That was a development plan, rather than proof that every promised feature was already available. The announcement supplied no measured waste reduction, installation-time comparison or independent fitment study.
The historical significance is the attention to the installation system surrounding the film. A shop choosing a supplier needs to assess the usable pattern and workflow as well as the material it will place on a car.
For a present-day software demonstration, ask to see the exact model, trim and panels your shop handles, then check editing, plotter compatibility and support. Those are editorial evaluation questions. The 2017 announcement cannot verify the features or coverage of a current software subscription.
More details & sources
- The 18-month release schedule was prospective in October 2017; its completion was not established in this research.
- Productivity and waste benefits were manufacturer aims, not independently measured results.
Explore the background
Compare the historical announcement with today’s software overview and the earlier business transaction.