Beaumont Moldflow User Group 2026 – Agenda

8:35-9:10am - The Future of Plastics Engineering: Talent, Technology, and the Tipping Point

Plastics are essential to clean water, safe food, medical care and lighter vehicles. Yet the industry faces two problems at once: a shrinking pipeline of plastics engineers, and an AI transition moving faster than most organizations can absorb it. Drawing on Penn State Behrend's long-term research partnerships with industry, this talk looks at how AI is changing polymer flow simulation. The full workflow, from part design and optimization through filling and injection process simulation to mold design, is starting to shrink from weeks to hours. One consequence is that fundamental R&D, once seen as academic, is becoming more valuable. Work on crystallization kinetics, rheology and material variability can now feed AI models directly and become practical tools for engineers. Finally we will discuss what all of this means for the future of engineering education, and what the basic skills of a plastics engineering might look like by 2035.

9:10-9:45am - Whats new in Moldflow 2027 and 2027.1, and look over the horizon.

In this talk, we will be going through the highlights of the Moldflow 2027 and 2027.1 release, as well as show some of the exciting improvements we are actively working on.

9:45-10:20 am - Syncing Systems: How Test Lab Parameters Translate to Simulation Performance

Simulation accuracy is only as good as the data driving it. To achieve real-world results, material characterization must mirror the actual conditions of the production floor. This session explores why understanding a material’s chemical makeup and processing requirements before testing is the key to closing the gap between lab data and production reality.

11:00-11:30 am - Beyond the Mold: Utilizing Autodesk® Moldflow® to Predict, Expedite, and Produce Windage Models

In precision injection molding, combating post-molding warpage is one of the most persistent and costly bottlenecks to hitting tight tolerances. Historically, achieving part compliance has relied on iterative, expensive tool modifications. This presentation demonstrates how to pivot from a reactive engineering workflow to a predictive one by utilizing Autodesk Moldflow to generate highly accurate windage models (intentionally pre-deformed tool geometry that counteracts predicted warpage).

11:30 am-12:00 pm - Moldflow Simulation: Outsource vs. In-House

When daily project demands pile up, it’s easy to get lost in the noise and lose sight of the most efficient strategy for your team. Should you outsource your simulation, bring Moldflow software in-house, or a combination of the two? In this presentation, we’ll review Beaumont’s diversified simulation offerings and provide practical guidelines on when and why to implement each approach. Please join us to discuss when to outsource, when to bring software in-house, and how to maximize your ROI.

12:45-1:15 pm - Match Mesh for 3D Simulations - An Overlooked Essential?

Mesh Match is used to assess how well the mesh on the top and bottom skins of a Dual Domain model match one another. While considered critical for Dual Domain simulations, its role in 3D tetrahedral studies is often overlooked.

This study will compare 3D results with and without "Match Mesh" enabled. In addition, local refinement of small features will be compared.

1:15-1:45 pm - Shear Induced Flow Imbalances: An Update

Shear induced flow imbalances have been presented at previous Moldflow Summits, with the most recent study conducted in 2019. Given the time that has passed, this topic is due for an update. This presentation will review the requirements and workflow for best predicting shear induced flow imbalances. Results from Moldflow Insight 2027 will be compared with the previous studies, as well as real-world molding results, to evaluate how simulation accuracy has progressed over the past several years.

1:45-2:20 pm - AI-Enabled Workflows: From Agent-Assisted Design & Analysis to Custom Solver Development

Artificial intelligence is reshaping injection molding simulation by extending its role from prediction alone to a more interactive, adaptive, and knowledge-driven engineering workflow. Recent AI capabilities now offer large language model interfaces that can simplify setup and interpretation, retrieval-augmented systems that can ground recommendations in domain knowledge, AI agents that can automate repetitive analysis tasks while keeping engineers in control of design decisions and agentic coding enabling non-coders the ability to perform custom solver development. This presentation will review what’s currently possible with specific AI examples.

2:55-3:25 pm - Moldflow Research and Development Updates

This presentation provides an overview of recent and upcoming advancements in Moldflow simulation technology, covering Moldflow 2027 releases, planned Moldflow enhancements, Scandium technology previews, and ongoing research initiatives. Attendees will gain insight into new simulation capabilities designed to improve prediction accuracy, workflow efficiency, and solver performance, as well as a preview of emerging technologies that will shape future Moldflow releases.