Concepts NREC Releases Agile Engineering Design System® 2026.1, Advancing Platform Integration, Secondary Flow Analysis, and Machining Flexibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT — Concepts NREC has released version 2026.1 of its Agile Engineering Design System^®, introducing new capabilities that streamline workflows across design, analysis, and manufacturing for turbomachinery engineers. The release enhances secondary flow analysis, reduces friction between tools, expands machining flexibility for complex geometries, and gives users greater control over process documentation.

The Agile Engineering Design System^® (AEDS^®) is an integrated CAE and CAM software platform specialized for turbomachinery. By bringing design, analysis, and manufacturing workflows into a single, unified environment, AEDS^® enables engineering teams to reduce development time, improve design fidelity, and accelerate the path from concept to production.

Expanded Secondary Flow Analysis Capabilities

Continuing the expansion of secondary leakage path capabilities from version 2025.2, the latest release deepens CFD functionality for radial and axial machines. Users can now solve secondary passages with standard, stepped, or custom labyrinth seal designs using Cadence Fidelity Fine Turbo and Concepts NREC's pbCFD^™. Improvements to secondary flow path geometry handling in AxCent^® further expand customization options and improve CFD solve success rates. 

Secondary leakage path capabilities shown in AxCent^® with pbCFD integration

Reduced Workflow Friction Across Tools

New seamless connections between modules cut setup time for analysis and optimization workflows. A new automated link between AxCent^® and CTAADS^™ ports blade geometry and CFD results directly into cooled turbine analysis projects, eliminating manual data transfer. 

Similarly, the TurboOpt II^™, Concepts NREC's turbomachinery design optimization tool, and Ansys optiSLang integration has been overhauled to automatically exchange inputs and outputs between the two applications, making project setup more efficient.

Increased Toolpath Performance & Flexibility

The latest MAX-PAC^™ release focuses on expanding machining flexibility for complex blade geometries, giving engineers more options for how they approach roughing, finishing, and multi-orientation operations.

New toolpath methods are also being introduced including spiral roughing capabilities for single blades for shrouded or tailstock-supported parts when entering from the blade tip isn't possible. Undercutting support has also been added for 3+2 roughing operations with lollipop tools, disc cutters, and barrel tools, resulting in increased material removal in each tool orientation and reduced need for repositioning. Additionally, blade finishing toolpaths can now extend through the fillet and onto the hub, eliminating cusps and mismatches at the leading edge.

Undercutting support for 3+2 roughing operations in MAX-PAC^™

Customized Process Documentation

A new interface in the Machining Setup Properties menu consolidates process documentation customization into a single location, giving users control over setup images, column configuration, and output format (HTML or TXT), producing more consistent results when exporting.

"The pace of innovation in turbomachinery is accelerating and engineers are expected to meet demands, faster than ever before," said Jonathan Bicknell, VP of Software Products at Concepts NREC. "This release reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering the most connected and capable environment for engineers, from early design through analysis, optimization, and final machining, so they can focus on solving hard problems with robust tools."

Version 2026.1 includes additional improvements and updates across the AEDS^® suite. A full list of new features is available in the release notes at www.conceptsnrec.com/software-release-notes-2026.1. 

Version 2026.1 is available for download by active Agile Product Support (APS) members by contacting support@conceptsnrec.com. 

To schedule a live demo or request a trial license, please contact sales@conceptsnrec.com.

About Concepts NREC

Concepts NREC is the only independent company in the world with end-to-end capabilities to take turbomachinery products from concept to reality. For more than 65 years, Concepts NREC has been at the forefront of turbomachinery design and innovation, providing engineering services, design software, CAM software, precision manufacturing, assembly, testing, training, and installation. Headquartered in the USA, our mission is to provide the cutting-edge turbomachinery products, tools, and solutions the world needs for a sustainable future.

About the Agile Engineering Design System^®

Concepts NREC’s Agile Engineering Design System^® is a complementary suite of programs for Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) that covers the entire design process — from preliminary sizing through fluid dynamics and mechanical stress and vibration analysis. Final designs can be easily imported into our industry-leading CAM software, MAX-PAC^™, to create efficient 5-axis machining strategies.

To learn more, visit our website at www.conceptsnrec.com.