General

Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRAND

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Advance Steel Testimonial: Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRANDFounded in 1956, LEGRAND is involved in the field of railway engineering, metalwork and signage industries throughout France for over 50 years.
In 1981, LEGRAND chose to diversify its client base and its business activities by creating a Steel Construction Department in the Quincieux site (Dpt 69). This department includes its own design office which is equipped with a modern and recently renewed IT infrastructure.
Currently, LEGRAND employs about 200 people.

Jean-Sébastien COURIVAUD, Design Office manager and Jean-Charles MASBOEUF, Draftsman, report their satisfaction of the Advance Steel software.

 Advance Steel Testimonial: Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRAND

How did your drawing software equipment evolve within your Design Office?

J-S COURIVAUD: Ten years ago, we switched from the drawing board to the use of AutoCAD® in 2D, and then we realized the projects were becoming more and more complex. So we have equipped the Design Office with 3D CAD software dedicated to the steel construction industry in which 30 people are working at the Quincieux site. We initially started with Prosteel before choosing Advance Steel. After a personalized demonstration, it was clear that Advance Steel would provide us with significant productivity savings through the automatic detailing and the quality of the final drawings.
Today, we have 4 Advance Steel licenses to deal with our footbridge and highway bridge projects.

What are the advantages of Advance Steel compared to the software you were previously using?

Advance Steel Testimonial: Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRANDJ-S COURIVAUD: The main saving concerns the drawing time creation which is extremely fast with Advance Steel. In addition, a permanent link exists between the 3D model and all the generated documents using the integrated AS document manager, which facilitates the overall project management.

J-C MASBOEUF: Our footbridges typically include curved elements such as lower arches supporting the steel structure and the bridge deck. Advance Steel knows how to manage these kinds of elements without affecting the global performances of the software.

How have you customized Advance Steel to match your work methods?

J-S COURIVAUD: Customized drawing styles have been created to produce drawings perfectly corresponding to our presentation criteria (dimension styles, line thickness, dimensions, etc.) and they can be directly launched from a dedicated toolbar that we have also created on our own.

Advance Steel Testimonial: Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRANDJ-C MASBOEUF: We extended the Advance Steel catalogs with steel profiles used for our bridges. We also added new anchors that secure the structure on concrete abutments.
With the help of the GRAITEC technical support, we configured Advance Steel to work with our fabrication machines at the workshop so that the unfolding of folded plates can be obtained by the criteria of the machines (value of the plate elongation, folding radius, plate thickness, etc.).

Can you give us a description of the footbridge project you recently built with Advance Steel?

J-C COURIVAUD: The construction is a pedestrians/cycles footbridge (access to Anonnay between Peaugres and Davézieux on the RD820). This steel footbridge with 40.30m straight span consists of a mixed steel/wood frame and a concrete floor on HEA 200 beams spaced every 3.40m.

The supporting structure is made up of 2 tapered glue-laminated arches 48cm apart and braced with steel parts. The latter are associated to the level of the deck with 2 lateral steel beams of constant height and connected vertically by two transverse V shaped steel stays (welded plates steel profile stays). The total weight of the structure is 32 tons.

How did you collaborate with the other companies working on this project?

Advance Steel Testimonial: Footbridge construction: Interview with LEGRANDJ-C MASBOEUF: We exported the entire Advance Steel 3D model to the ACIS format and we sent the electronic file to MATHIS, the company in charge of the wooden railing of the bridge. For their part, they completed the 3D model by precisely positioning the overall handrail and other wood laths between the steel posts in inverted V, which required specific and precise cuts at the ends of the wooden elements. Then, this completed model was sent back to us and I could import all the wooden parts in my Advance Steel model to automatically produce overall drawings representing the steel structure, the concrete bridge abutment and all the wooden elements.

To conclude, what is your general impression of Advance Steel?

J-S COURIVAUD: Advance Steel allowed us to definitively move on to 3D design which gave us new opportunities and solutions to architects complex requirements. Also, the produced documents perfectly match the needs of the workshop and our clients.

J-C MASBOEUF: Once adapted to our needs, Advance Steel has proved to be very easy to use simultaneously allowing us to deal with projects even more and more complex and atypical.

CAD Digest – review of GRAITEC Advance’s BIM Capabilities for Structural Design

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CAD Digest, one of the most popular online sources for CAD, CAM & CAE articles, reviews the capabilities of the GRAITEC ADVANCE suite as a complete solution for structural design.

The author of the review, Protim Banerjee  (with 15 years of experience in construction management, structural engineering and AEC software development) provides an overview of the GRAITEC ADVANCE suite, highlighting the pros as well as the cons for compatibility and data exchange with Revit Structures 2012.

GRAITEC ADVANCE and Revit Structures have been compatible since 2006, up to the present time. This integration has allowed engineers and design offices using software solutions from both suites to run their structure calculation and drawing creation quickly, without recreating the model and with a minimal risk of errors. As an Autodesk partner for over 10 years, GRAITEC offers an application for Revit Structures – GRAITEC BIM Connect – that ensures the compatibility of Revit models with the GRAITEC Advance suite and with industry standards, such as IFC and SDNF. With GRAITEC BIM Connect, data is imported and exported between applications, using GRAITEC’s own transfer file format – GTC files. The free Revit add-on is available for download here. This add-on generates GTC files for import into GRAITEC applications, and also works as a two-way transfer.

CAD Digest – review of GRAITEC Advance's BIM Capabilities for Structural Design

“The Revit add-on allows model synchronization, a tool very useful for comparing the original model with updated ones. The changes that are alerted include member additions (appended), member modifications (modified), and member deletions (deleted); the alerts are made by color coding and by tabulating them in the synchronization dialog. You can review the changes, and then decide whether to accept them” Protim Banerjee states.

CAD Digest – review of GRAITEC Advance's BIM Capabilities for Structural Design

GRAITEC BIM Connectt is, in fact, a concept which has constantly improved since 2009. Its key features include data synchronization with the GRAITEC ADVANCE Suite, IFC Interface (Import / Export), CIS/2 Interface (Import / Export), SDNF Interface (Import / Export), PSS Interface (Import / Export). The 3D model is imported from Autodesk Revit Structure (or Autodesk Revit Architecture) to the desired GRAITEC Structural Analysis or Detailing product. To complete the model, a structural analysis and design process is run to optimize the structure, and then synchronized with the Revit Structure model to include any modifications. The implemented elements are structural elements (columns, beams, wall, slabs), custom families containing an analytical model, supports and loads.

CAD Digest – review of GRAITEC Advance's BIM Capabilities for Structural Design

“GRAITEC has carefully conceived the overall BIM process with the use of its GTC file format. The concept of cross section mapping and synchronization of changes is certainly very innovative. GRAITEC scores good points when it comes to the software design”, Protim Banerjee concludes, stating also that the GRAITEC ADVANCE suite covers all aspects of structural BIM workflow.

CAD Digest – review of GRAITEC Advance's BIM Capabilities for Structural Design

You can read the full review here.

New memberships with the AISC and the ASI

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GRAITEC is now an Associate member of the

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

GRAITEC is now an Associate member of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), headquartered in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development.

GRAITEC is now an Associate member of the

Australian Steel Institute (ASI)

GRAITEC is now an Associate member of the Australian Steel Institute (ASI)Australian Steel Institute (ASI) is the peak national body of the steel industry. The ASI works to increase the awareness of the benefits of steel and promote Australian made steel as the material of choice. Increasing the competitiveness of the Australian steel industry and its member companies is central to that vision. Technical advice is available to members. Services include a library and resource centre from which information and advice are available from a wide range of overseas and local publications. The ‘Steel Australia’ magazine is published by the ASI.

Advance Steel – Sheet and plate metal work

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Folded plates of various shapes are widely used in various fields of steel construction: stair ramps for buildings, pipe connection, gas ducts in petrochemical industry, etc. Usually these elements are difficult to model without 3D view, also, obtaining the workshop drawings is a time consuming task.

With Advance Steel it only takes two clicks to create an element, for example, a conical shape from two CAD entities (circle, square, etc.) or between two profiles with different diameters or different sections. All necessary documents (including NC files) are created directly from the model with a simple click. All folded elements are displayed unfolded in workshop drawings which means great cost and time saving.

Below are presented some fragments of the article, to read it full please click here.

Various shapes created in no time!

Automatic tools are available to create plates of any shape. It only takes a few clicks to create a folded element.

All shapes are accepted and can be easily created using a complete set of intuitive tools.

  • Rectangular plates (with one central point, two or three points)
  • Polygonal plates (created from a polyline)
  • Any contour can be cut to get the desired shape
  • Holes can be created

Advance Steel: Automatic tools are available to create plates of any shape

Conical and twisted plates

Advance Steel: Conical and twisted plates

Just two clicks to create a wide variety of complex irregular shapes such as:

  • A conical shape from two CAD entities (circle, square, etc.) or between two profiles with different diameters.
  • Square – to circular folded elements
  • Twisted elements from two curves or splines

Easy to modify while working in 3D

Once created, the folded plate is treated as a single element.
It can be easily modified without loosing the relations between the elements.

Cut any contour

  • Create any type of contour cuts on any of the faces or on the folded line
  • Create holes of any type: round, slotted, countersink, etc.
  • Trim or split any of the joined plates

Add weld preparations
Weld preparations are frequently required for heavy plate fabrication.
With Advance Steel, any chamfer (straight or fillet) can be added to a folded plate edge for weld preparation.

Secure modeling

At any moment it is possible to check if the created plate can be developed into one sheet of material. This insures a correct modeling – very important as Advance Steelcreates automatically the workshop drawing directly from the model.

The unfold representation can be displayed also during modeling.

Advance Steel: The unfold representation can be displayed also during modeling

Accurate drawings created automatically!

Advance Steel automatically creates workshop drawings of all folded plates! All necessary information is included:

  • The unfolded representation
  • Folding line
  • Bending direction
  • Folding angle
  • Dimensions

Bend allowance calculation

The end-user can control the bend allowance calculation when getting automatic workshop drawings with the representation of the part unfolded.

Advance Steel: Bend allowance calculationThere are different available choices:

  • By inner contours
  • By outer contours
  • By pure median line
  • By DIN
  • By table

Click here to read the entire article

Download GRAITEC wallpaper for September

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Download GRAITEC wallpaper for September

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GRAITEC signed a new partnership for China with DMS Software

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GRAITEC announces a new business partnership with DMS Software Co Ltd, a company located in Beijing, China. The partnership agreement signed between the two companies entitles DMS Software Co Ltd to promote, sell and support GRAITEC’s 3D BIM Steel Detailing Software, Advance Steel, in China.

GRAITEC pays attention to the Chinese market regarding its abilities and services in the steel industry and the increasingly major role that China plays on the international scene. GRAITEC upholds granting means and energy toward the Chinese market to achieve goals with higher efficiency and trust in the software used.

GRAITEC is partnering with DMS Software Co Ltd in China for promoting the innovative solution Advance Steel

DMS Software Co. Ltd is the only nationwide authorized reseller for Autodesk plant software and services which establish the company legitimacy in the precise field of steel detailing, BIM solution and Building operation. Over the years, DMS Software Co Ltd has built its network thanks to a dedicated staff, numerous contacts throughout the country and a solid background making it a respected company that can count on client satisfaction.

This new partnership between GRAITEC and DMS Software Co Ltd. has promising business opportunities and growth in China, as well as substantial investments from GRAITEC to develop the industry.

GRAITEC and DMS Software Co. Ltd share the goal of bringing to the market competitive technology solutions that will increase their customer productivity for steel structural design, modeling and detailing.

Pascal Bergougnou, Managing Director of GRAITEC Asia Pacific, comments: “We have been working constantly this past year to expand our partner network and reach. With the appointment of DMS Software in China, our Value Added Reseller program is enriched with a company that combines the knowledge and contacts within their local markets with a comprehensive appreciation of our technology solutions.“

Zhao YANG, Marketing Specialist of DMS Software Co., Ltd adds: “We see many very positive benefits in GRAITEC’s products that we believe will be very attractive to our Chinese customers. Based on our experience in steel we are convinced that Advance Steel is the leading steel detailing software and an important step towards a BIM Structural process.“

About DMS SOFTWARE Co Ltd
DMS Software Co Ltd is dedicated to the Plant and BIM industries to serve as a complete solution provider and consultant who meets all the needs from the customer. It focuses on introducing or developing the most suitable software solutions to the Chinese customers and thus consequently pushes forward the development of the quality and efficiency of the industry in China. From its knowledge DMS can provide services such as technical support, consulting, training and implementation and software customization. DMS offers a complete combination of digital plant solutions, including process simulation, P&ID designing, instrumentation, electrical designing, drawing and journal sheet generating, 3D simulation and conflict detection, project content management, and facility maintaining and management systems.
For more information, please visit www.dms365.com

Fantastic feedback from one of our UK clients!

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Westbury Park Engineering  are a service Engineering Company specialising in Fabrication, Structural and Mechanical Assemblies together with custom built equipment.

Fantastic feedback from one of our UK clients - Westbury Park Engineering

Their experience and diversity from being involved in the industry for more than 20 years has culminated in a wide knowledge and understanding of working practices, technologies and industry requirements.

Westbury Park Engineering have the experience to complete contracts from complete materials handling plants, MOD and Petrochemical Fabrications with full manufacturing traceability to mechanical and custom built assemblies including Hydraulics, Pneumatic, Electrical and CNC systems.

Westbury Park Engineering has been working with GRAITEC software for a number of years now.

Nial Ball, Westbury Park Engineering, recently sent in his comments following a site visit by one of the Technical Support team at GRAITEC UK: “I would like to thank John Bennett for the hard work he did yesterday in re-installing my Advance Steel. I think the work involved was a little more than he had anticipated but my Advance Steel seems to be working so much better now. Thanks again for your commitment to customer service and satisfaction. I can’t imagine that many other companies would be so dedicated to their customers“.

GRAITEC UK are committed to providing customers with the most efficient Technical Support service possible – a first class service our customers have come to expect over the years.

We remain focused on delivering outstanding service, and we are delighted to receive these extremely positive comments.

GRAITEC UK offers its users a wide range of services which can help optimise productivity: complete service maintenance, phone and E-mail based technical support, interactive live web support, general and custom training, CAD/design projects, custom software development and many others.

You can visit our Support  page for more information, or take a look at GRAITEC Advantage to see all the services included in our maintenance contract.

Download GRAITEC wallpaper for August

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Download GRAITEC wallpaper for August

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Architectural/Miscellaneous Steelwork Webinar

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Register online to Architectural/Miscellaneous Steelwork WebinarAre you a Steel Fabricator or Steel Detailer?
Do you detail steelwork such as stairs and railings?

In our next free webinar, discover how to gain productivity and reduce errors with Advance Steel for Architectural Metalwork, from the comfort of your own desk!

Friday, July 27, 2012 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM BST

During this webinar, we will create:

– Platforms
– Stairs, railings joints etc
– 26+ drawings with 73 parts
– 20 Assy drawings 1x Ga
– Full material lists

all in just 45 minutes! How long would this normally take?

Join us for this FREE Webinar on 27 July, 12pm-1pm

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

GRAITEC announces +20% turnover growth for Q2 2012

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GRAITEC announces 19.7% turnover growth for the second Quarter of 2012, compared to 2011. The year to date growth reaches a consistent 20% for first half of the year.

After a very successful 2011, at the end of Q2 Graitec’s turnover, margin and profitability grew by +12% . This positions  Graitec as the industry’s fastest growing company.

The performance of Graitec, North America, Asia Pacific, Russia, Germany and France have been absolutely remarkable during the first semester. Graitec’s turnover more than doubled in key regions, demonstrating the capacity of Graitec to expand its business outside more traditional markets. This demonstrates a great capacity to sustain a fast rhythm of growth for example Germany + 40% year to year, Italy +13%  and France +11%.

The Graitec Advance Suite is a global structural BIM solution for construction professionals.  Graitec have achieved an amazing growth of +34% in 2012 compared to 2011.

“This is a great performance that demonstrates the growth capacity of GRAITEC solutions but also their fit to the market, customer needs and BIM environment. I’d like to highlight the fact this growth is driven by the international Graitec subsidiaries such as North America or Asia Pacific “, comments Alexandre Tartas, GRAITEC COO.

Advance Steel: BIM software for structural steel engineering, detailing and fabricationAdvance Steel, after an strong 40% growth during Q1 2012, continues on an even more positive trend growing by 60,6% during Q2 every territory has contributed to this success.

For Alexandre Tartas : “Advance Steel illustrates quarter after quarter the dynamism and the relevance of Graitec Advance Suite positioning in the construction industry. Graitec reinforces its positioning of specialist solution provider for highly qualified professionals in the construction structural field. Advance Steel standalone is contributing to the great performance of Advance Steel and customer feedback is absolutely fantastic. GRAITEC has during Q2 addressed many requests from StruCad users demonstrating the relevance of Advance Steel for their most advanced needs “.

Advance Design: BIM software for FEM structural analysis including international eurocodesAdvance Design continues to benefit from a high adoption rate especially in the French market that recognizes GRAITEC Advance as the very best structural analysis solution on this market.

“The quality of the solution provided,  such as the comprehensive international codes and the service provided by GRAITEC have highly contributed to the great first half of the year result for Advance Design with 21% growth”, says Alexandre Tartas.

Advance Concrete: BIM software for structural concrete engineering, detailing and fabricationYear to date, Advance Concrete performs with a 16% growths compared with 2011.

Alexandre Tartas explains : “Great improvements have been realized in Advance Concrete to better answer to customer and market expectations. Graitec R&D team continues to work to meet expectations. We have a great confidence in our team, to bring the best in class solution to the market and make Advance Concrete the leading solution for 3D reinforcement. “

Alexandre Tartas concludes : “Q2 and more generally speaking first semester 2012 have been a great success. But it is only half of the GRAITEC 2012 road to 29 million Euros. However, with14,5 M € turnover (about 17,71M USD) we can realistically  expect to be on or even above target in 2012, this is very encouraging. Every employee can be proud of  their contribution to this result. “

Graitec Pte is looking for a Technical Manager

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GRAITEC offers a dynamic, ambitious, and high growth potential work environment coupled with the opportunity to add a commercial flavor to your engineering background. Competitive salary + performance bonus matching experience. Only candidates deemed suitable shall be contacted.

GRAITEC is looking for it’s subsidiary in Singapore a Technical Manager (pre-sales Advance Steel AE)

Job Purpose:

  • To contribute to the increased profitability and development of Graitec customer base by providing a range of pre and post sales consultancy and training services and utilising in depth technical experience to work with the teams across the business to enhance the company’s services and product offerings.
  • To fully understand, use, demonstrate, position and localise where applicable our flagship Steel modelling and detailing product Graitec Advance Steel in accordance with the Asian market.
  • To support the pre and post sales efforts of the sales teams and company as a whole by expertly providing varying and relevant product demonstrations, support, training, consultancy, configuration and customisation to clients and prospective clients.

Key Accountabilities:

  • Positioning Advance Steel as the preferred solution for the relevant industries.
  • Providing product training for both AutoCAD and Advance Steel and any other agreed products either at Graitec reseller site and potentially at client site or within Graitec Asia offices.
  • Developing an understanding of the complete functionality of Advance Steel to ensure every opportunity is maximised.
  • Preparing Advance Steel for the Asian market. This will required monitoring associated and relevant standards. Creating and updating product databases, product defaults and specifications. Contributing to the continued enhancement of the product based on personal and client feedback.
  • Technically liaising with suppliers and manufacturers and creating specification documentation according to developments required to create libraries of the components and sections they provide. Thereafter interpreting and converting these specifications, following industry standards and best practices into useable product macros and libraries.
  • Providing product demonstrations, presentations and creating, specification documents for customising application software to meet specific requirements.
  • Providing ongoing product support and promotion in conjunction with the sales and technical teams. This will include conducting online webinars and other similar activities as required.
  • Supporting customers and staff with technical queries face to face, by telephone, online and via email.
  • Organising and running technology workshops for new and existing customers/ resellers to further enhance Graitec Asia reputation as a leading advisor and consultant in the market.
  • Being an ambassador for the Graitec during all customer interactions and acting as a role model for the behaviours which will develop Graitec into a truly service orientated business.
  • Supporting “the people” strategies, which hold the integrity of the Graitec Group values.
  • Participation in Company projects as and when required.
  • Carry out any other ad-hoc duties within your capabilities that are relevant to the job and reasonably requested of you by your manager.

Person Specification

Outline Competencies:

  • Customer Focus
  • Quality Focus
  • Communication
  • Personal Organisation
  • Personal Development
  • Teamwork
  • Self Motivated
  • Commercial Awareness
  • Innovation and Problem Solving
  • Product Knowledge
  • Industry Knowledge
  • Training
  • Building Relationships
  • Influencing Others

Technical Skills:

  • Training experience
  • Experience of Autodesk products supported by Advance Steel (incl. AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD MEP or current and past versions)
  • Experience within any technical industry, ideally Architecture, Construction or Structural Engineering
Locations:

  • Singapore
  • International travel will also be necessary from time to time

If interested please send your resume to: info.asiapac@graitec.com

Focus Magazine, June Edition: Redefining the Future of Construction with Innovative IT in Asia Pacific

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Focus Magazine, a prestigious magazine aimed at promoting French businesses in Singapore and in the region, is a publication written in English, produced by the FCCS (French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore ) and distributed to the French, European and Singaporean Business Communities in Singapore. Each issue deals with a specific subject related to French businesses in Singapore or in Asia.

Focus Magazine, June Edition: Redefining the Future of Construction with Innovative IT in Asia Pacific

Last month’s edition welcomed our very own Pascal Bergougnou, Managing Director of GRAITEC Asia-Pacific in Singapore, to talk about the major changes that occurred in Asia Pacific, mainly Singapore, in recent years and his strategic move for the GRAITEC PTE subsidiary. He states: “From commercial to residential, new development to upgrade, retrofits to restorations, Asia is the engine of growth. The Singapore construction sector has enjoyed robust growth with building contracts worth 25.7 billion USD, representing an annual increase of 14% in recent years.”

Singapore’s construction industry is set to grow significantly over the next years. But the political scenario is not as favorable as it should be. Several changes to government policies have affected the construction industry, including a 40% reduction in foreign workers by 2013. As Hubert H. Humphrey, former Vice President of the United States of America, once stated: “Asia is rich in people, rich in culture and rich in resources. It is also rich in trouble.”

Despite this, the Asia Pacific economy is showing signs of recovery from the global recession. The construction industry’s growth will be sustained by demand for public housing and other major infrastructure projects. Organizations like Build Smart Singapore and Building & Construction Authority have been extremely active to achieve higher productivity through the buildable design legislation.

With more than 13 years of experience in sales and business development across Asia, Pascal Bergougnou has a comprehensive understanding of business in Asia. After a year and a half as Managing Director for Asia Pacific, he articulated the goals of the GRAITEC Singapore subsidiary: exploring business avenues, expanding market share and penetrating into emerging markets and sectors of growth in Infrastructure and Construction.

 To see the full June edition of Focus Magazine, click here

Brentwood School Sixth Form Centre – awarded at RIBA 2012

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Brentwood School Sixth Form Centre designed with Advance Steel was awarded at RIBA 2012

Brentwood School Sixth Form Centre designed with Advance Steel was awarded at RIBA 2012

Brentwood School’s new Sixth Form Centre has won the 2012 RIBA Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The new Sixth Form Centre, designed by architects Cottrell and Vermeulen, took almost two and a-half years to build and was completed in August 2011. Although, it has been used by students since the beginning of the new academic year in September, the Sixth Form Centre was officially opened in November 2011 by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward.

RIBA judges were very impressed by this project, stating that the three buildings which make up the centre (the remodeled Victorian vicarage, the classroom block and the Wessex Auditorium) “celebrate the spirit of education, unfolding as a sequence of spaces for learning, socializing, and gathering: a new sixth form block, a remodeled Victorian vicarage and a new assembly block. Drawing inspiration from the existing Victorian vicarage, the new design is expressed in a language that is both contextual and contemporary. The sculpting of the roofs creates non-standard, domestic-scaled classrooms filled with natural light, reminiscent of the gabled roofs of the Victorian vicarage, but with an added measure of playfulness.”

Brentwood School Sixth Form Centre designed with Advance Steel was awarded at RIBA 2012The project consists of the three buildings which make up the centre – the remodeled Victorian vicarage, the classroom block, made of a steel/concrete hybrid design, with a very complicated roof and the Wessex Auditorium, an assembly hall with a complex box section truss design.

Facilities include common rooms and private study areas; 16 additional classrooms equipped with up-to-date teaching aids, interactive whiteboards and the internet; a dedicated computer suite and the multi-purpose auditorium, with 400 seats. The rooms are heated by a ground source heat pump which draws water from 15 vertical pipe loops penetrating 100 meters below the ground. A sophisticated building management system allows the temperature in the building to be controlled remotely and windows opened or closed automatically.

Adrian Betts, from the TSI Structures LTD design office, explains why Advance Steel was the best solution for the completion of this project: “The ability to import AutoCAD drawings and convert these lines into Advance Steel objects was essential. Without this command many extra office hours would have been spent modeling the new concrete steel structure and the existing building.”

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Designed with GRAITEC software, Centre Pompidou was awarded at RIBA 2012

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Designed with GRAITEC software, Centre Pompidou was awarded at RIBA 2012

RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Awards have been running continuously since 1966 and are judged and presented locally. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning-schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. Although more than 50 buildings in the UK won the RIBA Award, only 9 in the EU have won, including Centre Pompidou, calculated with GRAITEC Advance Design.

The Centre Pompidou Metz is a museum of modern and contemporary arts designed by architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines and located in Metz, France. The Centre Pompidou-Metz is a branch of Pompidou arts center of Paris, and features temporary exhibitions from the large collection of the French National Museum of Modern Art, the largest European collection of 20th and 21st century arts. The museum is one of the largest temporary exhibition spaces in France with 5,000 m2 divided between 3 galleries, a circular shaped restaurant, a theatre, and an auditorium.

Designed with GRAITEC software, Centre Pompidou was awarded at RIBA 2012The Centre Pompidou-Metz is a large hexagon structured round a central spire reaching 77 meters high, with three rectangular galleries weaving through the building at different levels. The great nave covers 1,200 m² and provides flexibility for the exhibition of large artworks, with the ceiling rising progressively from a height of 5.70 to 18 meters.

The roof is a 90 meters wide hexagon with a surface area of 8,000 m². The roof structure is composed of sixteen kilometers of glued laminated timber, which intersect to form hexagonal wooden units resembling the cane-work pattern of a Chinese hat. The roof’s geometry is irregular, featuring curves and counter-curves over the entire building, and in particular the three exhibition galleries. The entire wooden structure is covered with a white fiber-glass membrane and a coating of Teflon, which has the distinction of being self-cleaning, protects from direct sunlight and also is transparent at night, thus offering viewers a spectacular and unique overview.

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Download GRAITEC wallpaper for July

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Download GRAITEC wallpaper for July

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How Advance Steel can help your business profitability

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In 2010, an article written on www.submityourarticle.com stated that the ultimate aim of specialized steel detailing software is to increase a company’s bottom line profit. But in 2012 what was a concern for steel fabrication businesses, steel engineering companies and even self-employed steel detailers has now become a fact. Those who have the most competitive steel detailing software solution are the ones that are the most profitable on such a dynamic market.

In short, investing in a steel detailing software helps you save time, optimizes your resources and reduces costs with materials and labor. A good example is given by one of our customers, Nial BALL from Westbury Park Engineering which worked with ADVANCE Steel for a boat mold structure (35-40 m long steel structure for fiberglass bouts). He states: “With three days to go before ‘D Day’ our TWO men arrived on site with the pre-fabricated assemblies and in TWO days the structure was erected and we were home in time for tea with a day to spare. Thanks to ADVANCE Steel, we knew the structure would fit long before we arrived on site.”

Stairs and platforms for Arcelor Mittal Steel Plant, Galati, RomaniaOff course, not all projects can be finalized in two days using just two men, but reducing the time spent on a very complex project from maybe three months to three weeks is not that bad either. Gheorghe CEPRAGA, engineer at UZINSIDER ENGINEERING, has been working with ADVANCE Steel at his most recent project – assembly of new elements (stairs, railings and platforms) on an existing structure in the ArcelorMittal steel plant. For him,the decision was clear: “I have been working with AutoCAD, especially in 3D view, for a very long time now. I think it is safe to say that it would have been very difficult for us to model the entire structure in AutoCAD. Without ADVANCE steel, the execution would have taken too long”.

Can it be that simple? Sometimes, time saving leaves room for errors. Not a problem because ADVANCE Steel drastically increases productivity and drawing quality even for the most complex and unusual projects, while reducing the risk of errors.

Bregenzer Festival Stage, Bregenz, Austria

For the Bregenz festival in Austria, Bregenzer Festspiele fascinated with a spectacular stage engineering, resulting in the biggest sea stage in the world (17m long, 15m wide and 15m high),portraying Jean Paul Marat, one of the leaders of the French Revolution. The construction of the head was connected to a steel construction which was already located at the sea stage.

Although, ultimately, the best steel detailing software is the one that addresses the business’ needs and issues, ADVANCE Steel can efficiently accelerates the design phase (either single or multi-user mode) by offering an extensive library of smart and efficient objects, automatic joints and specific tools for creating standard structures, stairs, railing and miscellaneous steelwork. For the renovation and extension of  TIGNESPACE Center, a sports complex equipped with modern multipurpose structures, Thierry Depollier, Eng, at Ets BOUCHET states: “The ability of ADVANCE Steel to work in realistic mode together with 3D navigation have greatly facilitated our work and have improved the efficiency of our weekly meetings with the other disciplines. It is worth mentioning that the fabrication of the welded beams at workshop was simplified with the high-quality drawings automatically created “.

Renovation and extension of the TIGNESPACE center

Functionality-wise Advance Steel detailing software has everything you would expect from a specialist structural steel detailing package. Ultimately, what makes ADVANCE Steel special is its accessibility to any type of company which is interested in investing in steel detailing software.

AEC Magazine reviews GRAITEC Advance Steel 2012®….

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….the BIM software for structural steel engineering, detailing and fabrication

AEC Magazine is the UK’s number 1 journal for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industries. AEC Magazine has a bold agenda that reflects the evolutionary nature of this fast-moving sector with its proliferation of software and hardware technologies and the collaborative working practices that are integral to today’s design and engineering workflow.

The June edition features an extensive review of GRAITEC’s Advance Steel 2012® software. GRAITEC is a leading developer of CAE and CAD software technology, fully BIM enabled for the construction industry.

Advance Steel® BIM system is specifically designed for structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators who require a comprehensive yet user friendly 3D structural steel detailing software that automates the production of drawings, BOMs and NC files. Advance Steel 2012 is in a league of its own offering users the freedom to run with or without AutoCAD.

AEC Magazine reviews GRAITEC Advance Steel 2012

Click here to download the pdf version of the AEC Magazine – May/June edition

GRAITEC becomes an Intel® Software Registered Partner

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May 4th 2012, GRAITEC joins the Intel® partnership and becomes an Intel® Software Registered Partner.

GRAITEC becomes an Intel® Software Registered Partner

The key activity of GRAITEC is to design, develop and sell software products allowing construction engineers and draftsmen to optimize their productivity, minimize design mistakes and improve collaboration. The flag ship product suite, called GRAITEC Advance is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) system that automates the entire structural design and construction documentation process from engineering design and structural analysis to member optimization, detailing and fabrication.

The product suite deals with 3D modeling, Finite Element calculation, real time rendering, automatic creation and management of thousands of documents.
It therefore requires high performance from the computer it is running on, in terms of CPU and graphic usage.

The Intel® partnership will help GRAITEC build optimized software that provides better performance and better value to GRAITEC customers.

For Manuel LIEDOT, Chief Product Officer for GRAITEC: “GRAITEC is really pleased and excited to join the Intel® partnership. It will facilitate GRAITEC’s access to the right tools, techniques and support from Intel® for providing always more efficient and effective software to our customers.“

Download GRAITEC wallpaper for May

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Download GRAITEC wallpaper for May

With calendar

Size: 1280×1024; 1600×900; 1680×1050; 1920×1200

Download GRAITEC wallpaper for May

Without calendar

Size: 1280×1024; 1600×900; 1680×1050; 1920×1200

Webinar “Discover Advance Steel 2012” planned for May 3rd 2012

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Steel detailers, Structural Engineers: 
Discover Advance Steel 2012: The Powerful and Affordable Steel Detailing Software

on Wendsday, May 3rd, 2012 from 9:00 to 9:30 am CET or 5:00 to 5:30 pm CET

Register online to this webinar

Advance Steel® is specifically designed for professionals who require an easy-to-use 3D structural steel detailing software that automates the production of drawings, BOMs and NC files.

Advance Steel® is part of the GRAITEC structural BIM solution, automating the entire structural design process, from engineering design to detailing and fabrication.

Advance Steel TOP 5 benefits:

Advance Steel: BIM software for structural steel engineering, detailing and fabrication

1 – More Productivity with the flexible and efficient 3D modeling automatic tools: complete international catalogs, library of parametric joints, single or multi-user mode, etc.

2 – Short learning curve: reduces new employee ramp up time

3 – Specific features for miscellaneous steel and sheet metal: automatic functions for all type of stairs and railings, automatic tools for sheet metal creation, folded and twisted plates, etc.

4 – Precise and automatic creation and updating of construction documents: BOMs automatically created from the 3D model, revision control, revision clouds, drawing presentation template, automatic drawing scaling, paper formats and views, etc.

5 – BIM and collaborative work: DXF / DWG / Revit imports, multi-user technology, interoperability with major industry leading detailing / fabrication / engineering / MRP packages (CIS/2, SDNF, DSTV, KISS, etc.), etc.

Advance Steel: Professional Steel Detailing Software Solution for AutoCAD

Historically based on the AutoCAD® platform, Advance Steel® 2012 allows users to use their software with or without AutoCAD®. In fact, the product includes its own graphics engine, and the user can select the desired CAD platform. Regardless of the selected platform, all the essential functionality of the software is retained, as well as DWG® compatibility.
This major change has also allowed GRAITEC to simplify the user interface by focusing on and organizing the industry specific functionality of the software.
Another major impact for users: the overall cost of the solution and the ease of installation and deployment. The return on investment for the current version is improved by 30%.