2012

CAD Digest review of ADVANCE Steel 2012 – Connections & Joints

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

CAD Digest, one of the most popular online sources for CAD, CAM & CAE articles and testimonials, reviews ADVANCE Steel, not as a design tool, but as a solution for accelerating the design process. James Finkel, author of the review (with experience in mechanical engineering, programming, custom design engineering, QA and software testing) explains why ADVANCE Steel is a powerful tool for all types of projects.

ADVANCE Steel introduces three versions of the software, depending on the scope and versatility of the project: Standard, which is a “light version”, limited to 10 tons of steel, Professional, which has no limits to the weight of the steel and can be tested for free as a 30-day Trial Version (this being the version used by James Finkel for his review), and Premium, which also includes the multi-user technology. Each of the available packages has been created to meet users’ business needs, depending on key software selection criteria: ease-of-use, interoperability, drawing output and, of course, cost.

For this review to be as accurate as possible, the author requested the assistance of Benoit Lalonde, a GRAITEC technician from our offices in Canada, in creating a model with a large variety of joints: beam-beam, beam-column, column with four beams of unequal sizes, plate work, column-to-concrete footers, and beam-to-wall connections. The creation of the model was the first step in determining the capability and efficiency of the software in handling unusual or complex requests.

Concerning input and output of data, ADVANCE Steel 2012 offers many solutions – use built-in CAD tools or import the model from AutoCAD or Revit and, as a result, generate reports in plain text, Word documents, XML, Excel spreadsheets, and so on, and issue a full suite of the projects’ drawings.

Advance Steel - Generating reports in Excel from drawings

Throughout the modeling process, users are provided with an extensive library of smart objects, libraries of customizable automatic joints (more than 300 joints), customizable drawings, and generation of all detail drawings required by fabrication shops. ADVANCE Steel provides all the necessary tools to create, save and reuse simple or complex custom connections. “This flexible software handles a wide range of steel design situations”, states the author.

Advance Steel - Selecting joints, which can be customized

Regarding operability and features, James Finkel tested the customization of joints, the stress at joints, generation of reports and defining new and more complex shapes. His conclusion was that ADVANCE Steel 2012 offers a full-featured structural steel design system, with a wide range of output formats, according to customer needs. “Starting from an AutoCAD model, Revit, or working within the CAD supplied within the software, users have a wide array of tools for joint construction with point and click for individual or multiple joints. The software has an equally wide array of output formats and features”, James Finkel declares.

Creating new shapes in Advance Steel

Read here the full article

Advertisement

GRAITEC Group reports + 22% revenue growth End of Q3 2012 compared with 2011 and +511% growth in Profitability

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

 GRAITEC reports a turnover of 21.27 million Euros for the first three quarters of 2012. GRAITEC turnover increased 22% compared to the same period in 2011, exclusively due to organic growth. The profitability has also soared by more than 6-fold compared to the same period in 2011. The main reason for this performance is due to a massive adoption of the solutions developed and sold by GRAITEC.

Highlighted performances:

Advance Steel, the Structural BIM solution for the steel industry, has grown year to date by +54% in revenue and over 45% in number of seats. Advance Design, the Structural BIM analysis and design solution, has achieved a remarkable +20% growth in turnover. Advance suite, the complete international Structural BIM suite of Graitec, reports a year to year growth of +35%.

Advance Steel: BIM software for structural steel engineering, detailing and fabrication Advance Concrete: BIM software for structural concrete engineering, detailing and fabrication Advance Design: BIM software for FEM structural analysis including international eurocodes

Mentioning only some of the Geographical best performers:

• North America has done an amazing job in the steel construction industry, increasing the Advance Steel turnover by +121%.

• GRAITEC Asia/Pacific, over performed with a +86% growth.

• GRAITEC Russia, in the same range of performance, increased its revenue by +73%.

• Europe has also delivered some great performances, in all countries where Graitec operates, a few highlights are:

  • An amazing over 80% growth for B&B, the Italian subsidiary of Graitec, acquired in 2011
  • +37% turnover in GRAITEC Germany (covering DACH region).
  • UK +16% including the 2 Graitec entities performances, Adris and Graitec UK.
  • GRAITEC France gaining market share with 28% growth in the CAD solutions (Advance Steel and Concrete) and reinforcing its BIM Structural Analysis leadership with +11% Growth.

Alexandre Tartas, COO of GRAITEC, comments: “We are very proud to report another solid performance at the end of Q3 2012. Graitec not only grows but does it in a very profitable business model, which is a very remarkable performance. It is difficult to talk about every unique performance, when every subsidiary, every sales office over performs. Graitec continues to reinforce its Structural BIM Specialist position in the market, providing and implementing best-in-class solutions to contribute to the daily challenges of our customers. Of course Q3 is only a stage in 2012 and everyone is actively working on maintaining this level of performance until the end of the year. This year to date 2012 accelerated growth gives Graitec high ambitions and expectations for Q4 and we can expect to over achieve the initial targets in turnover, operating margin and profit.”

AEC Day 2012 – Presentation of BIM GRAITEC Advance suite

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

AppliCAD was founded in 1994 by a team that decided to penetrate the Windows based CAD/CAM market after experience in UNIX-CAD/CAM with SUN Workstation for 4 years. The company started its business with Plant Design Management Software and expanded the product line. Presently, AppliCAD is highly committed to offering customers the best solutions for their requirements. Thereby, it is recognized as The Best Design Technology Expert in Thailand.

AEC Day 2012 – Presentation of BIM GRAITEC Advance suite

With over 15 years of experience, AppliCAD Thailand is a “GRAITEC ADVANCE Authorized Reseller” enriching our Value Added Reseller program. It provides mechanical solutions, architecture engineering and construction solutions, rapid prototype and 3D scan solutions and also plant solutions for a wide range of customers in Asia Pacific.

For the 2012 AEC Day, AppliCAD presented the BIM GRAITEC Advance suite as a complete solution for architects, engineering offices, detailers and fabricators which require global CAD / Analysis & Design solutions.  AppliCAD highlighted the GRAITEC Transfer Center (GTC) which allows all the models created with GRAITEC software to be synchronized, with no data loss and no need for data reentry. The GTC is an important step in creating and handling a BIM (Building Information Model).

The main subject of the presentation, however, was ADVANCE Steel and Concrete software, as an advanced modeling and detailing system, easy to use, time saving and cost effective.

You can watch the presentation below, and although it is in Thai, the above summary describes its content.

Advance Steel for StruCAD users

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

Advance Steel for StruCAD users

Advance Steel, the alternative solution to StruCAD

GRAITEC Products: CAD and Design Software for the Construction Industry

  • Proven track record with more than 10,000 seats worldwide: Trusted market confidence
  • Rapid adoption rate resulting in +50% growth in licenses in 2011: Tried and tested solution
  • Increased functionality / productivity: Tools for all market sectors: BIM, Structures, Off-shore, Bridges, Architectural, Sheet-metalwork,…
  • Works as a standalone application or with AutoCAD: Flexibility for users to choose platform to that suits them – no need to have AutoCAD
  • Low initial financial outlay: Best value system on the market
  • Lower on-going cost of ownership: Premium support & maintenance less than half the price of other systems
  • Easy to use and short learning curve: 5 day foundation training course; 3-days transition training from Strucad, includes full training manual
  • Quick and easy deployment: Set up company drawing borders in minutes
  • Interoperability: DSTV NC files in all versions, IFC, SDNF, CIS2, Graitec BIM, KISS, PSS, …
  • Support and Helpdesk service rated 98% excellent or good by our users: Dedicated team ready to help you by phone, email or remote assistance

Advance Steel 2012 videos

Advance Steel 2012 – Easy and efficient modelling tools
Advance Stel 2012 – Easy and efficient modelling tools
Advance Steel is a complete 3D BIM steel detailing software providing automatic and user-friendly tools for creating the 3D model of your building in the best time.
From the creation of the portal frames to the generation of all cladding profiles, Advance Steel comes with numerous easy-to-use tools for purlins, side rails, automatic connections, stairs, railings and much more!
Advance Steel 2012 – Navigation through a 3D model
Advance Stel 2012 – Navigation through a 3D model
See how user-friendly and powerful Advance Steel 2012 is to navigate through a complex pedestrian bridge (model courtesy of PKD, Czech Republic).

Customer Projects

Advance Steel CIS/2 interface Advance Steel CIS/2 interface
Coke oven gas desulphurization done by
Hutni projekt Frydek-Mistek a.s with Advance Steel		 New Valenciennes stadium done by
ETI with Advance Steel
Advance Steel CIS/2 interface Advance Steel CIS/2 interface
U2 “360° concert” stage done by
Stageco with Advance Steel		 Steam cracking furnaces done by
Heurtey Petrochem with Advance Steel

GRAITEC will be exhibiting at NASCC 2012 in Dallas, Texas, April 18-20, 2012

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

March 22nd, 2012. GRAITEC is pleased to announce that the GRAITEC North American team will be exhibiting at NASCC, the steel conference in Dallas, Texas, on April 18-20, 2012 at booth #610.

The GRAITEC team will be demonstrating Advance Steel 2012, the powerful and user-friendly 3D structural steel detailing and fabrication software that automatically creates drawings, BOMs and NC files, and that communicates with Autodesk® Revit® among other systems.

Version 2012 of Advance Steel provides the user with the choice of CAD platform, AutoCAD or the GRAITEC CAD platform. The team will be demonstrating Advance Steel with both platforms at the NASCC.

GRAITEC will also be demonstrating Advance Design 2012, a superior solution for the structural analysis and design of Reinforced Concrete, Steel and Timber structures according to the latest versions of Eurocodes and North American codes.

During the NASCC, GRAITEC is offering

3 workshops on Thursday, April 19:

More doors open to Advance Steel

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment

With the shocking Strucad announcement, Strucad users are now faced with a difficult decision – or is it?
For anyone involved in Structural Steelwork, the way GRAITEC UK sees it, there is a clear and easy choice, Advance Steel 2012!

Advance Steel 2012 offers:

– Proven track record with more than 10,000 seats worldwide

  •  Trusted market confidence

– Rapid adoption rate resulting in +50% growth in licenses in 2011 – 

  • Tried and tested solution

– Increased functionality / productivity 

  • New tools for all market sectors: BIM, Structures, Off-shore, Bridges, Architectural, Sheet-metalwork…

– Works as a standalone application or with AutoCAD – 

  • Flexibility for users to choose platform to that suits them – no need to have AutoCAD

– Low initial financial outlay 

  • A fantastic GRAITEC UK ‘Switch-offer’

– Quick and easy deployment

  • Set up company drawing borders in minutes

– Interoperability 

  • DSTv NC files in all versions, IFC, SDNF, CIS2, Graitec BIM, KISS, PSS…

– Support and Helpdesk service rated 98% excellent or good by users  

  • Dedicated team ready to help you by phone, email or remote assistance


The GRAITEC UK branch has never received so many phone calls and enquiries from people looking for an alternative solution to Strucad, and the feedback from those that have already moved to Advance Steel was “easy to use” and “very capable”.

If you have been affected and would like to see more about Advance Steel why not visit www.graitec.co.uk/advance_steel_2012.html or contact one of the Graitec UK team on 0844 543 8888 or email your enquiry to sales@graitec.co.uk

Are you ready for the Eurocodes?

/ graitecgroup / Leave a comment


Are you ready for the Eurcodes? GRAITEC’s  Advance Design 2012 is!  The latest version includes all of the UK National Annexes for EC0, EC1 (climatic), EC2 (concrete), EC3 (steel) and EC5 (timber).


 Many top UK engineering consultancies have already decided to move over from British Standards to the Eurocodes and Advance Design is making this transition very easy.A very intuitive and easy to use CAD interface takes the stress out of model creation and this is made even easier with intelligent BIM connections to many industry standard file types including IFC, SDNF, PSS, CIS2 and DXF.  Fast finite element analysis and design with automatic mesh generation and member optimisation allow for many different iterations of you model in quick succession.  Easy to create result reports and documentation in many formats including DOC, PDF and EXCEL. Advance Design is the complete package for Eurocode Design.

Advance Steel 2012: CAD platform freedom

/ graitecgroup / 1 Comment

Advance Steel® is specifically designed for steel professionals who require an easy-to-use 3D structural steel detailing software for automating drawing production.

 

 Choice of graphical platform and improved ergonomics 

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 and the BIM integration. A “BIM Center” facilitating data exchange is available.

Another major impact for the user: the overall cost of the solution and the ease of installation and deployment. The return on investment of Version 2012 is improved by 30%.

Advance Steel 2012: Choice of graphical platform and improved ergonomics

 

 New automatic controls for 3D modeling 

Version 2012 also has many other improvements, the main ones are as follows:

  • Management of a preliminary reference mark to improve the traceability of elements from their creation to manufacturing
  • Option to group similar connections to manage and change them in a single operation
  • Implementation of new automatic connections (e.g., turnbuckle bracings, purlin connections with sleeves, connections between steel and concrete elements)
  • All new connections work on standard and cold rolled profiles
  • Numerous modifications in the existing connections, including in the field of metalwork.
Advance Steel 2012: New automatic controls for 3D modeling

 

 Extensive libraries 
Advance Steel 2012 provides libraries with lots of new and updated profiles and bolts:

  • Cold rolled profiles ( Joris IDE, Kingspan, etc.)
  • Cladding sections (Perfitec, Metecno, Corus, etc.)
  • Bolts and connectors (Lindapter, Australian bolts, etc.)

 

 Enhancements for high quality drawings 
Following on from previous versions, Advance Steel 2012 continues to improve the overall quality of drawings created automatically by the software:

  • Several new drawing styles delivered and ready to be used
  • Lists on drawings can be customized to include formulas (e.g. elements weight + 5%)
These new options increase user productivity and protects the production and management of documentation of their steel construction projects.

GRAITEC ADVANCE 2012 Version is released!

/ graitecgroup / 2 Comments

1st multi-platform version for the GRAITEC Structural BIM suite

 

GRAITEC Advance 2012 is released!

 

NEW CAD SYSTEM for Advance Steel

 

Major PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS for Advance Concrete

 

NEW DESIGN CODES including timber design for Advance Design

 

GRAITEC Advance, aims primarily to improve the productivity of its users, help them reduce design errors and increase the quality of project documentation. The GRAITEC Advance suite is for the most demanding professionals and its ergonomics are designed to make it easy to learn and use.

The Advance suite is based on the implementation of a digital model (BIM / Building Information Model). This technology associates each real object to its virtual equivalent in the digital model and users have the opportunity to simulate the behavior of the real structure and automate many processes. With open BIM standards, Advance can also be used with the Autodesk Revit suite for the structural analysis and design and document creation of models created in Revit.

Version 2012 represents a key milestone in the development of GRAITEC. In fact, the new Advance Steel software architecture allows it to work without an AutoCAD license. This innovation frees up AutoCAD licenses for other uses in the design offi ce. In addition it offers an economic advantage to companies without AutoCAD licenses or that do not have updated AutoCAD licenses.

Major investments were made to simplify usability and improve the performance of our solutions. GRAITEC also continues to introduce new design codes to meet the productivity and quality demands required by a market increasingly more international.