Fabrication

ALUDOR, leader in aluminum railing, currently produces some 186 miles of custom aluminum railings per year. Present in over 50 countries worldwide, ALUDOR has diversified its activity over the past 10 years, today producing aluminum gates marketed through a network of professionals. The nexus company, ALUDOR’s Design and Engineering Department is responsible for validating the feasibility of each project and providing the elements necessary for the manufacture and installation.
Currently, drawing are produces in 2D using CAD software. The problem is how to enter the BOMs, considering quantitative elements and references.

The company Armatures Sarl* produces 180 T of rebars per month, assembled, cut and bent, and sells trade products. It is equipped with a mobile cutting bench, a straightening and moulding machine, a framing machine for diameters up to 12 mm, a mechanical bender and a bar shear. The company employs five welders for the assembly. The average diameter of the bars is 9.8 mm. In the office, one person takes care of the detailing, and the manager and another employee share the administrative workload concerning the management of purchases, sales and stock.

The company Rebar+ Pty Ltd.* comprises three production sites located a few hundred kilometers apart. Production consists of cut and bent steel, supplemented by the sale of trade products (sleeves, welded wire mesh, etc.). Volumes are of the order of 800 to 2,500 T per month and per factory, with an average bar diameter of 17.3 mm. Each site is equipped with a cutting bench, bar shears, at least two framing machines, a straightening machine, and an automated forming machine. Transport management is outsourced. Part of the production is sometimes subcontracted depending on the workload and the deadlines imposed by the construction site.

Saving 75% of Time on Stairs and Railings With PowerPack for Advance Steel

Customer Challenge

Eddie, a self-employed business owner, aimed to work faster and with increased accuracy. He uses Autodesk Advance Steel, a standalone product that is also included in the Autodesk AEC Collection. Advance Steel is a steelwork detailing software equipped with dedicated macros for creating common connections and structural elements, including ladders, bracing, portal frames, and notably for Eddie, stairs and railings.

Project Goals

Eddie’s primary effort is focused on detailing stairs and handrails. He sought a tool that would help him expedite this process while maintaining a high level of accuracy. To achieve this, Eddie reached out to Graitec Canada for assistance in finding the right tool for his specific needs. Benoit Lalonde, a Senior Solutions Specialist at Graitec Canada, aided Eddie in evaluating his options, leading to the selection of PowerPack for Advance Steel as the most suitable tool. Graitec Canada facilitated the implementation of a trial version of PowerPack for Advance Steel for Eddie to test and assess its effectiveness in meeting his goals.

Solution

Eddie contacted Graitec Canada to collaborate on finding the right tool for his individual needs. Senior Solutions Specialist Benoit Lalonde helped Eddie narrow down the options. PowerPack for Advance Steel rose to the top as the right tool. Graitec Canada helped Eddie implement a trial version of PowerPack for Advance Steel.

Quick Step File Output Using PowerPack for Advance Steel

Challenge

MoFab had specific needs for producing proper STEP files from parts that were modeled in Autodesk Advance Steel, a steelwork detailing software with dedicated macros for creating common connections and structural elements such as stairs, railings, ladders, bracing, and portal frames. MoFab wanted to send its STEP files directly to its laser cutting machines. However, the STEP files from Advance Steel were missing some important information needed for MoFab to use them correctly. In the MoFab experience, exporting the Advance Steel model or parts of the model in STEP format was a long and tedious manual operation.

Project Goals

MoFab staff aimed to save time and achieve perfect cuts when exporting Advance Steel models or parts of models. The company sought information on producing proper STEP files for their cutting machine. To address this need, Graitec Canada was invited to collaborate with MoFab to determine the best solution for the customer’s needs.

Solution

The solution for MoFab was identified as GRAITEC PowerPack for Advance Steel. Graitec Canada provided MoFab with 30-day trial versions of PowerPack for Advance Steel, allowing MoFab to test the software. The Graitec team also ensured that MoFab staff received support during the trial, addressing any follow-up questions about using the software.

The professional version of PowerPack for Advance Steel includes the functionality ‘Export Model or Parts’. This feature enables users to export a model or parts in the STEP format, as well as ACIS and IGES formats, with a single click. This makes obtaining a solid model or its individual elements both simple and fully automated.