Even small steel detailing firms find the investment in making the leap from 2D CAD to a 3D detailing solution rapidly pays off in productivity gains and accuracy, as well as opens doors to better, more profitable business opportunities.
The Great Recession slowed more than the economy; it slowed the adoption of 3D detailing. With revenue uncertain, steel detailers across the U.S. delayed the move despite knowing the technology would benefit their businesses.
Doug Malm, owner of Steel Detailing Services in Sandy, Utah, considered 3D detailing in 2008 because he knew it was the future of the industry. He decided against it because of the recession. It wasn’t until business began to pick up, that he realized his firm would be left behind if he didn’t convert.
“A few years ago we started losing out on business opportunities because we didn’t have 3D detailing capabilities,” said Malm. “We decided we’d better learn to model or risk missing out on the more lucrative structural and miscellaneous steels jobs in our area.”
Mike Attolico, owner of West Coast Design in Santa Cruz, California, had a similar experience.
“I wanted to bring Tekla Structures into our firm several years ago, but the recession threw a wrench in my plans,” said Attolico. “It wasn’t until the economy got back on track that we revisited moving our steel detailing work to Tekla Structures.”
Pittsburgh-based Seech Industries, a fabrication company that engineers, details and builds commercial, industrial and high-end residential structures, began using Tekla Structures in 2011, but the catalyst for adopting a 3D detailing solution was different. Seech Industries needed to view the Tekla models created by the firm’s outside detailers.
