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From antiquated processes to the fourth industrial revolution

To remain competitive in this new global economy, traditional logistics and manufacturing companies must transform operations and offerings. Manual processes, disparate systems and legacy technology often hamstring innovation for these mature businesses, meanwhile silos of information prevent collaborative problem-solving and a unified perspective across centralized and decentralized locations.

Spotlight

Zenith Tecnica

Zenith Tecnica is an additive manufacturer specialising in titanium and nickel base alloys. The company uses Electron Beam Melting (EBM) to Additively Manufacture (AM) parts direct from 3-D CAD files. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the company employs five mechanical/metallurgical engineers, and also post graduate students who undertake supervised research into mechanical and metallurgical aspects of EBM/AM.

OTHER ARTICLES
Engineering Tech

Digital twin created for groundbreaking bridge with Allplan Bridge

Article | August 25, 2021

The Ottendorf Viaduct on the Riesa-Chemnitz railway line stood for over 160 years until it could no longer be saved and had to be replaced in 2015. The new replacement structure built at that time was a first for Deutsche Bahn: For the first time in its history, it built a bridge with a frame-stiffened arch structure. Although 3D models were used to some extent in the planning of the structure, the BIM method was not applied, so that no digital twin of the bridge is available for future (maintenance) work.

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Engineering Tech

10 simple ways to ensure a successful infrastructure project

Article | July 20, 2022

In amongst the chatter about how we can 'do' infrastructure better, there's now a growing consensus that we need to improve the way we design our interventions - 'design' in the broader sense of the word, rather than the narrow sense we tend to use as engineers. My front-end principles for better infrastructure Over the course of my career, the following front-end principles have served well to ensure we think through, before we rush in where angels fear to tread. Be clear about the purpose and the expected outcomes, and engage communities in decision-making through an effective communication strategy. Prioritise the user, aiming to offer services that are modern, effective and affordable. Seek to improve people's quality of life and support the transition to a more sustainable future, while also facilitating the functioning of the economy, enhancing productivity and accommodating growth (to the extent possible, given other competing objectives). Extract greatest value from existing infrastructure through timely maintenance, repurposing, renewal and upgrading. Seek to remove constraints and bottlenecks. Aim to make best use of data, automation, innovation and technology (including for future asset management), recognising the complexity and risks this may introduce. Recognise, analyse, mitigate and manage technical, environmental and climate risks, and complete any surveys necessary to support this. Improve governance, with robust, timely and transparent decision-making, supported by strong evidence-based planning, clear prioritisation, and best practice technical design and delivery. Seek an appropriate funding balance between 'user pays' and general taxation which incentivises behaviours in the best long-term social, economic and environmental interests. Complete well-evidenced business cases and risk assessments of proposed initiatives before embarking on projects, including financing proposals. Aim to allocate the risks identified to those best able to carry them. Facilitate collaboration between the government and business to promote delivery of the broader social, economic and environmental benefits. Clearly, there are many other issues to consider as a project develops, and the above principles may seem obvious to some, and a counsel of perfection to others, but it's surprising how many are overlooked in the rush to build.

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Engineering Tech

Why a Digital Twin Is the Best Way to Start a Building Project

Article | August 24, 2021

A digital twin is much more than just a 3D model of a building. It contains detailed information of all equipment and components, including their physical properties and cost. The model can also reflect the exact state of building elements, showing issues like mechanical wear. Digital twins can also be used as simulation tools, to analyze how a building would behave under different conditions.

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Engineering Tech

Detail Rebar Your Way with Allplan

Article | July 21, 2021

A typical rebar detailing office has a spread of different ages working there – from those with just a few years of experience, to staff who have been detailing rebar for decades. In many ways, this mirrors the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry itself. However, as experienced staff are so quick to produce rebar documentation, often existing ways of working remain in use long after they have been replaced with more efficient methods. After all, by using familiar workflows only new detailers require training, rather than a whole office. Yet 3D rebar detailing software provides more benefits than just quicker deliverables – the benefits to the business, as well as the entire workflow, are significant. With the right rebar CAD software, this does not have to involve a steep learning curve that staff are not ready for, either.

Read More
Engineering Tech

'Securing the talent of the future will not be the same as the past'

Article | August 25, 2021

The Ottendorf Viaduct on the Riesa-Chemnitz railway line stood for over 160 years until it could no longer be saved and had to be replaced in 2015. The new replacement structure built at that time was a first for Deutsche Bahn: For the first time in its history, it built a bridge with a frame-stiffened arch structure. Although 3D models were used to some extent in the planning of the structure, the BIM method was not applied, so that no digital twin of the bridge is available for future (maintenance) work.

Read More
Engineering Tech

The Future of Acoustical Engineering

Article | July 20, 2022

In amongst the chatter about how we can 'do' infrastructure better, there's now a growing consensus that we need to improve the way we design our interventions - 'design' in the broader sense of the word, rather than the narrow sense we tend to use as engineers. My front-end principles for better infrastructure Over the course of my career, the following front-end principles have served well to ensure we think through, before we rush in where angels fear to tread. Be clear about the purpose and the expected outcomes, and engage communities in decision-making through an effective communication strategy. Prioritise the user, aiming to offer services that are modern, effective and affordable. Seek to improve people's quality of life and support the transition to a more sustainable future, while also facilitating the functioning of the economy, enhancing productivity and accommodating growth (to the extent possible, given other competing objectives). Extract greatest value from existing infrastructure through timely maintenance, repurposing, renewal and upgrading. Seek to remove constraints and bottlenecks. Aim to make best use of data, automation, innovation and technology (including for future asset management), recognising the complexity and risks this may introduce. Recognise, analyse, mitigate and manage technical, environmental and climate risks, and complete any surveys necessary to support this. Improve governance, with robust, timely and transparent decision-making, supported by strong evidence-based planning, clear prioritisation, and best practice technical design and delivery. Seek an appropriate funding balance between 'user pays' and general taxation which incentivises behaviours in the best long-term social, economic and environmental interests. Complete well-evidenced business cases and risk assessments of proposed initiatives before embarking on projects, including financing proposals. Aim to allocate the risks identified to those best able to carry them. Facilitate collaboration between the government and business to promote delivery of the broader social, economic and environmental benefits. Clearly, there are many other issues to consider as a project develops, and the above principles may seem obvious to some, and a counsel of perfection to others, but it's surprising how many are overlooked in the rush to build.

Read More
Engineering Tech

Infrastructure Policy Watch: new resilience guidelines from Australia and UK hydrogen strategy

Article | August 24, 2021

A digital twin is much more than just a 3D model of a building. It contains detailed information of all equipment and components, including their physical properties and cost. The model can also reflect the exact state of building elements, showing issues like mechanical wear. Digital twins can also be used as simulation tools, to analyze how a building would behave under different conditions.

Read More
Engineering Tech

Detail Rebar Your Way with Allplan

Article | July 21, 2021

A typical rebar detailing office has a spread of different ages working there – from those with just a few years of experience, to staff who have been detailing rebar for decades. In many ways, this mirrors the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry itself. However, as experienced staff are so quick to produce rebar documentation, often existing ways of working remain in use long after they have been replaced with more efficient methods. After all, by using familiar workflows only new detailers require training, rather than a whole office. Yet 3D rebar detailing software provides more benefits than just quicker deliverables – the benefits to the business, as well as the entire workflow, are significant. With the right rebar CAD software, this does not have to involve a steep learning curve that staff are not ready for, either.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Zenith Tecnica

Zenith Tecnica is an additive manufacturer specialising in titanium and nickel base alloys. The company uses Electron Beam Melting (EBM) to Additively Manufacture (AM) parts direct from 3-D CAD files. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the company employs five mechanical/metallurgical engineers, and also post graduate students who undertake supervised research into mechanical and metallurgical aspects of EBM/AM.

Related News

Construction

DIRTT Continues Expansion Across Construction Partner Network

Globenewswire | March 29, 2023

In a recent announcement from DIRTT, a global leader in industrialized construction, the company highlighted the expansion of six and addition of three new DIRTT Construction Partners to its network. Expanded and new partners will serve clients throughout Northern California; Iowa; Denver, Colorado; Southern Illinois; Edmonton, Alberta; Alabama; Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Mexico in addition to DIRTT’s extensive existing network. DIRTT connects with its clients through an international network of DIRTT Construction Partners to ensure the effective management and execution of the DIRTT scope on every project from pre-construction through order, installation, and beyond. Long term, DIRTT’s partners support clients with reconfigurations, adaptations, and adjustments, continuously protecting their investment in DIRTT, while helping to keep their spaces relevant to their unique needs for years or decades to come. Benjamin Urban, CEO, commented, “DIRTT’s construction partners are our vital link to the unique requirements of every construction market. Our teams at DIRTT remain heavily focused on strengthening trust and credibility with our construction partners and clients. I’m pleased to see the results of these efforts taking shape as our partners expand their commitment and investment in DIRTT, realizing the value DIRTT brings to their clients. Through ongoing collaboration with our expanding partner teams, we are increasing our competitive advantage in both innovation and efficiency. This alignment continues to drive a healthier project pipeline as we look forward to the balance of 2023.” About DIRTT DIRTT is a global leader in industrialized construction. Its system of physical products and digital tools empowers organizations, together with construction and design leaders, to build high-performing, adaptable, interior environments. Operating in the workplace, healthcare, education, and public sector markets, DIRTT’s system provides total design freedom and greater certainty in cost, schedule, and outcomes. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, DIRTT trades on Nasdaq under the symbol “DRTT” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “DRT”.

Read More

Engineering Tech

Ansys and Rockwell Automation Optimize Industrial Operations with Expanded Digital Twin Connectivity

Ansys | September 15, 2021

Ansys and Rockwell Automation are expanding digital twin connectivity to industrial control systems, enabling users to optimize the design, deployment, and performance of industrial operations. By implementing simulation-based digital twins, engineering teams can garner new insights that speed innovation and reduce costs from the design phase to the production phase. Rockwell Automation's latest release of Studio 5000 Simulation Interface now connects with Ansys Twin Builder, allowing automation and process engineers to leverage simulation-based digital twins. Users can create and test designs in a virtual space, saving the time and money associated with costly physical prototypes. The digital domain can also be used to test process changes before being implemented in the field, which can boost throughput and other performance aspects. Predictive maintenance represents another significant benefit of simulation-based digital twins. Ansys Twin Builder empowers users with multiphysics analysis to understand how forces like flow rates, mechanical stresses and thermal profiles impact in-field assets. Engineers can use these insights to calculate the remaining life of equipment and plan for maintenance, reducing the chance of costly unplanned downtime. "By connecting a control system to Ansys Twin Builder, users can simulate complex physical processes and give realistic inputs to the control system," said Julie Robinson, business manager, Rockwell Automation. "This can provide tremendous insights throughout the equipment lifecycle. For example, running a simulation model in parallel to a physical system during production can reveal opportunities to optimize performance in real time." With the enhanced Studio 5000 Simulation Interface and Ansys Twin Builder, users can connect digital twins to emulated or physical controllers. Connecting to an emulated controller can help users optimize production at the design stage, while connecting to a physical controller allows them to compare optimal equipment performance against actual performance. "Connecting the digital and physical worlds with Studio 5000 Simulation Interface creates tremendous value for users," said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products, Ansys. "It can help them go from conceptual designs to physical equipment faster and at a lower cost. It can provide useful new insights during production. For instance, users can apply what-if scenarios to understand the impact of changes on a process. They can create virtual sensors to estimate values that are otherwise too expensive or not possible to get today, and they can predict outcomes like failures that hurt the bottom line." About Ansys If you've ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you've used a product where Ansys software played a critical role in its creation. Ansys is the global leader in engineering simulation. Through our strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, we help the world's most innovative companies deliver radically better products to their customers. By offering the best and broadest portfolio of engineering simulation software, we help them solve the most complex design challenges and create products limited only by imagination. Founded in 1970, Ansys is headquartered south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

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Industrial construction contract awards up by 11.2% in 2019

PBC Today | February 27, 2020

Industrial construction contract awards hit £7.1bn in 2019, up 11.2% on 2018, as distribution, storage and logistics sectors look set to boost future growth. In 2019, the total value of industrial construction contract awards was up 11.2% on 2018 and follows a 20.1% increase on 2017. The industrial sector has maintained its strength throughout 2019 with the logistics, storage and warehousing featuring as the leading sub-sectors. In addition, some higher value industrial construction contract awards were featured in the chemical & petrochemicals and R & D facilities sectors, according to the latest insight from Barbour ABI. Analysis of regional activity shows that the leading region in 2019 was the South East with a share of 20.4% of contract awards. This is an 8% increase on 2018. The second-largest region was the East Midlands which took 12.3% of industrial contract awards during the year. This represents a decrease of 7.5% when compared to 2018. The third-largest region was the North West which accounted for 11.9% of awards which is 0.9% ahead of 2018.

Read More

Construction

DIRTT Continues Expansion Across Construction Partner Network

Globenewswire | March 29, 2023

In a recent announcement from DIRTT, a global leader in industrialized construction, the company highlighted the expansion of six and addition of three new DIRTT Construction Partners to its network. Expanded and new partners will serve clients throughout Northern California; Iowa; Denver, Colorado; Southern Illinois; Edmonton, Alberta; Alabama; Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Mexico in addition to DIRTT’s extensive existing network. DIRTT connects with its clients through an international network of DIRTT Construction Partners to ensure the effective management and execution of the DIRTT scope on every project from pre-construction through order, installation, and beyond. Long term, DIRTT’s partners support clients with reconfigurations, adaptations, and adjustments, continuously protecting their investment in DIRTT, while helping to keep their spaces relevant to their unique needs for years or decades to come. Benjamin Urban, CEO, commented, “DIRTT’s construction partners are our vital link to the unique requirements of every construction market. Our teams at DIRTT remain heavily focused on strengthening trust and credibility with our construction partners and clients. I’m pleased to see the results of these efforts taking shape as our partners expand their commitment and investment in DIRTT, realizing the value DIRTT brings to their clients. Through ongoing collaboration with our expanding partner teams, we are increasing our competitive advantage in both innovation and efficiency. This alignment continues to drive a healthier project pipeline as we look forward to the balance of 2023.” About DIRTT DIRTT is a global leader in industrialized construction. Its system of physical products and digital tools empowers organizations, together with construction and design leaders, to build high-performing, adaptable, interior environments. Operating in the workplace, healthcare, education, and public sector markets, DIRTT’s system provides total design freedom and greater certainty in cost, schedule, and outcomes. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, DIRTT trades on Nasdaq under the symbol “DRTT” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “DRT”.

Read More

Engineering Tech

Ansys and Rockwell Automation Optimize Industrial Operations with Expanded Digital Twin Connectivity

Ansys | September 15, 2021

Ansys and Rockwell Automation are expanding digital twin connectivity to industrial control systems, enabling users to optimize the design, deployment, and performance of industrial operations. By implementing simulation-based digital twins, engineering teams can garner new insights that speed innovation and reduce costs from the design phase to the production phase. Rockwell Automation's latest release of Studio 5000 Simulation Interface now connects with Ansys Twin Builder, allowing automation and process engineers to leverage simulation-based digital twins. Users can create and test designs in a virtual space, saving the time and money associated with costly physical prototypes. The digital domain can also be used to test process changes before being implemented in the field, which can boost throughput and other performance aspects. Predictive maintenance represents another significant benefit of simulation-based digital twins. Ansys Twin Builder empowers users with multiphysics analysis to understand how forces like flow rates, mechanical stresses and thermal profiles impact in-field assets. Engineers can use these insights to calculate the remaining life of equipment and plan for maintenance, reducing the chance of costly unplanned downtime. "By connecting a control system to Ansys Twin Builder, users can simulate complex physical processes and give realistic inputs to the control system," said Julie Robinson, business manager, Rockwell Automation. "This can provide tremendous insights throughout the equipment lifecycle. For example, running a simulation model in parallel to a physical system during production can reveal opportunities to optimize performance in real time." With the enhanced Studio 5000 Simulation Interface and Ansys Twin Builder, users can connect digital twins to emulated or physical controllers. Connecting to an emulated controller can help users optimize production at the design stage, while connecting to a physical controller allows them to compare optimal equipment performance against actual performance. "Connecting the digital and physical worlds with Studio 5000 Simulation Interface creates tremendous value for users," said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products, Ansys. "It can help them go from conceptual designs to physical equipment faster and at a lower cost. It can provide useful new insights during production. For instance, users can apply what-if scenarios to understand the impact of changes on a process. They can create virtual sensors to estimate values that are otherwise too expensive or not possible to get today, and they can predict outcomes like failures that hurt the bottom line." About Ansys If you've ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you've used a product where Ansys software played a critical role in its creation. Ansys is the global leader in engineering simulation. Through our strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, we help the world's most innovative companies deliver radically better products to their customers. By offering the best and broadest portfolio of engineering simulation software, we help them solve the most complex design challenges and create products limited only by imagination. Founded in 1970, Ansys is headquartered south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Read More

Industrial construction contract awards up by 11.2% in 2019

PBC Today | February 27, 2020

Industrial construction contract awards hit £7.1bn in 2019, up 11.2% on 2018, as distribution, storage and logistics sectors look set to boost future growth. In 2019, the total value of industrial construction contract awards was up 11.2% on 2018 and follows a 20.1% increase on 2017. The industrial sector has maintained its strength throughout 2019 with the logistics, storage and warehousing featuring as the leading sub-sectors. In addition, some higher value industrial construction contract awards were featured in the chemical & petrochemicals and R & D facilities sectors, according to the latest insight from Barbour ABI. Analysis of regional activity shows that the leading region in 2019 was the South East with a share of 20.4% of contract awards. This is an 8% increase on 2018. The second-largest region was the East Midlands which took 12.3% of industrial contract awards during the year. This represents a decrease of 7.5% when compared to 2018. The third-largest region was the North West which accounted for 11.9% of awards which is 0.9% ahead of 2018.

Read More

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