All posts by n.manku@strumis.com

How does the BCSA’s mandatory introduction of CE marking affect me, and how can StruM.I.S help?

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CE Marking logoAs of 1st July 2013, the Construction Products Directive (CPD) will be removed and replaced by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). The main difference between the two is that the CPR is mandatory and comes into effect in the UK and RoI law on 1st July 2013. The CPR makes CE marking mandatory in all member states including the UK and RoI for construction products covered by a harmonised standard or a European Technical Assessment that is in force.

What is CE Marking?

CE Marking is a regulatory mark applied by the manufacturer that is a declaration to public authorities and clients that the product satisfies required levels of health and safety (concerning such issues as release of hazardous substances and structural strength).

How does this affect you – steelwork contractors?

From 1st July 2013:-

From the 1st July 2013 steelwork contractors must have in place a purchasing system that will ensure that essential products (steel sections, structural bolting assemblies, welding consumables etc.) are covered by a Standard (specification), purchased and correctly CE marked.
The model purchase specifications for structural sections and bolting assemblies produced by BCSA may be used to develop a purchasing system that complies with the CPR.

From 1st July 2014:-

BS EN 1090-1- Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures – (Part 1) Requirements for conformity assessment of structural components (1st July 2014) 

The CE Marking standard for fabricated steelwork is BS EN 1090-1 and this is supported by the fabrication standard BS EN 1090-2 and the welding quality management standard BS EN ISO 3834. Those affected by CE Marking must put in place a Factory Production Control system (FPC) and have the system certified by a Notified Body.

Other things to consider

  • Selection of correct Consequence Class (CC) as per Eurocode 0 (EN 1990 standard)
  • Design in accordance with Eurocode 3 (EN 1993-series standards)
  • Designers material selection (EN 1993-1-10 requirements)
  • Selection of correct execution class (EXC) by designers, acc. to EN 1090-2
  • Workshop certifications to ISO 9000 and the relevant part of ISO 3834 for the workshop
  • The workshop must have a welding coordinator; his minimum qualifications depend on the EXC. For execution class EXC3 and EXC4 he must be certified welding engineer (EWE/EWI)
  • Generally the workshop must follow the EN 1090-2 standard for the fabrication of steel structures

Traceability and how StruM.I.S can help…

For Audit purposes traceability is now a key factor in gaining CE accreditation.

AceCad Software, along with StruM.I.S – a complete steel fabrication management system and Essentials by StruM.I.S – A light steel fabrication management information and production system for Small to Medium (SME) sized engineering and steelwork fabrication companies, will help you gain CE Marking accreditation, as we have off the shelf products available to assist you with traceability. Designed especially for smaller fabrication teams and with the features that smaller businesses need, Essentials by StruM.I.S is the perfect management system to assist in the tracking of production, purchasing and is a one stop solution for documenting the day to day running of your business.

Richard Brotherton, Managing Director of AceCad Software commenting on the release of Essentials by StruM.I.S said, ’Essentials opens a world of potential business advantages on the steelwork project to all in the sector. Smaller fabricators can now experience new levels of capability, unrivalled in the industry, to deliver benefits to their businesses and other project stakeholders’.

AceCad is aware of the current grievance felt by UK companies due to the recent changes in the construction industry. We have therefore created a cost effective solution that can not only be implemented smoothly, but also see you earn a return on your investment.

To learn more on how StruM.I.S can help you gain CE Marking accreditation:

  • Click here to read more about StruM.I.S and its Purchasing module –
  • Want to have a chat with a representative on how StruM.I.S can help? Click here to request a call back.
  • Request a personal FREE no obligation demonstration here –

Steel Purchasing webinar

 

Watch our webinar covering Better Purchasing with StruM.I.S  on our YouTube channel here

Sign up for FREE Webinar – Better Tendering with StruM.I.S

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Tendering is undoubtedly a determining factor that can lead a steel fabrication company towards continued business success.

Bearing this in mind, a free webinar will be available for Estimators, QS and Commercial Managers to find out how StruM.I.S estimating can deliver accurate estimates with the additional benefit of 3D model integration for reduced errors and processing time.

This free webinar will concentrate on the enquiry and tendering module within the StruM.I.S system for steel fabricators that allows full fabrication process control. You can Tender for projects more easily, save time, increase accuracy and profitability with StruM.I.S, available standalone as StruM.I.S estimating or as part of a full management information system.

Go for StruM.I.S Estimating Software for more accurate profitable estimates.

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StruM.I.S estimating is an enquiry and steel estimating software tool designed to meet the needs of estimators, QS and commercial managers involved in the detailing of accurate tenders in the steelwork fabrication industry.

StruM.I.S estimating processes and manages information throughout the tendering process using a number of pricing methodologies. It also allows accurate and consistent estimates with the benefit of 3D model integration for reduced errors and processing time.

Some of the benefits of StruM.I.S estimating include:

  • Easy to use with short set up time, enabling immediate return and benefits;
  • Retains acquired knowledge within processes, and detailed performance analysis;
  • Automation of repetitive tasks and greater integration leads to cost, time and error reduction;
  • Easy management and tracking of custom information enables better recording of information;
  • Provides estimators with the ability to prepare very accurate bespoke estimate take off with no extra data entry time; and
  • Facilitates planning and early issue flagging for rapid resolution.

Why not visit our website here to discover some of StruM.I.S estimating features and benefits. Alternatively, to watch a free webinar on our Steel Estimating Software please click here.

Better Purchasing with StruM.I.S – Steel Fabrication Management Information

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If you belong to an engineering and fabrication company, looking to implement a dedicated system for management of information across departments and multiple sites, then StruM.I.S is the way to go!

StruM.I.S is a steel fabrication management information system that harnesses the information flow and work processes through the steelwork contract between departments, suppliers and clients; from estimate tendering, through procurement and production into construction. StruM.I.S can offer you:

  • Workflow and automation advantages leading to greater efficiencies
  • Material and processing savings for greater profitability and enhanced productivity; and
  • Organizational benefits through process control for quality and traceability.

To see how you could purchase steel more efficiently, save materials and increase profitability, watch our free webinar here.

Catch up with our latest BIM Webinars

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Have you missed our last webinar on BIM Project Collaboration?

You can view the webinar here to get answers to any questions you may have about the software and to find out about some of the superior BIM project collaboration benefits that BIMReview could deliver on your next BIM based project.

BIMReview is our low cost, feature rich tool that enables import of BIM models and associated data from multiple CAD sources for effective review and visual communication.

To watch our latest webinars, click here. Or, to trial BIMReview now, please visit www.bim-review.com where you can download and start benefiting!

Sign up to watch our FREE Webinar on BIM & your Supply Chain

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If you are a Building Information Modeling (BIM) Manager, Estimator, QS, Buyer or Project & Construction Manager working with main contractors, subcontractors and suppliers; a new dedicated webinar is available for you to view online with particular focus on BIM and your supply chain.

This webinar will be based on 10 point guide useful for handling your BIM based construction projects covering the following areas:

  • Methods for utilising BIM from design through the construction supply chain; and
  • Key issues of change, cost and supply management to the construction site with BIM at the heart of the project workflows.
SIGN UP HERE

Tuesday, 18th December, 2012 – 4.00 PM – 4.30 PM (GMT – London time)

Essentials: A Roaring Success!

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Essentials, AceCad Software’s new steel fabrication shop production system, runs the entire company, it is ready to use in no time with minimal training and can often be paid for within a month on material savings alone!

Commenting on Essentials, Richard Brotherton, the Managing Director at AceCad Software, stated; ‘We felt there was an excellent market for a low cost system that allowed smaller fabricators or indeed fabricators in need of IT systems to control their costs and run their fabrication more efficiently.

Therefore, we extracted the ‘Essential’ features out of StruM.I.S, our world successful fabrication management system, incorporated them in a user-friendly interface and placed it on our website for fabricators to trial it for a month. Essentials has indeed hit a note with significant numbers of company’s trialing, liking and buying it.’

The simple and user-friendly features have already proven to generate valuable returns on investment and sales have come from all around the world including Africa, Australia, Europe, Middle East, South America and the USA.

If you belong to a smaller to medium sized steel fabrication company and want to grow your business, then you too can benefit and compete using the same resource strengthening and workflow advantages that many larger organization enjoy from implementing StruM.I.S.

To download Essentials, click here.

Or, to discover what our clients think about Essentials, click here.

BIM Review and Collaboration

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For many years, building model authors had no real options in the market when it came to co-ordinating and re-examining multi-discipline Building Information Modelling (BIM) models. They were stuck with separate vendors proprietary authoring products.  Although it took a while for the AEC market to catch up, there are now a number of different options from software vendors who have seen the value in providing model collaboration.

The 3D opportunity

Contrary to the conventional lines and curves of 2D CAD systems, 3D BIM enables visual reference and virtual reality providing the opportunity for a BIM review process. An effective BIM collaboration process would involve importing models and associated data from multiple authoring tools into a single BIM environment for effective review, visual communication and collaboration.

The move to digital and file sharing across projects

Effective BIM review necessitates information to be shared at different phases of a project, from design through into site construction. This enables different project members to simultaneously benefit from appropriate and timely information, delivering enhanced workflows, and accelerated schedules with minimized risks.

Other than the ease of communication enabled by virtual reality, real time data access enables efficient decision making, resulting in improved workflow, superior understanding and a team based environment.

A BIM mandate

According to Paul Morrell, the Government’s chief construction adviser, the use of BIM will be made mandatory on all the government projects by 2016.  The adoption of BIM methodology is seen as a driving force for reducing costs on public sector construction projects and for the UK to lead the way forward in the construction sector.

This government strategy is to increase the adoption of BIM to elevate UK companies to compete at international level.

Changing processes

The UK Government’s strategy of BIM implementation over the next four years will certainly impact on business practices and will alter the nature of collaboration and the interaction between supply chains and clients.

Many clients and owners are acknowledging the importance of employing BIM on their projects to obtain maximum business efficiencies. Implementation of BIM can facilitate cost reduction and diminish time schedules. Furthermore, BIM review enables early detection of design clashes and thus provides the opportunity for the elimination of errors through co-ordination for better site construction.

What options are there available for BIM Review and Collaboration?

There are several products available on the market. Several of these were reviewed and covered in AEC Magazine’s excellent independent article which can be accessed here. Also, a blog article on selecting BIM Review Software can be found here.

Watch our FREE Webinar on BIMReview

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AceCad is pleased to announce that a new webinar is available to view online highlighting the benefits of our recently released Building Information Modeling (BIM) collaboration and review software; BIMReview.

BIMReview is a low cost, feature rich tool that enables import of BIM models and associated data from multiple CAD sources for effective review and visual communication and much more.

This webinar is designed to answer any questions that you may have about the software and to show you some of the BIM project collaboration benefits that BIMReview can deliver on your next BIM based project.

Whatever your role in the constructional supply chain is, BIMReview can open a world of endless collaboration opportunities across the engineering, procurement and construction stages of your projects.

Features include clash verification, mark-up, sequencing and planning to deliver instant project information. Imagine what you could do! To watch our latest webinar, click here

Or, to trial BIMReview now please visit www.bim-review.com where you can download and start benefiting!

Join AceCad team at SteelFab 2013 exhibition on stand 182

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AceCad Software will be attending the SteelFab 2013 exhibition, 14 – 17 January, 2013, Expo Centre, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

SteelFab 2013 is the biggest display of steel fabrication machinery and associated engineering products in the Middle East and it is a must visit if you are engaged in the structural steelwork sector.

SteelFab 2013 is an opportunity for you to find out about new and advanced steelwork solutions and this year it will also deliver knowledge about the latest trends in the steelwork industry through practical seminars.

Steven Watson, Sales Manager at AceCad, will be delivering an informative presentation on advanced software technology for efficient steel fabrication on 16 January 2013 at 10.30 – 11.15. This presentation will focus on how our advanced software products deliver centralized control and project insight for efficient management of steelwork fabrication.

AceCad  will also be exhibiting on stand number 182 and welcomes any delegate registered/attending SteelFab 2013 to drop by to see us, where our sales representatives will be demonstrating live our solutions for efficient structural steel fabrication management.

Our Middle East team will show you our StruM.I.S system for larger and medium sized steelwork fabricators together with our new Essentials solution for smaller fabrication shops.

We hope that you avail this opportunity to join us to discover our Building Information Modeling (BIM) collaboration software BIMReview and introducing BIMProject our brand new construction lifecycle management software for procurement and construction teams.

Accordingly, we look forward to meeting existing clients and visitors to the exhibition and helping your business to succeed. We welcome any advance meeting reservation requests on marketing@acecadsoftware.com