The Challenge<\/h3>\n
With the growing popularity of cold-formed steel, it\u2019s become one of the fastest growing segments of the business at Excel Engineering. In recent years, the firm has become a leader in prefabricated cold-formed steel panel design and had the opportunity to take on increasingly larger projects such as multi-story hotels, condo complexes and nursing homes.<\/p>\n
Early on, Excel designed these projects primarily by hand and with AutoCAD, a time-consuming process that left room for error. \u201cThere was zero automation,\u201d says Karl Scherzer, Principal. \u201cWe basically did it line by line with no ability to create multiple iterations at one time and no checking mechanism.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/01\/Vertex_customers_011Excel_Engineering.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|40px||40px||true” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]\n
Solution<\/h2>\n
After looking at several software solutions for panel fabrication, Excel brought in Vertex BD, a flexible building design tool that automates creation of architectural and structural drawing sets, fabrication drawings, material reports, manufacturing data, and architectural visualizations \u2013 all from one building model.<\/p>\n
\u201cVertex BD is the most well-thought-out program we\u2019ve seen,\u201d says Kristopher Kitowski, Senior Technician. \u201cOther programs are not laid out nearly as nicely, and Vertex BD takes into account the things that happen in the real world, the little issues that can occur during construction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ease of use \u2013 while still providing powerful capabilities \u2013 factored in as well. \u201cIt\u2019s complex enough to handle different conditions, but simple enough that you can\u2019t get lost. It\u2019s intuitive to use compared to other programs.\u201d<\/p>\n
In fact, as Excel adds to its cold-formed steel team, the firm finds it quick to train new members on Vertex BD. With a couple of hours of instruction, designers know how to use most features.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Excel has had the opportunity to provide input on the software functionality, which has expanded significantly with customer suggestions. With new cold-formed steel products coming out regularly, Excel appreciates the ability to create a custom library in Vertex BD that houses the many shapes and numbers. And with the newly added ability to split the modeling window into two monitors, designers can see the full design at once.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can have our plan on the left side and customizable shapes for that job on the right and just drag and drop,\u201d says Bill Wilde, Senior Technician.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/Excel-Engineering-2.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|40px||40px||true” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]\n
Results<\/h2>\n
The choice to use Vertex BD has paid off for Excel and for their clients. The benefits include:<\/p>\n
HIGHER VALUE OUTPUT \u2013 FASTER.<\/strong>\u00a0With design automation using Vertex BD, Excel\u2019s engineers complete designs two to three times faster with more accuracy and double the amount of information for clients.<\/p>\n BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.<\/strong>\u00a0More information and greater accuracy mean fewer hiccups in the field so that construction typically progresses smoothly, reducing calls to Excel after delivery to clients. \u201cThe customer service at Argos is really good. They\u2019re very quick to respond, which keeps us productive and on schedule,\u201d says Bill Wilde, Senior Technician.<\/p>\n INCREASED CLIENT SATISFACTION.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re winning work because clients have faith in what we\u2019re producing. The software allows us to get the job done in a reasonable timeframe and put a lot of information in clients\u2019 hands that they may not get with other programs,\u201d Scherzer adds.<\/p>\n EASY TO USE, POWERFUL CAPABILITIES.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cVertex BD is the most well-thought-out program we\u2019ve seen. It\u2019s complex enough to handle different conditions, but simple enough so that you can\u2019t get lost. It\u2019s intuitive to use compared to other programs,\u201d says Kristopher Kitowski, Senior Technician.<\/p>\n EASY TO TRAIN.<\/strong>\u00a0As Excel adds to its cold-formed steel team, new designers know how to use most Vertex BD features after only a couple of hours of instruction.<\/p>\n LARGER, COMPLEX PROJECTS.<\/strong>\u00a0Excel has used Vertex BD to design some of its biggest projects, including the five-story DoubleTree Hotel in Evansville, IN, and The Wharf, a mile-long waterfront neighbourhood in Washington, DC, that includes retail, residential, hospitality, offices, a public park and piers. \u201cWithout Vertex BD we would not land the size and scope of the projects we get,\u201d Scherzer says.<\/p>\n Most of the Wharf project consisted of load-bearing cold-formed steel framing.Vertex BD helped the Excel team design the challenging aspects of the condo complex such as curved walls and posts with beam pockets, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing services) sleeves, and shear wall posts, all on an aggressive construction schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can have our plan on the left side and customizable shapes for that job on the right and just drag and drop,\u201d says Bill Wilde, Senior Technician.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_5″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f9f9f9″ background_enable_image=”off” width=”100%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” global_module=”3977″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/07\/CTA_BD_20221.png” title_text=”Vertex BD Free Trial” url=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/free-trial\/” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Related Services” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Rubik|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”42px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”36px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n With design automation engineers complete designs 2-3 times faster, with more accuracy and double the amount of information for clients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Related Stories<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”10″ show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_button button_url=”\/bd\/case-studies\/” button_text=”View All” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”rgba(12,113,195,0.75)” button_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/div><\/div><\/div>\u00a0<\/h1>
CFS Design 2-3X Faster with Greater Accuracy<\/h1>
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