Systems suppliers have been enjoying strong demand for their software design packages thanks, no doubt, to growth in the housebuilding sector.
MiTek’s software portfolio covers all the bases with PAMIR, for roof and floor design; MBA, for business management; and Autodesk-based WoodEngine, for timber frame detailing. It is interest in and demand for PAMIR that the company singles out as “growing at an amazing rate”.
“It is the only truss and software currently available that offers a fully integrated design model,” said Tim Garner, head of business development (UK and Ireland). “Designers can create and edit layouts in 2D or 3D views and engineer components within a single environment.
“Unlike older software packages, this means there is no ‘link’ required to transfer data between a layout and engineering package – just a single application. The result is massively fast and accurate design.”
Wolf Systems’ software offering includes Truss, for trussed rafter design engineering and layout; easi-joist, for engineered joist design and layout; Horizon, BIM for timber frame designers; and Enterprise, for business management. The latter that has seen a surge of interest, said the company.
“Customers not using integrated management software are looking to adopt Enterprise to streamline their business practices and customers already using Enterprise are looking to ‘unlock’ the huge amount of information that it holds in the form of management reports or dashboards,” said Robert Harris, software development director.
Whether it is design or business management software, working closely with customers is the key to success.
“We have worked very closely with our customers throughout the development of PAMIR,” said Mr Garner. “As roofs and floors become more complex our customers want software that allows them to tackle these projects with confidence.
“The ability to interact with the 3D model is key for these kinds of designs,” he continued.
“With the adoption of EC5 as the mandatory design code from January this year our customers need software that can cope with the requirements of the design code without impacting performance. PAMIR was written as EC5 software.”
One customer demand that hasn’t changed over the years is the desire for quick, accurate, easy to use software, although expectations have grown as technology has advanced.
“Much of this is driven by our customers’ clients and the information they provide and expect in return,” said Robert Harris, at Wolf.
“Accurate import of electronic drawing formats such as DWG, PDF or IFC can help our customers speed up the time it takes to model a building in our software, allowing them to focus on efficient design rather than inputting data.
“Reacting to change in a building model is also very important,” continued Mr Harris.
“Use of parametric methods can add ‘design intent’ into a model, which makes it easier and quicker to automatically incorporate changes made by the client or as part of the design.”
He added that, in particular, many of Wolf’s customers were finding it difficult to recruit new timber design technicians, so it is important that the software they use is familiar to new or prospective employees.
“Autodesk Revit was identified in the NBS National BIM Report 2017 as the clear market leader, so by using a product such as Horizon, which uses the Revit platform, it already gives our customers a head start in recruitment and retention,” said Mr Harris.
MiTek releases two major updates each year, along with interim service updates.
“These updates always contain features requested by our customers and continue to give them the advantage, with recent tools such as the mobile view and PDF import creating benefits for both the users and their end clients,” said Mr Garner.
He added that the mobile 3D viewer enables the user to view designs on any smartphone and that the 3D models can also be viewed in virtual reality and augmented reality – advances in which the MiTek software development team is currently investigating.
Wolf recently held a seminar for its existing customers, at which it revealed the next versions of Enterprise and Horizon. The response was “hugely positive”, said Mr Harris.
Enterprise has been enhanced with improved handling of complex sites and a new integrated manufacture and delivery scheduler, while the next version of Horizon includes integrated design of Wolf Systems’ easi-joist. A designer can specify fully engineered easi-joist components or easi-joist floor cassettes without leaving the Autodesk Revit platform.
Seminar delegates were also presented with an update on Wolf’s next generation truss and floor design software, Fusion.
“They were particularly impressed by the familiar Ribbon-based user interface, the advanced 3D capabilities and the parametric functionality,” said Mr Harris.
He added that the company also demonstrated a smartphone connecting to the Enterprise software. “There is particular interest in using these devices in manufacturing areas to track production progress or delivery progress,” he said.
Customers were also introduced to Wolf’s Enterprise Cloud concept, which allows them to securely access an online Enterprise portal.
For example, a site manager could log in using a smart device to see upcoming delivery dates or request changes to a site call-off.
Software providers are always looking to the future, anticipating market demands and developing technology accordingly. And some of these developments are altruistic.
“There is a growing expectation in the market that software packages should be able to communicate with other software, regardless of vendor,” said Mr Harris. “Our Enterprise software has had an Application Programming Interface (API) for a number of years, which allows other software packages to securely access business and design information.
“I expect in the future we will see more design tools incorporating machine learning (artificial intelligence), particularly as major vendors such as Google and Microsoft make their tools more accessible,” he continued. “I think that this type of technology could have a real impact on our business.”