Capital Precast is a precast concrete manufacturer located in San Marcos, Texas. Their experienced team members work together to provide a high-quality product and service that is unsurpassed in the industry. Their 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art plant is certified by the Nation Precast Concrete Association and recognized as one of the highest rated facilities in their region and in the US. They offer a variety of storm sewer, sanitary sewer, electrical/communication structures, water and other various utility products.
When Capital Precast embarked on the search for new modeling and detailing software, they had a clear set of objectives. They aimed to enhance data output from their models, streamline drawing creation, and improve information presentation for their customers.
In this article, we'll explore how Alex Calte, hired as a civil drafter in 2021 and tasked with choosing a new modeling and detailing software for Capital Precast, is implementing Allplan to successfully meet these goals.
The Importance of Drawing Presentation
One of the main objectives for Capital Precast was to create professional-looking drawings to update their catalogue. By implementing the powerful Silhouette 3D rendering software of ALLPLAN, they were able to showcase their models effectively and generate eye-catching layouts for future use.
Allplan's simple drafting tools allowed Capital Precast to provide clear and concise dimensioning and other crucial details on the drawings that would help reduce customer inquiries about basic specifications down the road. By presenting information clearly in their catalog, Capital Precast aimed to save time for both their team and customers, allowing for more focused discussions on complex structural elements.
Visual presentation also played a vital role in their catalog, and the software enabled them to add color, shadows, and other visual elements to make their drawings pop. This enhanced the overall aesthetic appeal and customer engagement.
“We’re looking to make it eye-catching to new customers and for our current customers as well,” Calte said.
© Capital Precast
Enhancing Modeling and Detailing Workflows
While an updated catalog could enhance Capital Precast's bottom line with sales and customer relations, Calte also had his eyes on the technical capabilities Allplan offered that could make his job as a drafter more efficient.
He sought advanced features to improve their modeling and detailing workflows. Accurate weight calculations were a priority, and the software's ability to set parameters such as density greatly enhanced their precision.
By reducing the time spent on drawing and modeling, the team could devote more attention to detailing and presenting information in a cleaner and more accurate manner. The software's capability to model rebar placement, define spacing and clearances, and generate bar schedules for ordering streamlined their workflow significantly.
The company also valued Allplan’s smart built-in features that allowed them to quickly construct structures without starting from scratch every time. These features include ways to present information better visually and add color and shadows for clearer drawing presentation. These time-saving measures increased efficiency and productivity within the design process. Furthermore, Allplan's smart dimensioning capabilities were a valuable asset to Capital Precast. As they made changes or additions to their structures, the dimensioning automatically updated, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. This feature ensured accuracy and consistency throughout the design process, saving time and reducing errors.
© Capital Precast
Advancing Allplan’s Implementation
“Learning Allplan has been easier than expected. Thanks to some of their self-teaching tutorials and videos, I was able to get a good grasp on the basics and experiment with some of their newer tools and functions. And anytime I come to a stop and need to learn something, there's always a video already made showing you the process step-by-step. There hasn't been too much that I've needed to know where I couldn't just look it up and find it.”
With the ongoing adoption of the advanced modeling and detailing software of ALLPLAN, Capital Precast is successfully achieving their business goals and experiencing unexpected benefits along the way - such as how easy the software was to learn.
“Thanks to some of their self-teaching tutorials and videos, I was able to get a good grasp on the basics and experiment with new tools and functions,” Calte said.
He looks forward to expanding their use of Allplan and training his other teammates in the new workflows as they continue building out their catalog. In the future, Calte hopes to get structural and rebar models into the hands of their general contractors in the field.
As the demand for efficient precast solutions grows, Capital Precast’s successful implementation of Allplan underscores the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive business growth and deliver exceptional results in the precast industry.
