PRESS RELEASE

Strucad users excel with 2005 submissions

As the deadline for the annual Strucad modelling and detailing competition drew near, the South African AceCad staff were delighted with the material that was submitted. Small and large, projects were diverse, covering mining, religious, industrial, cultural and bridge structures.

Some of the many interesting structures included,

• the new 52m Sauer Street Skywalk, a 50t steel bridge, linking the Standard Bank properties on Simmonds and Sauer Street at first floor level. This was erected on a Sunday afternoon without any disruption to traffic. A high degree of accuracy in fabrication was required so that the structure could be aligned correctly during erection


A working drawing


Steel work up close

• the Impala Platinum 12 North Shaft Headgear, a prize winner in the 2004 South African Institution of Steel Construction awards, which was completed three months ahead of schedule
• the 63t Mandela Museum designed which forms part of the Alexandra renewal program
• the conveyor structure designed and detailed for Tarkwa Phase IV, in Ghana for Ashanti Goldfields. Headline supplied a total of 700t for this project.
• the 400t new blast furnace at Iscor, Newcastle, which is first furnace in South Africa to incorporate PCI technology


A working drawing

• and the 200t roof for the International Pentecost Holiness Church designed by Archi- studio. Here StruCad’s ability to model complex elements and connections to produce detailed drawings saved considerable time and effort that would have been otherwise impossible to achieve.


Some of the roof steelwork


Construction in progress

The international competition which has been in place for 12 years draws entries from around the globe. Last year over 200 entries were received and the winner was Hagiva Metal Works Ltd with the Ashdod Concert Hall building in Israel, followed by the Glanmire to Watergrasshill Bypass in Ireland.

Steel construction has increasingly become more competitive with concrete throughout the world and the use of 3D modelling to detail projects has significantly contributed to its competitiveness. The competition creates the awareness of the efficiencies which are to be gained in using 3D modelling techniques. The competition also allows users to measure their competence against stiff international competition, and encourages innovative use of Strucad, the world’s leading steelwork solution. Furthermore, the drawing competition offers the best opportunity in the industry to recognise and celebrate achievement in steel detailing.

Strucad is a 3D modelling system for the detailing of structural steel buildings. The option of using wire frame allows for rapid development of the model. Full solid modelling techniques are used to create and view complex geometry and a virtual reality system provides the facility to view part or all of a structure in fully rendered 3D detail. StruWalker, the freeware viewer, allows clients, engineers, and architects to check the model and associated drawings.

Advanced parametric tools are available to automate the process of steelwork detailing. The system includes a comprehensive library of connection types that consist of industry standard and specialized connections.

From the 3D model, high quality accurate drawings and CAM data are generated automatically.

Using 3D modelling techniques can effectively increase productivity by 5 to 15 times compared to manual 2D systems, dramatically reducing project times, one of the contributory factors to the early completion of the Impala head gear.

The winner will be announced in March. South African companies Genrec and Steinmuller (now Headline) have won in the past. We wish all participants in this year’s competition well and congratulate you on the quality of work produced.

For more information contact Allyson or Gary on 011-476 4100.