Companies within the Eleco group are bringing a new meaning to the concept of sharing. Despite having developed a timber engineering software concept that they believe puts them many months ahead of their competition, Eleco is striking up strong working relationships with some of those very rivals.
The development that would appear to have put Eleco ahead of the game is the Whole House Engineering software module, an add-on to Consultec UK‘s AutoCAD-based Timber Frame and Floor software packages.
Whole House Engineering represents a quantum leap for timber frame manufacturers and designers. It allows them to generate structural and engineering calculations as part of the design process – and in a fraction of the time that they have been accustomed to.
When a design has been finalised, the user enters an Ordnance Survey grid reference into the program. The Whole House Engineering module adds variants such as ground conditions, wind speeds and site altitude. The software then processes the calculations and reports any components that will fail. The user can then tweak the design until the software gives it the green light.
Building Regulations dictate that the design must still be signed off by a certified structural engineer, but the procedure transforms a process that can take up to four weeks into one that can be accomplished within a couple of days. Thus while the Whole House Engineering software facilitates the structural engineering process, it does not represent a threat to the business of structural engineers.
Whole House Engineering is the result of a significant investment of time and money, but its Interbuild launch has convinced Consultec UK’s managing director Jason Ruddle that it’s ahead of the field.
Working with others
But while Consultec UK is happy to be out in front, it is in no way exclusive. “In the timber engineering fraternity it’s very important that we work with other industry participants, such as I-joist floor manufacturers,” he said. “At the beginning of the project I invited them to work with us to incorporate their design data into the Whole House Engineering module. The majority came back straight away and said they wanted to work with us.”
Copying a stand-alone floor layout application into a timber frame package is laborious but, by building in an import/export facility between the applications, the process of transferring data across shrinks from hours to a couple of minutes while at the same time eliminating data transfer errors.
The first release of the Whole House Engineering software is due in July and, initially, it will have a direct link to James Jones & Sons Ltd’s floor design package. Other direct links to manufacturers’ applications will incorporate interim updates as they are released.
Another critical element of Whole House Engineering is roof data, and Consultec UK integrated sister company Gang-Nail Systems’ roof and truss software. The timber frame layout is imported from the Consultec UK program into GN Roof and Truss, which frames the entire roof with trusses and then exports it back to the Consultec UK software as a full, 3D roof, explained Gang-Nail Systems’ sales director Ian Ashby.
Consultec UK has also invited other system holders to link their own truss software to Whole House Engineering to assist their own truss fabricators.
The principle of sharing is one that Gang-Nail Systems employs with its latest software, GNM@trix. “It allows our customers to receive an enquiry from a builder, log it on the system, specify what’s required – timber frame, roof, floor, stairs – and produce quotes for all of them, either together or individually,” said Mr Ashby.
“The big advantage in using GNM@trix is the seamless links to timber engineering packages. GNM@trix also includes a timber frame costing module which enables a timber frame manufacturer to cost its entire kit based on live information. Because of its extended power we’re being approached by people who aren’t using our system, but want to use this product.”
It is the same philosophy as Jason Ruddle applies at Consultec UK. “There is no point in developing a product and then limiting it to one third of the market,” said Mr Ashby. “Consultec UK has developed links with others truss and floor systems. We will certainly be making GNM@trix available to a wider market.”
