The efficiency in new projects has improved by 10-15 percent
In existing projects the efficiency gain is between 20 and 40 percent
With SolidWorks Enterprise PDM the information is always updated and consistent
“By using SolidWorks we even have gained a number of additional advantages we had not foreseen when we implemented the CAD software. For instance, this applies to simulation, which makes it possible for us to detect any space problems relating to both production and physical handling of the often very large structures.”
UTMANINGEN
DECK Engineering with 10 employees based in the Estonian capital Tallinn was founded in 2013 as an engineering consulting company. The company is focused on providing solutions and consulting services in the field of engineering for development and production companies worldwide and with the goal to become a strategic partner for its customers. DECK Engineering is sharing innovation and know-how with the company E-Profiil, which employs 245 employees in Tallinn with the production of large and complex steel structures and equipment for offshore oil and gas industry and the energy sector. The main customers are located in Norway but the export goes to Nederland and Germany as well. Products are shipped worldwide.
LÖSNINGEN
SolidWorks boosts complex offshore and energy projects
DECK Engineering works closely with its partner E-Profiil on EPC projects (Engineering, Procurement and Construction). The projects are related to advanced development and production of offshore equipment for oil and gas as well as other energy-related projects and products. E-Profiil specializes in the manufacture of very large steel structures and equipment for the offshore oil and gas industry.
SolidWorks: The natural CAD/PDM solution
The two companies also cooperate very closely around the CAD and PDM, which has achieved significant efficiency gains with SolidWorks and SolidWorks Enterprise PDM. DECK Engineering has recently implemented the PDM system and now E-Profiil too has started to implement the system. Alar Jõgi, who is employed as a project engineer in DECK Engineering is also serving as common CAD administrator for the two companies. Mr. Jõgi tells of their CAD usage:
“Last year when we founded DECK Engineering, we were looking for a CAD system that could increase our efficiency in development projects. A few years ago E-Profiil had replaced its existing 2D CAD system with SolidWorks from PLM Group. Furthermore, the CAD software is widely used and we reckoned that we could get good support from PLM Group, which made the well integrated solutions from SolidWorks and PLM Group the natural choice.”
DECK Engineering currently has five licenses of SolidWorks and six Enterprise PDM licenses. The CAD software is used for mechanical design and 3D modeling, simulation of manufacturing and handling processes, stress analysis, EPC projects and to develop solutions for manufacturing of products such as jigs, fixtures and supports as well as doing factory layout. DECK Engineering’s 10 engineers are also doing conceptual 3D visualizations based on customer sketches, study projects and feasibility studies.
Expanded project capacity
At E-Profiil, who has 15 SolidWorks licenses, the measurable benefits using the solution are very obvious. “The efficiency in new projects has improved by 10-15 percent and in copying existing projects the efficiency gain is between 20 and 40 percent, which allows E-Profiil to take in more projects,” explains Jõgi: “Parts and assemblies that have been used before are much more simple to reuse and for instance the time savings copying project data and changing metadata are significant.”
Alar Jõgi emphasizes that DECK Engineering has already achieved significant gains by using SolidWorks. “By using SolidWorks we have even gained a number of additional advantages we had not foreseen when we implemented the CAD software. This for instance applies to simulation, which makes it possible for us to detect any space problems relating to both production and physical handling of the often very large structures.”
Improved product quality
In addition, E- Profiil has increased the quality of its products because problems are detected earlier in the development process and also because the actual physical products can be compared to the 3D models using inspection with 3D laser scanning.
The 3D-models from the CAD software makes it possible to simulate the allocation of production areas in a virtual factory model to optimize production space for both existing and new tasks. As the products already exist as 3D models, E-Profiil can simulate the complex physical handling of the often very large structures and use the 3D models for the design of jigs, supports and fixtures.
Alar Jõgi stresses that DECK Engineering is very interested in getting in touch with particularly Danish and Norwegian offshore oil and gas as well as energy companies: “Although we are working very closely with E-Profiil, we already perform projects with a number of other companies within our areas of expertise and our efficient use of our well integrated SolidWorks CAD, simulation and PDM solution allows us to look for even more partners.”
