Accuracy and reliability, the foundations of success.

A Multitude of Applications

 

Successful businesses know that accurate and reliable information is at the heart of any successful project.  That’s why 3D data acquisition, product lifecycle management (PLM) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are the foundations of the MetroCAD business model.

With these principles at the heart of MetroCAD UK Ltd’s make-up its no wonder this new company chose Faro as their technology partner to drive cost efficiencies across manufacturing, construction and design environments.

Chris Needham, Managing Director, established MetroCAD UK Ltd after a long and successful career in robotics and manufacturing.  “The importance of accurate data in the automotive supply chain is well documented” comments Chris, “and with my broader knowledge of 3D data in factory, robotic and process simulation it was obvious that there was a real need for accurate engineering and construction data in other sectors of the economy.”

Inaccurate information and incomplete data cause delays in project lead times and are often the cause of significant budget overruns and costly rework.  Whether manufacturing component parts, laying out a new distribution centre, reconfiguring a manufacturing plant or surveying a property for redevelopment the original data can often be inaccurate or missing entirely.  Being able to establish an accurate and configurable set of basic information can be invaluable to the fast and efficient completion of a project.

Teaming up with Faro, MetroCAD UK have combined their experience in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and BIM with state of the art 3D scanning technology in the form of the Faro LS120, a powerfully accurate mobile scanning device accurate to +/-2mm at a radius of 25m, to provide independent surveys with reliable data prior to the start of any project.

“At MetroCAD we establish a reliable and, more importantly, independent base line data set for project partners to work from. “ says Chris “We develop a point cloud of data that we convert into a 3D CAD file that can be shared with prospective partners at quotation stage and worked to through out the project to identify variance from agreed designs, to model possible options and to reverse engineer drawings for the manufacture and modification of existing components.”

Quite often businesses wishing to expand premises, or modify existing designs find that the original data is either corrupted or that 2D drawings no longer exist or identification of the latest version is not possible.  It is in situations such as these that 3D data acquisition comes to the fore.  MetroCAD’s services enable clients to model a variety of possible outcomes quickly and cost efficiently, plugging compatible and accurate data into a wide variety of commonly used software programmes.

Fiona Little, Business Development Director adds “ Whilst MetroCAD’s Faro based scanning capability delivers huge benefits for clients, our services extend beyond the provision of 3D data sets.  For those companies that either lack the physical resources or don’t want to invest in PLM software we can host the complete process.  We can even offer a non contact reverse engineering process for products and tooling that will deliver to accuracies of less than 20 microns.”

In line with the MetroCAD team’s engineering experience it is no surprise that the team have found similar problems exist that blight construction and regeneration projects; lengthy survey processes, human error and missing modification records all increase risk, cost and timescales.  As a result BIM principles are being adopted by architects and main contractors, especially in the design and build sector where suppliers are now being selected by their BIM capability.  Being able to provide accurate 3D data from the outset is becoming essential in order to remain competitive in the supply chain and it is these companies that need to present their products and services in line with BIM principles to allow the fast design and assessment of bids and tenders with reduced risk and improved outcomes.

Whether surveying established assets, measuring component parts, modelling building designs, reverse engineering processes or designing 3D walkthrough models with accurate live dimensions, MetroCAD can work as part of your team to deliver solutions that deliver value.

If you would like to find out how MetroCAD can help your business then either call Chris or Fiona on 01785 711610 or email info@metrocad.co.uk to find out more, it costs nothing to talk.

www.metrocad.co.uk