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Enhancing efficiency and precision: How Tekla software streamlined steel procurement and construction process for PENNAR INDUSTRIES

Image courtesy - Telge Projects

“We learned to utilize the project management features, batch exporting to S3D format, and providing a virtual tour to our owners using Tekla. The ingenuity of Tekla is in its application to works, not only for steel or PEB kind of structures but in many other ways. The software is very user-friendly compared to others whose operability becomes too complicated. A visual representation of the project is provided before the execution on site, reducing much manual work with its complete material summaries and IFC models. I would definitely recommend working on Tekla for better work experience and error-free projects.” 

- Mr. Murali Krishna, Senior Engineer - Tekla Modeller, Pennar Industries

Company overview

PENNAR INDUSTRIES is one of the most significant institutional players in India and engages in complex, high-quality, pre-engineered building projects. The ISO-certified company has ten manufacturing facilities worldwide. It provides excellent services, structural engineering, Building Information Modelling, plant and product engineering, Industrial Automation, and IoT and Value-Added Solutions. Schools, hangars, warehouses, and industrial buildings to wastewater management plants and convention centres and stadiums, the list is endless for this company’s portfolio projects. PENNAR INDUSTRIES is dedicated to excellence and innovation. Their commitment ensures that each project they undertake results in world-class performances.

Project scope and uniqueness of the integrated PV manufacturing facility

The project scope involved the design and construction of a single building with a massive tonnage of 10,000 metric tonnes, something quite rare and unique to the PEB sector. The uniqueness of this project, running across an impressive width of 512 meters, called for fresh innovative design solutions and a sound plan in order to rise up to the very peculiar challenges and scale attached to this project.

Tackling the challenges of the large tonnage building project

The project presented several significant challenges: 

  • Scale and complexity: The sheer tonnage and scale became too huge to complete the whole model in one go. So, the building was segmented into ten equal parts, each part weighing close to 1,000 tons, which is equal to one PEB project.
  • Execution constraints: Each part was to be released stage-wise. The execution process needed to be flexible. The heavy material needed special cranes for lifting at the site.
  • Tight deadlines: Although large scale, the project owners required that the project be completed within a relatively short time, this meant that the design and detailing were to be done concurrently.
  • Connection and density: The complexity was determined by the number of connections and members the structure held.    

Impact of Tekla on project efficiency and success by addressing multidimensional challenges

The project delivery team was under intensive pressure from fast-tracking the simultaneous demands of design and detailing while the design model was being revised. Compounded with this was the client’s requirement for a 3D model, which dictated the accurate solution and timely manner of project execution using Tekla.

Tekla’s robust features addressed the following needs of the project:

  • Project tracking: The amazing tracking features in Tekla software were very effective in the efficient management of such a huge magnitude of work, not letting the project team lose track at any time during execution.
  • User interface and compatibility: A very user-friendly interface, with Tekla Structures being compatible with S3D to check with piping and mechanical models, there was an easy flow in work.
  • Steel procurement: Tekla’s ability to model the building and clearly indicate the required tonnage of steel enabled the project execution team in its early procurement.
  • IFC and CNC Files: IFC files provided by Tekla software were operationally highly efficient for tracking part marks at the site. Meanwhile, CNC files worked well with cutting machines, which is much needed for the execution of large buildings.

  

“Steel procurement is the basic step in our project work at PENNAR INDUSTRIES. Through the Tekla model of the building, it gets clear how much tonnage steel is required, which can be procured at an early stage. Tekla also generates IFC files, which work very efficiently on-site for tracking the part marks, and we export CNC files, that can be directly used on cutting machines. Specially on big buildings, this is priceless; it made the entire fabrication cycle very smooth.”

- Mr. Ashok Kumar, Senior Deputy General Manager - Detailing Head, Pennar Industries affirmed.