Automated precast design for the first time

Following the merger of Precast Software Engineering and Allplan almost two years ago now, the next milestone in the joining of forces between the two companies was successfully achieved in October 2022: a joint BIM solution for the building life cycle, from design to engineering, production and construction. With the Allplan 2023 version, numerous functions for precast modeling were integrated into Allplan. In addition, the full range of functions of Planbar Essentials, one of the most innovative planning solutions in the precast sector, was adopted in Allplan AEC. This means that engineering firms, manufacturers and construction companies can now model precast concrete elements of any complexity directly in Allplan.

Seamless information flows 

The joint version offers numerous advantages for former Planbar users: they get access to additional Allplan tools such as Bimplus or Allplan Share and to additional functions for cost planning, infrastructure construction and much more. Allplan AEC, by the way, is available in numerous language and country versions. This facilitates international cooperation between designers and manufacturers. Thanks to the intelligent views and cross-section functionalities in Allplan, customers enjoy better and faster display of overview plans. Program administration is also significantly simplified, as installation and license application are only required once.

New prefab features of version 2023 

The merger of Planbar and Allplan not only simplifies project coordination, but also enables new, even more efficient workflows. For example, prefab elements can be created in a very time-saving manner using standard Allplan functions such as PythonParts (macros). A special highlight in Allplan AEC 2023 is the Smart Converter, which interprets and analyzes stairway drawings (2D or 3D). It then adjusts angles if necessary and converts drawings into producible, fully parametric staircase models.

A proven feature is the unique Elementplan technology. With this feature, Allplan automatically generates production drawings including reinforcement, pouring provisions and mating. In version 2023, the layout catalog has been extended with a series of new setting options. This means that layouts for production drawings can now be customized even more individually.

Allplan makes handling of pour-in facilities much easier. For example, a feature checks whether precast elements with their specific fixings and reinforcement are equal to other parts. New in version 2023 is that pour-in facilities can now be created with Python scripts (macros). This opens up completely new possibilities regarding the use of collapse provisions. Self-setting rules thus increase automation. For example, Allplan can automatically calculate the correct positions and diameters for necessary drill holes based on the dimensions of a steel plate. Changes can therefore now also be carried out parametrically with ease.

Highly automated wall and floor design

The Allplan Precast product gives precast plants advanced planning workflows for the production of walls and floor slabs, in addition to the range of functions in Allplan AEC such as automatic partitions, automatic base reinforcement or the automatic calculation of transport anchors. In addition, Allplan Precast enables perfect processing of documents and data, relevant for the production of the elements, and ensures smooth information flows thanks to various interfaces to the production machines.

Optimized processes in precast plants with Tim 2023

Successful precast planning requires perfect work preparation and quality-guaranteed data for production, commercial systems and BIM applications. This is exactly what the Allplan Precast competence center offers the Tim|work solution for. Tim relieves numerous routine tasks, provides increased efficiency and accuracy, and reduces the risk of errors. Version 2023 offers a series of further developments for even greater usability and performance: improved input of UNICAM and PXML data, numerous shortcuts and the ability to use multiple Explorer windows simultaneously.