Revolution in the market of prefab wooden façade elements

Designing, estimating and work preparation in one BIM model

Faster, flawless and affordable construction with prefab wooden facade elements. VIANEN from Montfoort proves that it can be done! The leading manufacturer conquers the market with an online product generator, which from now on can also be used for calculations. The basis of the new method is the client's own BIM model, which prevents communication noise and ensures that dimensions, materials, techniques, properties and quantities always correspond perfectly. As a result, quality and efficiency come together nicely.

VIANEN from Montfoort has been the address for wooden window frames and facade elements for many years. "Since our establishment in 1961, we have had only one goal in mind, and that is to make well thought-out products," says director Oene Wassenaar. "We are constantly looking for ways to make our products and processes smarter, more beautiful and better. Our product generator is a logical next step in this."

Faster pricing

"We've been analyzing our customers' BIM models for a while now and see that their quality is getting better and better," Wassenaar emphasizes. "This is why we decided to use the BIM models from now on also for the quotation process of our prefab wooden façade elements. Quite a revolution, which saves our clients a lot of time. We can now model and calculate our clients' BIM models in such a way that we can extract a price from them fairly quickly. Simply by enriching the data from the model with our parametric product generator and then digitally transferring it to our Microsoft Dynamics operating system. This also allows us to simplify work preparation and production at a later stage."

Compare easily

Thanks to the new way of working, VIANEN sees even faster whether clients' BIM designs are suitable for its prefab method of working. Is a project technically and economically feasible? Do the elements fit into the production line? And can the desired quality be achieved? "In the past, the dimensions of facade elements and window frames were always pulled manually from a drawing," Wassenaar knows. "Then all the data was typed manually into an estimation system, based on which the project price was worked out in a PDF quotation. The client then had to manually compare the data from this quote with his own model. A time-consuming and error-prone process, which is a thing of the past with our online product generator. Because we digitally convert the BIM model into a quotation and also give it back digitally, the client can easily overlay both models. This eliminates a huge number of time-consuming and error-prone strokes from the preparation phase."

Returning data

Currently, VIANEN's new digital working method is being tested in the market. "We have several pilots running with major contractor parties, who are responding very enthusiastically," says Wassenaar. "Not surprisingly, because the process on the front end is greatly accelerated. Also, the preparation is much more accurate. An additional advantage is also that we can give back valuable data. When we convert the BIM designs into manufacturable VIANEN elements, for example, we can easily add insulation values (Rc values). But also other material data, which, for example, says something about the environmental performance (MPG) of a building. This simplifies the calculation of the MPG score for the complete building." 

Handy information card

To guide clients in the new way of working, VIANEN has developed a handy information card. Because although the process is a lot simpler, clients are bound by certain ground rules. For example, an important condition is that the HSB elements in the model are identifiable, says Wassenaar. "In this, too, we can support clients."

The next step

A next step for VIANEN is to make the online product generator also available for frame products such as the new KLIMAATKOZIJN, which takes the good qualities of wood and aluminum to the very highest level.  

The digital process.