Australia’s innovative STEELbuilder design and construction software is gaining momentum in the market with major sales as well as enhancements that make it even easier to use.
STEELbuilder www.steelbuilder.com.au is a powerful software tool that boosts business productivity and profitability for builders of steel-framed houses, sheds, carports, garages and pergolas. Launched in 2005, STEELbuilder is used by builders in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
In its most recent success, a major steel company has ordered STEELbuilder for use throughout its operations nationally after the success of the software in one of its branches.
STEELbuilder developer, Engineering Software Solutions (ESS), has also undertaken a number of enhancements to the core product, based on customer feedback. These include making the software even easier to set up and more flexible in terms of materials used and the structures it can produce.
ESS General Manager Tim Rankin said STEELbuilder was generating strong momentum in the marketplace. “A number of our customers who have gained tangible benefits from STEELbuilder are now looking to enhance it even further,” he said.
“As we obtain this customer feedback, we build these enhancements into the core product, which makes it richer for all customers and avoids the problems that can arise from once-off changes.
“We are selling STEELbuilder to customers that purchase it outright and also, increasingly, businesses are choosing to lease the software, which gives them the productivity benefits without a high initial capital outlay. We see that as a major trend during 2008.”
ESS is Australia's leading software developer for the steel framing industry with customers that include industry leaders such as BlueScope Steel, OneSteel and Fielders. Since 1994, ESS has established a reputation as a developer of high quality software that solves business problems.
STEELbuilder reduces design and quoting times from days to minutes while the system can complete engineering checks within seconds. It also provides a central resource management system that creates efficiency in the building process and eliminates costly on-site reworks. STEELbuilder comes in two versions: One for building houses and the other for building sheds.
ESS has undertaken three recent enhancements to STEELbuilder:
- Easier setup:
Based on its experience working with customers in Australia and overseas, ESS has simplified product setup by incorporating useful tools to make the process easier. “It allows customers to extract benefits even quicker from the software,” said Tim. “It also assists with user acceptance of the system.”
- Creation of hot-rolled sheds:
While STEELbuilder Shed Edition was initially designed to produce cold-rolled steel sheds, an increasing number of inquiries come from builders that use hot-rolled steel to create sheds. “We have built the core of the hot-rolled steel capability,” said Tim. “Our next step will be in response to the specific needs of a builder who wants to use this new STEELbuilder facility.”
- Building stud-wall frame sheds:
ESS is enhancing STEELbuilder so it can produce stud-wall frame sheds as well as standard portal-framed sheds. “It’s about making STEELbuilder a flexible tool that helps builders do their job,” said Tim.
For more information about STEELbuilder, request a STEELbuilder information pack by calling ESS on (08) 8241 0575 or sending an email to steelbuilder@ess.com.au. For media assistance or photographs, call John Harris at Impress Media Australia on (08) 8431 4000 or email jharris@impress.com.au.
