Two years ago, Nooyen Pig Flooring transitioned from AutoCAD 2D software to 3D. HiCAD proved to be the best fit for the flooring manufacturer’s needs, especially now that ISD Group has developed a custom module specifically for the coating process of their slatted floors.
“It saves us at least a thousand hours annually,” says Arjan Lenoir, Manager of Manufacturing & Engineering at Nooyen Pig Flooring. Since 1978, this family-owned company has been producing flooring systems for pig farming. Years of innovation and product development have made Nooyen a globally recognized player in slatted flooring. “We create floors that are tailored to our customers' specific needs,” Arjan explains. “Pig farmers can choose from various materials like triangular steel, coated slats, cast iron, plastic, or combinations thereof. Every floor is custom-made to the millimeter, making each customer order unique.”
One Design, One Process
Until a few years ago, Nooyen’s CAD specialists created all designs in 2D AutoCAD, resulting in additional work. “A floor essentially consists of a steel frame that is then coated,” Arjan explains. “But once the coating—just a few millimeters thick, is applied, the dimensions change. We always had to make two drawings: one for the customer and one for the factory. This took up a lot of extra time and increased the risk of errors. We wanted a fully integrated 3D process.”
Tailor-Made Coating Module
While searching for suitable 3D software, Arjan came across ISD Group. “We were especially attracted by the fact that they provide CAD software specifically for steel construction. It quickly became clear that HiCAD best suited our needs and workflow.” HiCAD proved particularly effective for designing the steel frame of the floor. However, the coating process was not fully supported, this is a very unique operation not covered by standard CAD packages. That’s why ISD developed a custom coating module for Nooyen.
“Together with ISD, we programmed various features, such as variable coating thicknesses, color options, and thick or thin coatings. Now, our CAD designers only need to select the right options, and the system automatically generates a complete 3D model based on the steel construction. This saves us over an hour per order. With over a thousand orders a year, that adds up to a significant time saving!”
Faster Development in Less Time
In addition to time savings, HiCAD and the custom coating module offer other advantages. “Thanks to this 3D CAD software, we can bring new designs into production faster. Now that we develop in 3D, we can digitally verify if a design meets requirements. Previously, we needed multiple prototypes and tests; now, often one prototype is enough. We can simulate reality more quickly in less time. As a result, we can develop products faster and shorten the total project lead time significantly. It’s a small step in the process but a crucial one for us. Since we deliver worldwide, this new digital approach strengthens our competitive position.”
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