With over 7,000 different items, Air Spiralo®, manufacturer of circular and rectangular-collapsing ventilation ducts, has quite an extensive PIM system. Converting these products into uniform and workable BIM content was a major challenge for BIM specialist Rick van Ammers. He spoke about it during the sub-session at the SUM2016.
Together with MEPcontent, Air Spiralo® has succeeded in converting the wide range of ventilation ducts and fittings into a BIM ventilation library. The manufacturer Air Spiralo® instantly converts product data from its own PIM system into correct, workable BIM content for engineers using MEPcontent web services.
Uniform and current data
“Reliable product data is essential to the success of our organisation. All business processes, from finance to production to marketing, have a role in building the product data,” says Rick van Ammers, “therefore the PIM database is the heart of our organisation.” There is a special PIM team with a dedicated PIM manager to manage the PIM database within Air Spiralo®. Through this, data management takes place in one location and in a uniform way, and there is a direct link to the production process.
With the growing market demand for reliable BIM content, it is a logical step to provide engineers with current product data directly from the Air Spiralo® PIM system. Van Ammers: “Our database is structured according to the ETIM standard and the NEN standard. Because of this uniform structure, we can synchronise our product data with other data sources such as our ERP systems, price list and website, as well as external sources such as MEPcontent”.
Web services for up-to-date content
In cooperation with the MEPcontent team, Air Spiralo® has developed a tool that automatically fills the MEPcontent PLS data fields with the appropriate data fields from the Air Spiralo® PIM system. Due to the mapping of the fields, it is possible to also instantly convert changed product data into the BIM content library. Coert de Jong, MEPcontent Product Manager, showed how the synchronisation is technically realised during the session. “With the MEPcontent web services the Air Spiralo® PIM data is automatically converted into workable BIM content for installers,” says Coert. “The content conforms to the EMCS (Extended MEPcontent Standard). We thereby offer users content that is provided with the correct parameters. These are not only technical specifications but also trade data such as GTIN and deep links to product pages on the Air Spiralo® website.”
It is correct and it fits
With the Air Spiralo® library on MEPcontent.com, it is possible to design and install ventilation systems much more efficiently. “Since the data is always up to date, the lengths and connections are reliable. This offers many benefits to users; orders can now be placed directly from the BIM model. This lets installers know that the ventilation systems they design are correct and will fit on the construction site,” says Van Ammers. “By having the PIM data in order at the start of the construction process, the margin of error at the end of the construction process on site will be smaller. Eventually this saves so much time and money,” Rick van Ammers concludes.
Air Spiralo®
Air Spiralo® has been producing metal circular and rectangular-collapsing ventilation ducts for ventilation systems in homes, healthcare facilities, offices, factories and ships for more than fifty years. Air Spiralo® is an international family business with employees and offices in the Netherlands (Schagen), England, Finland and Poland.
Together with MEPcontent, Air Spiralo® has succeeded in converting the wide range of ventilation ducts and fittings into a BIM ventilation library. The manufacturer Air Spiralo® instantly converts product data from its own PIM system into correct, workable BIM content for engineers using MEPcontent web services.
Uniform and current data
“Reliable product data is essential to the success of our organisation. All business processes, from finance to production to marketing, have a role in building the product data,” says Rick van Ammers, “therefore the PIM database is the heart of our organisation.” There is a special PIM team with a dedicated PIM manager to manage the PIM database within Air Spiralo®. Through this, data management takes place in one location and in a uniform way, and there is a direct link to the production process.
With the growing market demand for reliable BIM content, it is a logical step to provide engineers with current product data directly from the Air Spiralo® PIM system. Van Ammers: “Our database is structured according to the ETIM standard and the NEN standard. Because of this uniform structure, we can synchronise our product data with other data sources such as our ERP systems, price list and website, as well as external sources such as MEPcontent”.
Web services for up-to-date content
In cooperation with the MEPcontent team, Air Spiralo® has developed a tool that automatically fills the MEPcontent PLS data fields with the appropriate data fields from the Air Spiralo® PIM system. Due to the mapping of the fields, it is possible to also instantly convert changed product data into the BIM content library. Coert de Jong, MEPcontent Product Manager, showed how the synchronisation is technically realised during the session. “With the MEPcontent web services the Air Spiralo® PIM data is automatically converted into workable BIM content for installers,” says Coert. “The content conforms to the EMCS (Extended MEPcontent Standard). We thereby offer users content that is provided with the correct parameters. These are not only technical specifications but also trade data such as GTIN and deep links to product pages on the Air Spiralo® website.”
It is correct and it fits
With the Air Spiralo® library on MEPcontent.com, it is possible to design and install ventilation systems much more efficiently. “Since the data is always up to date, the lengths and connections are reliable. This offers many benefits to users; orders can now be placed directly from the BIM model. This lets installers know that the ventilation systems they design are correct and will fit on the construction site,” says Van Ammers. “By having the PIM data in order at the start of the construction process, the margin of error at the end of the construction process on site will be smaller. Eventually this saves so much time and money,” Rick van Ammers concludes.
Air Spiralo®
Air Spiralo® has been producing metal circular and rectangular-collapsing ventilation ducts for ventilation systems in homes, healthcare facilities, offices, factories and ships for more than fifty years. Air Spiralo® is an international family business with employees and offices in the Netherlands (Schagen), England, Finland and Poland.