Large crowds attend the 10th anniversary
The Engineering Days celebrated their 10th anniversary on 28 and 29 November 2017 in Vienna – this time in the Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen. The Engineering Days see themselves as discussion platform between the operators of precast plants and the technology leaders of the industry. The three organizing firms, Precast Software Engineering GmbH, Prilhofer Consulting GmbH & Co. KG, and RIB SAA Software Engineering GmbH were pleased to welcome more than 400 visitors from the industry to the Austrian metropolis.
New data interface “IFC4precast”
The opening remarks “Digitization in the construction industry – the winners of tomorrow” optimally introduced this year’s central topic. Simon Knapp, from the renowned McKinsey & Company consultant firm, demonstrated how companies in the construction industry, and specifically precasters, can become winners.
Subsequently, the motto was picked up again in the five plenary sessions, and the various forms were presented. The theme area “Smart Production” was the special focus of speakers and visitors in the various lectures and workshops and was, in part also critically, examined under various aspects.
Other significant segments were discussed in the plenaries “Innovations in production technologies” and “Formwork engineering,” since topics such as the following are gaining in importance: spatial systems, hybrid buildings, production with butterfly formwork, dual mixing technology, efficient connections, continuous reinforcement, development of modular production methods with wax formwork, architectural façades, and psychology of digitization as well as the first Exo Skeleton specifically developed for the industry.
The presentation of the new project group was a special highlight: it included the new data interface “IFC4precast”, under the lead management of a project group with representatives of AEC3, FDU, Idat, Precast Software Engineering, Progress Software Development, RIB SAA, Trimble, and Unitechnik. The objective here is to create a universal basis for process optimization and information distribution in the precast sector.
Accompanying exhibition also well attended
An accompanying exhibition of more than 30 major manufacturers from the areas of plant engineering, automation technology, CAD and ERP systems, as well as planning and software companies, rounded out the conference. Later, the traditional gala dinner in the evening contributed to a relaxed atmosphere.
The participants were able to update their knowledge to the current state of the art in precast technology and engage in many exchanges with colleagues, business partners, and professional friends. Dr. Christian Hanser, Norbert Neubauer, Werner Maresch, and Christian Prilhofer – the managing directors of the organizing companies – were obviously quite satisfied. The next Engineering Days in Vienna will take place at the usual two-year interval at the end of 2019.
