In the fast-paced world of construction, efficiency and accuracy are key to success. Construction Managers are always on the lookout for innovative tools and methods to streamline their processes, reduce costs, and secure more competitive bids. One such game-changing approach is the use of Early Connected Steel Models, which involve modeling and connection engineering during the design phase. In this blog, we'll explore how these models not only cut down on bids but also enable Construction Managers to provide precise Bills of Materials (BoMs) for bidding purposes. This was a hot topic for many Construction Managers at CMAA last week.
Rationalization and RFIs: Silent Players in Excess Carbon
Over the past year, I’ve heard from engineers that their clients are now asking how they are reducing embodied carbon in their designs. Back in the fall I shared some strategies for how to do this (AECBytes, Dec 2022). However, with so many approaches that engineers can take, it may feel overwhelming knowing where to start. Many engineers are now asking the question: What are the most impactful actions I can take to reduce embodied carbon? One engineer said to me, “If I design the structure efficiently to the building code, am I not already doing everything I can?”
Approaching a Crossroad with Early Connected Models
As we enter the summer season, many of you are planning your school breaks and getaways. With it also being half way through the year, I wanted to reflect on current market conditions in construction and the continued urgency to reduce project uncertainty.
Qnect in MSC Need for Speed Special Segment
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Connecting for Optimization by Jef Sharp in MSC
"LAST MONTH, I wrote about how early connected models can help steel fabricators. This month, let’s expand the discussion to include the myriad ways that early connected models help the steel industry as a whole.
At Qnect, we call early connected model delivery projects “ISD” for integrated steel delivery. There are many advantages to integrating the connection engineering, detailing, and optimization of the model before the bidding process begins (which I’ll explore in a second). Using these benefits makes steel less expensive and faster than other building materials—and also more sustainable."
Early Integration by Jef Sharp in MSC
Learn the 5 Ways Integrated Steel Delivery (ISD) is Beneficial to Fabricators in this month's issue of Modern Steel Construction. Check out Early Integration written by Qnect CEO Jef Sharp.
"[with ISD] the 3D model is fully connected early, with the connections engineered, detailed, and optimized often before the fabricator is awarded the job." - Jef Sharp, CEO of Qnect, LLC.
Dowco to Integrate Qnect Software into Detailing Process
AMHERST, Mass. — "As North America’s first Tekla Structures user we at Dowco had developed a myriad of tools, technologies and best practices around Tekla/Trimble software, but none offering the advantages that Qnect can,” says Ewen Dobbie, Dowco Consultants CEO.
Qnection of the Week: Green Coffee Building
This week's Qnection is an extended shear plate connection from the Green Coffee Building project, engineered by Francisco J. Herrera G.
Exact Detailing & Qnect Announce Collaborative Agreement
We're excited to announce this agreement with Exact Detailing! The content in this blog is from the joint press release and contains details of this agreement. If you would like more information, please use Contact Us to find the method that works best for you. We look forward to sharing Qnect with you.
[HADLEY, Mass, April 29, 2021] Qnect LLC, a recognized SaaS leader in the steel engineering space, announces a collaborative agreement with Exact Detailing to provide services under a new Qnect delivery program. (View the PDF)
For the past few years, Qnect has offered project based pricing for their services. They’ve now added the option to buy a subscription which gives significant discounts to regular users like Exact Detailing. Exact Detailing now has more freedom in the use of Qnect which is always backed up by Qnect’s Super Service team.
“Today’s announcement is the fruition of many months talking with industry leaders and others about finding the right formula for a true win-win relationship,” says Jef Sharp, Qnect CEO and Co-Founder. “Through these conversations we have uncovered the best model for Qnect to serve the EOR, detailers, fabricators and GCs and we’re thrilled to be working closely with Exact Detailing to bring further optimization to their projects.”
Qnect has been put into use on several landmark projects in Boston, NYC, Chicago and across the U.S. as well as many data centers, schools, hospitals, airports and more.
“Seeing how Qnect contributes to the projects we’ve worked on with them, helped to solidify our commitment to this new program,” says Jeff Arnott Exact Detailing President and Owner. “We found solid value in Qnect from the first time we incorporated the software into our workflow. Because of Qnect’s speed and accuracy, we are able to accelerate the overall schedule, and provide enhanced BIM coordination to others earlier in the project. This makes our job easier and further strengthens our reputation as trusted partner.”
Tero Laine, Director of Technical Services at Exact Detailing added, “we noticed how much quicker we can get from schematic to fully detailed and checked models when Qnect is guided to handle lion’s share of connection details. In addition to designing the connections, Qnect adds them into the Tekla model as complete details. We can therefore use more of our time to maximize the value we provide to our clients and focus on value engineering any complex and expensive details to benefit the ease and cost of fabrication and erection. Qnect now does lots of our “bulk” work in creating the required connections…and does it very intelligently. Having a Qnect subscription will give us more freedom to expand our use of it, as using it more often does not directly cost us more. Designed and optimized connections are becoming a part of our standard detailing contracts like for example NC files and drawings have been for a long time.”
In addition to improving schedule and providing access to early information, Qnect provides information that can lower the fabrication and erection costs. With Qnect, customers can expect to reduce the approval review process and to deliver drawings to the shop on time.
Podcast: Henry Lederman shares the past and future of detailing
Listen to Qnect's Henry Lederman
as he talks with Hugh Seaton
about the history of steel detailing and the tools today that increase efficiency to save time and money on the Constructed Futures Podcast.
Henry Lederman, founder of Qnect, has been driving innovation in the structural steel sector for decades. Learn about how changes in structural steel fabrication quality have made it possible to much more accurately design the connections that make our buildings stand and stay standing.
Henry Lederman, founder of Qnect, has been driving innovation in the structural steel sector for decades. Learn about how changes in structural steel fabrication quality have made it possible to much more accurately design the connections that make our buildings stand and stay standing.
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Qnect increases connection library in latest release
Qnect’s release schedule is every two weeks. Some of the updates are communicated directly to the customers who submitted the request or have shared consistent use of a feature that we might have improved. During November and December several updates to the system were created that we wanted to share with you.
The Fabricator magazine interviews Qnect’s Henry Lederman
“If I only knew then what I know now.” How often do you wish you could peer into the future just a bit? With Qnect, you kinda can. The speed and accuracy of Qnect means that you can test a number of different connections extremely quickly. This is like looking into the future because you can make revisions, decisions that previous to Qnect would take days if not weeks to make.
