BIM leader Trimble added a new company to its portfolio of BIM software developers: Dutch 3D CAD and BIM firm Stabiplan. The acquisition enhances Trimble’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) products.
Trimble’s existing MEP software includes tools for automated estimating, project management, modeling, detailing, construction and layout. Stabiplan is perhaps best known for its Stabicad software and MEPcontent BIM content library. The former is used for 3D CAD and computer-aided engineering for Revit and AutoCAD, making it possible to incorporate drawing and engineering calculations and analysis into CAD models.
Stabiplan also hosts MEPcontent.com, an open online BIM library filled with over half a million models and drawings MEP engineers and contractors can incorporate into their work. The fact that these assets include manufacturer-specific content makes it possible for MEP workers to trust that the models are technically accurate and uniform for fabrication and documentation purposes.
“Stabiplan’s strength lies in its ability to offer localized construction software applications and provide users with intuitive work processes for optimal efficiency and productivity in the office,” said Lawrence Smith, Trimble MEP Division general manager. “The Stabiplan portfolio complements our existing products for the European MEP market, including Trimble Plancal nova and Trimble Amtech ProDesign, to provide European contractors with a robust set of design tools from a single source.”
The incorporation of Stabicad into Trimble’s family of MEP products complements the company’s interoperability agreement with Autodesk, which saw the two BIM giants work to ensure files could easily move back and forth between each company’s software. Now, Trimble will have a tool that already works well with AutoCAD and Revit, as well as a number of Revit apps. For instance, Stabiplan has developed the ABB Busch-Jaeger Switch Range Configurator app and an app for placing SANHA piping systems within Revit models.
“Stabiplan provides a core competency in CAD/CAE and BIM design software and content for MEP contractors and engineers to augment Trimble’s current portfolio of solutions for the European MEP contractor,” said Gijs Willem Sloof, Stabiplan CEO. “The acquisition allows us to further develop our best-in-class solutions with Trimble’s resources and offer our solutions on a more global scale. Together with Trimble, we will continue to develop enhanced BIM solutions to enable better collaboration between our customers and their clients.”
All of the aforementioned Stabiplan tools add to Trimble’s MEP portfolio, which includes Trimble PipeDesigner 3D, Trimble DuctDesigner 3D and EC-CAD. Stabiplan’s tools that feature manufacturer-specific data may also work well with Trimble’s autobid and estimation tools.
To learn more about Stabiplan, visit the company website.