One of hsbcad’s most important unique selling points is the possibility to use the 3D CAD/CAM software on both AutoCAD and Revit. The software provider from Kaufbeuren is a pioneer in the development of planning solutions for the cross-laminated timber industry. Many well-known manufacturers and planners rely on hsbcad or their hsbDesign software. CLT pioneer KLH is one of them.
“KLH provided the impetus for many developments,” Martin Dittberner, Head of Customer Service at hsbcad, recalls. One of them is hsbCLT, a toolset for the planning and construction of CLT projects (walls, roofs and ceilings) based on hsbDesign. The program also supports other ways of building in mass timber, for example using stacked glulam elements. “HsbDesign also offers many other toolsets, such as hsbStickFrame or hsbTimber,” Dittberner explains. With the cloud-based application hsbShare, project information can be shared worldwide in real time.
We have numerous hsbcad licenses. We are in very good hands – the support is great.
Project at 2,000 m of altitude
For KLH, “The Eagle” is a special project. Located at 2,000 m above sea level on Kreischberg mountain, the entire basic structure of the panoramic restaurant, that is all posts and roof elements, is built in wood. It is also the main material of The Eagle’s interior and furniture. In addition to steel and concrete for the foundations, 40 m³ of glulam were used for the walls of The Eagle and 552 m² of KLH-CLT for its roof. The crystal-shaped building, planned by architectural company Viereck Architekten of Kindberg, has been the eyecatcher on the summit of Kreischberg mountain since late 2020. Its large glass windows offer visitors a fantastic 360-degree view. However, it is not only the location that makes this project so special. The logistics of it were also unusual: The construction elements had to be delivered via the ski slopes surrounding the building.
KLH used hsbDesign for the planning and production of The Eagle. “We have numerous licenses for the program. This software is an important tool for our everyday work,” Gerhard Tockner emphasizes, who is responsible for the CAD/CAM interface and the in-house training of hsbcad users at KLH. KLH uses hsbDesign based on AutoCAD. Tockner sees mainly the dynamic system, the compatibility with many other programs as well as continuous further developments of the software as major advantages.
“We are particularly pleased with the flexibility of the program and the fact that we can talk to hsbcad about our wishes and make suggestions,” Tockner tells us. He gives multi-nesting as an example, which makes it possible to create one nesting file from several files or projects. During production, multi-nesting enables KLH to optimize or join several similar elements at once, which saves production time and material usage. hsbcad developed this tool based on suggestions from KLH.
KLH not only provides input but also benefits from the ideas of other hsbcad users. “It’s a give and take. We use customer feedback to improve our services and solutions. CLT manufacturers approach us and tell us what they need or which tools would make planning and production easier for them – also because the machines can do more and more,” Dittberner explains. Manufacturers of fasteners also contact hsbcad and share their ideas so that their solutions can be included in the software.
Great support
KLH is particularly satisfied with the support provided by hsbcad. “The company has a great team, and offers customers perfect support. We are in very good hands with hsbcad,” Tockner tells us.
Another advantage is the possibility to convert models into various file formats. “Thanks to this option, we can create production data either for the Hundegger or the Uniteam machine with just a few clicks,” Tockner explains.
Continuous further development
“We want to offer our customers constantly improved software,” Dittberner emphasizes. For this reason, hsbcad launched the new version hsbDesign 25 for both AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit this past summer. The hsbRoofElement toolset for Autodesk Revit is a new development. hsbRoofElement converts ceilings into individual ceiling elements with just a few clicks, allowing the user to get from design approval to production design more quickly. Not too long ago, hsbcad also improved load planning and introduced the two tools hsbPainter and hsbValidationmanager.
Furthermore, hsbcad is one of the partners of the European project “Build-in-Wood” which aims at promoting standardized solutions for multi-story timber constructions. Cross-laminated timber plays a central role in achieving this goal. As part of Build-in-Wood, hsbcad continues to advance software development based on Autodesk Revit. One approach is to manage materials throughout the entire process based on the Build-in-Wood BIM database and, eventually, to evaluate a digital 3D model with regard to its carbon footprint, for example.
