Factory halls at a glance – at the push of a button:New floor space analysis tool from DUALIS

Plan production spaces ad hoc and reliably in dynamic environments

• New floor space analysis tool: DUALIS expands Visual Components with a tool for evaluating productive space usage in factory halls.
• Clear visualization: Space types such as assembly, storage, and administration are displayed in pie and bar charts for quick decision-making.
• Cross-site planning with AREAPLAN: Enables coordinated space management across multiple production sites and hall areas.
• Flexible and integrative: AREAPLAN works as an add-on to Visual Components or in combination with CAD, MES, APS, and ERP systems.
• End-to-end planning platform: The combination of Visual Components, the floor space analysis tool, and AREAPLAN supports holistic factory planning.

Dresden, August 27, 2025 – Whether introducing new production lines, restructuring existing plants, or merging multiple sites: Factory planning requires precise answers to how space is currently used – and where unused potential lies. Especially in cases of short-term changes, fast and reliable analyses are essential. DUALIS offers the solution: the new floor space analysis tool for Visual Components and the space management tool AREAPLAN. Together, they provide instant clarity and planning capability – from individual halls to entire factory networks.

Supply chains are unstable, and order volumes fluctuate. Customer projects often need to be implemented or adjusted at short notice. Restructuring within a plant or across locations is also increasing. As a result, manufacturers frequently need to integrate new machines, modify systems, and adapt hall layouts – quickly, efficiently, and without errors.

A central bottleneck in this process is space: Poorly planned hall layouts risk downtime or unnecessary investments. As an authorized reseller, DUALIS combines the 3D simulation platform Visual Components with a specially developed floor space analysis tool.

With Visual Components, production layouts, machinery, and material flows can be virtually mapped, analyzed, and optimized. This solution is now enhanced by the new DUALIS floor space analysis tool, which evaluates productive space usage at the push of a button. Different space types – such as assembly, production, storage, and administration – must be manually defined in advance. The distribution is then clearly visualized in dashboards using pie and bar charts. This allows planners to immediately identify where expansions are worthwhile or bottlenecks may arise.

“The floor space analysis tool highlights value-adding, non-value-adding, and potential free areas. It provides the ideal basis for making quick and well-informed decisions,” explains Ralf Dohndorf, Vice President Factory Simulation at DUALIS.

Cross-site planning with AREAPLAN

For companies with multiple production facilities, the question of space utilization becomes even more complex: Where is capacity high? Where are reserves available? And how can processes be consolidated? The DUALIS software AREAPLAN, which can be used as an add-on to Visual Components or in combination with CAD, MES, APS, and ERP systems, simplifies cross-site space management. It maps space occupancy across different locations – over time, across areas, and between halls.

Occupancy can be planned in a coordinated manner, flexibly visualized, and adjusted at any time. AREAPLAN offers features such as 3D block diagrams, timeline views, and color-configurable visualizations. Exporting to Excel is also easily possible.

“By combining Visual Components, the floor space analysis tool, and AREAPLAN, a continuous planning platform is created – from layout planning and material flow simulation to cross-site space planning,” says Ralf Dohndorf.