The software for efficient space allocation

Planning large projects on limited space

Efficient factory planning starts with making optimum use of the available space. This is a particular challenge for production, assembly and workshop managers when

• large assembly/production projects with constant changes
• several production lines over a certain period of time
• large-volume products with high space requirements

in a limited space.
Restrictions such as overall height or surface load must also be taken into account. If several plants have to be coordinated in parallel , there is a further variable that complicates the calculation of space requirements.

Unique, functional and perfect as an add-on

AREAPLAN is the first tool on the market that allows you to digitize your space allocation across all plants. Equipped with extensive functions and an easy-to-use user interface, the manufacturing footprint software gives you complete transparency of current and planned production and assembly projects. As a result, you achieve greater planning and investment security and increase throughput in the factory.

AREAPLAN is the perfect complement to the 3D simulation platform Visual Components and CAD programs. To ensure consistently high data quality in production, seamless connection to upstream systems such as MES, ERP or PMS is also possible.

How you benefit from shop planning with AREAPLAN

• Optimum utilization of the available space in assembly and production halls
• Convenient planning of space requirements in the dynamic 3D factory layout
• Less planning effort thanks to space allocation and scheduling on one platform
• Concrete statements on the feasibility and delivery dates of production or assembly projects
• Visualization of the planning status for project participants, store floor or management

Efficient space capacity planning

Machine builders are often faced with the challenge of setting up and testing equipment in their own factory halls before delivering it to the customer. With AREAPLAN you can immediately see when, on which area and over which period of time a project can be scheduled. Different machine layouts and nesting of machines can be taken into account.

Global plant planning at central level

With AREAPLAN, central plant planning for all locations can be carried out via the central planning department. Cumulate all projects such as production cells, production lines or entire production islands from all worldwide locations and see at a glance which projects can be implemented over which period in which plant.

Temporary storage in large-scale plant construction

Large products or components often require intermediate storage and need large storage areas before they are moved to the next processing station. With AREAPLAN you can plan large plants or large components efficiently on the available areas and see exactly over which period which large plant can be stored temporarily.

Born to meet an application need

AREAPLAN was created in close cooperation with FILL, our long-standing customer and a Visual Components user. The solutions available on the market at the time were designed only for one-time setup of assembly and project shops, and the special machine construction company therefore sought out a suitable alternative. We jointly took on the task of solving this complex problem.

This resulted in a powerful, efficient and future-proof shop planning tool that can be scaled at any time to accommodate expansions and new buildings. Unlike conventional methods, the new shop planning tool can recreate the constant changes between diverse projects and simulate time sequences in addition to the spatial shop allocation.

Our market research showed that this tool perfectly fulfills the demands faced by other manufacturers of special machinery or producers of bulky products intended for assembly at the construction site. This was how our project-related shop planning tool gave rise to our new AREAPLAN product.

• Simple operation through drag & drop and 3D navigation in the factory layout
• Easy data export of the hall plan into a 3D PDF or of the frame data into Excel possible
• Statistics and reports on space utilisation
• Extensions as required, such as training, modelling of the hall layout or development of new, individual features