3D Laser Scanning Nowra Manufacturing Plant
The Nowra plant is one of four manufacturing plants and is the largest of its kind in the world. To meet increased demand from local and export markets they needed to increase production and expand their facilities to incorporate the most advanced industry technology available.
This represents a major investment into a fully integrated, sustainable, and innovative production process. Our client provided a turnkey solution including design, manufacture and installation.
Challenge
The facility was undertaking a multimillion dollar upgrade and is a network of stainless steel food grade pipes and structural steel structures operating 7 days a week. The plant wanted to minimise shutdown time which meant all manufacture of new pipework was to be done offsite and installed during a scheduled shutdown period.
The plant didn’t have current drawings or cad models and these would be required to design not only this upgrade but potentially further upgrades when required. Engineers needed the location of all existing pipes, structures and equipment to reduce clashes of existing pipework. More importantly, it needed to be accurate especially the existing structures as these would support the new pipework to ensure a smooth installation process.
Solution
3D Laser Scanning the Nowra Manufacturing plant was the first step in documenting an existing plant. Whilst laser scanning typically has challenges scanning shiny objects – like food grade stainless steel, 3d scanning offered accurate data of existing equipment structures and pipework. 3D Scanning only required 1 person onsite and data is captured fast without halting production time.
With a range of scanning technologies on hand the team at Wysiwyg 3D was able to combine handheld and terrestrial scanners to digitally record areas that were hard to access or capture extra detail.
3D Scan data was recorded in full colour, this high accuracy pointcloud helped define where pipe runs and structural steel were located whilst creating the CAD models. All data alignment and data processing was done back in the office and exported as STEP files so that our clients could directly import the cad models for further design and modifications.
Results
Design and manufacture of the 350Dia stainless steel food grade pipework was done back in the Sydney factory. This eliminated a complete plant shutdown which saved valuable production time. Site visits were reduced, installation time was shortened and crane hire time was minimised. The pipework fitted into place and secured with minimal site rework.
For more information on 3d laser scanning or 3d modelling for your piping or manufacturing project Contact Us
