Accurately and quickly detail steel structures on the Autodesk platform

Advance Steel is 3D modeling software for constructing, detailing and manufacturing all kinds of steel structures. The software is used by structural engineers, steel drawing offices and construction companies. They generate overview, detail and workshop drawings, parts lists and control files for production machines with Advance Steel. Advance Steel facilitates communication between designer, fabricator, work planner, production employee and mechanic.

Customers outside mainstream steel construction such as staircase builders and greenhouse construction companies demonstrate Advance Steel's suitability for a wide range of steel applications.

Technically, Advance Steel is based on AutoCAD. You don't need a separate license; all AutoCAD functions are available for 100%. So users who have ever worked with AutoCAD will benefit immediately. Advance Steel is not difficult to learn, but for them the learning curve is even shorter.

You start by building an intelligent model. The entire structure is parametric and can therefore be modified again and again by changing or stretching parameters. This also applies to the individual objects and to the steel connections. If the connecting elements change, the connections automatically adapt to the new environment. This saves an enormous amount of time in the modeling process. Specials and sheet metal are also effortlessly fitted into the model. 

If the model is as desired, Advance Steel automatically creates lists, drawings, outlines and various common machine files. This is done from an integrated document manager that constantly checks that the output is still current. This is where
Advance Steel positively distinguishes itself from all other sy-sms. The revision management is 100% foolproof and fully supports users in making the otherwise disruptive changes.

- Annual subscription or tokens (pay per use);

- Standalone or as part of the AEC Collection.

This makes the software adaptable to the needs of small and large users and suitable for specialized and more generic applications.

At the end of the last century, Autodesk dominated the transition from the drawing board to the screen with AutoCAD. Since then, through its own development and external acquisitions, it has always managed to keep up with developments in the CAD market. Anno 2023
Autodesk Revit has established a leading position in today's BIM market. The vast majority of the contracting industry uses Revit to manipulate and manage the complete building model. Advance Steel has exchange with Revit on board to match this. The Revit platform is firmly developing and has become so powerful that the level of detailing has now grown to LOD350. Autodesk expects to handle LOD400 soon, making Revit capable of fully integrating steel functionality. That means one central building model for users with all disciplines in the same environment. This opens up new possibilities for the future, where access via the cloud can make all data in the building model up-to-date in real time.

Because Advance Steel and Revit are both owned by Autodesk and are even part of the AEC Collection together, the user can safely continue to use the platform that provides the best performance at the time. Once the benefits are evident, the user has every opportunity to still make the switch to the Revit platform.

Matrix Software has been active in the steel drawing market for 25 years and has been a distributor and point of contact for Advance Steel since 2003. Over the years Matrix has built an add-on for Advance Steel which adapts the drawings and parts lists to the Dutch and Belgian market and translates them into Dutch. In addition, Matrix provides support, training and consultancy for Advance Steel. The support subscription also includes the right to use Graitec's add-on, the PowerPack for Advance Steel.

All of these components together make Advance Steel a reliable solution that benefits end users on a daily basis and keeps them ahead of the competition in the future.