The career crisis in construction, the talent shortage, the skilled labor shortage—whatever you call it, the talk is everywhere. Steel detailers and fabricators—as well as positions across the entire construction pipeline—are in short supply. 

When 2020 drew to a close, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief—but 2021 brought much of the same as the COVID-19 pandemic kept coming in waves. Now, as the new year approaches and the COVID threat continues to evolve, we’re taking a look back at how steel detailers and fabricators have weathered the challenges of the last few years and seeing what they’re looking forward to in 2022.   

Consistently and quickly generating accurate bids for structural steel projects is a formidable challenge at the best of times. The uncertainty that has plagued the markets in recent years, with supply chain woes and unheard-of lead times, makes it even harder—and more critical to business growth. 

Integrating your 3D model with various fabrication software systems greatly increases the value of your 3D model. Fortunately, at SDS2 we recognize this value and have strong relationships with the industry’s top fabrication software providers, like Tekla PowerFab.

The value of your 3D steel model expands exponentially when paired with other software systems in the fabrication process. That’s why SDS2 continues to build partnerships with the industry’s top players around the globe, including fabrication management leader STRUMIS LTD.  

STRUMIS is a global leader in fabrication management information software, with over 30 years in business and customers in 50 countries.   

Whether you’re working for a shop or at a detailing company, meeting the needs of the fabricator are critical to your success.  

A good detailing operation with a fast, accurate software can drive shop optimization, from production timelines to material and labor costs.  

That’s why the automated and time-saving processes in SDS2 are powered by fabrication preferences. Our design engine emulates the practical thought processes of detailers, fabricators, and even erectors in the field.  

To help you get the most out of your model data and time, SDS2 is building partnerships with steel industry leaders from around the world. 

Here we are highlighting Steel Projects, a software partner that specializes in real-time shop management, optimizing the link between the detailing office and the shop floor. 

So you’ve decided to subcontract a detailer for your next structural steel project. The company you choose to hire—and the tools they use for the job—can have a major impact on the overall profitability of the project. The accuracy and reliability of the detailer’s work affects everything from your production timelines to efficiencies in cost, material, and labor. 

In this post, we’ll outline the most important questions you need to answer before you sign your contract. 

Every year, the SDS2 Solid Steel Awards give steel detailers an opportunity to show off their best work. Judged on aesthetics, complexity, and overall cool factor, the competition highlights the great work our users are doing and the projects they’re bringing to life in commercial and industrial sectors. 

We may have missed the beach this year, but SDS/2's first ever digital conference event was a massive success, if we do say so ourselves. Going digital with SDS/2 Summit meant more users than ever before were able to tune in and attend, and our line-up of expert guest speakers shared high-value content, advanced tips and tricks, and industry insights to our users.  
 

SDS2 is the most intelligent and automated—in short, the best—steel connection design software on the market today. 

But what makes our software intelligent? How does our automation work? And, most importantly, what does that mean for you? Because that’s what really matters here—your user experience, your results, and your decision. 

You may know how powerful SDS/2’s intelligent connection design is for steel detailers, but SDS/2 Detailing isn’t the only software solution we have on the market that’s paving the way for automation, accuracy, and efficiency in the industry.  

Adaptability and digitalization were major talking points in the steel industry even before the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has accelerated the conversation for many, introducing new dimensions of uncertainty to ongoing challenges—addressing labor shortages, for example, and preparing next generation talent.

Online SDS2 Training & Certification

Investing in new skill development is one way to increase versatility for future growth—and that’s true whether we’re in a time of crisis or stability.  

This project centered on the addition of the bypass duct and seal duct systems to the Cope Station energy plant, which was originally established in 1996.

Cartee-Berry’s innovative process featured the use of SDS/2’s weld plate box material file type for the creation of the small rectangular duct layout.

The bypass duct ranged in size from 13 feet by 25 feet to 13 feet by 36 feet. The seal duct varied in size from 4 feet by 2 feet to 4 feet by 4 feet.

New Jersey Iron is a 4th generation owned family business with 5th generation now here.  My brother and I are each over the 30-year mark in the business, having started in high school as summer jobs and each could run the first CNC punchline we installed in 1990.  We do projects as large as 1,100 tons, but medium projects are mostly what we do so our tonnage comes in around 3,500 tons a year.  We have (4) SDS2 stations for detailing, fabrication is all done with CNC equipment, including stairs and rails.  We also do our own shipping, erection, shear stud install, and small crane work (rent