Revit, Inventor and CPQ: the perfect triangle
Once started with steel constructions, HTC Parking & Security is now the market leader in speedgates. The automatic folding gates for parking garages, hotels, business parks and flat complexes, among others, are designed and produced in Waddinxveen, after which they find their way to customers in Europe and sometimes even America and Asia. In order to keep a grip on the processes and data and to produce more efficiently, HTC started an intensive automation program with Cadac. CPQ, Inventor, Vault and Revit have now been implemented and fully integrated with ERP via Cadac Connect.
Hundreds of thousands of motorists use HTC's services every day, unknowingly. When they drive into the office garage for yet another working day, when they drive into a parking lot at an airport or business park, when they park their car under their flat complex in the evening. Each time, the folding doors open and of course close again. "And quickly," adds René Pals, automation project leader at HTC. 'That's why our gates are called speedgates. The fastest opens faster than one meter per second. People simply want to be able to drive in and out quickly. There is also a smaller chance of "followers" and therefore safer.'
Reliability
It is a product that no one thinks about, such a folding gate. 'Until it doesn't open or close', laughs René Pals. 'Then there is immediate panic. Understandable, no one likes to stand in front of a closed gate and no one wants to stand still in a parking garage. That is why, in addition to quality, operational reliability is the most important thing for us. The gate may not refuse if a passage is needed. And if it does happen, due to a collision for example, we have to work like a rocket to solve it.'
We wanted to work with Revit in combination with Inventor and CPQ, which we think is the perfect triangle. Cadac is at home in these three areas and together we have drawn up a detailed programme plan.
René Pals
Project leader automation
Xense Software
A matter of sending a mechanic? 'Sometimes, but we can solve a lot remotely. We have developed our own software, Xense, with which we can monitor all the ports we supply via an IoT solution . If there is a malfunction, the customer can report it, but usually we already know about it because our systems give a signal. In our control centre in Waddinxveen, we can see exactly where the malfunction is and what is going on. Often the problem is easy to solve via a reset, which can often be done by the customer locally. It could be an empty battery of a handheld transmitter, a dirty sensor, a problem with a card. That is all easy to repair. And if that doesn't work, we send our own technician. There are always assembly and service teams on the road. Fortunately, it is becoming less and less common that we have to go on site.'
Speedgate as a Service
It is not for nothing that René Pals places the emphasis on service. 'The market is changing. The customer buys a speedgate and increasingly concludes a long-term service contract. In fact, more and more customers do not buy a gate, they pay a fixed amount per month for use. Speedgate as a Service with which we completely unburden the customer. If you know that the lifespan of a folding gate is easily thirty years, then it is clear that we do not make any concessions to quality. Good maintenance is essential, but of course it all starts with development and production.'
Evolution of HTC: from steel structures to top player in automatic doors
"HTC is in fact a further development of steel construction company BRS," says René Pals, who has been working for the company for 17 years now and various positions later. 'First BRS made steel skeletons for commercial buildings, then glass was added and then industrial entrance doors again. Slowly but surely, the emphasis has shifted to automatic doors, especially folding doors because they take up little space and are fast. I have seen the company grow rapidly over the last ten years. Not only in the Netherlands, our gates are throughout Western Europe. The Benelux, France, Scandinavia, Germany. A few years before Brexit, we opened a branch in England where we also deliver many systems. Of course there is competition, but with the speedgates we are one of the bigger players in Europe. And sometimes outside of it. For example, we have supplied six speedgates for a large eye-catching location in California. We never say no to anything, especially not to such a project.'
Digital construction as the new standard
Five years ago, in 2015, HTC Parking & Security moved to a brand new and attractive building in Waddinxveen where design and development as well as production and service are brought together. A sustainable building, strategically located on the A12 with sufficient capacity to accommodate more than the current 100 employees. An important step in further professionalisation. 'Certainly, and at the same time we realised that we were falling behind digitally. We were still working with 3D drawing software, but we had an old Product Data Management system and we wanted to take standardisation as a starting point; make the switch from Engineering-to-Order to Configure-to-Order. In addition, the integration with our ERP system, Sales Configurator (CPQ), Revit and the smart models (Design Automation) was an important starting point. Ambitious and a substantial investment, but necessary to be able to work more efficiently and deliver higher quality. Without control over the rapidly growing data, the switch to 3D design is impossible. We are convinced that digital construction will become the standard. As a supplier of speedgates, we have to get on board with that.'
HTC & Cadac: an intensive process
The management formulated a vision, after which a project team led by René Pals started looking for a partner. In 2021, the choice fell on Cadac. 'Because we wanted to work with Revit in combination with Inventor and CPQ, which we think is the perfect triangle. Cadac is at home in these three areas and together we have drawn up a detailed programme plan, because many projects over a period of four years are needed to realise our ambition. With various specialists from Cadac in the guidance, we started with the implementation of Inventor and PDM. An intensive process. For the engineers, it meant working with completely new design software. Cadac provided the perfect guidance and training while the store remained open. For a while, we used two systems while the order flow grew. That does put the necessary pressure on everyone. Reason enough to slow down the pace a bit and take the time for a careful transition.'
Transition to automation
"This was and is a very large project," says Bas Ligterink, account manager at Cadac. 'With many changes and new software such as PDM, Inventor and CPQ. Diligence is crucial, as is including everyone in the transition, including in the workplace. We and the customer had to take the time for that. It made a huge difference that HTC made its own team and even René available full-time for the transition. That shows how important they think automation is. This is also reflected in the results. First we started working with the ten engineers and R&D people, and now the first fully configured speedgates have been produced, administration and sales follow.'
Design with Autodesk and Epicor tooling
HTC designs and builds roughly five different types of speedgates in Waddinxveen. Ranging from a modest two meters wide and high to gates of up to four meters high and ten meters wide. A large part of the components is outsourced to suppliers in the region. Custom-made steel plates and pipes, motors and electronics such as cameras and sensors. The steel structure is produced with welding robots, among other things, after which it may or may not be coated in colour. In the workshop, the technicians assemble the complete installations, ready to leave for the construction site. Meanwhile, the "middle" type is now being designed with Autodesk and Epicor tooling, the connection with the workshop has been completed and the next product lines are being prepared.'
Flexible working with Configure-to-Order
"We are very satisfied with the progress," says René Pals, "especially because we are now making the step from Engineering-to-Order to Configure-to-Order. CPQ and Design Automation are equipped with an extensive range of versions and options with which the engineers further develop the orders. Custom-made adjustments are always possible, for example extra safety features, special infills, additional fencing. Until recently, the wicket doors next to the speedgates were also custom-made, but we also got them in CPQ and DA in a short time. Flexible working with standards where our goal is to design 80 percent of the projects from CTO. The remaining 20 percent can then also be made up of 80 percent from CTO. For the majority of our customers, we can easily put together a speedgate with CPQ. Because the standards are recognisable in the workshop, production can be done faster."
Integration with Cadac Connect
It is still too early to express the benefits in financial figures. 'We ultimately save time in engineering, the lines of communication with the production departments are shorter, there is only one current design available in 3D for each gate, the chance of errors is reduced. The knowledge of our people is now also recorded. The integration between PDM and our ERP system was made with Cadac Connect, which gives us more control over purchasing and stocks. Our sales people become familiar with CPQ and can create and adjust quotes faster and more accurately. All pluses. Next year, we will also add the other product types to CPQ. Ultimately, we will certainly recoup our investment and we will be scalable despite the tightness in the labour market."
Product Lifecycle Management
Two years after the start, HTC has taken a giant step in automation. Ready for the future? René Pals shakes his head. 'Not quite yet. Once everyone is used to the new software, we start working with Cadac on Product Lifecycle Management. HTC makes products with a long lifespan. It must be sustainable, last a long time without problems and be able to be cleaned up responsibly at the end of its life cycle with the reuse of parts and materials. Sustainability is also an issue here. PLM is indispensable for this.' Bas Ligterink is already in the starting blocks. 'Certainly. PLM is the next step in industrial automation and digitalisation. The ultimate grip on data and processes. Our core business.'