Case Study: South Durham Structures achieves true digital fabrication with Trimble Tekla PowerFab

Tekla delivers true digital fabrication to South Durham Structures

South Durham Structures, a UK structural steel fabricator and installation company, wanted to move beyond paper-based processes and use digital tools across its full workflow, not just in the drawing office. After already adopting Trimble Tekla software, the company looked to Trimble and Tekla PowerFab to improve estimating, purchasing, fabrication tracking, and overall business management.

Trimble implemented Tekla PowerFab as a connected fabrication management system, giving South Durham Structures a central hub for importing IFC files, generating estimates and quantity take-offs, tracking live inventory, raising purchase orders, and managing shop-floor production on tablets. The results included faster and more accurate estimating, automated stock control, better traceability and live production visibility, and quicker customer updates; the company also reduced manual paperwork and improved collaboration from office to fabrication shop.

South Durham Structures

Phil Nattress

Estimator