Expanding our Horizons

I just got back from a 'whirlwind tour' of southern Utah and Las Vegas about a week and a half ago. It was a great trip. The weather was fabulous and I was able to take off my jacket and role up my sleeves. When I got to St. George Wednesday afternoon the temperature was in the 50's and Las Vegas was in the 70's on Thursday. I had some great visits with some really good hardworking people. In our struggling economy, I noticed that there are fabricators that are finding ways to survive and even thrive. One thing that stuck out to me while I was down in southern Utah was the fact that there are a couple of Fabricators that are leaning on each other for business. Where one is better with plating the other is better with structural. They are sending business back and forth. There seems to be a great relationship between the two competitors. As I was visiting the Las Vegas Fabricators I noticed that buildings are still going up. Las Vegas is a thriving city and things are moving at a rapid pace. Private building there has slowed, but government buildings are filling in the construction gap.

Tectonix News

Tectonix Steel would like to wish everyone success in 2009. This year is predicted by some economists to be a difficult year. With difficult times comes innovation, we look to pioneer great success with our customers in 2009.

Market Conditions
Current market conditions in the steel industry are influenced by the nation’s financial crisis. According to an article on http://www.modernsteel.com/, delays and cancellation of municipal construction projects are expected during the uncertainty in financial markets.
Volatile steel prices and credit availability have many buyers waiting to purchase steel. U.S. suppliers have reduced production as demand for steel decreases. News of the recent U.S. economic bailout has contractors and steel producers hopeful for steady work (AIIS).
The major players in the energy market are maintaining their capital spending levels during the economic downturn. British Petroleum (BP), Shell, and most of the major oil producers are looking to be poised for an economic recovery over the next few years (Chron.com).

Market Focus
In the 3rd quarter of 2008, Tectonix Steel began marketing our services to fabricators. Efforts to expand from our southwest roots allowed the growth of new relationships in AZ, Utah, California, Washington, Illinois, and Tennessee.
During the last quarter we focused more heavily on industrial work, while we continued to serve our clients in the commercial and residential sector. The industrial construction market is busy. We are pleased to work on industrial projects that allow us to be a part of the energy investment in the U.S.

3D Software
Tekla Structures formerly known as “Xsteel” is the preferred detailing software at Tectonix Steel. Complex structural steel can be quickly and accurately modeled in Tekla with skilled and experienced professionals. Tectonix has 15 detailers with up to 25 years experience. Using Tekla to detail allows Tectonix to create efficiencies that save our customers time and money.
Tekla’s software was BIM before BIM. Tekla has had the ability for BIM before the term was coined. More projects are requiring BIM certified detailers. General Contractors and Government are realizing the opportunities for tremendous savings using BIM. Projects run smoothly with better communication and planning; resulting in less time and money spent (Tekla.com).

NASCC Steel Conference
Tectonix Steel will be hosting a booth at NASCC held in Phoenix this April. The conference is a premier education event aimed at providing the latest design and construction techniques for structural engineers, steel fabricators, erectors, and detailers (AISC). We invite all to stop by and view our presentation.

The fickle economy affects us all. Through marketing efforts and the retention of our current relationships we are positioned to maintain the cutting edge service expected of us. We thank our customers for the opportunity to provide detailing services and look forward to working with you on future projects.

Tectonix Steel Newsletter

Welcome to the 1st Tectonix Steel Newsletter.

We are excited to share with you, on a quarterly basis, what we are doing to better serve our customers.

In this issue we would like to provide some background on the history of Tectonix Steel, and talk about the latest trends in structural steel detailing. We would also like to share what we learned at this years Tekla "Xsteel " conference and tell you about the growth we have experienced since the inception of our company.

Corporate Background
We are an established detailing firm that can handle virtually any size job. We average 55 detailing jobs each year. Last year our projects ranged from 3 tons to 2,000 tons of steel. We have 15 qualified detailers with up to 25 years experience in the steel industry.

Detailing Trends
A huge buzzword in the construction industry today is Building Information Model or BIM. It is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle using 3D, real-time, modeling software to decrease wasted time and resources in building design and construction.
Using BIM during the construction process can save contractors time and money. Communication with contractors using integrated 3D building models also allows increased clarity. In the steel industry the Design Team and Construction Team works together to add information to the Building Information Model and greatly reduces the occurrences of costly errors.

Olympic Stadium
The 2008 Olympic Stadium in Beijing or otherwise known as the Birds Nest,was modeled using Tekla Structures 3D modeling software. Complex buildings like the Birds Nest can be accurately modeled with Tekla making radius steel members far less challenging than in the past.

Tekla Structures User Conference
Tectonix Steel is continually sharpening its skills by learning more about the latest industry trends and standards to enhance the construction process. The Tekla user meeting in August was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We learned how Tekla integrates with Trimble surveying technology and Vela Systems software in a design build project streamlining the project work flow. Using Trimbles surveying software and GPS, Tekla can send the building layout points to the GPS unit on site. This technology ensures accurate and simplified layout for concrete forms, footers and anchor bolts. Tracking and Change Management of steel on large projects is simplified with Vela Systems software. Instead of bar-coding, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is used to track steel. Vela talks to Tekla using tablet pcs from the field. If a change is needed in the field it can be clearly communicated through the software and tagged in the Model by scanning the RFID tag or simply selecting the steel in the model located on the tablet pc. A Tekla detailer can easily see in the model which steel member needs attention. This is a new process being used on high profile projects and being coined as Field BIM.

Tectonix Steel Growth
As of this summer Tectonix is happy to welcome our new office in Orem, UT. We currently have 15 detailers combined with our AZ and UT locations. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) we collaborate on the same projects as though we are all in the same office.

We thank our fabricators for our growth and continued success. We appreciate our relationships and look to end the year 2008 with greater accomplishments.