"Cadac Group is an important knowledge partner for us. Their knowledge of BIM and Revit is a very valuable addition to our business."
For more than 120 years, Philips Lighting has been at the forefront of innovation. With their groundbreaking lighting solutions and technologies for homes, shops, offices and cities, Philips Lighting makes people feel happier, safer, more productive, with light that amuses, inspires and informs them, and makes cities more vibrant.
Since 2004, CAD (Content Creation) drawing work from Philips Lighting Eindhoven has been outsourced to Cadac Group. The 3D models of luminaires, lamps and the like are enriched with the necessary information and delivered in various file formats , such as DWG and DXF (AutoCAD), RFA (Revit), SAT (Inventor), R3D (Relux), M3D or M4D (Dialux), or MAX (3ds Max). As a result, the right model, with the right information, for the right job is always available to everyone. From architect, installer, to maintenance.
Enriched 3D CAD models
Peter Kort, Sr. Lighting Application Specialist & Manager Visualization Tools at Philips Lighting: "Our customers often work in specific drawing and simulation software for the lighting industry, such as Dialux and Relux. In this process, a whole set of lighting data, such as light intensity at a certain angle, is linked to the 3D model. This way we can show our customers what a luminaire looks like in an office, industrial hall, or on the street. In addition, this information is also essential in connection with laws and regulations surrounding building design.
Our factories work out the products in great detail in Autodesk Inventor, with all the screws, threads, etc. for the purpose of production. If you want to use them in AutoCAD, Revit or Dialux or Relux, you have to strip them completely because otherwise they are way too heavy and calculations take unnecessarily long or even get stuck. We called in Cadac Group to create 'workable' CAD models.
In addition, they support us in complex projects with the right Revit approach, such as translating a lighting design into a 3D design for a central BIM model.
Peter Kort
Sr. Lighting application specialist & manager visualisation tools -Philips Lighting
From sketch to 3D model
The fixture is delivered as a sketch, image, or STEP file (export from Inventor). This is the basis on which Cadac Group's CAD modellers get to work to create a 3D model (content creation). This model is sent back to us after which we upload it to our data management system.
From there, it goes to the online product catalogue, online Revit library (including instructional videos) and the Philips Product Selector. The first includes all models in different file formats, the second is for Revit users, and the third is a Dialux and Relux plug-in specifically for lighting designers.
More demand for BIM models
Dialux, Relux and 3D-Revit models, enriched with valuable information, are increasingly in demand. After all, the market is increasingly switching to BIM, where these types of models are essential.
This rise in BIM is not only because the government is increasingly demanding it in projects, architects and installers are also increasingly seeing the benefits of it. This allows them to deliver faster, better buildings at lower (failure) costs. As Philips Lighting, we are not in the construction teams, but as a supplier we do have close contact with some members of them (mainly architects and installers).
BIM trends & developments
In addition to supplying the necessary BIM-ready models, Cadac Group keeps us well informed of new trends and developments. They know better than anyone what the Revit user needs in a BIM model. In addition, they support us in complex projects with the right Revit approach, such as translating a lighting design into a 3D design for a central BIM model.
BIM awareness
In the market, everyone is still searching with BIM, including us. To create more awareness of the importance of BIM internally at Philips Lighting, we are organising various Awareness Webinars together with Cadac Group. Knowledge and therefore a solid knowledge partner is very important, because developments are moving at lightning speed, such as ETIM (UNETO VNI) and constantly changing laws and regulations.