Meccanica System – Tecnogas

Biogas & Biomethane, Energy and Automation, Flue Gas Treatment, Power

ESAPRO simplifies piping design in complex plant projects

Key results

Meccanica System used ESAPRO to design an LPG plant in Albania, integrating P&ID, 3D model, 2D drawings, isometric sketches and MTO into a piping-focused workflow.

Integrated P&ID and 3D · Automatic sketches with MTO · Clash checks · Expert support

What we managed to achieve, thanks to the use of ESAPRO,” concludes De Luca, “was a project that, in addition to being clear and detailed, allowed us to reap benefits in terms of quality and time. Additionally, unlike other software, figures such as special system administrators are not necessary. Furthermore, the support service is competent and available

Marco De Luca, owner and head of the plant engineering department of Mechanical System

Our path

“Before acquiring ESAPRO,” says Marco De Luca, owner and head of the plant engineering department of Mechanical System, “we used parametric modelers dedicated to mechanics and not specifically to piping.” In general, these types of products, while performing their task excellently in the design of mechanical components and equipment, present significant limitations in the specific design of piping lines. Consequently, alongside mechanical modelers, we used AutoCAD in 3D mode to generate the three-dimensional model of the plant and in 2D mode to draw the classic views, sections, and isometric drawings.

”Since time is the most precious resource for an engineering company,” continues De Luca, “over fifteen years ago, we already came to the conclusion that it was necessary to equip ourselves with a system specifically aimed at piping that was first and foremost easy to use and provided with adequate support service. After careful research, we concluded that ESAPRO had the necessary characteristics, also because it was a product developed entirely in Italy.”

In 2008, the following modules were purchased: ESAPRO P&ID for creating process diagrams, ESAPRO 3D Piping for creating 3D plant layouts and ESAPRO Isometrics for the automatic generation of the isometric drawings directly from ESAPRO 3D Piping.

“ESAPRO met our expectations,” continues De Luca, “as, having a simple interface, it significantly shortened the time needed to learn the numerous features of the software. Furthermore, already coming from the Autodesk “world”, the transition to ESAPRO was quite intuitive and brought only advantages as it is software dedicated exclusively to plant engineering design.”

Over the years, Meccanica System has had the opportunity to optimize the use of ESAPRO within the company and maximize productivity.

As mentioned, Tecnogas specializes, among other things, in the design, supply, and installation of LPG storage depots. At the beginning of 2024, the company availed itself of the collaboration of Meccanica System for the design of a plant serving LPG storage depots in Albania.

The plant, whose process part was carried out by Tecnogas, was entirely designed with ESAPRO software. The modeling involved foundations, tanks, equipment, and, of course, plant connections; the main difficulty, considering that the available area was almost entirely occupied by 4,500 m³ capacity tanks, was to identify the necessary spaces for the development of piping and related structures (supports, stairs, walkways, etc.).

The produced graphic documents included P&ID diagrams, 3D model, 2D drawings, and isometric drawings with the related MTO.

“What we managed to achieve, thanks to the use of ESAPRO,” concludes De Luca, “was a project that, in addition to being clear and detailed, allowed us to reap benefits in terms of quality and time. Some important features of the software include the Specification Management module, which allows for the creation of piping classes quickly and easily. During the creation of the model, the interference checking function is also useful, reducing the possibility of error. Additionally, unlike other software, figures such as special system administrators are not necessary. Furthermore, the support service is competent and available.

Company description

Meccanica System S.r.l. is an engineering company founded in Prato in 1997, currently comprising about 30 operators. Its specializations span the rail, naval, and industrial plant engineering sectors. In the plant engineering field, Meccanica System’s services are aimed at companies operating in energy, water treatment, paper, and food industries. The engineering services provided mainly concern process design, mechanical design, piping, and consulting for Directive 2014/68/EU (technical files, commissioning of pressure equipment, on-site assistance, etc.). Additionally, Meccanica System’s areas of expertise include pressure equipment calculations and reverse engineering activities on plants. The company has been certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 since 2006.

Tecnogas S.r.l. has been a recognized leader in the national and international markets in the LPG, methane, and alternative fuels sector for over fifty years. Founded in 1973, the company has always stood out for the quality and safety of its products, becoming synonymous with innovation and professionalism. At its main headquarters in Fidenza (Parma), Tecnogas has established a solid corporate structure operating over an area of 20,000 m² divided between offices, warehouse, and workshop. Leveraging its experience, Tecnogas specializes in consultancy, design, construction, installation, and maintenance of plant solutions for alternative fuels. The company offers its customers a comprehensive service from design to turnkey construction of the plant, as well as training, maintenance, and after-sales assistance. Since 1997, the company has achieved the “Quality System Certification” in accordance with the UNI-EN ISO 9001 standard. In 2018, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications were added.