Until 2005, CPL CONCORDIA used AutoCAD application software produced by an American company for plant design. “The main problem with this software” states Nicola Zapparoli, CPL CONCORDIA’s Mechanical Engineering Service Manager, “in addition to the high maintenance cost, was the impossibility of obtaining comprehensive answers and within acceptable times to the problems that gradually arose during the use of the program.” This obviously created considerable inertia in the design activity.

CPL CONCORDIA therefore decided to look for an alternative software which, in addition to simplicity and reliability, guaranteeD a punctual and timely assistance service.

Among the various software analyzed, ESApro, a suite of programs for plant engineering developed in Italy, immediately appeared to be comprehensive, simple to use and intuitive.

In particular, the fact that ESApro was an AutoCAD application, like the product used up to that point, gave rise to hope for a transition that would reduce learning and implementation times to a minimum, while the fact that the assistance service was provided directly by the Italian parent company, it seemed like an excellent guarantee on a crucial point.

In 2005 CPL CONCORDIA adopted ESApro: the replacement process was linear and without particular inertia, as expected, a few days of training were enough to start designing with ESApro and a few months to be completely autonomous, also thanks to the help of the ESAin assistance service.

CPL CONCORDIA currently uses all the ESApro modules with satisfaction, which handle process schematics, three-dimensional modeling of the piping and cable routes.

The company can now boast of having reached a level of experience that allows it to make the most of the potential of the program, also thanks to ESAin’s availability in developing software customizations based on specific customer requests, a service often utilized by CPL CONCORDIA.

“Another added value of the ESApro solution” adds Zapparoli “is the continuous webinars organized by ESAin which constantly keep customers updated on the new features of the program.”

“A significant case,” Zapparoli continues, “dates back to the beginning of 2021 when CPL CONCORDIA acquired a contract to build a new gas distribution regulation and measurement station. The client is a major gas distributor in northern Italy. In addition to the complexity of the design, one of the client’s requirements was to manage the project following the BIM process, in accordance with UNI 11337 regulations. In the mechanical design context, the challenge was to create an informative model capable of containing the data required by the client, which could be exported in IFC format and manageable on ACDat, in accordance with the requirements of the Information Specification.” Two BIM Specialists were involved in the project to develop the information model, a mechanical designer to develop the isometrics of the piping lines and a BIM Coordinator who managed the coordination and checks on the internal MEP models and on the structural models developed externally.

Zapparoli concludes: “We managed to produce an IFC file in complete autonomy, efficiently developing the design and limiting errors, applying the Coordination, Control, and Verification phases according to UNI 11337. Finally, we utilized the IFC file by providing field technicians with a tablet equipped with a dedicated APP to consult the informative model containing the tags and the properties of the various items, simplifying the assembly phase in the field and reducing the number of documents to be produced.”