TunnelFlow*: Automating tunnel design with
3D configurator

Tunnel Flow is a European engineering firm specializing in the design and supply of corrugated steel structures for drainage, culverts, and underpasses. With decades of experience, they deliver infrastructure solutions across rail, road, and water management sectors. 

* - application and company information is hidden due to confidentiality.

  • Region:

    EU

  • Industry:

    Civil engineering & Infrastructure

  • Main focus:

    Automate design-to-offer pipeline, reduce turnaround time

The challenge

Before implementing 3D configurator, TunnelFlow struggled with several pain points in their tank design and sales process:

  • Manual 2D drafting.

    Previously the engineering expert had to work with projects only in 2D in AutoCAD with the help of outdated calculation software and complex Excel spreadsheets. Any changes required tedious editing of the drawing and recalculations.

  • No comprehension of the final product.

    The team constantly faced difficulties visualizing tunnel geometry for custom dimensions and complex tunnel profile shapes. Repetitive errors in specifications. Often mistakes arose only during production stage when materials were ordered and schedules planned. The waterfall-like workflow lead to delays, so the deadlines were often broken.

  • Too many tools under the belt.

    Multiple tools were needed to calculate data, generate drawings & specifications, CAD-files, and to compile the Commercial offer. Sometimes the process could not be reverted, thus leading to wasted time and money.

  • Unavoidable involvement of engineers.

    The tunnels are an engineering marvel when done correctly, so naturally it was impossible to do things without a skilled expert with experience in such design. And skilled engineers don’t grow on trees.

  • Design pipeline was a bottleneck.

    TunnelFlow was able to sell 5-7 times more projects than it was able to design in time. Turnover was pretty much stationary year-to-year, and scalability was an unrealistic plan.

our Solution

Industrit developed a specialized 3D configurator that fully automates every key step in tunnel design. The system calculates geometry, generates engineering data, and Commercial offer based on user-defined parameters, drastically reducing the need for manual work.

Key features of the solution include:

  • Web-based real-time 3D configurator.

    Instant updates with every change in configuration synchronized for all parties.

  • Automated profile & joint calculation:

    Segment geometry, joint angles, and reinforcement logic are automatically generated according to project inputs like curvature and installation step-by-step sequence.

  • Real-time generation of CAD data:

    Detailed production and installation drawings, models, precise specifications, bill of materials (BOM), and 3D models

  • Precise cost estimation and Commercial offer.

    Fast & reliable branded documentation for Client and Sales department.

  • Intuitive and interactive interface.

    Design of tunnels is now accessible to Sales manager and involvement of the expert is reduced to minimum.

How it works

  • 1

    User opens the web tool and selects a tunnel profile

  • 2

    Inputs custom dimensions - span, rise, segment length, etc

  • 3

    The system instantly generates a live 3D preview

  • 4

    Materials, corrugation types, and coatings are defined

  • 5

    The system calculates and displays weight, bolt and anchors information

  • 6

    Auto-generated 2D drawings with specifications are previewed

  • 7

    User receives a Commercial offer with pricing, delivery time, and specs

  • Production team receives CAD files and specs directly from the portal

Impact in Numbers

  • up to85%

    faster quote generation

  • 5 min

    on any revision from the Client

  • 100+

    configurations monthly without any design errors

Results

  • Instant visual feedback increased client trust and order approval rate.

  • Sales team can create offers without engineering help.

  • CAD and spec files are always aligned with 3D model data.

  • Reduced back-and-forth between sales and production teams.

  • Shorter sales cycle resulted in more closed deals.

  • Seamless integration with legacy ERP via SQL-based export pipeline

Explorehow it could work for you

Curious if a 3D configurator makes sense for your setup?Let’s get in touch

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