Factory layouts are subject to constant change. When production switches to a different product, the associated production line usually has to be modified as well. It is important to capture all interfering contours in the surroundings precisely, so that the new layout does not cause any collisions.
Capturing the existing situation
Before replanning begins, it makes sense to record the as-built condition as precisely as possible. Given the complexity of the existing geometries and installations, only laser scanners can deliver comprehensive and reliable data on the entire visible production environment in a short time for this application.
Visualising the new layout
In factory planning, 3D design has become far more established than in architecture. This means I can insert the 3D CAD models of the new production plant into the cleaned-up point cloud of the as-built survey once the old equipment has been removed, and check for clashes. This can even be automated, e.g. with Autodesk Navisworks.
As a rule, the production line can keep running while the surroundings are captured in 3D. After all, stopping the conveyor belts would mean a considerable loss. Laser scanning should only be avoided in the following cases:
Strong shocks or vibrations from machinery
High heat generation, as with blast furnaces
Smoke and steam
Selected references
Nordic Sugar sugar factories
Malmö, Sweden
Nakskov, Denmark
Still forklift truck factory
for MFI AG
Hamburg
Plastics technology factory
Elkamet GmbH
Biedenkopf
Industrial building for seed production
Monsanto
Budapest, Hungary
VW plant Hannover
Steel construction for T6 production
SEH
Continental plant
Manufacturing cells
Hannover
VW plant Emden
Robotic production
Jansen Rohrleitungsbau
Paper mill
DSSmith
Witzenhausen
Parker production hall
Chemnitz
DSB Stahlbau
Hipp production halls
MIG
Herford
Would you rely on a 2D survey when replanning in an environment like this?
Transparent visualisation of even highly complex content in a single data model
The point cloud provides a reliable basis for all conversions:
here, a screenshot of a production plant in Autodesk ReCap
With this precise as-built data, replanning is easy:
Screenshot of a production environment before the conversion work
