More than a software question
In metal construction, drawings are produced under time pressure: railings, stairs, facade elements or steel structures have to be drawn, coordinated with architects, revised and prepared for the workshop and site. A trade-specific CAD solution is meant to speed up exactly this chain, from the first draft through sections and details to the parts list.
Many firms mainly compare feature lists and licence prices. In practice, something else decides: whether the team actually uses the software day to day. If a program is installed without a proper introduction, much of its capability often lies idle, and the firm pays for potential that never reaches the workshop.
A CAD solution is a package of software, introduction and support. Judging only the software means judging half of it.
Clarify your own requirements first
Before comparing vendors, take an honest inventory of your own operation. These questions help:
- Do you mainly work in 2D, or do you need 3D models, for instance for complex stairs or facades?
- Do you already have 3D software that only needs supplementing for sections and shop drawings?
- How often do title blocks, revisions and project data change, and who maintains them?
- Should parts and material lists be generated automatically from the drawing?
- Which formats do you exchange with architects, engineers and suppliers?
- How many workstations do you need today, and how many in three years?
- How much CAD experience does the team have, and who can train others internally?
Practical tip
Take a completed, typical project as a reference and have it redrawn in every trial version or demo. That way you compare workflows rather than brochures.
The key selection criteria
| Criterion | What to look for | Question for the vendor |
|---|---|---|
| Usability | Logical structure the whole team can follow | How long does a new employee need to produce a first drawing? |
| Total cost | Licence, maintenance, updates, installation, training | What is included in maintenance and what is charged separately? |
| Support | Availability, language, response time, proximity | Who helps when a drawing must go out on Friday afternoon? |
| Data exchange | Common exchange formats, application-independent objects | How well can data be reused if we switch later? |
| Role | Stand-alone 2D solution or complement to 3D | How does it work together with our existing software? |
| Templates and libraries | Trade components, profiles, standard parts | Can you take over our templates and standard details? |
Value for money deserves a close look. A cheap licence quickly becomes more expensive than a seemingly costly overall package if training, customisation and support hours are all billed separately.
The introduction determines the benefit
For experienced CAD users, switching can be fairly painless. For beginners, or teams that have so far worked by hand or with a general drawing program, a structured introduction is the single most important success factor.
- Assess needs: which drawing types, details and lists does the firm really require?
- Assemble the package: licence only the modules you will use.
- Set up templates and libraries: clean up title blocks, layers, profiles and standard details before go-live.
- Train: a basic course for everyone, advanced sessions for key users, ideally on your own projects.
- Follow up after a few weeks: a team workshop reveals unused functions and ingrained workarounds.
Read the contract
Training and workshops are often not included in maintenance contracts. Clarify before signing which services are charged separately and budget for them from the start.
Company size, licensing and alternatives
Metalwork CAD is used by freelance draughtspeople as well as by firms with double-digit numbers of workstations. According to the vendor, most customers of the Swiss company ANTLOG AG are firms with 2 to 5 workstations, while some work with 15 to 25 licences. How you work matters more than how big you are.
- Freelancers: start with one licence and focus on support and good templates.
- Small teams: consistent standards matter more than special features.
- Larger firms: check volume terms and central management of templates, roles and updates.
- Firms with 3D software: a specialised 2D solution for sections and shop drawings can make more sense than a complete system change.
Think about the exit as well. The more tightly your data is tied to proprietary objects, the more expensive a later switch becomes. Ask specifically about export options and the reuse of existing drawings.