Forma Systems puts precast manufacturers’ existing molds at the center of its design software
A precast manufacturer bidding for a building has to work with more than the loads a floor must carry. Its available molds also shape what it can make. Forma Systems builds that constraint into Cimbra Precast, its software for exploring concrete designs during early planning and bidding. Producers can compare options using the casting beds and materials they already have. An efficient shape has to be practical to manufacture as well as useful on paper. Starting with a producer’s existing equipment could make an optimization proposal easier to consider in a real bid.
Designing around the production line
Precast products are made before they reach a construction site. Cimbra lets users select molds from a library and explore designs for different spans and loads within their geometry.
The approach gives manufacturers a way to compare possibilities against their own production setup rather than an unconstrained design. Forma also offers fixed-scope work on individual catalog products and custom configuration around a producer’s pricing and bidding process.
The outputs are preliminary. Cimbra’s terms require independent verification by a licensed professional engineer or equivalent qualified professional before use in design, fabrication or construction, and do not guarantee code compliance.
A choice between software and a project service
A manufacturer can subscribe to the software or send Forma a project to evaluate. The company lists direct access at $250 per seat per month, with automatic renewal.