Collaboration par excellence

Example: Hasselt City Hall, Belgium — The building of the new municipal administration center in Hasselt, Belgium, demonstrates how seamless collaboration in building projects can minimize risks and save costs from the design phase all the way to commissioning.
A joint project of several brands of the Nemetschek Group.
Nemetschek brands involved: Allplan, GRAPHISOFT, Solibri

Pioneering planning and project execution with Open BIM

“The end-to-end use of BIM solutions constitutes genuine added value for all stakeholders in the building process
because it enables seamless and efficient collboration”
Steven Hendrickx, Head Architect in Hasselt

Large-scale, highly complex building projects in particular require ongoing, reliable and efficient coodination between all stakeholders – both internal and external – across disciplines and between companies. Therefore, in association with other market players, the Nemetschek Group is promoting the Open BIM data standard. This is a universal, collaborative approach to designing, constructing and operating buildings based on open standards and workflows It makes it possible for project stakeholders to collaborate, even if the type of software varies from user to user. The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) interface has established itself as an open standard and is therefore of central significance.

Sharing and evaluating data throughout the entire product life cycle saves time and money and improves quality. The administration of data is key to this digital transformation, for it is only possible to take full advantage of the potential if each stakeholder can access the data that he or she needs at any given time. This begins with a realistic BIM building model, which is an essential prerequisite for a genuine 5D workflo. This model is no longer limited to just 3D construction data; it also includes data concerning the dimensions of time and costs.

Seamless collaboration exemplified by the Hasselt City Hall

Under the management of the architect team comprising Jaspers-Eyers, MASS Architects and Michel Janssen, a new municipal administration center is being built in Hasselt. The complex, consisting of a renovated building section and a new building, provides approx. 17,000 m2 for the city administration and social services as well as offices. The architects and their most important partners are using Open BIM software solutions for the entire construction process. Three Nemetschek solutions are being implemented for this project: Archicad from Graphisoft for the design and planning of the architects, Allplan Engineering for civil engineering, and the Solibri Model Checker for the BIM quality control carried out by the construction company.

From the beginning, all information concerning the building project is contained in the digital building model – from the draft to implementation – including all design details, desired materials, fire protection requirements, acoustic properties, insulation and building structures, and administration. This constitutes considerable added value for all stakeholders compared to the old standard model, which was purely 3D. Thus, this improvement ensures more than just seamless collaboration between all those involved. The complex project can be turned over to the municipality – the proud building owner – with the required quality, on time and within the specified budget.

Hasselt City Hall is groundbreaking – in terms of design, planning and project implementation.

Independent and yet consistent

Steven Hendrickx, the head architect in Hasselt, recognized four decisive factors with Open BIM over the course of the successful project:

  • Individual partners design their model with their preferred BIM software, and with their own templates. Outstanding collaboration is ensured, though, thanks to a common, uniform standard which is specified in advance.
  • The division of labor is defined at the beginning of the project. Data on statics, for instance, have an essential impact on the architecture and structural design. Data on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, on the other hand, are also important but don’t generally flow directly into the architecture. These data, for example, can be sufficiently analyzed with the BIM solution for quality assurance from Solibri.
  • Design changes in one area don’t necessarily affect the plans of all the others involved in the project. The architecture and the building stage are inherently the most closely linked.
  • The expertise of the staff, i.e., extensive holistic knowledge of the various building disciplines, is also critical for the success of the project.

Two examples of the advantage of precise planning

In Hasselt, the construction company was commissioned with excavation, among other tasks. An assessment of the amount of sand that needed to be removed was done based on a cal culation using conventional 2D planning methods, which yielded a result of 800 cubic meters. The engineers used the Solibri Model Checker based on Open BIM and the data provided by the architects and arrived at a figue that was just half this amount, i.e., 400 cubic meters of sand. This shows how exact the work with Open BIM solutions can be.

The steel struts to be installed are another example: With the interface function IFC Exports from Allplan, it was possible to use the BIM model to automatically calculate which steel struts needed fieproofing. All it took was a mouse click to obtain precise results, right down to the running meter. In projects that don’t use Open BIM solutions, these calculations are made by manually entering the data from 2D drawings in Excel or some other software and then recalculating and evaluating the data for use in quotations and planning, a process that is susceptible to error and one that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. These errors often go undetected until the actual cost planning is already completed. In the case of the Hasselt City Hall,  it was possible to avoid such errors from the outset.

Converting to Open BIM pays off

As is the case with any change, it takes a certain amount of time for companies and employees to accept BIM as the norm. The best way, according to Steven Hendrickx, is to start out by planning smaller projects using BIM. The experience thereby gained will make it possible to complete successively larger BIM projects. The advantages of collaborating through Open BIM are obvious: The entire workflow is much simpler for all project stakeholders, and building projects are completed within time and cost budgets.

CONCLUSION

Consistent standards and open interfaces in par-ticular are essential for successful building projects. Stakeholders need solutions that can “work together” for all and any individual tasks being performed. Seamless collaboration between humans and machines: This is ensured with Open BIM, and backed by the brands of the Nemetschek Group.

Reference projects on this topic:

Clear double-digit revenue growth in first half of 2017 with continued high profitability

Corporate News Company News

  • Revenue for the half year grows by 20.1% to EUR 194.0 million
  • EBITDA increases to EUR 51.7 million, which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 26.6%
  • Positive outlook for 2017 unchanged

Munich, July 28, 2017 – The Nemetschek Group (ISIN DE 0006452907), one of the leading providers of software solutions worldwide for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry, has continued on its course of dynamic business development in the second quarter of 2017, maintaining high levels of profitability. The greatest growth impulses originated from abroad and from recurring revenues from maintenance contracts and rental models.

Major indicators of the Group’s success

  • Group revenue in the first half of the year amounted to EUR 194.0 million, which is 20.1% higher than the corresponding value from the previous year (EUR 161.5 million), whereby organic growth reached 14.8% and is therefore at the top end of the target range. In the second quarter, Group revenues climbed by 16.5% to EUR 97.7 million (previous year: EUR 83.8 million). The high basis for comparison resulting from the very strong Q2 from the previous year must be considered. Organic growth in Q2 of this year was 11.6%.
  • The Nemetschek Group further reinforced its international alignment. Non-domestic revenue rose considerably and over-proportionally by 24.6% to EUR 136.7 million in the first half of the year 2017. Growth regions were primarily North America, Asia and Scandinavia. The non-domestic proportion of Group revenue increased further to 70.5% (previous year’s period: 67.9%).
  • Recurring revenue from maintenance contracts and rental models was subject to a strong rise of 29.1%. In the first six months, it increased to EUR 88.7 million (previous year’s period: EUR 68.7 million) and thus made up approximately 45.7% of total revenue. Revenues from software licenses also rose in the double digits by 13.0% to EUR 96.9 million (previous year’s period: EUR 85.8 million).
  • The six-month earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 18.3% to EUR 51.7 million. The previous year’s figure in the amount of EUR 43.7 million was adjusted for a positive one-off gain from Q2 2016 in the amount of EUR 1.9 million resulting from a legal dispute. In the first half of the year 2017, the EBITDA margin of 26.6% almost reached the corresponding level from the previous year (27.0%). Before adjustment for the one-off gain in the previous year, EBITDA increased by 13.4%.
  • Net income for the year (Group shares) increased from January to June 2017 by 21.1% to EUR 27.7 million (first half of 2016: EUR 22.9 million adjusted for the positive one-off gain). The adjusted earnings per share rose from EUR 0.59 to EUR 0.72. Before adjustment for the one-off effect in the previous year, the net income for the year increased by 14.5%.

“After the first half year, we are completely within the anticipated ranges for 2017,” said Patrik Heider, Spokesman and CFOO of the Nemetschek Group. “The second quarter was certainly challenging for us – not only because we had a very strong quarter in the previous year, but also because one of our largest brands from the Design segment shifted its product release and the corresponding revenue from the second quarter to the second half of the year. This makes us even more positive in our outlook for the second half of this year. Nemetschek is well on the way to another record year in terms of revenue and earnings.”

Accounting ratios show financial strength

The Group’s net asset structure and financial position remained extremely sound as of the end of the first half of the year. The equity ratio amounted to 43.6% as of June 30, 2017 (December 31, 2016: 44.4%). Despite the acquisition of dRofus at the beginning of this year and the dividend payment of around EUR 25 million after the annual general meeting on June 1, 2017, cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 83.4 million (December 31, 2016: EUR 112.5 million).

Development of the segments in the first half of the year 2017

In the Design segment, revenue rose by 13.1% to EUR 120.9 million (previous year’s period: EUR 106.8 million). Purely organic growth was 10.7% without considering dRofus, which was acquired at the beginning of the year (revenue: EUR 2.6 million). The shift of the product release of one of the largest brands from the second quarter to the second half of the year is reflected in the organic growth. EBITDA increased by 13.2% to EUR 33.1 million (previous year: EUR 29.2 million). The operating margin thus remained unchanged compared to the previous year at 27.4%.

Also, supported by the acquisition of Design Data (revenue amount of EUR 5.7 million), the Build segment expanded very strongly. Segment revenue increased by 41.6% to EUR 57.1 million (previous year’s period: EUR 40.3 million). Revenue rose organically by a high 27.4%. EBITDA increased almost proportional to revenue by 40.5% to EUR 12.8 million (first half of the year 2016: EUR 9.1 million) despite investment in future growth. EBITDA margin remained constant at 22.4% (previous year’s period: 22.6%).

The Manage segment sustained the positive development from the first quarter and increased revenues in the first half of the year by 17.5% to EUR 3.8 million (previous year’s period: EUR 3.2 million). EBITDA increased over-proportionally compared to revenue by 21.7%, reaching EUR 0.7 million. It was possible to increase the EBITDA margin accordingly to 18.1% (previous year: 17.5%).

Half-year revenue in the Media & Entertainment segment increased to EUR 12.3 million, a rise of 10.1% compared to the previous year’s period (EUR 11.2 million). The EBITDA margin remained at a high 41.6% (previous year: 42.9%).

Very positive outlook for 2017 continues

Following the very favorable development in the first half of the year, the executive board confirms the previously set targets for the year 2017. It continues to anticipate Group revenue ranging from EUR 395 million to EUR 401 million (+17% to +19% compared to previous year). Purely organic growth is expected to be between 13% and 15%.

Regarding Group EBITDA, the executive board anticipates an increase to between EUR 100 million and EUR 103 million. The objective is to maintain the high margin level of 2016 despite strategic investment in future growth and EBITDA margins which are still below average for the strongly expanding brands acquired.

Overview of key figures

In EUR millionQ2 2017Q2 2016Δ in %6M 20176M 2016Δ in %
Revenue97.783.8+16.5%194.0161.5+20.1%
- thereof software licences

48.4

45.5+6.4%

96.9

85.8+13.0%
- thereof recurring revenues44.935.0+28.2%88.768.7+29.1%
EBITDA25.324.6+3.1%51.745.6+13.4%
Margin25.9%29.3% 26.6%28.2% 
EBITDA (w/o one-time effect)25.322.7+11.7%51.743.7+18.3%
Margin (w/o one-time effect)25.9%27.1% 26.6%27.0% 
EBITA (normalized EBIT)23.322.9+2.1%47.742.1+13.3%
Margin23.9%27.3% 24.6%26.1% 
Net income (Group shares)13.513.1+2.6%27.724.2+14.5%
Earnings per share in euros0.350.34+2.6%0.720.63+14.5%
Net income (Group shares) before depreciation from purchase price allocation15.915.1+5.5%32.628.0+16.1%
Earnings per share before depreciation from purchase price allocation0.410.39+5.5%0.850.73+16.1%

Key figures by segment

In EUR millionQ2 2017Q2 2016Δ in %6M 20176M 2016Δ in %
Design      
Revenue60.255.4+8.6%120.9106.8+13.1%
EBITDA15.915.8+0.9%33.129.2+13.2%
Margin26.5%28.5% 27.4%27.4% 
Build      
Revenue29.220.8+40.4%57.140.3+41.6%
EBITDA6.54.1+58.2%12.89.1+40.5%
Margin22.3%19.8% 22.4%22.6% 
Manage      
Revenue2.01.7+15.0%3.83.2+17.5%
EBITDA0.40.4+19.9%0.70.6+21.7%
Margin21.7%20.8% 18.1%17.5% 
Media & Entertainment      
Revenue6.46.0+7.3%12.311.2+10.1%
EBITDA2.52.4+1.8%5.14.8+6.8%
Margin38.8%40.9% 41.6%42.9% 

The complete six-month report for 2017 is available for download in the Investor Relations section of the company website.

Unsere Marken