Photo of a complex pipe system used in tunnel engineering by Cembra Engineering Consultancy.
Case Study

Efficient Structural Design at Cembra: Switch to RFEM for Steel Construction and Geotechnical Engineering

Efficiency in Projects with Tight Deadlines

For a modern engineering firm, it is crucial to handle a wide variety of projects—from temporary structures to geotechnical engineering—with the highest precision and in the shortest possible time. With our previous structural analysis software, we increasingly felt like we were at a standstill; necessary enhancements were not being made. Especially for smaller steel construction projects, which often allow only a few hours of processing time, the modeling effort was often too high compared to the result, which slowed down our productivity.

A Dynamic System for Practical Use

After a brief learning curve, switching to RFEM by Dlubal proved to be the right move for our day-to-day work. RFEM offers a practical and intuitive environment that is precisely tailored to the requirements of modern engineering tasks. Whether we are dealing with small steel structures, elastically bedded beams, or temporary bridges on gravel foundations—the software has enabled us to build models faster, adapt them flexibly, and complete calculations more efficiently.

4 Software Advantages at a Glance

  • High modeling efficiency: Models can be created, modified, and reused for follow-up projects in no time at all.
  • Practical calculation of steel structures: Streamlined workflows save valuable time when entering and designing steel structures.
  • Quick achievement of objectives: The intuitive user interface significantly shortens the process from initial sketch to verifiable design check.
  • Continuous innovation: Regular updates and active incorporation of user feedback ensure that it is a modern, state-of-the-art tool.

Versatility in Project Management

Our range of activities is wide-ranging: from traditional steel structures to geotechnical projects and specialized solutions in the offshore and shipbuilding sectors. RFEM has proven to be extremely versatile in this regard. We have already successfully used the software to recalculate an existing bridge from the 1970s that needed to be evaluated for a heavy transport—a process that went smoothly thanks to the transparent calculations.

Partnership on Equal Footing

A key factor in our success is the level of assistance provided by the software developer. Dlubal has provided us with support that goes beyond simply selling software and actively helps users. Minor issues, such as errors in printout reports, were promptly resolved through updates after we reported them. This dynamic builds trust and ensures that we can focus on our core task—engineering—while the software grows and evolves seamlessly alongside us in the background.