3D Factory Layout Software - M4 FACTORY
The M4 FACTORY plant design system is a database-driven suite of powerful, multi-user plant engineering applications, providing the complete solution for every plant design or factory layout challenge. The system allows plant designers to plan and design complete process lines, plants or factories regardless of size.
3D software for plant design across all subsections
The M4 FACTORY plant design system offers extremely high productivity through its wide range of specialised toolsets for design tasks such as piping layout, steelwork design and HVAC duct routing, all driven by extensive, and extensible, component libraries supplied with the software. M4 FACTORY provides a flexible plant engineering solution regardless of project size. Its multi-user relational database approach provides a rules-based, specification-driven 3D design environment for all the major plant disciplines, including P&ID driven process piping. It provides detailed engineering review capabilities as well as external 3D walk-through tools for project stakeholders.
Extensive catalogues and comprehensive quality control
Plant design with M4 FACTORY is supported by comprehensive and extendable catalogues that are integrated in the software. This ensures a consistent and error-free design process. M4 FACTORY provides automatic consistency and interference checking (clash detection) in 3D space, helping to prevent expensive mistakes during construction. Automatically generated reports, BOMs and parts lists can be used to monitor project profitability. Boasting an integrated advanced drafting environment, M4 FACTORY delivers all the 2D drawings required for downstream manufacturing. A large number of interfaces offer easy data exchange with other 2D and 3D data formats.
Unbeatable in a functional comparison
The M4 FACTORY plant design system is a database-driven suite of powerful, multi-user plant engineering applications, providing the complete solution for every plant design or factory layout challenge. The system allows plant designers to plan and design complete process lines, plants or factories regardless of size.
Illustrate and Communicate with Images and Photographs
Fast, Standard-Compliant Design
Automate Manual Design, Simulation and Testing Processes
Sheet-based Modelling for Fast Results
CAD, PLM, PDM and ERP Integrations for a Seamless Design Process
The M4 FACTORY plant design and factory layout product suite includes the M4 DRAFTING drafting system for excellent 2D/3D interoperability. The software can interface with other 2D drafting and 3D modelling systems or formats, as well as with PLM, PDM, ERP, simulation and pipe stress analysis software. The interfaces listed below are available as standard – we can also develop interfaces and software integrations to meet your specific requirements.
M4 FACTORY comes with a modern user interface. Over the years CAD Schroer has been collating and analysing feedback from users. The result is a clearly structured modern user interface with a ribbon menu and a context-sensitive dashboard; providing the user with even faster access to the clearly structured functions. In designing the new user interface, special emphasis was given to making the software intuitive for new users. All dialogue boxes and functions were updated to create an even more easily accessible and user-friendly design.
M4 FACTORY offers extensive features for easy navigation within a drawing. A wide range of zoom and pan features make it easier to move around and highlight individual areas in order to add more detail. Individual views can also be saved for later use. M4 FACTORY’s extensive selection features make it simple to select the elements you need at any given time. The multiple selection feature allows you to quickly select elements of the same type and adapt or hide them.
The drawing sheets in M4 FACTORY can be individually adjusted for the task at hand. For instance, you can choose a metric or a US (inch) measurement system. The scale and size of a drawing can also be set individually. In addition, you can adjust the scale for individual parts of the drawing. You can even reference parts of another drawing in a M4 FACTORY drawing sheet. The information in the header of each drawing is intelligent, and can be used for filing it or referencing it in the data management system.
As professional CAD software, M4 FACTORY offers a wide range of drawing features. You can define individual styles and use them to draw lines, closed geometries and many other elements. Closed geometries can be filled in with cross-hatching, specific patterns or colors. Dynamic drawing and editing tools make it easier to create and edit a drawing. In addition, you can use customizable grids to simplify the construction process.
M4 FACTORY offers a wide range of dimensioning tools for dimensioning a drawing. Dimensioning can take place according to DIN, ISO, BSI, ANSI, JSI or isometrically. In addition, texts can be inserted and freely formatted, or attached to the drawing as notes. Drawings can be translated automatically, using a translation database and a translation tool. You can also create and import tables or derive them automatically from the drawing information, e.g. in the form of bills of materials or drilling charts.
M4 FACTORY includes many features that can be used to automate repeated tasks or drawings. For instance, symbols and prims can be used to upload individual drawing components. In addition, individual elements can be saved as symbols for later use, or even stored in a catalog. Furthermore, M4 FACTORY includes a parts library from which you can choose individual screws, nuts and other standard parts, adapt them to the drawing, and place them in the desired view.
M4 FACTORY includes extensive documentation that contains information, functional descriptions and application examples for each option and feature. You will also find documentation for each module and each interface. Similarly, administrators can access extensive documentation in order to configure the CAD software and adapt it to company-specific needs. All of the documentation is linked to the software, which means you can use the software to access context-based help for each individual feature.
In order to improve the quality of a construction drawing and make it easier to adapt, M4 FACTORY offers a range of options for optimizing the drawing structure. Layers can be used to combine individual components of a drawing into global elements. Groups can be used to group individual components into one drawing. In addition, individual elements of a drawing can be supplemented with attributes, including analyzable information. All of the drawings are structured within a single worksheet set, where all of the sheets for a project can be saved.
Customer testimonials
„CAD Schroer’s software is a key project enabler. The upgrade to M4 has put us in a strong position for further growth in a buoyant market place.”
Marcello Zanella, Layout Manager at Mariani
„CAD Schroer’s software is a key project enabler. The upgrade to M4 has put us in a strong position for further growth in a buoyant market place.”
Nigel Barnes, Managing Director, CEL International (*now WSP CEL)
„CAD Schroer’s software is a key project enabler. The upgrade to M4 has put us in a strong position for further growth in a buoyant market place.”
Mr Richard Schilliger, responsible for PLM strategy at Burckhardt Compression
See for yourself
Try M4 FACTORY yourself and experience the professional CAD software. You can use the trial version for testing purposes free of charge for 30 days »
Flexible and individual training
In addition to extensive documentation with usage examples and video tutorials, CAD Schroer offers a comprehensive and highly flexible training programme for M4 FACTORY an. Here too, the customer can choose how to undergo the training. In addition to standard training sessions which can be held on site, users can take part in online training sessions which can even be held on an individual 1:1 basis. As a result, CAD Schroer allows you to put together a tailor-made training package which meets your budget and requirements.