Sunday, 2 November 2025

From Point Cloud to Precision: How Digital Twins Simplify Plant Upgrades in Brisbane and Beyond

Turning Brownfield Complexity into Digital Clarity

Across Brisbane, the Bowen Basin, and Queensland’s industrial heartlands, countless processing plants are running on legacy drawings that no longer match reality.
Walk into any CHPP, manufacturing line, or materials-handling facility, and you’ll find it — pipework that’s been rerouted, platforms extended, and modifications made during years of operation.

When engineers attempt an upgrade based on outdated layouts, these mismatches become costly.
That’s why forward-thinking operators are now using digital twin technology to bridge the gap between what’s on paper and what exists on site.

At Hamilton By Design, we transform 3D laser-scanned point clouds into fully detailed SolidWorks models, enabling Brisbane-based engineers, EPCM firms, and asset owners to design with precision and build with confidence.

What Is a Digital Twin — and Why Brisbane Industry Needs It

A digital twin is an exact digital replica of your physical plant.
Created from LiDAR-based 3D scanning, it captures every bolt, beam, and bracket with sub-millimetre accuracy.
This isn’t just a visual model — it’s a live data set that supports retrofit engineering, mechanical design, and long-term asset management.

For Brisbane’s industrial facilities — from Port of Brisbane terminals to mining equipment workshops in Rocklea — this technology transforms guesswork into evidence-based design.
Whether planning a CHPP upgrade or a new conveyor line, engineers can now simulate, test, and validate in the digital environment before fabrication begins.

Step 1: Capturing the Real World – 3D Laser Scanning

The process starts in the field.
Hamilton By Design’s team uses high-precision FARO-style laser scanners to collect millions of data points per second.
Each scan produces a point cloud, a three-dimensional snapshot that records the true geometry of every structure, pipe, and surface.

Multiple scans are stitched together to create a single, unified model — the foundation of your plant’s digital twin.
This data can be captured safely, without scaffolding or shutdowns, making it ideal for Brisbane’s operational manufacturing and processing facilities.

Step 2: Turning Data into Design – SolidWorks Modelling

Once scanning is complete, the real engineering begins.
Hamilton By Design imports the point cloud into SolidWorks, where the physical plant is reconstructed digitally.

This is where Brisbane’s mechanical design expertise meets advanced 3D technology.
Each new chute, frame, or platform is designed directly inside the scanned environment — no guesswork, no assumption.
Every bolt hole and clearance is modelled against the actual geometry captured on site.

This integration between SolidWorks 3D models and point-cloud data allows us to deliver designs that fit first time, every time.

Step 3: Engineering Verification and Clash Detection

A digital twin is more than a model — it’s a verification tool.
Using SolidWorks, we perform full clash detection and clearance validation before fabrication begins.
We can simulate installation, maintenance access, and lifting sequences — identifying conflicts before steel is ordered.

That’s the difference between reactive problem solving during a shutdown and proactive engineering months beforehand.

For EPCM and GRES-type firms managing complex brownfield projects around Brisbane, Gladstone, and the Surat Basin, this workflow delivers tangible time and cost savings.

Real-World Example: Brisbane CHPP Upgrade

A Brisbane-based EPCM client engaged Hamilton By Design to support a coal wash plant upgrade north of Moranbah.
The task: replace an existing transfer chute and realign conveyor supports during a tight 72-hour outage.

We laser-scanned the structure before shutdown, then developed a digital twin in SolidWorks to model the new design.
During digital fit-up, several interferences with legacy supports were discovered — issues that would have caused major rework if identified on site.

Because the conflicts were solved digitally, fabrication proceeded smoothly, and installation was completed 12 hours ahead of schedule.
The result: no rework, reduced risk, and a satisfied client.

Why Brisbane Engineers Are Moving to Point-Cloud Modelling

Brisbane’s engineering community is known for practical innovation — finding smarter ways to build, maintain, and optimise industrial assets.
Point-cloud modelling aligns perfectly with that mindset, offering measurable benefits:

Accuracy: Every model reflects the as-built plant, not outdated drawings.
Speed: Laser scanning captures an entire facility in hours, not weeks.
Safety: Measurements are taken from the ground — no working at height or confined space entry.
Efficiency: Design errors are caught before fabrication.
Communication: Digital models and e-drawings make collaboration simple across offices in Brisbane, Mackay, and Newcastle.

For firms managing assets across Queensland’s mining corridor, this is a game-changer.

Digital Twins Simplify Retrofits and Debottlenecking

Every brownfield project is unique — but the challenges are universal: tight space, limited data, and even tighter schedules.
Digital twins eliminate those unknowns by giving engineers a real-world reference for every modification.

Common applications include:

Chute and bin upgrades – precisely fitted to existing support frames.
Conveyor transfer redesigns – perfect belt alignment verified digitally.
Pipework and pump tie-ins – no misalignment or last-minute field welding.
Platform and access upgrades – confirmed compliance and clearance.
Dust suppression systems – integrated seamlessly into crowded plant layouts.

When every millimetre counts, digital precision prevents costly on-site improvisation.

How Digital Twins Improve EPCM Collaboration

For EPCM firms based in Brisbane, coordination across multiple contractors and disciplines is a daily reality.
Digital twins provide a shared model that unites design, fabrication, and construction teams under one digital source of truth.

Through e-drawings and 3D viewers, teams can review the model from any location — measuring, marking up, and validating in real time.
This reduces ambiguity and speeds up decision-making during the design and procurement phases.

It’s digital engineering that feels tangible — clear, collaborative, and built for real-world application.

The ROI of Digital Twin Workflows

The business case is simple: the cost of scanning is negligible compared to the cost of rework or downtime.
Across Brisbane’s industrial sector, plant shutdowns can cost $20,000–$50,000 per hour in lost production.
When digital validation prevents even half a day of delay, the return on investment exceeds 500%.

Project Stage	Without Scanning	With Digital Twin
Site Measurement	Manual & high risk	Fast LiDAR capture
Fit-Up Accuracy	Variable	Verified digitally
Shutdown Delays	Frequent	Minimized
Safety Risk	High	Reduced
ROI	Uncertain	Consistent, measurable

For project managers, that’s not an upgrade — it’s an insurance policy.

Brisbane’s Emerging Digital Engineering Hub

Brisbane is fast becoming a centre for digital engineering in mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
Local EPCM firms, fabrication shops, and maintenance contractors are integrating point-cloud modelling into their workflows to stay competitive.

Hamilton By Design supports this shift by offering:

Local expertise with national reach
On-site scanning services throughout Queensland
SolidWorks-based mechanical design and FEA analysis
Fabrication drawings, e-drawings, and as-built verification

Our team bridges the field and the design office, providing a practical link between hands-on engineering and advanced digital modelling.

Beyond the Project: Asset Management Through Digital Twins

A digital twin doesn’t expire when the upgrade ends.
Once created, it becomes a powerful asset management tool.

Plant owners across Brisbane and Central Queensland are now using these models to:

Track modifications and maintain accurate as-built records.
Plan future expansions without new site surveys.
Integrate performance and maintenance data directly into the model.
Improve HSE planning through digital visualisation of confined spaces and access zones.

This is the foundation of Industry 4.0 — where real-world assets and their digital counterparts operate as one continuous system.

Why Hamilton By Design

Hamilton By Design combines mechanical trade experience, design engineering, and digital innovation.
With over two decades of practical and design expertise — from CNC machining to complex SolidWorks assemblies — we deliver engineering solutions that work on screen and on site.

Our approach blends:

3D laser scanning and LiDAR data capture
Point-cloud modelling and SolidWorks integration
Reverse engineering and retrofit design
FEA validation and fabrication documentation

Based near Sydney with active projects throughout Brisbane and regional Queensland, we’re uniquely positioned to support both local EPCM firms and national asset owners.

Get Your Plant Upgrade Modelled Before You Order Steel

Every upgrade starts with data — and the best data comes from a scan.
By converting your plant’s geometry into a detailed SolidWorks 3D model, you can design, plan, and install with total certainty.

Whether you’re working on a Brisbane processing facility, a Bowen Basin CHPP, or an industrial retrofit in Gladstone, Hamilton By Design can help you deliver your next upgrade on time, on budget, and without rework.

Get your plant upgrade modelled in 3D before you order steel.

Visit www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au to request a capability statement or book a scan consultation.

From Point Cloud to Precision: How Digital Twins Simplify Plant Upgrades

The Problem with Guesswork in Brownfield Design

Upgrading or modifying an existing processing plant is never straightforward.
Whether it’s a coal handling preparation plant (CHPP) in the Bowen Basin, a water treatment facility on the Central Coast, or a manufacturing plant in Sydney, every brownfield project faces the same challenge: nothing is ever exactly where the drawings say it should be.

Over time, structures settle, pipe runs are rerouted, and maintenance crews make unrecorded modifications. When a new chute, tank, or platform is designed on old drawings, these discrepancies become expensive mistakes.

That’s why industry leaders are embracing digital twin technology — accurate, data-driven 3D replicas that bring the real world into the design space.
At Hamilton By Design, we turn laser-scanned point clouds into SolidWorks 3D models, giving engineers the confidence that every new component will fit — before fabrication begins.

What Is a Digital Twin?

A digital twin is more than a 3D model — it’s a living digital replica of a physical asset or environment. Built from LiDAR-based 3D scans, the twin mirrors the as-built geometry of the plant, allowing engineers to test, model, and validate upgrades in a risk-free digital space.

When used in mechanical and structural design, the digital twin becomes a single source of truth — integrating point cloud data, SolidWorks 3D design, and FEA validation into one seamless workflow.

For brownfield engineering, this approach eliminates uncertainty, reduces design iteration time, and provides a data-rich foundation for future asset management.

Step 1: Capturing Reality – 3D Scanning and Point Clouds

The process starts in the field. Using a FARO Focus or equivalent LiDAR scanner, Hamilton By Design captures millions of data points across the plant in just minutes.

Each scan produces a high-resolution “point cloud” — a dense 3D map of the environment that captures every surface, structure, and detail with millimetre-level accuracy.
Multiple scans are then registered together, creating a unified 3D dataset of the entire facility.

This digital foundation eliminates the need for risky manual measurements, allowing site teams to capture geometry safely from the ground — even in areas that are difficult to access during shutdowns.

Step 2: From Scan to SolidWorks – Building Accurate 3D Models

Once the point cloud is complete, the next stage is reverse engineering.
Our team imports the scan data into SolidWorks, using it as the base reference for modelling equipment, structures, and assemblies.

Every new design element — from chutes, platforms, and handrails to entire processing modules — is created directly within the scanned environment.
This means the new model fits exactly within the existing plant, ensuring alignment, clearance, and accessibility are verified digitally long before site installation.

By combining mechanical trade knowledge with advanced CAD integration, Hamilton By Design bridges the gap between the site and the screen — delivering models that work in the field, not just in theory.

Step 3: Verifying Fit and Function

With the digital twin in place, the design team can perform full interference checks and clash detection.
SolidWorks allows engineers to simulate installation sequences, check for obstructions, and validate maintenance access zones.

This pre-emptive digital validation reduces the risk of on-site surprises — no more cutting steel or shifting structures during shutdown because a bolt hole was 20 mm off.

The result is faster installation, fewer delays, and safer working conditions.

Step 4: Visualisation and Collaboration

Another major advantage of digital twins is communication.
Gone are the days of handing over static 2D drawings and expecting everyone to visualise how the upgrade will fit.

Using e-drawings and interactive 3D viewers, Hamilton By Design delivers models that clients, fabricators, and site teams can explore in real time.
Project managers can rotate, zoom, and measure within the model — improving collaboration between engineering, procurement, and construction teams.

For EPCM firms and asset owners, this level of transparency builds trust and eliminates ambiguity across the project lifecycle.

Digital Twins in Action: A Bowen Basin Retrofit Case Study

A CHPP client in the Bowen Basin recently engaged Hamilton By Design to support a debottlenecking project.
The goal: replace a series of ageing transfer chutes and install new dust-suppression ducting during a single 72-hour outage.

Traditional methods would have required weeks of manual site measurement and still left uncertainty about alignment.
Instead, the plant was 3D-scanned ahead of time, and the resulting point cloud was used to model the new chute assemblies directly within SolidWorks.

During digital fit-up, the team identified several interferences with an adjacent walkway and pipe rack — issues that would have caused at least two days of rework during installation.
By resolving these digitally, fabrication could proceed with confidence.

The outcome:

Zero rework on site
All chutes installed within schedule
Measurable reduction in shutdown duration and cost

That’s the value of precision modelling — turning what used to be reactive problem-solving into proactive engineering.

Retrofit and Debottlenecking Made Simple

In existing facilities, every upgrade is a retrofit — and retrofits mean unknowns.
Digital twins remove those unknowns, simplifying retrofit engineering by aligning new design intent with existing geometry.

Typical applications include:

Chute and bin replacements – modelled within existing support frames
Conveyor transfer upgrades – validated for accurate belt alignment
Pump and pipework retrofits – ensuring perfect tie-ins
Platform and access redesigns – verified for clearance and compliance
Dust control and ducting systems – fitted seamlessly into congested layouts

Whether it’s a single component or a full process module, designing within a digital twin eliminates guesswork and ensures efficient integration.

Why EPCM Firms Choose Hamilton By Design

EPCM firms and asset owners often juggle multiple contractors, tight deadlines, and high-stakes budgets.
Partnering with Hamilton By Design provides a trusted mechanical engineering partner that understands both the digital tools and the practical realities of plant work.

Our advantages include:

25 + years’ mechanical and design experience
Trade background in fitting and machining for practical engineering judgement
Proficiency in SolidWorks and FEA since 2011
Field scanning and modelling capability using advanced LiDAR systems
Focus on brownfield projects in mining, manufacturing, and construction

When we model your plant, we’re not guessing — we’re designing with data.

The ROI of Getting It Right the First Time

It’s easy to underestimate the cost of poor fit-up.
A single misaligned flange or interference during installation can cascade into lost production, emergency rework, and safety risks.

By using a digital twin workflow, the cost of scanning and modelling (typically < 1 % of project cost) can save days of unplanned downtime worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Activity	Traditional Approach	With Digital Twin
Measurement & Verification	Manual site survey	LiDAR scan (1 day)
Design Basis	Old GA drawings	Accurate as-built geometry
Fit-Up Risk	High – frequent clashes	Minimal – verified digitally
Rework Cost	5–10 % of fabrication	< 1 % (if any)
Installation Time	Extended shutdown	On schedule or early
ROI	Variable	Consistently > 500 %

Digital accuracy isn’t a luxury — it’s an investment in certainty.

Beyond Design: The Future of Asset Management

The benefits of digital twins extend far beyond project completion.
Once the scan and 3D model are established, they form the basis for ongoing asset management.

Plant owners can track modifications, plan future expansions, and link operational data (like vibration or flow metrics) directly to the 3D model.
As a result, maintenance, safety, and capital planning teams share a unified, visual platform for decision-making.

It’s a step toward true Industry 4.0 — where physical and digital systems work hand in hand to optimise plant performance.

Sydney’s Engineering Advantage

While Hamilton By Design supports projects nationwide, our Sydney base gives EPCM firms and asset owners in Chatswood, Parramatta, and the Eastern Suburbs direct access to digital engineering expertise.

For construction projects, fabrication workshops, and manufacturing facilities across the city, point-cloud modelling provides a competitive advantage in accuracy and presentation.
Our digital twins are particularly valuable for council approvals, BIM coordination, and client visualisation — ensuring every stakeholder understands the proposed upgrade in full 3D.

Collaborative Design, Real-World Precision

At Hamilton By Design, we believe the best engineering happens when designers, fabricators, and site crews speak the same language.
That’s why our deliverables go beyond drawings — we provide fully navigable 3D models, e-drawings, and markup views that make collaboration simple.

Every stakeholder — from EPCM engineers to on-site trades — can see exactly how the upgrade will install, reducing ambiguity and improving project flow.

From Point Cloud to Precision

Every successful plant upgrade begins with accurate information.
If you’re still relying on legacy drawings or manual measurements, you’re gambling with time, cost, and safety.

By transforming point clouds into digital twins, Hamilton By Design delivers:

Perfect-fit upgrades every time
Reduced rework and shorter shutdowns
Seamless coordination across design, fabrication, and construction
A digital asset that supports future operations

Get your plant upgrade modelled in 3D before you order steel.
It’s faster, safer, and smarter — and it starts with a scan.

👉 Visit www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au to discuss your next upgrade or request a capability statement.

Saturday, 1 November 2025

What Is 3D Laser Scanning?

Stop Guessing, Start Scanning: How 3D Laser Scanning Prevents Costly Shutdown Delays

The Hidden Cost of Shutdown Guesswork

Every plant shutdown or maintenance outage in the mining and heavy industrial sector carries risk — and cost.
When those outages are built on guesswork, missing data, or outdated drawings, the results can be catastrophic: schedule blowouts, rework, safety risks, and expensive downtime.

In the coal wash plants of the Bowen Basin, in Hunter Valley CHPP facilities, and across New South Wales processing plants, operators know that every hour counts. A misaligned chute, an incorrect bolt pattern, or a pipe section that doesn’t quite fit can push a project from “on time and under budget” to a costly, stressful delay.

That’s why leading operators and engineering managers are turning to 3D laser scanning and LiDAR modelling — the modern way to plan shutdowns with accuracy, confidence, and control.

What Is 3D Laser Scanning?

3D laser scanning (also called LiDAR scanning) uses high-precision instruments — such as the FARO Focus 3D — to capture millions of spatial data points across a plant, structure, or piece of equipment.
Each scan builds a “point cloud”, a digital 3D snapshot of the real-world environment accurate to within millimetres.

When those scans are combined, engineers gain a complete, measurable model of the plant as it truly exists — not as old 2D drawings suggest it should.
At Hamilton By Design, this data becomes the foundation for design, modelling, and mechanical engineering analysis.

From here, the reverse-engineering process begins — translating those point clouds into precise SolidWorks 3D models ready for plant upgrades, fabrication, and installation.

Why Traditional Measurement Fails

For decades, plant engineers relied on manual tape measures, plumb lines, and site sketches. Those methods still work — but only when the environment is simple, accessible, and static.

In a real-world CHPP or processing plant, that’s almost never the case.
Space constraints, elevated structures, and worn or modified equipment make accurate measurement difficult and dangerous. Even small misalignments of 5–10 mm can cause massive fit-up issues once fabrication is complete.

When shutdown access is limited to a few days per year, you don’t get a second chance.

That’s why laser scanning is so valuable — it captures the plant’s geometry as-built, not as imagined. It means engineers can design directly inside that real-world model, preventing surprises that lead to costly rework.

From Point Cloud to Precision: The Hamilton By Design Workflow

At Hamilton By Design, we combine field experience, mechanical trade knowledge, and advanced digital tools to produce design models that fit right the first time.

Here’s how it works:

Site Visit & Scanning – A portable 3D laser scanner is set up on tripods around the plant. Each scan takes only minutes and captures millions of precise data points, safely from the ground.
Point Cloud Registration – All scans are combined into a single, fully aligned 3D model, forming an accurate digital twin of your facility.
3D Modelling & Design – The point cloud is imported into SolidWorks, allowing Hamilton By Design to model new chutes, platforms, conveyors, and pipework directly within the scanned environment.
Clash Detection & Verification – Before fabrication, we run interference checks to ensure every new component clears existing structures, services, and access zones.
Fabrication Drawings & E-Drawings – Once verified, the models are converted into fabrication-ready 2D drawings and e-drawings for seamless communication with contractors and fabricators.

This process transforms how shutdowns are planned, reducing unknowns and guaranteeing every component bolts straight in.

Real-World Example: Bowen Basin CHPP Upgrade

A client in the Bowen Basin recently engaged Hamilton By Design to model a replacement transfer chute and associated access platform.
The challenge: the original drawings were outdated, and the plant had undergone multiple ad-hoc modifications over 15 years.
A shutdown window of only 72 hours was available for removal, fabrication, and reinstallation.

Using 3D scanning, we captured the entire structure within a single site day.
The resulting SolidWorks model revealed several misalignments between the old structure and the intended new design.
By adjusting the fabrication drawings before steel was cut, the team eliminated a major fit-up issue that would have delayed the project by at least 48 hours.

The result?

Installed first time.
Zero rework.
Shutdown completed ahead of schedule.

That’s the measurable value of scanning before shutdown — and it’s now standard practice across all Hamilton By Design projects.

Reducing Rework, Improving Safety

Every hour spent cutting, grinding, or welding on-site increases risk — to people, schedule, and quality.
By pre-validating fit-ups digitally, we dramatically reduce the need for hot work and manual modification during shutdowns.

This not only saves time; it keeps your workforce safer.
Crews spend less time working at heights, in confined spaces, or near operational hazards.
The 3D scan becomes a safety planning tool, allowing supervisors to visualise access routes, lifting points, and exclusion zones before the first bolt is loosened.

Applications Across Industries

While 3D scanning is now common in the mining sector, its benefits extend across multiple industries:

Coal Handling Preparation Plants (CHPPs) – chute and screen upgrades, diverter systems, walkways, and transfer towers.
Processing Plants – pipework reroutes, pump replacements, and equipment retrofits.
Construction & Infrastructure – structural steel validation, clash detection for MEP systems, and as-built verification.
Water Treatment & Utilities – accurate plant mapping for future expansion or asset management.
Energy & Manufacturing Facilities – digital twins for predictive maintenance and capital planning.

If your work involves precision fit-ups, confined spaces, or legacy infrastructure, scanning is your best insurance against downtime.

The ROI of 3D Scanning: Measured in Days, Not Dollars

It’s tempting to view 3D scanning as an added cost.
In reality, it’s one of the most cost-effective risk mitigation tools available to plant owners.

Consider this:

A CHPP might produce $15,000–$40,000 in product per hour.
A single day of lost production equals $360,000–$960,000 in lost revenue.
A full-site scan typically costs less than 1% of that.

When scanning prevents just half a day of rework, the investment pays for itself many times over.
That’s why more maintenance superintendents, project planners, and reliability engineers are integrating scanning into every outage plan.

The Competitive Advantage for Maintenance Engineers

In today’s mining and industrial landscape, efficiency is a competitive advantage.
Sites that adopt laser scanning not only deliver better outcomes — they win repeat work, improve contractor coordination, and enhance their reputation for reliability.

For maintenance engineers, it’s also a career advantage.
Being able to show management and clients a 3D point cloud, a digital twin, or a verified as-built model elevates your credibility instantly.
You’re no longer hoping your measurements are right — you can prove it.

Integration with Digital Engineering & Asset Management

Laser scanning isn’t just a field tool — it’s the foundation of digital asset management.
When combined with SolidWorks, FEA analysis, and BIM integration, scanned models can support a full lifecycle view of equipment and infrastructure.

That means:

Every future modification can be modelled accurately.
Asset data can be visualised and shared across teams.
Maintenance histories can be tied to 3D geometry.
Predictive maintenance can be planned around real geometry, not assumptions.

For organisations embracing Industry 4.0 and digital twins, this is a critical first step.

Hamilton By Design: Bringing Field and Engineering Together

What sets Hamilton By Design apart isn’t just the technology — it’s the combination of engineering experience and trade background.
With over 25 years in mechanical design, fabrication, and site work, we understand both the digital and physical sides of engineering.

We’ve been in the shutdown trenches, worked with riggers, fitters, and fabricators, and know that precision matters when the clock is ticking.
That’s why our scanning and modelling process is practical, fast, and focused on real-world fit and function.

Whether you’re a CHPP Superintendent, Maintenance Engineer, or Project Planner, we deliver one clear outcome:
Confidence that your design will fit — first time.

Serving Australia’s Mining and Industrial Heartlands

Hamilton By Design proudly supports projects across:

Bowen Basin
Surat Basin
Hunter Valley
Newcastle & Central Coast
Western and Central NSW coalfields
Sydney and Greater NSW industrial facilities

From remote shutdowns to metropolitan infrastructure projects, our approach remains the same — accuracy first, rework never.

When Should You Scan?

Many clients ask when scanning should occur.
Here’s the simple rule: if accuracy matters — scan first.

Ideal times include:

Before any major shutdown or outage.
When installing new equipment into existing structures.
During retrofits or brownfield upgrades.
Prior to fabrication or steelwork ordering.
For as-built verification after project completion.

Even a short scanning session can prevent weeks of frustration later.

A Visual Example: From Field to Fabrication

Laser Scanner in the Field:
Engineers position the scanner near key equipment — conveyors, chutes, or tanks. The scanner sweeps across the plant, collecting millions of measurements per second.
Point Cloud Processing:
The captured scans are combined into a unified model, creating a true-to-life digital twin.
Visual overlays show areas of interference and available space.
3D Modelling in SolidWorks:
The design team inserts proposed upgrades directly into the scanned model, ensuring perfect alignment before fabrication.
Fabrication & Installation:
The verified drawings go to the workshop. Components arrive on-site ready to install — no cutting, no grinding, no guesswork.

The Future of Shutdown Planning

As scanning technology becomes more accessible and portable, it’s quickly becoming an industry standard.
In the near future, plant owners won’t ask “should we scan?” — they’ll ask “who’s scanning this?”.

For Hamilton By Design, this future is already here.
We help Australian industry transition to data-driven design, integrating LiDAR, FEA, and digital engineering into a seamless process that saves time, improves safety, and increases ROI.

Conclusion: Don’t Gamble with Shutdown Time

Every hour of downtime costs money — sometimes millions.
If your next project involves a retrofit, replacement, or upgrade, the smart choice is simple:
Stop guessing. Start scanning.

Hamilton By Design provides:

3D laser scanning and LiDAR data capture
Point-cloud modelling and SolidWorks integration
Reverse engineering and fabrication drawings
FEA design verification and mechanical consulting

Let’s make your next shutdown your most efficient one yet.

Book a site scan before your next shutdown.

Visit www.hamiltonbydesign.com.au to discuss your project or contact us directly for a capability statement.

Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

3D Scanning Sydney

Engineering Services