Category Archives: AEC
Now that Repro Products is an Autodesk National Reseller and sells Xerox equipment, many of our customers do not know our background. With a name like Repro Products Inc. (RPI), newer clients wonder how does that relate to what they do? In 1979, Repro Products started as a reprographer. In this, our first blog, join us for a brief walk down memory lane to see what has changed since 1979:
- The Bee Gees were topping the charts and Disco was King
- The Walkman represented the newest “gotta have it” technology
- A gallon of gas cost less than a dollar
In 1979, while nothing was coming between Brooke Shields and her Calvins, we were selling drafting supplies and were a blue printer. It has been a long time since prints came out blue. And a lot has evolved at Repro Products – it’s a good thing, or we would be a footnote to history like the 8-track tape.
Recognizing the need to change with our customers and technology, through the years we added products and services to align with advancements that affected our design and construction clients:
- Our experience as a blue printer provided us with a unique perspective on engineering, architectural and construction industries and facilitated our move from selling drafting angles and tables into selling and supporting Autodesk Software. We have now been an Autodesk reseller for over 20 years and are a Gold Partner and Autodesk Authorized Training Center.
- Although we still do a lot printing for our clients, our print shop’s production services grew to incorporate digital services including managing plan rooms, metadata entry and data mapping.
- Clients wanted to be able to print in their offices and on jobsites. We became one of the South’s largest resellers of wide format equipment and service.
In the last decade there was another shift — a larger demand for half-size prints. Although printed on 11×17” paper, a half-size print requires more expertise from a printer than producing a regular office document. Five years ago, we expanded our decades-long affiliation with Xerox and became a Platinum Xerox Agent providing multi- function and production devices that support not only our architectural and construction customers’ drawings but also the office staff and marketing teams (and production printers) from a wide variety of businesses throughout metro Atlanta.
One part of our business works diligently with our clients helping them make better BIM (Building Information Modeling) models. The other part still prints 2D plans. As the two worlds become closer and closer in technology, we changed from just being in architects’ and engineers’ offices to also being out with our construction clients on their job sites. The experience of being in the field with our clients, working with them on projects they are trying to win and seeing the end results of jobs they pushed to make come together, we realized there were still some important solutions we needed to provide.
One large hole to fill was accurate building documentation. Our clients need it to bid a project, plan it effectively, ensure it is being built correctly and to provide a more complete deliverable to their clients. Everyone knows that as-built drawings are a myth. And even with BIM-enabled construction sites, the need to ensure what is being built as it is being built is important.
We knew that 3D laser scanning was the answer to getting this vital documentation. When choosing a 3D laser scanner manufacturer to align with, we needed the technology to be accurate, easy to use and travel ready. We partnered with FARO because their scanners fit the needs for both our own services and our clients. We offer the FARO line of 3D laser scanners as well as scanning services for those clients who do not want to do the scanning themselves. We also rent scanners for those in between.
Just possessing accurate data is not enough, though. We knew we had to own the proper data capture and use workflow. Receiving data that is approachable and usable is vital to our clients’ success. For our Autodesk software users, we train on how to actually use the data in the software. Our non-design clients receive an accurate 3D image file that lets them move around, see and measure virtually but with real, accurate data.
So that is 36+ years of evolution in under 800 words! Moving forward, our blogs will be specific to our lines of business so you can get timely information on just the subjects that interest you most: Autodesk software, 3D laser scanning, wide format printing and equipment and Xerox office and production equipment. Check back here weekly to see what’s new.
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