PlantStream Implementation Case Study Published at Leading U.S. EPC Contractor S&B

Recognized as a Strategic Design Automation Tool Accelerating Project Development Timelines
―― Achieving major efficiency gains in 3D modeling and material take-offs (MTOs) during “early-phase design and estimating ――

October 17, 2025

Our automated plant design software PlantStream has been adopted by S&B, one of the most established engineering contractors in the United States.

Read the full interview:

Japanese – https://plantstream3d.com/jp/sb-user-interview-how-plantstream-plays-a-key-role-in-accelerating-project-development-timelines/
English – https://plantstream3d.com/sb-user-interview-how-plantstream-plays-a-key-role-in-accelerating-project-development-timelines/

Background – Balancing Speed and Accuracy in the EPC Industry

In today’s EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) sector, project scopes are becoming more complex while schedules continue to tighten. The ability to define plant layouts quickly and accurately in the early design phase has become a key competitive advantage.

With nearly 60 years of experience across midstream, gas processing, chemicals and refining, pulp and paper and energy transition projects, S&B is one of the most established engineering contractors in the United States. The company needed a way to produce 3D visuals rapidly during proposal stages and respond flexibly to layout changes.

Before PlantStream, S&B relied on manual 2-D mark-ups and spreadsheet-based material take-offs that were resource-intensive and time-consuming, especially whenever layouts changed. To replace those legacy workflows with a more productive design process, S&B adopted PlantStream.

Key Factors for Adoption

According to Eric Lucas from the Special Projects Engineering Solutions at S&B:

“PlantStream gives us a strategic edge in proposal scenarios where time is limited.”

S&B identified three primary reasons for choosing PlantStream:

Rapid Creation of a Usable 3D Visuals
PlantStream can generate a “usable” routed model in a fraction of the man-hours required by traditional 3D platforms, enabling the creation of multiple layout options from early phase.
Automation with Proven Reliability
Early tests showed MTO accuracy on par with established methods, easing stakeholder concerns and reinforcing confidence in the results.
Low Set-Up Overhead and Ease of Use
Low set-up overhead fits well with fast-paced estimating cycles.

Benefits and Results

Following implementation, S&B has used PlantStream’s auto-routing and MTO generation features to dramatically enhance design speed and productivity. Compared to previous manual methods, the company reports clear improvements in several areas:

Shortened Early-Design Duration – Concept modeling hours have been significantly reduced, allowing more time for value engineering.
Accelerated Alignment – Simultaneous 3D visuals and quantity reports improve cross-discipline and client communication.
Faster Proposals and Higher Client Satisfaction – Proposal teams can now present multiple layout options in days, not weeks.
Improved Collaboration – Shared data reduces rework and manual verification, strengthening coordination between estimating and design teams.

Lucas adds:

“The modeling speed is a clear advantage—being able to generate visuals and reports from the same model is a big plus.”

The Role of PlantStream and Future Outlook

S&B is in the process of incorporating PlantStream into its standard operating procedures for pre-FEED and estimating phases. The company plans to expand use into structural steel and electrical trays so that piping, civil and electrical teams can evaluate options together and reach decisions even faster.

By linking its Houston and India offices, S&B is building a 24-hour design cycle that leverages time zone differences—allowing Houston to hand off a model at day-end, India to advance it overnight, and Houston to pick up a new iteration the next morning. This structure supports true around-the-clock progress and real-time collaboration across teams.

About PlantStream®

PlantStream® is a 3D plant design automation software jointly developed with Chiyoda Corporation. By automating pipe routing and material take-off generation, it reduces design time from weeks to hours while maintaining accuracy throughout FEED and estimating phases. The software has been adopted by major EPC and engineering companies both in Japan and abroad.