The Agridome™ Supply Process
by Alejandro Algara
As anyone who has ever tried to sell something in the construction world knows, the first thing every client wants to know is: "How much will this cost me?" And a close second is: "When will I be able to use it?"
In this article we will focus on the second one. How much time does it take to supply an Agridome™ so that you can start protecting your commodity from the elements.
From the moment an order is placed and all the necessary information is provided to Geometrica, the clock starts running. The Geometrica team will be hands-on to exceed client expectations.
The supply process has four tiers that bring the project from paper to amazing reality: design, fabrication, freight and installation. Below is a brief description of each.
Design
This process usually takes around six weeks to complete after the date of order.
Shortly after a client places an order for an Agridome, an internal kick-off meeting is held to provide all the project's information to the design department.
Once the designers have all the required information, they start generating the geometry, applying loads and running multiple analyses to make sure the structure will perform as expected. When the results are acceptable, a design report showing the whole design process and results is prepared for the client to approve, as well as a set of drawings showing general layouts of the structure and details of the required sections.
To design, we use a proprietary software called "Structural." The software runs the calculations required for the design, details the structure, and provides information to procure the materials, fabricate the structural components, and export the data to pack the elements for shipment.
After submitting the design report and drawings, the client's engineering staff reviews these documents. This step is very important to be sure that the dome is made to the exact client requirements. Client's approval is required in order for procurement of raw materials and fabrication of components to proceed. This review and approval usually takes one or two weeks.
Fabrication
The fabrication process varies depending on the size of the structure, but generally the first truck will be ready 10 weeks after the design and drawing approval. This accounts for delivery of raw materials from Geometrica's suppliers, as well as fabrication of the components required to load the first truck.
Fabrication is done at our plant in Monterrey, Mexico, which is about two hours away from the U.S. border. It is done following the design department's work orders.
From the moment the fabrication line starts, it doesn't stop. This way we can continue loading and sending trucks with enough frequency to allow for uninterrupted progress on site.
Freight
The first truck will arrive on site one or two weeks after dispatch. This accounts for all paperwork and processes that the cargo needs to go through at the border.
As the fabrication line produces dome parts, and after these have been approved by the quality department, all structural components, cladding and accessories are packaged to ensure the cargo's safe arrival.
Geometrica materials are doubly packed. Structural parts and accessories are loaded into sturdy metal crates or frames and those packages are loaded onto platforms for transportation by road. Frames, crates and bundles are supplied by Geometrica to protect your goods.
Each frame, crate and pallet is marked and labeled for ease of tracking and to ensure proper installation of the structure.
Installation
We have arrived at the final stage to complete the supply process. As it is for fabrication, installation also depends on the size of the dome, as well as crew size and available equipment on site. A good estimation for a midsize dome (from 225 to 350 feet in diameter) would be 12 weeks from the arrival of the first truckload at site. This includes the erection of the dome and cladding installation.
The moment the first truck arrives on site, the installation process can start. The first structural components that will be received on site will be the first ones needed to start the erection of the dome.
Geometrica provides a complete and detailed installation manual, which will be used throughout the process. Geometrica will also send one technical consultant and one installation expert to help train and assist local workers during the installation works.
The dome is built progressively, by adding "spiders" to the already-built part of the structure on the work front. A spider is a structure subassembly that usually consists of one hub and two tubes. Once the structure assembly is finished, the definitive anchoring is completed by welding. Cladding installation is done afterwards.
Once the cladding is installed, the supply process ends and the Agridome is completed. Now you can fill your Agridome with the commodity of your choice.
Summary
If you were keeping track while you were reading, you now know that total lead time from order to completion of an Agridome is roughly 31 weeks. This means that to get your dome in October, in time for the harvest, you need to place your order in March.
So plan ahead. Fill an inquiry form below for your Agridome and put yourself in position to maximize your bounty this fall.
