Smap3D GmbH welcomed more than 100 participants to the first Smap3D Summit on September 30, 2026, at the Buschhütten Campus in Kreuztal near Siegen, Germany. Numerous customers, prospective clients, solution providers, and industry experts from several countries took advantage of the event to exchange ideas on current requirements, experiences, and technological possibilities in the engineering and manufacturing of pipes and piping systems.
For Smap3D GmbH, as the event organizer, the focus was not solely on presenting solutions. The goal of the new event format was to bring users and interested parties together to discuss ideas, share experiences from completed projects, and provide inspiration for integrated processes—from process engineering and 3D engineering all the way to the finished pipe
Real-world Experiences
Smap3D customers made a significant contribution to this by sharing candid insights into their day-to-day operations and the software projects they have implemented. Flowserve outlined its journey from isolated, siloed solutions to an integrated system landscape. SELO Food Technology reported on the benefits of PLM integration in plant engineering. Ruland Engineering & Consulting provided insights into a system migration to Smap3D solutions and the resulting improvements in the design process. TGM Kanis Turbinen examined the entire process chain—from P&ID to the finished pipe. Matthias Bosse of the BOSUEZ Group used the example of Smap3D customer Carotek to demonstrate how a seamless design workflow can be established and how the efficiency of the entire design process can be dramatically increased in a short time with the support of an expert.
The practical perspective in particular proved to be a significant added value: Participants were not only able to speak with technical experts but also to directly exchange ideas with other users regarding approaches, similar challenges, and experiences.
Practical Exchange and Live Technology
This approach continued even offstage. In so-called breakout sessions, participants discussed issues related to configure-to-order handling, production planning and control, and the benefits of a unified database, and explored potential solutions. The highly sought-after live sessions, in turn, offered the opportunity to get hands-on experience with software and hardware solutions for engineering and manufacturing and to discuss specific questions with the respective vendors. Smap3D itself presented its software solutions for 2D and 3D piping design as well as production planning with direct machine integration. The partners of the Connected Pipeshop Alliance—Pipe Bending Systems, T-DRILL, and Polysoude—demonstrated machines and tools for pipe bending, measuring, collaring, and welding. In addition, there were examples of customized project solutions from CryoCAD, PDM and BOM software from CAD Partner, VR and AR applications from more3D and xCave Technology, as well as laser scanning software from Scalypso for transferring 3D point clouds into CAD—which, as Smap3D ScanToCAD, is also integrated into the overall Smap3D solution. This allowed visitors to experience firsthand how different technologies interact along the process chain and to discuss specific applications with the respective specialists.
From Plant Engineering to a Joint Celebration
The venue itself also provided a vivid customer example: The Campus Buschhütten is home to a brewing system of the Smap3D customer Kaspar Schulz, which was designed using Smap3D Plant Design. Participants were able to sample the beer brewed there during the lunch break and at the closing reception. Thus, what began as an engineering example turned into a taste experience—and another opportunity to engage in conversation with one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
„With the Smap3D Summit, we wanted to create a space where not only products and technologies are showcased, but where users, interested parties, industry experts, and solution providers can share their expertise and experiences with one another. We were particularly pleased to see how deeply the participants engaged with one another and how many specific questions were discussed during the breakout and live sessions. “The combination of information sharing, live demos, interactive discussions, and casual networking in such a compact format is what makes the Smap3D Summit unique,” summarizes Maxim Lich, Managing Director of Smap3D GmbH.
The positive response to the first Smap3D Summit has encouraged Smap3D GmbH to continue with this event format. The next Smap3D Summit is scheduled to take place in 2028.