Visual Components review

Visual Components ranks third because it makes plant layout work fast and visual. You drag components from an eCatalog of more than 3000 ready-made models, or from your own CAD files, into a 3D scene and connect them with plug-and-play logic. Point clouds and 2D drawings can be imported, which helps when you are fitting new equipment into an existing building. Essentials covers layout, simulation and analysis; Professional adds custom component modeling and geometry tools; Premium adds virtual commissioning with PLC connectivity for Siemens S7 and Beckhoff ADS, WinMOD and SIMIT plugins, and robot controller connections. Simulations export to videos, interactive 3D PDF, 2D drawings and a free viewer app, which is why integrators use it to win projects. The trade-off is analytical depth: it reports statistics, but engineers who need replications, distributions and optimization for throughput studies will get more from a dedicated discrete-event tool. Prices are only available on request.

Who it is for

System integrators, machine builders and manufacturing engineers who design layouts with robots and automation and need to show them to customers.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop 3D layout building from an eCatalog of 3000+ ready-made components or your own CAD files
• Factory simulation with robot simulation, statistics, colliders and process modeling
• Point cloud import and 2D drawing import for brownfield layouts
• Virtual commissioning in Premium with PLC connectivity, Siemens S7, Beckhoff ADS, WinMOD and SIMIT plugins
• Export to 2D drawings, videos, interactive 3D PDF and the free Visual Components Experience viewer

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Fastest route in this list from an empty floor to a realistic 3D layout
• Strength: Strong output for sales proposals, with videos, 3D PDF, VR and a free viewer
• Strength: Three tiers let you start with Essentials and add custom modeling or virtual commissioning later
• Weakness: No published prices; licensing is by contact
• Weakness: Statistical depth for throughput studies is lighter than dedicated discrete-event tools
• Weakness: Robot connectivity and PLC integration are reserved for the Premium tier

Key facts

• Products: Essentials, Professional, Premium
• Component library: 3000+ ready-made components in the eCatalog
• Virtual commissioning: Premium: PLC and robot controller connectivity, KUKA.Sim add-on
• Free viewer: Visual Components Experience on iOS, Android, web and VR

Where it ranks

Visual Components is No. 4 in our Best Manufacturing Simulation Software verdict.