How Nordic Fastening Group uses Tekla plugins to support designers
Nordic Fastening Group (NFG) now offers a plugin (developed by BuildingPoint Scandinavia) for their customers to helps engineers model bracing rod systems directly in Tekla Structures—accurately, efficiently, and with built-in product data!
In the video above and in this article we explain the benefits of using plugins and custom compoents, and demonstrate exactly HOW you use NFG’s plugin!
What’s the challenge?
Using pre-manufactured components in BIM workflows can be tedious. Engineers often rely on paper catalogs, static PDFs, or generic IFC files—none of which provide reliable data for ordering, coordination, or fabrication. Critical metadata like product codes, valid configurations, or dimensions typically needs to be added manually.
This leads to extra work, incomplete models, and uncertainty during procurement, and time spent correcting issues can quickly add up.
The benefits of plugins and custom components
Embedding real product logic directly into the modeling environment solves much of this friction. Plugins and custom components in Tekla allow engineers to work with configurable, accurate parts from the start.
IMAGE: The Nordic Fastening Group tension rod system (NFG-DS 640) plugin helps you model fast and ensure that all specifications and part numbers are correct to ease procurement and ensure quality!
Benefits for Designers
With NFG’s plugin, designers can place and configure bracing rods and connection plates directly in the Tekla model. Fork types, bolt holes, orientations, and lengths can all be adjusted using simple inputs.
The plugin handles alignment, metadata, and validation automatically—so the final model includes everything needed for coordination and procurement.
Engineers spend less time on manual adjustments and can trust that their components are modeled correctly and ready to order!
Benefits for component manufacturers and OEMs
For manufacturers, offering a plugin improves how products are specified and used. Instead of relying on downloads or external documents, the component becomes part of the actual design workflow.
This leads to fewer order errors, better customer experience, and increased product visibility across real projects. It’s also a practical way to reduce support workload, since engineers are guided through correct configurations during modeling.
IMAGE: Download the Nordic Fastening Group plugin from Tekla Warehouse and you can access the plugin from the ‘Applications & components’ section in Tekla Structures
About Nordic Fastening Group and their Tekla plugin
IMAGE: The Nordic Fastening Group connection lug component (NFG-DS 640-500): Easily select where to position the lugs.
Nordic Fastening Group supplies adjustable fastening systems used in structural bracing. Although they don’t work in BIM themselves, they saw the need to support designers working in Tekla.
Their plugin, downloadable from Tekla Warehouse, allows engineers to configure tension rod assemblies with full control over size, fork ends, bolt selection, and placement. Built-in rules help ensure the geometry is correct and that each part includes the right ordering information.
The final output is a ready-to-order list, generated directly from the model—no guesswork or extra coordination needed.
Download the Nordic Fastening Group plugin here:
Can we help YOU?
BuildingPoint Scandinavia have training and services Available! If you’re a manufacturer looking to make your products easier to specify in BIM tools, or a designer who wants to reduce manual work when modeling real-world systems, we can help.
✔ Development of custom plugins and components: Reach out to talk with our team and learn more about the options!
✔ Live training on Tekla plugin and custom component creation—from basics to advanced use! The training courses relevant are Tekla Structures: Open API and Tekla Structures: Custom Components training. See our Training calendar for the next upcoming live training!
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