Web-Based Screw Conveyor Product Configurator

The Problem

Vagen Conveyors needed a faster way to respond to customer inquiries with accurate 3D models and drawings. Manually creating screw conveyor models in Autodesk Inventor for each sales request was time-consuming and slowed down the sales cycle.

Constraints & Challenges

• Automation: Automating Inventor model and drawing generation from user inputs.
• Usability: Providing a simple, intuitive web interface for non-engineering users.
• Speed: Generating outputs quickly enough for real-time sales use.
• Formats: Supporting multiple download formats for customers (STEP, PDF, etc.).
• Integration: Embedding the solution seamlessly into the company website.

Our Approach

FDES designed and built a web-based product configurator powered by Autodesk Platform Services.

• Capture conveyor configuration inputs via a web UI.
• Trigger Design Automation jobs to generate Inventor models and drawings.
• Display generated models instantly using a web-based 3D viewer.
• Provide downloadable outputs in multiple engineering formats.
• Use webhooks to manage processing status and notifications.

What Was Automated

Impact

What Changed After Deployment

The configurator did not just speed up an existing process — it changed how Vagen Conveyors operates as a business. Before deployment, every customer inquiry followed the same path: a sales representative would collect requirements over email or phone, pass them to an engineer, wait for a model and drawing to be produced, and then relay the outputs back to the customer. This created a bottleneck that limited the number of inquiries the company could handle in a given week.

After deployment, the majority of that workflow disappeared for standard conveyor configurations. Customers now visit the configurator on Vagen's website, select their conveyor parameters — length, diameter, pitch, material, inlet and outlet positions — and receive a fully rendered 3D model within minutes. They can rotate and inspect the model in the embedded Forge Viewer, then download engineering deliverables in STEP, Inventor, or PDF format without ever speaking to a sales representative.

The impact on daily operations has been significant:

• 60% of standard orders are now self-configured by customers directly through the web interface. These orders move from inquiry to deliverable without any sales engineering involvement.
• The sales team focuses exclusively on complex configurations — non-standard lengths, unusual materials, or multi-conveyor systems that require engineering judgment. This is a better use of their expertise and has improved job satisfaction.
• Lead time dropped from days to same-day. Customers who previously waited 2-3 business days for a drawing now receive outputs in minutes. For international customers in different time zones, this is especially valuable — they no longer need to wait for the Norwegian office to open.
• International reach expanded without adding staff. As a Norwegian company serving a global market, Vagen previously struggled with time zone differences and language barriers during the sales process. The self-service configurator removed both obstacles. Customers in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas can configure and download conveyor models at any hour, in a visual interface that requires no phone calls or back-and-forth emails.
• Engineering staff were freed from repetitive work. Before the configurator, engineers spent a significant portion of their week producing standard models for sales inquiries. That time is now spent on product development, custom engineering projects, and improving the configurator's rule set to cover more product variants.

The configurator also changed how Vagen approaches trade shows and customer meetings. Sales representatives now demo the configurator live, allowing prospects to build their own conveyor configuration on the spot. This has shortened the sales cycle for new customers and positioned Vagen as a technologically advanced supplier in a market where competitors still rely on manual quoting processes.

Why This Approach Worked

Not every automation project delivers the results expected. Several deliberate design decisions made this configurator successful where other approaches might have fallen short.

The common thread across these decisions is a focus on removing friction — for customers configuring conveyors, for sales staff managing inquiries, and for engineers maintaining the system. Automation that adds complexity rarely survives contact with real users. Automation that simplifies workflows becomes indispensable.

Before vs After