BIM objects for manufacturers from the CAD model
In short
BIM objects for manufacturers are simplified 3D models of real products with the properties planners need, delivered as IFC files or Revit families. We derive them from your Solid Edge, SolidWorks or Inventor models, add properties to the rules of your target platforms and automate the export for whole product ranges.
Updated 27 Oct 2026
Architects and building services engineers plan with BIM objects and expect them from manufacturers. The exact models already exist in Solid Edge, SolidWorks or Inventor, but they are too detailed, reveal internal design and lack the properties planners look for.
- Start with
- Sprintone use case · €9,900
- Systems
- Solid Edge, SolidWorks, Inventor, IFC, Revit families
- Result
- BIM objects for every variant
How it works
- 01
Agree the target
We clarify which formats and platforms the objects are for, such as IFC, Revit families or a manufacturer platform like BIMobject, which level of detail planners need and which properties each platform requires.
- 02
Reduce the model
The object keeps the outer shape, openings, clearances and connection points. Internal parts are removed with the CAD system's own tools, such as the Simplify environment in Solid Edge, Defeature in SolidWorks or Simplify in Inventor, which also protects your design know-how.
- 03
Add classification and properties
Classification, insertion point and properties are set in each system: IFC export options in SolidWorks, BIM element types and property mappings in Solid Edge, connectors for duct, pipe and electrical in Inventor's BIM Content environment. Properties come from PDM or ERP; AI proposes missing values from data sheets as a preview, and an engineer confirms them.
- 04
Export every variant
A routine over the Solid Edge or SolidWorks API, or an iLogic rule in Inventor, runs through the variants, exports IFC or RFA files and checks names, properties and file size. An engineer reviews samples before the upload.
What you get
BIM objects for the product range
IFC files and Revit families per variant, with connectors, insertion point and the agreed properties.
Property mapping
A documented mapping from CAD, PDM and ERP attributes to IFC property sets, Revit parameters and platform fields.
Repeatable export
An export routine that rebuilds all objects when products change, so the library stays current.
Limits
Solid Edge and SolidWorks write IFC but no Revit families, so their route into Revit is IFC. Inventor exports Revit families, but only as simple solid geometry for one configuration. If planners need a parametric family with types they can switch in Revit, it has to be built in Revit or with the Revit API, which is a separate task. How much detail and which properties an object needs depends on the platform and the project; LOD and the level of information need (ISO 7817-1) describe levels and leave the content to the project. Performance values such as air flow or sound power come from tests and data sheets, and the CAD model cannot supply them.
Systems
- Solid Edge
- SolidWorks
- Inventor
- IFC
- Revit families
Frequently asked questions
What is a BIM object for building product manufacturers?
A BIM object is a digital model of a real product that planners place in their building model. It combines simplified geometry with properties such as dimensions, performance data, classification and manufacturer details, and is published as an IFC file, a Revit family or in other BIM formats. Manufacturers offer them on their own website or on platforms such as BIMobject.
Can Solid Edge and SolidWorks export IFC files for BIM?
Yes. SolidWorks exports IFC 2x3 and IFC 4 and can assign OmniClass or Uniclass classes and custom properties during export. Solid Edge supports IFC import and export from Solid Edge 2025, with property mappings driven by Excel spreadsheets. Neither writes Revit families directly; Inventor exports simple RFA families from its BIM Content environment, and parametric families with switchable types are built in Revit.
What is the difference between LOD and LOIN in BIM?
LOD, the level of development, describes how far a model element is worked out, in stages such as LOD 100 to LOD 400 in the BIMForum specification. LOIN, the level of information need, is defined in ISO 7817-1 and describes which geometry, information and documents a project needs for a given purpose. Manufacturer objects are usually made for planning, so they show the installed shape and connections without fabrication detail.
How much effort does it take to create BIM objects for a whole product range?
It depends on the number of variants, how clean the CAD models and product data are and which formats are required. Modelling each variant by hand scales poorly; an automated export from configurable CAD models produces all objects with the same rules and can be repeated after product changes. A fixed-price Sprint covers one use case, such as the automated IFC export for one product family.
Talk to us about your task.
In the free 45-minute intro call we show a live demo on comparable geometry. Someone from our team replies personally within one working day.