France's leading provider of off-site modular construction
COUGNAUD, founded in the Vendée region over 50 years ago, is now a major player in off-site modular construction in France. The company employs nearly 2,000 people and operates from four manufacturing sites and a network of branches throughout the country.
Its core business: designing and providing living and working spaces—permanent or temporary, for sale or for rent. This offering is complemented by three specialized entities: GUILLET PRODUCTION for timber framing and construction, LOUANGE for construction site logistics, and MODULEIS for maintenance, renovation, and spare parts in the modular sector. This family-owned mid-sized company, committed to the well-being of its employees as well as the conservation of natural resources, pursues a responsible policy in environmental, economic, and social terms.
It is within this demanding industrial context that COUGNAUD has chosen FTZ software to structure and optimize the design of its electrical cabinets.
SchemELECT and FTZ-Panel 3D for Electrical Design
COUGNAUD’s design teams use SchemELECT to design all of their electrical cabinets. The software enables them to produce a comprehensive and actionable deliverable for both manufacturers and end customers, including a detailed bill of materials, a single-line diagram, and a structured representation of the cabinet.
At the same time, FTZ-Panel 3D integrates seamlessly into the existing workflow. The software generates a 3D model of the electrical panel that can be directly integrated into RevitTM, the industry-standard BIM design tool in the construction sector. For a company like COUGNAUD, whose projects involve multidisciplinary teams and advanced digital tools, this BIM compatibility represents a tangible benefit in the coordination of digital models.
“FTZ-Panel 3D allows us to produce a 3D model that integrates with RevitTM software”
Tangible added value for design, procurement, and manufacturing
One of SchemELECT’s major advantages for COUGNAUD lies in its manageable database. Teams can use it to centralize and manage their internal standards, which significantly simplifies day-to-day design work. Every component and every part number can be accessed quickly, without the need for manual re-entry or the risk of errors.
This database also provides a direct benefit to the Purchasing department. From projects created in SchemELECT, it is possible to automatically extract a complete and structured list of materials, which can be used directly for orders and supply tracking.
“The manageable database allows us to easily use our standards. It enables us to generate a list of materials for the Purchasing department.”
From the design office to the manufacturing shop floor, via the purchasing teams, FTZ software covers a large part of COUGNAUD’s value chain and streamlines the flow of information between departments.
Accessible and effective technical support
The implementation of new business tools is always a pivotal moment in the life of an organization. For COUGNAUD, the support provided by FTZ during the rollout of SchemELECT and FTZ-Panel 3D was crucial.
The initial training, delivered remotely, was praised for its quality and flexibility. Far from being a rigid program, it was adjusted in real time to meet the specific needs of the COUGNAUD teams, thanks in particular to the FTZ trainer’s attentive listening.
“The training week went well, despite being remote. The trainer listened carefully to our needs. The program was adapted to best meet our expectations.”
Beyond training, the FTZ hotline also played a vital role throughout the tool implementation phase. Every specific issue encountered by the teams was addressed promptly and resolved effectively, ensuring that users were never left without a response.
“The hotline is always available and very responsive, which is greatly appreciated. Every specific issue encountered during implementation was successfully resolved. The team was able to meet our needs.”
Overall satisfaction, from software to service
Based on this experience, COUGNAUD recommends FTZ solutions to other companies in the industry. SchemELECT and FTZ-Panel 3D form a cohesive package that covers the entire electrical design cycle, from the initial schematic to the digital model integrated into Revit, backed by responsive customer service that is always available and truly attuned to on-site needs.
For a company of COUGNAUD’s size and high standards, it is precisely this level of reliability and support that makes the difference when choosing industrial electrical software.
