Virtual Steel
What Virtual Steel is
Virtual Steel is a paid Windows program for 3D steel construction, covering projects from shelters and halls to industrial plants. Direct modeling uses steel construction objects, then carries inserted profiles into workshop drawings and bills of materials. Plates, angles, haunches, and other components are dimensioned automatically. The connection library can be extended, with more connections added each year. Models, drawings, and bills of materials can be exported for further processing, including steelwork as an IFC model. Import and export formats include IFC, DXF, AKT, GEO, MBA, SDNF, STP (DSTV), STEP (214), STL, SMR, NC (DSTV), E57, XLS, and CSV. Since version 11.0, point clouds can be imported, aligned, used for snapping, and checked visually for collisions. Direct links include AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Strakon 3D, MS Excel, and other listed systems. A no-time-limit trial is available by email or phone.
Who it suits
It suits steel construction professionals working on structures, drawings, bills of materials, and BIM exchange on Windows. Projects involving boilers or filters require the plant engineering module.
What it does well
- Automatic workshop dimensions
- Exports IFC steel models
- Broad steel and spreadsheet format support
- Point-cloud alignment and collision checks
- Lifetime license includes two years’ correction support
What to know first
- Windows-only platform
- No free plan
- Plant engineering module needed for boilers and filters
- License costs 2580.00 EUR once plus VAT
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single workstation license | Lifetime license · Two years of software support for corrections included | On request |
| Annual update with extensions (single workstation) | Annual update with system extensions | On request |
| Einzellizenz | Lifetime-Lizenz; 19% MwSt. zusätzlich · Einzelarbeitsplatz · jährliches update €380,- | €2,580, paid once |
| Jeder weitere Arbeitsplatz | 19% MwSt. zusätzlich · Mehrplatzsystem · jährliches update €495,- bis 3 Lizenzen; €650,- ab 4 Lizenzen | €2,580, paid once |
As virtualsteel.de lists them, read 23 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Virtual Steel focuses on steelwork modeling with automated documentation, extensive exchange formats, and point-cloud workflows. Its lifetime license and trial support evaluation, but Windows dependence and module requirements should be considered.
Facts from Virtual Steel's own pages
- BIM
- The product exports steel construction as an IFC model for use in other systems. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Connections
- Its connection library can be extended and is supplemented with additional connections each year. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Drawings
- Added plates, angles, haunches, and other components are automatically dimensioned in workshop drawings. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Exports
- The maker says the 3D model, drawings, and bills of materials can be exported for further processing in other systems. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- File import and export
- IFC, DXF, AKT, GEO, MBA, SDNF, STP (DSTV), STEP (214), STL, SMR, NC (DSTV), E57, XLS, CSV · virtualsteel.de, 23 Sept 2026
- Formats
- The interface page lists IFC, DXF, STL, and SDNF among its exchange formats, and lists E57 point-cloud import. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · virtualsteel.de, 23 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Rees, Germany · virtualsteel.de, 19 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Direct links are listed for Strakon 3D, Glaser isb cad, AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ProgeCAD, DraftSight, MS Excel, GStarCAD, ZWCAD, and AlCAD. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- License and support
- The price page says purchase includes a lifetime license and two years of free software support for corrections; hotline and support are free. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Modeling
- The program models constructions from steel construction objects and automatically includes inserted profiles in workshop drawings and bills of materials. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Modeling method
- direct · virtualsteel.de, 23 Sept 2026
- Module limits
- Without modules, constructions can be planned except for bodies such as boilers and filters, which require the plant engineering module. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Point clouds
- Since version 11.0, Virtual Steel can import and align point clouds, snap construction to their points, and visually check for collisions with existing structures. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Virtual Steel is a standalone 3D construction program developed specifically for steel construction, from shelters and steel halls to industrial plants. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows · virtualsteel.de, 23 Sept 2026
- Trial
- The maker offers a free trial with no time limit, requested by email or phone. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Updates
- Updates with system expansions are released annually without a purchase obligation, and skipped updates affect the update price proportionally. · virtualsteel.de, 12 Oct 2026
Where Virtual Steel stands on Freedom251
- 3D CAD Software#56 of 79