Autodesk Vault in the cloud: CAD collaboration reinvented for Gulf Conveyor Systems

Gulf Conveyor

The Challenge

Gulf Conveyor Systems designs iron-ore chutes that take a daily beating from rocks the size of bowling balls. If the material trajectory is out by even just a few degrees, equipment life shortens, more dust comes out and shutdowns could follow. Given the importance and role of their machinery, their CAD models are gigantic and to add to this complexity, their engineers are scattered from Australia to Brazil. They needed a CAD environment that helps people collaborate given the size of models – including a fast connection to a centralised store of data in CAD to support the collaboration and innovation they’re known for. 

Gulf Conveyors CAD Collaboration Requirements

Gulf relies heavily on the ability of the engineering team to collaborate remotely. It was also important to implement a system that would provide a protected environment to share and store engineering data.

  • Allow access to different engineering units located on various geographically distributed sites.
  • Allow for efficient use of the complex models of a big size.
  • Allow for concurrent design changes.
  • Allow for centralised administration of engineering data.

Autodesk Vault Benefits

  1. Ability to rapidly find and reuse data.
  2. Simple administration and configuration.
  3. Improved teamwork and collaborative design.
  4. Automated release and change processes.
  5. Concurrent design changes and automation.
What we Delivered

Modern CAD stood up Autodesk Vault inside an enclosed Amazon Web Services Virtual Private Cloud, so everything lives in the cloud and nobody has to babysit a rack of servers. (Think of this type of cloud as a private data-center built with software instead of hardware.) Their engineers can log in from anywhere, but their Intellectual Property stays locked down: a lightweight VPN appliance (via AWS) tunnels traffic to the Vault, beating Autodesk Vault Gateway’s speeds in Australia. The result is a high-speed, maintenance-free cloud solution with zero physical infrastructure.

Data Management with Modern CAD

Modern CAD stood up Autodesk Vault inside an enclosed Amazon Web Services Virtual Private Cloud, so everything lives in the cloud and nobody has to babysit a rack of servers. (Think of this type of cloud as a private data-center built with software instead of hardware.) Their engineers can log in from anywhere, but their Intellectual Property stays locked down: a lightweight VPN appliance (via AWS) tunnels traffic to the Vault, beating Autodesk Vault Gateway’s speeds in Australia. The result is a high-speed, maintenance-free cloud solution with zero physical infrastructure.

Highlights

This solution redefined what was possible when it came to cross-border engineering collaboration. By migrating to a cloud-first, zero-hardware setup, Gulf Conveyor Systems gained speed, resilience and freedom without compromising data security. The new environment empowers their engineers to work as one cohesive team, regardless of location, unlocking faster project delivery and smarter global workflows.

Project Highlights with Modern CAD
  • Engineers now access files as if they’re local, even across multiple continents.
  • Cloud setup removed all on-premises hardware management and risk.
  • Dramatically improved speed and collaboration.
  • Full IP protection with secure cloud tunnelling.