Calco Trusses & Timber, a 75-year-old family business and one of MiTek’s longest-standing fabricators in Victoria, has always been a leader in embracing innovation. Their recent transition from MiTek 20/20 to the MiTek Sapphire Suite demonstrates their forward-thinking approach and commitment to delivering the best outcomes for their customers.

Whole of House Design: The Turning Point.

For Calco, the promise of “whole of house” design was a key driver in their decision to adopt the MiTek Sapphire Suite. As Peter Crossley, General Manager of Calco, explains, “The idea that one person could design an entire house—from floor cassettes and wall panels to roof trusses—was a compelling vision. It made sense to move to a platform capable of handling the entire building process seamlessly.”

Through MiTek Structure, Calco is now able to create fully integrated 3D models of their projects, streamlining collaboration across trades and improving the accuracy of their work. With this holistic approach, they’re able to offer a more efficient, integrated service to their builders, meeting specifications with increased accuracy and delivering on time.

Improved Efficiency and Scalability

Calco has always been responsive to market shifts, however, the MiTek Sapphire Suite has given them the tools needed to navigate these changes more easily. When the pandemic placed unprecedented pressures on the construction industry, including timber shortages and a surge in demand, Calco was able to adapt. “Sapphire has given us better control over our business, from production scheduling to project management,” says Crossley. “We’re much more prepared for future spikes in demand.”

MiTek’s OptiFlow solution has been instrumental in transforming Calco’s production processes. By transitioning to paperless workflows and enhancing scheduling efficiency, Calco has seen a significant increase in productivity. MiTek Mobile Management further complements this, allowing real-time tracking and seamless integration of job-related information, keeping operations running smoothly.

Enhancing Customer Collaboration

Customer satisfaction has always been at the heart of Calco’s business model and MiTek Sapphire Suite has enabled them to enhance the service they provide to their builders. Through advanced project management tools like MiTek Management and MiTek Reporting, they’re now able to oversee every stage of a project, from material costing to scheduling more accurately. “Our promise to our builders is to deliver the product they need, when they need it,” Crossley notes. “Sapphire has made that easier than ever.”

“Managing costs, timelines and resources has become far more efficient with MiTek Sapphire,” Crossley highlights. “We now have better control over the project lifecycle, which in turn enhances our service to customers.”

Calco customers have also started to adopt MiTek Viewer, offering desktop and mobile access to 3D models of entire projects. Whilst they are still in the early stages of implementing this feature, they recognise the potential it holds for improving on-site collaboration with builders and other trades. “Having 3D viewing tools on-site will open up new possibilities for us,” Crossley adds.

Data-Driven Insights Powering Growth

One of the standout features of the MiTek Sapphire Suite for Calco is its ability to deliver valuable, data-driven insights through MiTek Reporting. By automating reports and providing real-time updates, they are able to track key business metrics with ease.

“We’ve been able to leverage the Bill of Materials (BOM) to ensure all products are accounted for with accurate pricing, which is crucial for managing margins,” says Crossley.

 A Seamless Transition

Calco’s success in transitioning to MiTek Sapphire Suite has been supported by a longstanding partnership with MiTek, underpinned by continuous collaboration and guidance. Peter Crossley highlights the support they’ve received from MiTek’s team has facilitated their smooth transition. “MiTek’s expertise has been instrumental in helping us get the most out of the software,” Crossley says. 

The Impact on Prefabrication and Whole of House Design

At Calco, prefabrication has long been a core focus. The transition to MiTek Sapphire has further empowered them to expand this vision, integrating floor and roof trusses alongside wall panels into the design process. “The Whole of House design philosophy is key to the future of prefabrication,” Crossley asserts. “With Sapphire, we can design and deliver entire homes with greater speed and accuracy, which is important in a fast-paced industry.”

Though some builders still lean toward traditional stick framing, Calco firmly believes that innovations like floor cassettes and roof trusses represent the future of scalable, efficient construction.

Preparing for the Future 

Calco’s journey with MiTek Sapphire is about more than just keeping pace with industry changes—it’s about leading the way. “Sapphire has put us in control. We now know how to manage our operations better and are ready to handle whatever comes next,” Crossley reflects.

Through this partnership, Calco is not only improving their internal operations but also strengthening their ability to serve their builders. “Together with MiTek, we’re able to offer innovative, scalable solutions that meet the evolving needs of the industry,” says Crossley.

As the construction industry continues to evolve, MiTek Sapphire Suite stands as an important tool in helping businesses like Calco stay competitive and efficient, ready to meet the future with confidence.