HoloLens Mixed Reality Fabrication in Ontario
HoloLens mixed reality fabrication at WeFab in Leamington, Ontario lets a trained operator overlay a member’s 3D model on the physical steel in the shop. Used on demand, the check helps catch discrepancies before parts ship, so they are reworked in-house instead of on the job site.
It is on-demand 3D model verification, done in the shop, before your steel leaves the building.
How HoloLens Verification Works at WeFab
WeFab runs one Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset with Fabstation software. The model is loaded from an IFC, Tekla, or STEP file, and the operator views the digital part laid over the fabricated part to compare the two in the shop before shipment.
The headset projects the 3D model into the operator’s field of view, anchored to the steel on the table. Instead of reading a drawing and checking features one at a time, the operator walks the part and looks for places where the physical steel and the model do not line up: a clip on the wrong face, a missing stiffener, or a hole pattern in the wrong place. Jake Remple is WeFab’s trained HoloLens operator.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Device | Microsoft HoloLens 2 |
| Headsets in service | 1 |
| Software | Fabstation |
| Model formats ingested | IFC, Tekla, STEP |
| How often used | On demand, not on every member |
| Where used | In the Leamington shop only (no field use) |
| Discrepancy resolution | Reworked in-house before shipment |
| Trained operator | Jake Remple |
Mixed reality: Technology that places digital content, such as a 3D model, into a person’s view of the real world so both can be seen at once. In fabrication, it lets a part be compared to its design without translating a 2D drawing in your head.
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes): An open, vendor-neutral file format for exchanging building and structural models between software platforms. Because WeFab can load IFC alongside Tekla and STEP files, the model you designed in can usually be the model used for the check.
Why a Model Overlay Catches What a Drawing Check Can Miss
A drawing check confirms dimensions one feature at a time. A 3D model overlay shows the whole part against its design at once, which suits errors of placement and orientation, such as a mirrored plate, a clip on the wrong side, or a missing part, that are easy to overlook on paper.
Mixed reality has moved into steel fabrication because the 3D model is now the primary design record on many projects. Detailers build members in Tekla or similar platforms, and the shop receives drawings derived from that model. Overlaying the model on the finished part closes the loop: the fabricator is checking against the same source the engineer and detailer worked from.
The approach has limits, and WeFab states them plainly. HoloLens is a visual comparison tool, not a metrology instrument, and WeFab does not publish an accuracy figure for its setup. It complements, rather than replaces, first-article inspection and weld inspection by an on-staff CSA W178.2 Level 1 Certified Welding Inspector. Learn more on our quality and precision page.
Where HoloLens Fits in Our QC Process
HoloLens verification sits at the end of fabrication, after welding and before shipping. When a project or assembly calls for it, the operator loads the model, compares it to the finished steel, and sends any discrepancy back for rework in the same shop.
Step 1: Model intake
The project model arrives as an IFC, Tekla, or STEP file, or comes from WeFab’s own drafting team, and is loaded into Fabstation.
Step 2: Fabrication
Parts are cut, formed, and welded under CWB W47.1 Division 2 welding (Company Code DENDE1, held by parent company SEF), following the normal structural fabrication workflow.
Step 3: On-demand overlay check
Where the check is requested, Jake Remple puts on the HoloLens 2 and compares the hologram to the physical member or assembly in the shop.
Step 4: In-house rework
Any discrepancy is reworked in the Leamington shop. Parts are not shipped with a known mismatch and a note.
Step 5: Release for shipment
Once the part matches the model, it moves on to marking and loading for delivery.
Why Project Teams Choose WeFab for HoloLens Mixed Reality Fabrication
WeFab pairs a model-based shop check with the people and space to act on what it finds. The headset, the trained operator, the welders who rework a part, and the inspector who signs off on welds all work under one roof in Leamington.
- HoloLens 2 with Fabstation, loading IFC, Tekla, and STEP models
- A named, trained operator: Jake Remple runs the checks
- Honest scope: used on demand, shop only, with no unsupported accuracy claims
- In-house rework, so discrepancies are fixed before steel leaves the 208,000 sq ft facility
- CWB W47.1 Division 2 welding with 60+ qualified weld procedures
- On-staff CSA W178.2 Level 1 Certified Welding Inspector
- Fabricating since 1994 as South Essex Fabricating, rebranded WeFab in 2026
Model checks are especially useful on complex custom assemblies, where a single misplaced component can hold up installation.
Service Area: Ontario First, US Projects by Arrangement
HoloLens checks happen in WeFab’s Leamington shop, and the verified steel ships across Ontario: Windsor-Essex, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and the Greater Toronto Area. US deliveries are arranged through a customs broker relationship.
WeFab delivers on its own fleet of four tractors with flatbed and step-deck trailers, and handles Ontario oversize-load permits in-house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WeFab check every steel member with the HoloLens?
No. WeFab uses HoloLens verification on demand, not on every member. The check is applied when a project or a specific assembly calls for it. Ask the estimating team at quote stage if you want model verification included on your package.
Can WeFab use the HoloLens on my job site?
No. WeFab uses its HoloLens 2 in the Leamington shop only, to compare fabricated steel to its 3D model before shipment. The goal is to find and fix discrepancies in the shop, before parts reach the site and the erection crew.
What 3D model files can WeFab load for a HoloLens check?
WeFab’s Fabstation software ingests IFC, Tekla, and STEP files. That means a structural model from a Tekla detailer, an IFC export from another platform, or a STEP file of a fabricated part can typically be used directly for the shop overlay check.
What happens if the HoloLens check finds a problem?
The part is reworked in-house at WeFab’s Leamington shop. It is not shipped as-is with a note. Correcting the steel before it leaves keeps the problem off the site, where fixing it would affect the installation crew and the project schedule.
Request a Quote with HoloLens Verification
Send a model, drawing package, or early scope to the WeFab estimating team and tell us which members or assemblies you want checked with HoloLens mixed reality fabrication verification before shipment.
Call 548-919-0125 or email sales@wefab.ca to start a project.
Related capabilities: Quality and precision · Structural fabrication · Custom assemblies · Design and drafting
