Recent News

November 2023: ShapeBuilder 14.0

We have implemented customer-suggested enhancements to streamline your work flow. See the upgrade guide in the Help for a complete list of new features and improvements.

September 2023: ConcreteBending 7.0

ConcreteBending updates building codes and material specifications. We've added the automation capabilities of the command line and scripting. See the upgrade guide in the Help for a complete list of new features and improvements.

June 2023: VisualAnalysis 22.0

VisualAnalysis 22.0 implements the latest building codes and material specifications. It also offers numerous customer-requested improvements! See the upgrade guide in the Help for a complete list of new features and improvements.

Feb 2023: VisualFoundation 12.0

The latest upgrade for designing mat footings, pile caps, and grade beams is available for preview. You can automate foundation design via a scripting language to maximize your productivity. It also supports the latest design specifications. See the upgrade guide in the help for more details.

Nov. 2022: VAConnect 6.0

The latest upgrade for this steel and wood connection design tool adds three new steel connection types: column splices, beam over HSS column, and double-angle shear connections. This brings the product up to 10 types of connections it will help you design. Currently at the same price that it was when it only did 3. This tool is a bargain.

October 2022

The self-service portal is now officially the 'Customer Portal'. There is a link on the home page in the upper right corner.

IES is running a customer appreciation sale all month. Look for the email with details.

Sept. 2022: ShapeBuilder 13.0

ShapeBuilder 13.0 is released. This program helps engineers understand custom member cross sections and built-up or cut-down shapes. New features include a command-line with scripting, and improvde CAD file handling.

June 2022: ConcreteSection 3.0

The latest release of ConcreteSection offers engineers fast and easy ways to analyze reinforced concrete sections. Design new beams or columns, or investigate existing ones with cracked stress and strain with interaction diagrams.

April 2022: VisualPlate 6.0

We have upgraded the economical VisualPlate tool for plate-bending solutions in all materials. This tool is a great option when you do not need the full capabilities of VisualAnalysis, VisualFoundation, or ConcreteBending.

icon Also released in April is the IES Updater 4.0. The latest version of this free utility is smart about upgrades and is easier to use! It can help you manage installation, removal, and upgrades for all your IES tools, and it can check for updates unobtrusively when you startup your machine. Grab it from the downloads page.

March 2022

NASCC Exhibitor badge
Meet IES engineers and learn more about our products at the NASCC in Denver. IES will be in exhibiting (booth 1912), stop in and say hello. Get some IES swag and register to win a prize.

Feb. 2022: VisualAnalysis 21

Our latest upgrade brings current material specifications, performance boosts, and productivity tweaks. Customers are celebrating the powerful addition of a command window with scripting features in the advanced level. We have also updated the concrete design specifications, and added CSA steel for LRFD.

A new version of the icon VARevitLink is also available.

December 2021: Price Changes

IES has not raised prices since 2019. We will be implementing some price changes in 2022, based on a roughly 5% increase on many products. Tools that get few upgrades are not increasing, and some of the suite prices are actually decreasing to make them a better value.

Nov. 2021: ConcreteBending 6.0

Loaded with practical improvements to streamline your design process, this new version is faster, more accurate and does a better job of reporting your slab and beam designs.

Sept. 2021: VisualFoundation 11.0

It's all about the base! We are excited to release the latest upgrade of this popular product. The new version helps engineers get more accurate FEA results with less effort. It also helps you check special reinforcement around piers and piles. Other fixes and minor improvements were added.

August 2021: QuickMasonry 6.0

A new upgrade is available for QuickMasonry, which adds new features, simplifies operations, and utilizes the latest TMS specification.

August 13, 2021: FIPS Compliant

IES products are now FIPS compliant. This allows our tools to run where extra security measures are in place, such as USA federal government organizations.

August 2021: LoadHelper 2.0

ASCE 7 loading can be complex and confusing. Let our free utility program help you stay organized and accurate. The new tool can help you with load definitions and works with VisualAnalysis.

July 2021: IES Updater 3.01

There is a new version of the updater that works a little bit better. Download it manually from the downloads page to replace your old version.

July 2021: ShapeBuilder 12.0

When customers speak, IES responds. When we rewrote ShapeBuilder from the ground up in 2012 we made 90% of the product easier to use, faster, more reliable, and also more accurate. We also lost some of the simplicity of text-based custom databases with the newer, smarter, XML-based data files. We are (finally?!) happy to announce built-in tooling for the management of your custom shape databases! You may now edit, delete, move, and rename your shapes and folders--all within the program. We also added two new parametric shapes: bent eve struts, with angled flanges, and bent zee shapes with lips.

Feb. 2021: VisualAnalysis 20.0

Since 1994 this popular tool has been making for happy engineers. Where the first version pioneered the graphical user interface on Windows 3, this new version continues to expand the power and performance engineers require today. We have updated the Aluminum design specification, added concrete column checks for tension and flexure, improved the reliability and performance of area side (or edge) loading, added a library of small tube steel shapes (from STI), and improved the capabilities for specifying seismic loads.

VisualAnalysis has remained a top-tier analysis and design tool for over 26 years. Thanks go to the many IES customers who have helped make it better with each iteration.

2020

Sept. 2020: VAConnect 5.0

IES is excited to announce wood design connection additions to VAConnect with a bolted shear connection and a fastener withdrawal component. We have also expanded the steel connections to include two new moment connections: bolted flange plate and bolted end plate.

February 2020: VisualFoundation 10.0

Engineers have more power and flexibility for designing foundations with the latest release of VisualFoundation. Better control over rebar patterns, a smarter rebar selection dialog box, and control over shear legs for grade beams are now included. There have been a dozen or so other changes to make the program help you get answers that are more reliable and easier to access. Find this major upgrade on the downloads page. It is free if your VisualFoundation license is active. Get the complete list of new features in the Help: look for the upgrade guide.

2019

September 2019: New Entry-level VisualAnalysis

2D frame results To help meet the needs of engineers, architects, contractors and other professionals who design small structures, or even just a few beams and columns, IES has introduced a low cost member design tool. The new level is called VisualAnalysis 2D Design and is currently priced at just $650/year for a single-user subscription. It is a low-risk way to build trust in VisualAnalysis, and you can always upgrade to the more capable levels should you have the need. 2D truss model

Features Include:

2D Modeling of beams, columns, frames, trusses
Loads on nodes and members
Customizable and automatic load combinations
Static analysis: 1st order, P-delta, AISC Direct
Steel and wood code checks, including deflections
Graphical results, member diagrams
Excellent, template and custom reports
Comprehensive help with free training videos

Get Started

Learn more about the various VisualAnalysis levels. After deciding which level is correct for your work, purchase your license today.

August 2019: VisualAnalysis 19 Release

Composite beam VisualAnalysis 19.0 offers major new benefits to improve your productivity and keep you current with the latest design specifications. We improved performance, listened to customer feedback with fixes and minor enhancements, too! See the upgrade guide in the Help for all the changes.

Upgrade Now!

This release is free to any customer with an active license as of August 2, 2019. You may uninstall any old version and start using the new one. Find it in downloads or use your IES Updater.

If your license expired, check the self-service portal for upgrade options, or contact sales.

July 2019: VisualAnalysis 19 Beta

VA 19.0 is now available for beta-testing for existing licensed customers. Big changes include:

Canadian CSA A23.3 concrete design
ACI 350 for concrete tanks
Better steel composite beam design
Updated CFS with AISI 2018
Improved report extreme filtering
Much more...

June 2019: Classroom Training

IES recently hosted 1-day training classes for VisualAnalysis and the finite element method. Classes were held in Boston and NYC/NJ area. Customers received personalized assistance, learned tips and tricks, and earned 8 hours of professional development time. If you would like training in your area, please contact our office to let us know.

May 2019: VAConnect 4.0

IES published an upgrade for VAConnect to version 4.0. The new version adds a moment connection, a single program with a new start screen and simplified UI. It is free if you have an active license as of April 29, 2019.

Feature Friday Emails

May 2019: ManageIT 1.00.0008

There is a minor upgrade available for this utility for managing network licenses. The new version has updated products, web site links, as well as a cleaner UI. Download it from the supplementary downloads table.

March 2019: IES Updater 3.0

IES released an improved IES Updater, it is no longer installed with any IES tools, so if you wish to use it, download it from the supplementary downloads table. This new version is faster and more flexible than the old version.

February 2019: SB 11.0

IES published an upgrade for ShapeBuilder to version 11.0. The new version adds a number of new features including the ability to calculate shear flow at any location on the cross section. It also allows you to sketch arbitrary polygon shapes graphically.

SB Feature Friday Emails

January 2019

IES has published a new web site layout! The new site helps engineers quickly learn about our products and try them. It provides easy access to sales and support information for customers. The new quick order form makes it far easier to get pricing and licensing options.

IES founding partner Dan Van Luchene PhD, PE, SE retired at the end of 2018. After nearly 25 years with IES creating products and supporting customers, he has earned some leisure time.