In mechanical detailing, few workflows are more critical than spooling.  

According to Seth Greenlund, Mechanical Product Manager at EVOLVE, it’s time to rethink the role of spooling in the broader construction tech conversation. “If there’s one area ripe for innovation,” he explains, “it’s the one everyone assumes is ‘good enough.’ And that’s the problem.” 

Spooling Isn’t Broken...But It’s Not Optimized 

The reality is, most spooling workflows still rely on outdated assumptions. One sheet, one spool. But in practice, a single spool might require three sheets just to communicate everything needed for fabrication (especially when it includes multiple assemblies or complex rack systems). 

That lack of clarity isn’t just inefficient. It opens the door to errors, delays, and rework in the shop. 

For teams tasked with accelerating prefab, it’s no longer acceptable to treat spooling as a static output. It has to evolve into a dynamic communication tool. A tool that captures dimensions, tags, supplemental views, and metadata in ways that are scalable, repeatable, and field-ready. 

Innovation Happens in the Details 

What’s needed isn’t a massive overhaul, but a series of small, strategic upgrades that simplify spooling and reduce manual clicks. That includes things like: 

More intelligent dimensioning (center-to-center, end-to-center, face-to-face

Support for multi-sheet spools tied to a single assembly 

Better handling of supplemental views and build data 

Streamlined tagging and automated naming conventions 

When these micro-inefficiencies are addressed, the cumulative effect is enormous. Teams would get more accurate fabrication documents, faster turnarounds, and fewer coordination headaches downstream. 

A New Era of Spooling Is Coming 

At EVOLVE, Greenlund and the product team are already working on solutions that reflect this shift. While there’s no magic wand for spooling, there is a clear path forward: listen to the users, address the friction points, and let smart software do the heavy lifting. 

In an industry where every minute counts and every sheet matters, the future of mechanical detailing won’t be defined by flashy tools. It’ll be shaped by the workflows that empower shops to move faster, build better, and stay aligned from model to field. 

Spooling isn’t just a task. It’s a transformation waiting to happen.