Continuing to offer a lower-priced alternative to the top-end packages on the market, TurboCAD reaches its 15th edition, with the IMSI branding still present and correct. Avanquest Solutions has announced the UK launch of TurboCAD Pro 15, aimed at architects, surveyors, mechanical engineers and other design professionals.

As is the norm, the selling point of TurboCAD Pro 15 is that it can offer the vast majority of tools of its dearer contemporaries, but at a fraction of the cost.

Capable of handling both 2D and 3D designs, TurboCAD Pro 15 features a new library of “green” design objects and over 300 new materials, many tailored for use in eco-friendly projects. A number of new utilities have also been added including 3D assembly and woodworking layout tools, improved dimensioning and an online costing module.

These further extend the functionality provided by the Windows-based TurboCAD Pro package, which features tools normally only found in products costing thousands of pounds. It also uses the same ACIS modelling kernel found in high end CAD applications such as AutoCAD and CADKey with the ability to read/write AutoCAD 2008 and Google SketchUp formats. Moreover, the package now supports 30 CAD and graphic file formats, including the ability to save as PDF.

TurboCAD Pro 15 can be used with Windows XP and Vista and costs just £699 (inc. VAT), a fraction of a standard AutoCAD 2008 license which retails at £3,675 (plus VAT). Plus, there are no hidden support costs or ongoing licence fees, with free technical support included in the purchase price.