AutoCAD Plant 3D

[#1]

I have recently started employment at a fabrication company and currently the major projects are Cement bulk plants (silo's and lot's of piping).

The reseller that sold them the software - Mechanical and Inventor would be their solution to getting these drawings done down to the cut sheet.  

After a little research I've come to determine that a combination of Inventor and Plant 3d would be the optimal solution to this.  Design the components with Inventor (silo's, pump's and such) and then assemble & connect them within Plant3d (or Mechanical).  They currently do not own Plant but it may be an option to purchase if it's justifyable.

Anyone have any advice on this?

[#2]

In my opinion it is a toss up between Plant Design Suite and Factory Design Suite. Plant is lacking in material handling equipment like conveyors, hoppers, etc. However, Factory Design handles all that in Inventor and is also able to layout equipment quickly across a factory floor design. Factory Design Suite doesn't really do piping. So, it's tough to recommend one over the other. Just depends how your work load leans to what you need to be able to do productivly.