planet All ways lead to Rome, the proverb says. Likewise, there are many ways to accelerate processes Always on the right track

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1 EPLAN magazine 2/2013 planet Dear readers, the Friedhelm Loh Group (F.L.G.) has increased its focus on software and engineering by acquiring the companies Kuttig Computeranwendungen and CIDEON AG in Germany. Both companies have a leading position in Germany in the mechanical engineering market. Furthermore, we have increased our expertise in integration as CIDEON is also a worldwide provider of interfaces of CAD software to SAP. Thus we are signifi cantly strengthening our joint position in mechatronics in combination with our worldwide market leadership in electrical engineering. But we do not only offer integration and seamless processes within F.L.G., but have also released more innovative solutions together with our cooperation partners. At the SPS IPC Drives in Germany, we have presented our Community of effi cient engineering for the second time, in which 18 companies presented their systems integrated with EPLAN solutions. We are currently launching this concept on a global basis and are looking forward to demonstrating its value for your company. Maximilian Brandl President of the Management Board Always on the right track Speed up data flows in the engineering process All ways lead to Rome, the proverb says. Likewise, there are many ways to accelerate processes during the creation of a product. Software alone is not sufficient to ensure smooth data transmission: the right strategy is needed. Ideally this will cover the entire engineering stage, from preplanning and design through manufacturing up to maintenance including commercial systems. In order for everything to work, the best approach is to choose the right track from the get-go. Parallelisation strengthens workflows Sequential engineering processes with long lead times are subject to many risks: Just one delay can jeopardise timely delivery or market introduction. The key to parallelisation and hence shorter lead times is an interdisciplinary integration of systems and sectors. The EPLAN Platform enables sectors like electrical engineering, fl uid power engineering, I&C engineering and panel building to rely on a consistent data basis for their respective work. Even collaborative engineering across country borders is supported. This ensures smooth workfl ows and timely delivery both decisive factors in the global competition. Configuring instead of constructing Manual activities are time consuming in engineering yet they still cover a large amount of the overall design time. Through standardisation, the data and processes can be harmonised without putting the flexibility at risk. Furthermore, the machine complexity and the importance of mechatronics increase. A sector specifi c inspection of project sections is hence no longer productive in most cases. One way to reduce the complexity is functional engineering. Standardised, modular components are set confi guring instead of constructing is the motto. This results in increased quality and fl exibility also and especially in special machine manufacturing. The processing times decrease at the same time. Eliminating stand-alone solutions There are isolated sectors in engineering that are only marginally supported by stand alone solutions. This leads to insuffi cient design support in the respective subject area and a lack of consistency in the overall process. Preplanning is a good example: it used to be such an isolated sector, but can now be covered with the EPLAN Platform. All sectors should be integrated into the workfl ow as completely as possible. In addition to a consistent engineering platform, high quality device data are an important basis. Here, the EPLAN Data Portal with its more than 340,000 device data sets provides a capable data source. Interfaces are another decisive aspect to be considered: Links to ERP, PDM and PLM ensure data consistency from the start up to commercial processes and effi cient product data management.

2 Solid knowledge and optimised processes contribute decisively to the product quality. The principle of quality before quantity applies here. Ultimately, maximum quality is essential for always delivering first-class products. Faster innovation cycles also require a high level of knowledge in the companies. So further training is one of the central company objectives, since customers often demand a corresponding proof of quality before placing orders and entering a business partnership. The Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln has created quality standards in the field of electrical engineering and design and is the independent and accredited examining body for the EPLAN Certified Engineer (ECE). A-level for EPLAN Qualified training in engineering Expert comment Dr. Dusko Lukac, Dipl.-Ing., MBA Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln ggmbh lukac@rfh-koeln.de Certification for higher quality Quality assurance has become one of the most important goals of companies. The driving forces are, on the one hand, competitive pressure and improvement in the workfl ows and, on the other hand, customers demand a corresponding proof of quality before placing orders. In order to increase quality in the company s overall performance, in its internal processes, and especially in the product or service, certifi cations have been introduced as a proof of quality. The Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences) (RFH) has made it its job to create quality standards for electrical engineering and design. Users have the opportunity to become an EPLAN Certified Engineer. The RFH is the certifi cation body registered for this and conducts the examinations. The user is documenting specialist knowledge and practical skills in the fi eld of EPLAN Electric P8 with the ECE certifi cate and can use this to distinguish themselves from competitors. Potential customers can now consider the quality standard when comparing various offers and, in this way, they can guarantee obtaining a professional EPLAN design. Both sides profi t from this a win win situation both from the company s point of view and from the user s. Benefits for the company through the ECE certification Legal cover in the product liability due to the extensive proof of the service quality Advantages against the non certifi ed competitors in the market segment Verifi able quality standard in the supplier base Company profi le is published on the EPLAN website. Benefits for users through the ECE certification Users that have successfully passed the ECE exam obtain recognition for their specialist knowledge from the employer. The user s CV features a point which has a positive impact on HR managers. Users receive a legally protected ECE logo, which may also be used for their own business. Profi le of the user is published on the EPLAN website. Users receive a high quality certifi cation document. Benefits of the certification via RFH as an independent certification body Differentiation through a neutral examining body Exam with a scientifi c benefi t Advertisement through neutral institutes EPLAN A level for electrical engineering There is also active support when preparing for the exam. For this, EPLAN Software & Service offers a two day seminar, which prepares the EPLAN user for the ECE exam. Further information at: 2

3 More insight into the PLM process Interface between EPLAN and Teamcenter In April, EPLAN became an official Siemens PLM Solution Partner. The background of this partnership is the newly created interface between EPLAN and Teamcenter, which closes a loophole in the PLM process: the design data of the EPLAN Platform can now be processed with Teamcenter. Companies in different industries profit from this integrated working method in terms of a consistent product development process. ECAD data in the digital product model Electrical construction plays an important role in the product development process. With the new future proof Teamcenter integration module, the solutions of the EPLAN Platform are now seamlessly embedded in the PLM environment. In this way, electrical engineering is also becoming a component of the digital product model. This is now being completed with various ECAD data (e.g. connection lists, schematics in electrical and fl uid power engineering, bills of material and EPLAN evaluations). Transparency is another signifi cant factor: direct access to the complete digital product model is granted even in the case of distributed or transnational product development this secures the permanent data exchange and ultimately ensures safety and quality. Consistent PLM solution In this way, companies get the opportunity to implement a comprehensive product lifecycle management across all sectors. The integrated working method increases the data consistency not only in the product development process, but in the whole product lifecycle. Due to the comprehensive and consistent database, areas such as maintenance and repairs receive optimum support for their tasks time and cost benefi ts are guaranteed. EPLAN is a Siemens PLM Solution Partner Overview of functions: Construction data management Opening, saving, revising Support of the whole approval and change process Generating and updating EPLAN evaluations Bi directional synchronisation Adoption of naming and numbering rules from Teamcenter Managing bills of material Generating, saving, revisioning Article synchronisation Plant, import, update Comparison of the catalogue parts between Teamcenter and EPLAN Bi directional synchronisation of catalogue part attributes and classifi cation. Authentication of the EPLAN user and rights assignment in the Teamcenter environment This new integration enables our customers to optimise interdisciplinary integration and to use Teamcenter as a consistent platform for all those involved. Urban August, Managing Director of Siemens Industry Software GmbH & Co. KG The advantages are obvious: Urban August, Managing Director of Siemens Industry Software GmbH & Co. KG Higher process reliability The integrated working method increases the data consistency both in the product development process and the overall product lifecycle. Time and cost saving Due to the comprehensive and consistent database, the areas maintenance/repairs are given the perfect support for their task, which translates directly into time and cost advantages. High data quality Current and correct data ensure the high quality of the data. Metadata are automatically synchronised. Provision of results Results from EPLAN are automatically provided for all follow up processes across the product lifecycle. Transparency The central data provision in Teamcenter ensures highly transparent processes: all information is globally available to the participating departments. Exclusion of data redundancies Data redundancies are avoided by references instead of duplicates. The data ownership is specifi ed in the system. Uniform data structure Combined data and product structure for the Teamcenter functionalities such as revisioning, workfl ows, confi guration, change management etc. The administration time is also massively reduced. 3

4 Filling bottles and kegs with beverages necessitates sophisticated, highly automated machines in a variety of sizes to cater for microbreweries and major producers. Since 1990, the Italian company Comac in Bonate Sotto (Bergamo province) has been in the business of producing such bottling machines. Today, Comac has two manufacturing sites and counts the world s leading beverage companies (water, beer, fruit juice, wine, syrup and spirits) among its customers. The integrated electrical and fluid power engineering had a lasting effect on the development of machinery at Comac. The process is running Error-free: Integrated engineering in electrical and fluid power engineering Luca Cattaneo describes how the development has changed with EPLAN: The full roll out of the EPLAN software required about three months to input all the details about the components into the database and to include the forms of customisation needed for our machinery that were not in the system. EPLAN makes it possible to download the components needed for a machine and to optimise these with customised descriptions that contain all the features we need from dimensions to the graphic symbol. It is a very open product and it allows with minimal computer knowledge easy customisation and knowledge provision in line with the company s needs. Moreover, the database is constantly being added to and new features are developed to match the technological and manufacturing innovations included in our machines. All of the departments that have been impacted by the changes are very happy with the results; indeed, they are looking for us to press forward with rolling out other systems like this. Luca Cattaneo, Design Office, Comac Data consistently used Production covers all bottling needs for the beverage industry, including handling and other devices used before and after the filling stage, such as keg feeders, conveyors, stackers, palletisers and packaging machines. The circuits of these machines are designed using EPLAN Electric P8 and EPLAN Fluid integrated solutions that have had a lasting impact on the development of Comac machinery. Once the data of an article code has been recorded as would be the case with a macro it can easily be recalled for every new project. This means that during the design stage developers do not just drag the symbol onto the screen, but the symbol plus all related information. The information is used in the database so as to represent it as proper components with all functional characteristics (electrical and pneumatic). This brings clear benefits: On the one hand, there is now only one document for the assembly of the product. On the other hand, in terms of procurement, typing and careless errors are eliminated. Any order for a component immediately appears in the system, meaning it can be seen by both the technical and electrical office and the pneumatic one. PLC Programming integrated Furthermore, in the past, the person developing the software had to manually take the schematic and use it to find the information needed to write the software program. Once the electric and pneumatic plans have been designed, all the information is automatically transferred to the PLC system. The bills of material for the order process are generated in parallel with this. High quality documentation This clearly cuts out errors and saves a significant amount of time. In addition, EPLAN automatically generates the technical documentation for the office that drafts the manuals and other documentation of the machines. This means that redundant documentation as well as nonautomated information exchange are dispensed with. At Comac, they have also managed to automate the integration of the system with the PLC. All of the information concerning inputs/outputs and the related descriptions are automatically transferred by the system to the software office, along with all the information needed to operate the component and without any manual data input. Everything flowing smoothly... Once the electric and pneumatic schematics have been designed, all the information is available for further phases in engineering consistently through to the software programming. 4

5 Efficiency = Efficiency = maximum possible actually attainable tainable value X of a reference parameter Factor Maximise your benefit X factor: Make optimum use of the software's potentials In the assessment of technical products, everybody knows the keywords such as energy efficiency, efficiency class A+ or efficiency factor. But what is it like in the area of engineering software? Is it possible to assess the benefits or efficiency factor of a CAE solution? Commissioning Planning Engineering Engineering Realisation Production Mechanics Electric company benefits from enhanced staff motivation and possible competitive advantages due to the gained expertise. Are all opportunities for more productivity being used? Balance the knowledge inflation rate with training and consulting! Customising for optimisation CAE software solutions are complex systems that provide many functions. Users can customise the EPLAN Platform 2.3 with approximately 1,000 settings according to their usage patterns. Only optimum integration into the work processes and cycles opens up the opportunity for maximum benefi ts when using the system properly. What is your X factor? Construction processes are generally supported by software which is used by the staff. If somebody attempts to define an overall efficiency factor, they could calculate it using this formula: η total = η 1 * η 2 * η 3 η 1 = 1: Software available η 2 = x: Knowledge of the functions by the user η 3 = y: Optimum use in the engineering workfl ow Software development is fast moving. Updates are published every year these include new functions and extended methods. Current examples include safety parameters, new standards for structuring principles and reference designation, machine orientation, mechatronics, confi guration or extended settings for the individual system confi guration. The market has a massive impact on software development. Specifi c training and consulting opportunities should be utilised comprehensively here in order to integrate new features and functions directly into work processes. Attention to all professionals Companies that have already been working with an IT system successfully for a long time should critically examine the current effi ciency factor of their software application. The X factor increases when expertise and the system are adapted to the latest technology. The factor X is hence increased individually through permanent further education. Simultaneously, the Balancing knowledge inflation An example: if companies train their staff on an annual basis with a 5 day seminar or individual coachings on site, only approx. 2.2 % of their working time will be obtained. This proportion is comparable with the principle of devaluation it represents a kind of infl ation rate, but is presumably even more signifi cant for success in daily business than fi nancial infl ation. With a single comprehensive training session, companies balance the knowledge infl ation rate. If the X factor is increased, the process optimisation through individual consulting and a subsequent process consultation can also be increased further there are (virtually) no upper limits. A fresh breeze in engineering The statement of an EPLAN user who participated in the 5 day training seminar Construction Practice 1 puts it in a nutshell: knowing the basics is just what you need. For this reason a refresh training has been developed in order to bring especially long term users up to speed. The opportunities are the same for everyone. 5

6 Wire harnesses offer a variety of advantages: optimised space usage with lower installation space needed for the wiring, entire wiring systems can be installed faster, lower risk of incorrect wiring due to the pre-assembly that takes place, better protection of the installation and finally a tidy look in the interior of a device. At the Warstein location, AEG Power Solutions has combined these values in an efficient manner to design wire harnesses. The company integrated EPLAN Harness prod seamlessly into the existing software environment during construction and development. Everything in its place Efficient wire harness engineering at AEG Power Solutions Olaf Linke, R&D System Engineering 6 Up to six times faster AEG Power Solutions is based in Belecke, a district of Warstein. Solar inverters and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are two types of products. Both of these are largely standard products with a small proportion of customer-specific variants. For this reason, AEG PS has always been using the advantages of standardised wire harnesses during electrical installation. Using EPLAN Harness prod, the company has managed to achieve greater levels of efficiency, especially when developing new series and technically adapting existing ranges. If Olaf Linke needed five or six weeks for a project a few years ago, it now thanks to the EPLAN software - takes between just one and one and a half weeks to complete it. This is what excites the developer most about the software: Adaptations can be carried out easily in a project and no time is lost. If cable routes or individual devices are changed, I just place the connecting points wherever I need them to be. The software makes this easy by offering an intuitive point-and-click method in the three-dimensional space. With EPLAN Harness prod, the project duration in wire harness engineering is reduced from five to six weeks to one to one and a half weeks. Consistent design AEG PS uses EPLAN Harness prod for all the wiring in an uninterruptible power supply. Due to the large cross-sections of cables designed to carry higher electrical loads, the assembler supplies the power cables separately. If we were to bind them together with the other components, they would be too heavy and would be difficult to install, explains Linke. In this respect, AEG PS works consistently, but it commissions an external partner to attach only the thin control cables to a nail board and form them into wire harnesses after the design phase is complete. These can consist of up to 100 single wires and in the case of a UPS, they normally connect the control and measurement analysis boards together. They are built into a tension frame in the UPS. As this can be folded out, the cables in this area must be longer. How long they have to be is defined exactly: the data are exported directly from the EPLAN Harness prod in the form of a control file in the wire and cable assembly devices. This also increases the wire harness manufacturer s productivity and conserves resources, as no length allowance needs to be added. The software additionally helps to calculate supply times and material disposition. Three-dimensional wire harness files are also converted automatically into two-dimensional manufacturing diagrams in a scale of 1:1 for use on the nail board or in a reduced size for service documentation. Directly using construction data When constructive changes need to take place nowadays, AEG Power Solutions works on them with Solid Edge. The new 3D model is brought into the wire harness planning and is adapted with a few clicks of the mouse. The subsidiaries abroad can also use the data to find partners locally to manufacture wire harnesses. In this way, AEG PS achieved a globally uniform manner of wiring the systems. This also enables the interior of the system to make a good impact. Linke emphasises: The installation makes the first impression. If I open up a device and there is a mess of wires inside, this doesn t give me a good impression of the manufacturer. He also highlights the importance of wire harnesses in transport safety: If the components inside the system are properly secured, they cannot be shaken around during transport. This prevents contacts or connections from being torn out of their proper positions. This being so, wire harnesses are an essential part of the robustness and the quality that AEG PS offers.

7 Speedy results EPLAN Harness prod ensures wire harness development in race car construction EPLAN Harness prod 2.3 With the launch of the EPLAN Platform 2.3, EPLAN Harness prod has also been extended. Here are the most important new features: Since 2010, electrically-powered vehicles have been eligible to enter the Formula Student Electric competition. The Running Snail Racing Team from the Amberg-Weiden university has taken the challenge upon itself for the first time this year. The new wire harness tool EPLAN Harness prod was on board with them. You can see the success. In the Czech Hradec Králové, the approximately 80-strong team gained first place in the overall ranking for electric vehicles. Complex Entities: Standardisation in the wire harness design Once defi ned complex entities can be reused or exchanged with other project participants. Top visualisation: Multi-coloured wires and optimised rendering Version 2.3 now supports the use of multi coloured wires with full graphic representation in all design environments. High quality production documentation: Layout and details under control Display of the nail board design including printing frames, which give the user control over the printed area, printed margins and scaling. EPLAN Electric P8: Project and master data synchronisation Data comparison of project data such as master data between the EPLAN Platform and EPLAN Harness prod Copy & Paste: Fast copying of 3D construction data Copying of all design elements from individually laid lines or connections up to cables or complete wire harnesses Cables and accessories: Simply replace Automatic exchange or replacement of complex wire harness elements such as modules, devices or cables Successful development In the current season, the Running Snail Team focused for the fi rst time on the electrically powered version of Formula Student, the FSE (Formula Student Electric). Approximately 212 metres of cable have been laid and around 400 single wires have been installed. Alongside the pure drive (battery, inverter and engine), the electrical equipment also comprises the microprocessor controlled battery management and a multitude of sensors for brake pressure and temperature to spring travel right up to the battery status. The team designed the connections in EPLAN Harness prod. The required connectors were fi rst defi ned in the system library. This deals with more than just the connector geometry, as the pin assignment and name of the individual wires are also defi ned. The software then recognises which pins in which connectors are connected to one another, and the wire harness builds itself practically on its own. The students took the 3D geometry of the vehicle and the position and orientation of the connectors from the 3D CAD system Creo 2.0 with which the racing vehicle was built. EPLAN Harness prod offers interfaces for the most important CAD systems and also for neutral formats such as IGES and STEP. The single wires can be collected together in a wire harness and the wire harnesses can be installed three dimensionally. The last step consisted of automatically creating a nail board drawing, which was positioned on a large board. Enthusiastic development team Even though the wire harness is angled in three dimensions, the lengths of the cables have always been correct. The function installed in Eagle, which we had used before, did not always produce this result, affi rms group leader Thomas Simson. We were able to fi t the wire harness into the vehicle straight away and not a single cable was missing. It took us a month to go from nothing to a complete wire harness. This used to take much longer, although the wiring was much Simple operation, clear time saving, exact cable lengths and the full and exact-fit harness impressed the development team. smaller. What s more, the cable lengths were exactly right, there was no need to add a safety allowance to the cable length. The simple operation allowed us to learn the ropes quickly and work productively with the software, even alongside our studies. An exciting race awaited the racing team at the Hockenheimring. Here is the link to the video: 7

8 Effectiveness and efficiency in design are decisive factors for the success in mechanical and plant engineering. Engineers and designers must concentrate on the actual value-adding activities, while time-consuming and repetitive activities as well as manual tests must be eliminated. This shifts the focus to tools and methods that support this approach. In this context, standardisation, automation and the systematic interdisciplinary use of a consistent engineering platform carry particular potential for optimisation across the entire value creation chain in the product development. The new EPLAN Platform 2.3 presents itself geared towards these requirements. The result is standardised and largely automated engineering. Technological New technologies of the 8 Preplanning and design combined Preplanning and detail design are project phases that belong together. However, they are often processed with different systems. EPLAN Preplanning now takes integration one step further: innovative functions increase project quality and data consistency and lower the design effort. Whether graphical machine or plant overviews, place holders for functions, initial quantity structures for drives, sensors and PLC inputs/outputs or even bills of material for calculation: comprehensive tasks of the preplanning are now processed with EPLAN Preplanning directly in the EPLAN Platform. By using preplanning macros and existing segments through copy & paste, machine/ plant structures can be created and processed quickly and simply. As an alternative, the new EPLAN Platform also provides the opportunity to work directly in the graphical editor in the preplanning phase. The data defined in the preplanning can be issued in evaluations or be used for bills of material for the price and expenditure calculation. The process is integrative: the detail planning including the schematic can also be derived and created from the data of the preplanning in a later design phase. Furthermore, the preplanning provides comprehensive import functions, with which data can be taken from Excel tables. The later schematic creation and detailing of the plant draw on these comprehensive data without new input or conversion from other systems. Optimum and simple maintenance of existing projects Discontinued parts are generally replaced by a successor model by the manufacturer, but remain in existing projects and must then be managed thoroughly and followed up. With version 2.3, the EPLAN Platform facilitates the central management of discontinued parts through corresponding designations in the parts management. This includes new test runs, which give additional security in the design phase. Once stored in the central parts management, the information is available for all participants in the overall project. In this way, the EPLAN Platform creates more transparency in the engineering process and ensures a good overview of existing projects. Designed conforming to standards Mechatronic solutions and corresponding designation systems in the documentation are part of the daily business in the detail engineering of electrical and fluid power construction. In particular, the standard EN Industrial systems, Installations and Equipment and Industrial Products Structuring Principles and Reference Designations is internationally recognised. With the EPLAN Platform 2.3, project structures and product designations can now be comfortably implemented according to this current standard. Another issue is the failure probability of components and safety functions in the context of the machinery directive 2006/42/EC. The new EPLAN Platform supports a uniform electronic data exchange format for the required safety-related characteristics of automation components according to VDMA The safety values of the machine manufacturers are integrated into the central EPLAN parts management via a standardised interface. The characteristics are associated to the parts and are hence available directly in the design. This eliminates the time-consuming manual collation of safety characteristics. The EPLAN Platform 2.3 increases data consistency and project quality. At the same time, it reduces the time and effort in the product development process. Free laying in 3D In EPLAN Pro Panel Professional, the electrical wiring can be planned simply and as early as possible on the basis of a virtual 3D mounting layout. However, the workflow remains individual and can

9 development creates free space EPLAN Platform 2.3 speed up the product development process either be based on an electrical schematic or shown directly as a mounting layout in 3D. Wires and cables can be laid in cable channels and predefined wiring areas in a highly automated and system-supported manner. In this way, EPLAN Pro Panel Professional 2.3 also meets the requirement of laying electrical connections freely and bundling them if necessary. This makes it Connection lists generated from the system Minimum bending radii and other layout influences can be stored in the system and will be considered in the design. A further practical advantage for users: the system generates lists of all connections such as bills of material, cutting lists, connection or especially wiring lists for are made to the mounting layout, the virtually installed connections are automatically tracked and all values updated in all evaluations. What applies to electrical connections also naturally applies to the free laying of fluid power connections in 3D using EPLAN Fluid Professional. Hose connections can be laid freely in the 3D installation space with the new functions. devices via a wire connection or a busbar depends on the mounting layout; in other words, on the position of the components to one another. With the new version 2.3, machines in the 3D mounting layout can be connected to one another using monophase or multiphase phase busbar connections. An electromechanical component then takes the place of a wire connection and the schematic is automatically adapted to the actual implementation resulting from the 3D mounting layout. The manual changing of connections in the connection navigator is dispensed with at the same time. The result: sustained time saving in the design and a minimised error quota in the production of the wires. perfectly suited for example for Ethernet connections between electronic components or for the distribution of cables and wires from the mounting plate to the door. Designers decide themselves on the ideal laying of connections in the control cabinet. the remaining manual wiring at the press of a button. All laid electrical connections can therefore be identified, ordered and manufactured in the early stages. This saves time and ensures correct results. If last-minute changes Afterwards, these connections can be fixed purposefully and clearly using mounting accessories. Busbar connections made easy Whether a connection is made between Hole patterns for production The precise mechanical processing of control cabinet parts requires high-quality, suitable production documents. As a new form of production document, EPLAN Pro Panel Professional 2.3 enables the creation of hole patterns as an integrated component of the overall documentation. As a special form of model display, users can now create hole patterns which show all processing-related data, drill patterns and the outlines of basic components and parts. In addition to this, everything can be dimensioned exactly this is production integration at its best. 9

10 Community of efficient engineering 18 cooperation partners showcase deep integration companies showcase their productivity tools 18 and interfaces connected to EPLAN engineering solutions at SPS IPC Drives fair in Nuremberg. The Community of efficient engineering is a dedicated area with partners in automation industry as well as ERP/PDM/PLM and manufacturing focusing on maximum efficiency in engineering. Bidirectional data exchange Master data, components, mechanical information, macros for electrical engineering and information for ordering and commissioning are stored centrally. The EPLAN Data Portal, now fi lled with over 340,000 data sets from 51 manu SPS/PLC ERP facturers, provides the basis for simple designing. Links from PLC programming systems to the EPLAN Platform ensure that hardware and software planning are matched bidirectionally. Integration ensures consistent processes This also ensures a consistent As Built documentation for smooth commissioning Teamcenter Integration PDM/PLM Production Autodesk Vault SAP along with possible time saving. Several innovations are also being presented in the area of automation, from new interfaces to Mitsubishi Electric or ABB Automation Builder via Fact.Work and Codesys. The seamless manufacturing integration with CNC processing, wiring, cutting and cable assembly as well as the acquisition of engineering data for simulation models are further stations of the community. The focus is on consistent processes. Along with classic engineering tasks, the PDM, PLM and ERP integration takes just as much of a central role in the overall process. It enables existing systems, which may have been used predominantly in areas like mechanics up until now, to be used for the complete product development process in engineering. 18 partners are joining the community ABB / B&R / Beckhoff / Cideon / F.EE / Festo / Fluidon / Igus / ILC / Komax / Mitsubishi Electric / Phoenix Contact / Rockwell Automation / Siemens / Schneider Electric / Steinhauer / Tesis / 3S Norm(al) case EPLAN Engineering Center One totally global 10 Global markets and internationally operating companies require professional solutions in the area of automatic schematic creation for electrical and fluid power engineering. International standards and norms are integrated, projects can be generated in various languages, regulations ensure the expertise centrally and the automation of the documentation significantly reduces the engineering times. One for all Those who operate on the American market must not only design their machines and plants in the NFPA norm, but must also have an effi cient command of the ladder technique. EEC One supports both, so that constructors can generate schematics in the typical US norm in instant. Another advantage is the virtual switching of the circuits between IEC and ladder view depending on the setting, the circuits are automatically generated in the desired norm. The big practical advantage: various target markets can be served from a single data source. EEC One is multilingual With the implementation of all 17 platform languages, the EEC is now fi t for the global market. In conjunction with the EPLAN Platform, designers can automatically generate the projects in their native language. The advantage: language barriers are removed and the effi ciency level of the software usage increased. International companies with sites in multiple countries appreciate this in particular. Integrated instead of just linked The deep integration with the EPLAN Platform provides further potential. The constructor accesses the parts database and the dictionary of EPLAN directly from the EEC One. In this way, selected parts, for example, can be directly transferred to the EEC One together with their characteristics, and used for other automation purposes. The advantages are clear: Higher automation level in the schematic creation No more manual inputs Fewer errors Easier operability The new EEC One Release V2.3 is now supported by the EPLAN Platform 2.2 and 2.3.

11 If a product manufacturer decides to market a new product, they require a high-quality and effective packaging solution tailored exactly to their needs. Machine manufacturers react with the strategy of implementing as many different machines as possible with already developed, variable function modules. The advantages of this are: certainty in cost calculation, short delivery time and high quality. The EPLAN Engineering Center supports this working method at Harro Höfliger. Step-by-step optimisation Functional engineering unites disciplines and increases the quality of documentation Engineering of complex packaging machines Almost all market-leading packaging machine manufacturers have their head offices in Europe including Harro Höfliger GmbH, whose core area is pharmaceutical and medical engineering. With over 700 employees, the company has an excellent reputation as a specialist for production and packaging systems for particularly sophisticated products. An export quota of almost 80 % documents that the machines and Systematic configuration In the EEC, the functions of a machine are stored universally so that they can be configured for the individual characteristics of a customer-specific machine (functional engineering). For the creation of the concrete order-specific documents, each function contains the corresponding characteristics for the schematic, the PLC software or the documentation. Harro Höfliger began the introduction of the EEC with the configuration of the control software because controls today are almost completely generated from the construction kit. Uwe Koschorrek, Group leader of control engineering for web converting machines, explains: We are already generating up to 99 % of the machine controls with the EEC. With a plaster machine, for example, we are saving 150 to 250 construction hours. The quality is improving at the same time because the constructors can always resort to tested programming modules, which are available at virtually the press of a button. Time is also saved documents containing several hundred pages for the qualification, design specification and software documentation, which are required in the sector of medical engineering. The documents created in Word have been modularised according to the procedure in the software development and transferred into the modular system. Today, they are generated automatically from the EEC and are hence always consistent with the control software. systems are in high demand even abroad. Volker Scheub, Manager of control engineering, states: Since individual requirements must always be considered, there are no series machines for us. All developers work on customer projects. The software plays an ever greater role in this: More than 80 employees in all technological sectors are responsible for the programming of the machine controls. Since the machines have recurring functions to perform despite the individual requirements, it was logical to search for possibilities of standardisation EPLAN Engineering Center (EEC) was the chosen solution. Cross-technology modular system enables time saving and higher quality. the greatest potential for optimisation was seen here. The project team designed the construction kit from the start in such a way that the basic functions can be used across different technologies, i.e. for various types of machines. That works very well even though there are great differences between clocked machines and those that run continuously, for example. Volker Scheub points out: This enables us to rectify any error which may occur and stop it from ever recurring. For this reason, individual in commissioning. We were able to reduce the time it takes for the electrical basic commissioning from an average of two weeks to just a few days, says Uwe Koschorrek. Automation of the consistent documentation Due to these positive experiences, the decision was soon made to take advantage of another great opportunity: the chance to streamline the time-consuming creation of the machine-specific Improved electrical construction In view of these effects achieved in the first two phases, it is not surprising that Harro Höfliger wanted to utilise the possibilities of the EEC even more comprehensively. So, in a third step, the company has integrated electrical construction with EPLAN Electric P8 into the EEC. Solution provider EPLAN has supported Harro Höfliger here both in the area of modularisation of the schematics and in the configuration in an optimum way. Volker Scheub points out: For the start, a mastermind for the structuring is required. With good structuring, you can exploit considerable productivity re serves, shorten time to market and improve the quality at the same time. 11

12 Four-star plus from India Quality and productivity advantages ensure best results As an internationally active company, PARI (Precision Automation and Robotics India) has been counting on the efficiency of EPLAN for over a decade. Significant improvements in project documentation and around 40 % of time saved have resulted in significant competitive advantages for the Indian robot manufacturer. The company itself declares the consistency and the quality of the files to be excellent: On a scale from 1 to 5, EPLAN has achieved an excellent score of International use With more than 850 members of staff and 6 facilities worldwide, PARI (Precision Automation and Robotics India Ltd.) is a global provider of automation solutions in the area of robotic products and technologies. Excellent processes, innovative products and a focus on customer orientation are the foundations for the company s success; it is demonstrating enormous growth rates on the market. 10 years ago, PARI decided to commission EPLAN to ensure perfect design and to satisfy the quality demands of the market. Today, EPLAN is seen as an irreplaceable and dependable tool for effi cient engineering. Quality and productivity in engineering and system documentation have been improved and guaranteed. PARI is currently using EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Fluid as well as the EPLAN Data Portal. Unicode capability and norm support are important prerequisites for the global activity of an up and coming company. Documentation as a competitive advantage Customer requirements are the beginning of any PARI project. The engineering phase begins with the selection of standardised project templates. When a schematic is being created, the design engineers refer to tried and tested EPLAN functions such as the automatic device and PLC numbering or the generation of evaluations. The result: high quality, fl awless documentation. This documentation helps the customer to perform both simple and fast maintenance and it assists them during the commissioning of systems. Vice President Atul Patil emphasises the fi rst class quality of the documentation: EPLAN has helped us to make signifi cant improvements to the project documentation. Our circuit diagrams are often superior to those produced by our international competitors that s what our customers have told us. Quality and time as a competitive advantage The Indian company sees EPLAN as a tried and tested solution which makes a considerable contribution to improving development and construction. These improvements are in areas ranging from project management to error avoidance Alongside the desired high-quality and flawless documentation, a time saving of at least 40 % has been achieved. PARI has defined four task fields by using EPLAN: Standardisation of recurring content Faster and more reliable creation of documentation Reduction or avoidance of errors as well as a simpler way to detect errors Faster implementation of corrections or customerspecifi c changes up to standardisation and automatic generation of schematics, evaluations and documentation. At PARI, the effect on the increased internal engineering productivity takes the form of a massive time saving of 40 %. This has been achieved due to the reduction of the design time for things such as wiring lists or checking and comparing comprehensive project design work. In the next step, PARI wants to use the EPLAN data consistency to optimise the internal company processes. A part list import from EPLAN into the company s own CRM system is being planned; this will serve to improve the ordering and purchasing procedures. Top evaluation Vice President Atul Patil takes stock of the effective way that the existing solution was implemented: We had not defi ned any objectives for the reduction of the development and manufacturing times when we selected a system. Our focus was on generating high quality and fl awless documentation on an international scale. Now we can celebrate the fact that we have reduced the engineering time by at least 40 %. The consistency and the quality of the documentation is excellent.

13 Value creation 3 Rittal, EPLAN and Kiesling: extended service partnership in switchgear engineering By taking over Kiesling Maschinentechnik, the Friedhelm Loh Group has considerably expanded its system-solution skills for switchgear and control cabinet engineering. The three companies Rittal, EPLAN and Kiesling form a unique global service partnership in this sector. Customers will profit in future from consistent system-solution skills and increasing productivity across the whole value creation chain in control cabinet and switchgear construction from engineering to robot-based wiring. Automation is the future With forward-looking automation solutions for switchgear construction, Kiesling Maschinentechnik provides new innovation potential in the company group. Customers will in future profit from the longstanding technological expertise in the mechanical processing of control cabinets. The latest technological breakthrough is the robot-based wiring system Averex, which will replace the timeconsuming manual wiring of mounting plates and ensure fully automatically generated, standard-conforming and safety-oriented connections between devices in the mounting plate. the wiring of the components independently and fully automatically. Changing the wire when the colour or cross section are changed is included. This is considerably faster than manual wiring time and cost saving as well as a consistent workflow are the resulting success factors. Perfect teamwork of all disciplines: From engineering and control cabinet construction to robot-based, automated wiring. From engineering to the wiring robot The control cabinet constructor configures a solution based on the data from the EPLAN Data Portal, the schematic from the electrical or fluid power detail and hardware engineering as well as the system knowledge stored in the EPLAN Platform or the EPLAN Engineering Center on control cabinet components and accessories from Rittal. With EPLAN Pro Panel, they simply and comfortably set all predetermined devices and the accessories in 3D. In this way, information on fastening bores, bore threads or apertures are automatically generated or interactively supplemented if necessary. On the basis of the 3D control cabinet prototype and the connection information from the schematic, EPLAN Pro Panel identifies the optimum routing and the required lengths of wires and cables. All information required for the material disposition, the mechanical processing or the assembly and/or laying of wires is provided by EPLAN in the form of order lists and bills of material, production and assembly drawings or as machine programs. SE8 from Rittal the single control cabinet impresses Single control cabinets are often used in the industry when the space requirement for energy distribution and automation components is limited, such as with small plants or machines. For such cases, Rittal has extended its TS 8 system platform by the single cabinet of the type SE 8. Unlike with modular cabinets with a frame and removable side walls, the corpus of the SE 8 with roof and side walls is made from one piece of sheet steel. This lowers the costs of the cabinet, and the user does not have to deal with the handling and assembly of separate side walls. The SE8 provides saving potential especially on a large scale. Fully integrated production If the construction meets the technical specifications, the real control cabinet construction with components from the program Rittal The system can begin. The mechanical processing of the cabinet and the mounting plate using the processing machines from Kiesling is the next step. The wiring data and the information from the 3D model provided by EPLAN on parts and their position on the mounting plate are transferred via a dedicated machine interface on the Kiesling wiring robot Averex. On the basis of this information, the robot first verifies and checks the manually assembled mounting plate and then carries out 13

14 New engineering methods open up a new business field for Ripploh Elektrotechnik GmbH the building technology. With a configurator for the electrical engineering planning based on the EPLAN Engineering Center, the evermore complex electrical engineering technology can be automated as far as possible to counter the considerable cost and time pressure in this segment at the same time. The principle of module-based engineering can be developed and also transferred to mechanical or plant engineering. Configured instead of constructed Ripploh focuses on consistently automated control cabinet planning with the EEC Control cabinet construction made by Ripploh Ripploh Elektrotechnik GmbH, service provider of mechanical and plant engineering, works with the most modern methods and is one of the fi rst users of the EPLAN Engineering Center (EEC). Customers profi t from a fully consistent control cabinet construction: All steps Ripploh has stored these modules in the EEC. A confi gurator has been developed based on these modules: a user interface, which guides users through the project so that all relevant data is available at the end. Andreas Ripploh: Even quotes are already processed in the confi gurator. terial is also immediately available so we can order missing components directly and plan the production. Another advantage is that the layout diagrams are available and the control cabinet sizes defi ned from the beginning: In this way, we are spared of making many time consuming changes, says the company director. confi gurator. Is the investment worth it from the customer s point of view? Saving potential of over 20 % According to an assessment made by Andreas Ripploh, the work with the confi gurator leads to a cost saving in the control cabinet engineering and production of more than 20 % and that with 14 are integrative and consistent, starting with the ordering and material management to the electrical construction with EPLAN Electric P8, right up to the automated sheet processing and cable assembly. This leads to very short processing times and competitive costs at a high level of quality. Increased time and cost pressure Around two years ago, Ripploh began by opening up a new business fi eld building automation. However, unlike in the traditional business fi eld, where the module system was able to grow slowly in the EEC, intensive groundwork had to be done here. Projects of a building technology customer were analysed and 760 modules were defi ned from a choice of several thousand construction modules. Module-based engineering offers enormous advantages, as you work with modular systems and repetitive tasks. From the configurator to ECAD and ERP If the order is successful, the planner sends the relevant confi guration to Ripploh, where the detail planning and production can begin immediately after a short plausibility check. The schematic is available within 24 hours. Andreas Ripploh: The schematics of the functional modules are automatically distributed to EPLAN Electric P8 and EPLAN Pro Panel. And since the EEC is also connected to our ERP system ABAS, the bill of ma Andreas Ripploh, Managing Director Ripploh Elektrotechnik GmbH Nothing is forgotten The knowledge of rules stored in the confi gurator, based on questions, ensures that nothing is forgotten and that even details such as the door hinges of control cabinets are defi ned. Yet the tool provides the planner with the required fl exibility as they can change an existing module and also plan a special solution. The developers of Ripploh have in close collaboration with their pilot customers in building technology invested a total of one man year into the secured quality. This begs the question: Can this model be reproduced with other areas? Andreas Ripploh is quite sure about this: Of course. The principle works in mechanical engineering just as in plant engineering and in building automation. In all three areas, a modulebased engineering provides advantages, as you work with modular systems and repetitive tasks. However, the necessary organisational structures must be created, and you need a consistent fl ow of information with a development platform like the EEC.

15 Here comes the app Paperless documentation is becoming reality The EPLAN Data Portal app has already recorded 2,300 downloads since its launch in April 2013, when it went online in two languages in the itunes Store. Users can access over 340,000 parts in the portal and can select machines and components with mobility. Mobile Engineering stands for more flexibility and user friendliness: The brand new EPLAN View app, which went up in the rankings at the same time as the launch of the EPLAN Platform 2.3 in the Apple Store, convinced many users. Mobile Engineering is becoming reality Mobile applications for ipad or iphone are fully in trend after all, the production is becoming more and more flexible. Since May 2013, EPLAN released a free Data Portal app for iphone and ipad, which has been downloaded more than 2,300 times a great success. This makes users mobile; in other words, they can select components directly on the machine or plant and transfer them into the project later using the shopping cart function. Brand new: EPLAN View App Engineers also know this scenario: when commissioning or repairing a plant, an error occurs. Now the plant documents must be read through, which costs time. With the new EPLAN View app, this scenario is a thing of the past from now on, the documents are available in digital and mobile form on the ipad. Online or offline Thanks to the new Published function in EPLAN, users can view intelligent machine documents comfortably on their ipad. The project is either copied to the ipad via itunes independent on the internet connection or the user accesses the schematics directly on the machine/plant via Dropbox. Even EPLAN projects sent by , for example those which have been published by a project partner, can be viewed directly with the EPLAN View app. No time-consuming search or tedious scrolling through schematics with the new EPLAN View app. Information readily available This makes selected project, site or device information directly accessible. An example: the service technician can find and view a component via the search function and respond quickly in the commissioning phase. The best thing: stored part information can be opened directly with the EPLAN Data Portal app and additional documents such as user manuals can be read. This is now making paperless plant documentation a part of everyday practice. Intelligent skip function Even the maintenance profits from the additional benefits of the app: In order to avoid downtimes, the staff member can navigate through the schematic from component to component using the tailor-made skip function, until the incorrect component and corresponding error is found. An efficient method for minimising downtimes. 2D or 3D everything at a glance Through the integrated 3D Viewer, the user is immersed directly into a control cabinet, for example. The operation of the Viewer using a finger tip makes it possible to view the cabinet from all angles. The comparison between real cabinet and documentation on site becomes child s play. In brief: EPLAN goes Mobile With the new EPLAN Platform 2.3, the EPLAN View app and the EPLAN Data Portal app, EPLAN is constantly pursuing the goal of making data mobile everywhere and all the time. The user will become more flexible this speeds up the processes in engineering, commissioning and maintenance. You can find these and other apps here: 15

16 Synchronised New EPLAN products in Rockwell Automation Encompass program EPLAN, a Global Encompass partner, has added the EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN Harness prod products to the Encompass Program. With the EPLAN suite of products, users can bi-directionally compare their engineering data with the control systems from Rockwell Automation. Visit us at numerous fairs all over the world. More information: EPLAN Platform is complete Rockwell Automation has added EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN Harness prod to their portfolio of approved Encompass products. These products now join EPLAN s other approved systems such as EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Pro Panel and EPLAN PPE. This means that all the systems of the EPLAN Platform are now listed. EPLAN has been a Global Encompass Partner of Rockwell Automation since EPLAN Fluid is an engineering tool for design and automatic documentation of circuits for fluid power systems in hydraulics, pneumatics, cooling and lubrication. The EPLAN Platform connects the fluid power engineering with all other engineering disciplines, so that various engineering tasks can be executed in parallel. This accelerates the whole engineering process even when combined with other disciplines, such as electrical engineering. Wire harness layout included EPLAN Harness prod is a modern 3D/2D software system for the efficient design and documentation of wire harnesses. This system s strengths lie in the automated steps involved, from importing mechanical models as 3D environments for wire harness layout and combining them with wiring lists from the EPLAN Platform, right up to routing the cables and generating the engineering documentation and manufacturing 2D nailboard drawings. The ability to incorporate mechanically relevant information from various MCAD systems, as well as the ECAD connection information, means that EPLAN Harness prod has the potential to be seamlessly integrated into PDM environments. This allows a wire harness to be designed, even when there is no mechanical prototype available. Development times are reduced, productivity increases and project quality is improved. More productivity more quality To put it simply: Development times are reduced, productivity increases and project quality is improved on a continuous basis. These engineering solutions provide additional synergies between Rockwell Automation and EPLAN. Users can now create their electrical designs using the database centric, objectorientated architecture and then use the bi-directional control data synchronisation between Krones AG, market leading manufacturer of beverage bottling and packaging plants, is migrating all globally used CAE systems to EPLAN. With more consistency, deeper integration up to the productions and further automation, Krones sets the course for the future. An iinterdisciplinary collaboration in engineering and the use of configurations for further automation are critical factors for the decision for EPLAN. Users at various sites EPLAN Electric P8 and RSLogix 5000, and P8 via RSLogix Architect, for hardware and tag synchronisation, between both the control system and the electrical drawings. They will now benefit by being able to use EPLAN Pro Panel to virtually design their control cabinet layouts with 3D layout planning, supported by etouch technology. They can then send the engineering data directly to the manufacturing department. Big Change Krones migrates 140 licences to EPLAN globally The contracts were signed in June 2013: Krones AG will renew their CAE landscape and focuses consistently on the solutions of the EPLAN Platform. The previous different 140 ECAD licences are being all migrated to EPLAN. The introduction of the solutions EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Fluid, EPLAN Pro Panel and the new EEC One will be implemented step-by-step using a comprehensive, mutually defined consulting program. will in future implement their engineering in electrical engineering and fluid power engineering with the EPLAN Platform. The whole value creation chain from the SAP preplanning to the automated control cabinet manufacturing is covered. Therefore a multistage concept with integration, electrical and fluid power engineering as well as the integration of control cabinet manu facturing has been anchored in the contract. Imprint EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG An der alten Ziegelei 2 D Monheim am Rhein Telefon: Telefax: info@eplan.de. Concept::Layout Picture credits page 1: Petair-fotolia.com/ istock.com-easybuy4u, page 2: Juice Images-fotolia.com/Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln ggmbh, page 3: olly-fotolia.com/siemens Industry Software GmbH & Co. KG, page 4: divboxpl-fotolia.com/ Comac, page 5: Africa Studio-fotolia.com, page 6: AEG Power Solutions, page 7: Running Snail Racing Team der Hochschule Amberg-Weiden, page 8/9: 2happy-fotolia.com, page 10: EPLAN, page 11: peshkova-fotolia.com/harro Höfliger GmbH, page 12: istock.com-darrro/precision Automation and Robotics India Ltd., page 13: Rittal GmbH &Co. KG, page 14: eugenesergeev-fotolia.com/ripploh Elektrotechnik GmbH, page 15: Karin & Uwe Annas-fotolia.com, page 16: Valéry Kloubert u.a.