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Amodern CAE software package like EPLANputs integration and automation at the

heart of everything it does; providing a varietyof end-users with all the core functionsrequired of an electrical design package, andeasily-integrated additional tools that can beadapted for industry-specific processes; fromfluid and pneumatic engineering to enclosuredesign.

A subsidiary of Rittal, EPLAN UK is a world-leader in computer aided (CAE) software. Forover 25 years, the company has beendeveloping innovative solutions for an array ofengineering and industrial manufacturingdisciplines.

Leaving older systems behind, CAEcontinues to evolve, reducing the amount ofmanual data entry and error-checking to bedone by engineers at each stage of a project.

Companies are sometimes a little reluctantto change their systems, believing their currentmethodology works and that theimplementation of a new system will hamperthem initially. However this is rarely the case,and the biggest turnarounds come whencompanies see the weaknesses in their existingsystem and processes and make the decisionto upgrade to a CAE infrastructure, as was thecase with Bürkert Fluid Control Systems.

When the time came for Bürkert to expandsoftware licenses as part of the companies’effort to remain at the top of their game, theBürkert took the opportunity to re-evaluate itssoftware and design needs. Consequently, thecompany invested in EPLAN Electric P8,supported by EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN DataPortal, through realising that EPLAN could helpimprove design efficiency, productivity andaccuracy.

Since adopting EPLAN Electric P8 and theEPLAN Data Portal, the company has been ableto reduce project design time significantly andeliminate common editing errors, leading tofaster turnaround times. Many tedious tasks,like device wiring and numbering, have alsobeen automated, saving time and improvingaccuracy.

The EPLAN Data Portal, provides onlinedevice data of over 340,000 components thatare controlled and managed by 51manufacturers such as Festo, ABB, B&R andPhoenix contact. As a result, the data portalhas delivered another productivityimprovement opportunity due to the wealth ofinformation that is immediately available.Order numbers, technical macros for creatingschematics, location drawings, functiontemplates and preview screens can be

transferred simply andeffectively by dragging anddropping from the EPLANData Portal into the project.This effectively does awaywith the time consumingcreation of master data. Theoutcome is faster deliverydue to more intelligentplanning, more reliablemounting as well as betterwiring. Moreover, storingand reusing data opens theway to standardising and

modularising product content, acceleratingdesign and manufacturing and enabling largeeconomies of scale in purchasingcomponents.

In order to support customers EPLAN alsooffers a first class complete computer aidedengineering package from consultancy throughinstallation, training and helpdesk support.

The newest and sophisticated CAE systemsallow the manual and most time-consumingelectrical engineering design functions to beperformed automatically and instantaneously -with organisations subsequently benefitingfrom an increase in productivity, shorterproject turnaround times and improvements inproduct quality and security. In an increasinglycompetitive marketplace, can you afford tomiss out? www.eplan.co.uk

Ken Christie, director of EPLANUK, explains how the latestcomputer aided engineering(CAE) solutions are being used tooffer quality assurance and gaina clear competitive advantage

EPLAN UK

Ken Christie EPLAN UK

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