April 12, 2012 - EPLAN announces Engineering Center One. EEC One closes the huge gap that often exists between conventional and mechatronic engineering. Predefined standards such as macros or value sets can be combined automatically to a schematic through MS Excel. The system is a foundational building block in a consistent automation strategy that fully assists companies from the introduction of CAE software via standardization and automation to mechatronic engineering. Based on MS Excel, it allows electrical and fluid schematics to be generated automatically.
A solid foundation
By using the EPLAN platform, the designer has already started the automation process. Project templates, partial circuits (macros) or reports can be structured within the CAE system. Once the standards, such as value sets of a motor output or the terminals used, have been defined, EEC One comes into play. Individually developed project standards can be combined into a spreadsheet form via an MS Excel front-end. Selection is then facilitated by the integrated macro preview, which displays variants comfortably.
The selected macros can be then integrated into the spreadsheet by dragging-and-dropping. Decisive practical advantage: The macros automatically include their freely configurable parameters within the MS Excel front-end. Furthermore, extensive sets of rules can be created in MS Excel - thus avoiding the tedious work of entering the parameters manually. The design guidelines created in the process ensure maximum transparency and top quality within the schematics. Electrical or fluid schematics can then be generated automatically at the click of a button.
Companies profit three-fold from this automation strategy: Standards are created once in high quality; sets of rules secure the know-how centrally and automation of the documentation reduces the lead times considerably.
Mechatronic engineering
What succeeds on a small scale also functions on a large scale. The existing standardization of the CAE data is, in this case, implemented across disciplines. With the EPLAN Engineering Center as the next configuration level, the mechanical, PLC or documentation data are also included in the standardization. The EEC generates all of the documentation with a click of a button: Schematics and fluid plans, mechanical designs and complete PLC programs. This is the effect of a cross-discipline module than enables the machine to be functionally assembled.
The benefits are clear: All the data is recorded centrally in the system. All the generated documentation elements are perfectly attuned to each other. And finally, downstream processes, such as commissioning, now require few or no changes. The EPLAN Engineering Center One closes the huge gap that often exists between conventional and mechatronic engineering. On the basis of this new consistent automation strategy, companies are assisted every step along the way from the introduction of CAE software to mechatronic engineering.
EPLAN Software & Service
EPLAN Software & Service develops engineering solutions, which accelerate the product development process. Interdisciplinary expert systems assure the highest degree of productivity and data integration. The solution provider develops customer-specific and tailor-made PDM and PLM concepts and provides comprehensive services such as customizing, consulting and training. Innovative development competence, a consistently practical approach, and international presence are the resulting success factors. EPLAN is part of Rittal International and thus of the Friedhelm Loh Group with 11,500 employees around the world and forecast sales of 4 billion USD in 2011.
EPLAN is therefore synonymous with continuity and investment security. Four offices in North America and our presence in 50 countries support 25,000 customers with 80,000 installations worldwide. The corporate motto - 'Efficient Engineering' - underlines the proficiency of optimized, efficient processes, which keep companies competitive in the long term.
