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Rockwell and EPLAN plan to improve controls data exchange

  • November 10, 2009
  • EPLAN Software & Services
  • News

Summary

November 10, 2009 — Rockwell Automation and EPLAN Software & Services will collaborate on a utility that merges hardware design with software programming to help improve efficiency and reliability of controls data exchange. The new bi-directional interface available within the RSLogix Architect software will provide seamless integration with the EPLAN Electric P8 electrical design software by allowing electrical engineers, control hardware engineers and software programmers to automatically synchronize controls configuration data. Manufacturers will benefit from the joint utility through accelerated time to production, quicker startup, and improved quality of controls data. The solution eliminates the need for manual entry of configuration information by allowing software programmers and design engineers to automatically update, synchronize and validate changes to model configuration information, including racks, I/O cards, I/O tags and descriptions. “Manufacturers are operating in an environment that demands seamless flow of information across all disciplines in the manufacturing enterprise,” said Dick Slansky, Senior Analyst, PLM Research Director, ARC Advisory Group. “Collaborative Digital Automation tools like the new utility from Rockwell Automation and EPLAN are especially critical at a time when accelerating time to production and improving efficiency are a top concern for manufacturers.” The RSLogix Architect software is a system management and configuration tool that integrates with projects configured using RSLogix 5000 programming software, helping make it easy for users to manage control systems and network configurations, managing data and information across multiple controllers. EPLAN Electric P8 automates the design and documentation of controls hardware systems. Its PLC & Bus Extension module logically represents all devices connected throughout a bus topology and manages their relationships within an EPLAN project. “To remain competitive in the marketplace, manufacturers must continually look for new ways to get their products to market faster and more efficienty,” said Jason Weber, Strategic Alliance Manager, Rockwell Automation. “This technology gives companies an additional tool to help achieve these goals. Our partnership with EPLAN allows us to offer another cutting-edge Virtual Design & Production solution that synchronizes design tools from two industry-leading companies to create synergistic benefits for manufacturers.” Users of the E-CAE software can access the project’s entire PLC information via a dedicated Navigator to address, re-address, sort, import and export PLC data. The utility brings together the import and export function of EPLAN Electric P8 with the ability of RSLogix Architect to manage control system and communication configurations. The end result for customers is easier, more efficient and more accurate collaboration between hardware and software engineers. “In today’s fiercely competitive business environment, it is no longer enough just to develop a well-performing automation tool to meet a specific need,” said Reiner Konetschny, EPLAN’s director of key account management who is also in charge of the company’s strategic global partnership with Rockwell Automation. “Best-in-class solutions interface with other products that complement each other in order to deliver greater benefits than they can offer individually. In this regard, EPLAN Software & Services is very excited to partner with Rockwell Automation to bring a powerful engineering interface driven by customer demands for a sophisticated, efficient and reliable controls data exchange between hardware and software engineering. By saving our mutual customers engineering time and increasing the quality of their work, we are able to not only fulfill their expectations, but also strengthen our individual competitiveness in our respective markets.” About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.About EPLAN Software & Services EPLAN Software & Services is a global provider of fully integrated CAE software products for the efficient design and documentation of electrical, fluid power, instrumentation and process control, and enclosure systems. EPLAN’s flagship controls hardware design software EPLAN Electric P8 is based on a unique data management technology, which makes the sharing of design data and many core functionalities possible across EPLAN’s other powerful products to meet the collaboration needs of different engineering disciplines. This effectively allows the electrical, fluid power, instrumentation and process control, and enclosure designers to have one universal tool to achieve maximum efficiency and accuracy levels—both individually and collaboratively. EPLAN products can connect into a company’s processes and enterprise environment furthering its ability to recognize substantial efficiency gains across the entire design, build, commissioning and maintenance cycle, and measurably reduce overall engineering costs. Since its establishment in 1984, EPLAN’s global customer base has grown to over 18,000 with installed licenses surpassing 60,000 in more than 50 countries. Learn More

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