View from the top: Set the standards with CAE

A modern CAE software package like EPLAN puts integration and automation at the heart of everything it does; providing a variety of end-users with all the core functions required of an electrical design package, and easily-integrated additional tools that can be adapted for industry-specific processes; from fluid and pneumatic engineering to enclosure design. A subsidiary of Rittal, EPLAN UK is a world-leader in computer aided (CAE) software. For over 25 years, the company has been developing innovative solutions for an array of engineering and industrial manufacturing disciplines. Leaving older systems behind, CAE continues to evolve, reducing the amount of manual data entry and error-checking to be done by engineers at each stage of a project. Companies are sometimes a little reluctant to change their systems, believing their current methodology works and that the implementation of a new system will hamper them initially. However this is rarely the case, and the biggest turnarounds come when companies see the weaknesses in their existing system and processes and make the decision to upgrade to a CAE infrastructure, as was the case with Bürkert Fluid Control Systems. When the time came for Bürkert to expand software licenses as part of the companies' effort to remain at the top of their game, the Bürkert took the opportunity to re-evaluate its software and design needs. Consequently, the company invested in EPLAN Electric P8, supported by EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN Data Portal, through realising that EPLAN could help improve design efficiency, productivity and accuracy. Since adopting EPLAN Electric P8 and the EPLAN Data Portal, the company has been able to reduce project design time significantly and eliminate common editing errors, leading to faster turnaround times. Many tedious tasks, like device wiring and numbering, have also been automated, saving time and improving accuracy. The EPLAN Data Portal, provides online device data of over 340,000 components that are controlled and managed by 51 manufacturers such as Festo, ABB, B&R and Phoenix contact. As a result, the data portal has delivered another productivity improvement opportunity due to the wealth of information that is immediately available. Order numbers, technical macros for creating schematics, location drawings, function templates and preview screens can be transferred simply and effectively by dragging and dropping from the EPLAN Data Portal into the project. This effectively does away with the time consuming creation of master data. The outcome is faster delivery due to more intelligent planning, more reliable mounting as well as better wiring. Moreover, storing and reusing data opens the way to standardising and modularising product content, accelerating design and manufacturing and enabling large economies of scale in purchasing components. In order to support customers EPLAN also offers a first class complete computer aided engineering package from consultancy through installation, training and helpdesk support. The newest and sophisticated CAE systems allow the manual and most time-consuming electrical engineering design functions to be performed automatically and instantaneously - with organisations subsequently benefiting from an increase in productivity, shorter project turnaround times and improvements in product quality and security. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, can you afford to miss out?