April 2006 EPLAN your Engineering

EPLAN your Engineering 

eplanet 

▼ 

▼ 

EPLAN Electric P8 

Hanover Fair 2006 

EPLAN Engineering Center at EDAG 

New EPLAN Platform Strategy 

EPLAN Cabinet 

Rittal: CO 2 Climate Control / Nanocoating 

And much more 

April 2006

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Page 10 

Engineering award 

The next generation! 

Hanover Fair 2006: 

An amazing world premiere in electrical engineering 

Processes & services EPLAN 

Pages 4-5 

People and markets 

· Major appearance at 

Hanover Fair 

· Factory Automation 

Today in Austria 

Pages 6-7 

· Lanicad ECE 

· Awakening atmosphere 

in China 

Pages 8-9 

Customer application story 

· EPLAN Engineering 

Center at EDAG 

Page 10 

News ticker 

· Boss Kettering Award 

Pages 11-16 

World premiere 

Pages 26-27 

Fast-paced times 

Pages 11-16 

Technology and innovation 

· EPLAN Electric P8: 

the new dimension in 

electrical engineering 

Page 17 

Service news 

· Update-Training for 


Pages 18-19 


· Platform strategy breaks 

down discipline boundaries 

Pages 20-25 

Customer application stories 

· ABB: integrated platform 

for enclosure construction 

· Product macros from 

Rexroth 

· ATS: maximum performance 

EPLAN PPE 

Table of contents 

Pages 26-27 


· SSG Starkstrom-Systeme: 

high-speed engineering 


Pages 30-31 

Cool solutions 

Pages 28-29 


· EPLAN Cabinet

Editorial 

Hans Hässig 

RITTAL / Strategical partners 

Pages 30-31 


· Fresh impulse in enclosure 

climate control 

Dear Readers, 

April 2006 

We are thrilled to present the new dimension in CAE as a 

world premiere at the Hanover Fair: EPLAN Electric P8. 

This technology enables you to switch between graphics 

and object orientation for the first time. All in one system! 

Have the freedom to design in your preferred working 

environment. 

Whether you have been using EPLAN 5 or EPLAN 21 – 

all data is compatible with the new EPLAN Electric P8. 

We have bundled together the advantages of both systems 

and added a whole load of new features, including some 

requested by you. 

As a solution-provider, we focus on the consistency of our 

products. Here too, we have achieved a further technological 

leap. The new EPLAN platform technology is an 

interdisciplinary combination of EPLAN Electric P8 with 

disciplines such as fluidic and electrical measurement and 

control engineering. This puts EPLAN PPE and EPLAN Fluid 

(formerly fluidPLAN) on the same platform – ensuring 

optimum data exchange between all systems. 

With our product portfolio for M-CAD, CAE and PDM, we 

are accelerating your entire engineering process and the 

relevant upstream and downstream sectors. 

Take your first look at the new systems and visit us at the 

Hanover Fair. Be one of the first to experience the live world 

premiere of EPLAN Electric P8. 

Best regards, 

Hans Hässig 

Managing Director 

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Pace setter at the heart of the Digital Factory 

EPLAN Software & Service pulls out all the stops 

with 330 m 2 of exhibition space. The Sophisticated 

E-CAE product, EPLAN Electric P8, is launched 

in a journalist moderated forum. There are 

18 workstations including EPLAN Electric P8, 

EPLAN Fluid, EPLAN Cabinet, EPLAN PPE and 

many more. There is a simulation of the entire process 

chain, from pre- planning to operation 

and maintenance. And finally, there is a 

smashing party featuring live entertainment 

("Soundconvoy") for customers, partner companies 

and everyone else on Tuesday, April 25, 

starting at 6 p.m. 

Processes & services 


EPLAN 

Welcomes the World 

GET NEW TECHNOLOGY FIRST – 

Visit EPLAN Software & Service at the Hanover Fair 

Higher. Faster. Further. The Hanover Fair continues to be the ideal place for you to secure the 

most up-to-date industry knowledge. In particular, the Digital Factory is a leading international 

fair for integrated processes and IT solutions. As one of the top innovators of 2006, 

EPLAN Software & Service, is firmly embedded in the largest global industry event from 

Monday, April 24 to Friday, April 28. 


Hightech encompasses an entirely new conceptual 

design, in which tangible innovations are encountered 

together with quick operational procedures, 

secure data and sustainable bridges to 

enable manufacturing in all areas. Experience 

EPLAN Software & Service at the Hanover Fair 

for the first time in quintuplicate! 

· Hall 16 (EPLAN Software & Service – 

Booth C09/10) 

· Hall 11 (with Rittal – Booth E04) 

· Hall 12 (with Kiesling Maschinentechnik – 

Booth E45) 

· Hall 17 (Automation Live, with Rittal – 

Booth B23)




Making the connection 

between theory and practice 

The symposium for the leading industrial enterprises 

in Austria: Factory Automation Today 

Fast-moving markets? Effective product solutions 

are highly sought-after when they are tailored 

to the specific needs of the customers who want 

modern automation systems. It was entirely in 

this spirit that the five global players EPLAN, 

Bernecker + Rainer (B&R), COPA-DATA, Hirschmann 

and Rittal initially founded the event, 

"Factory Automation Today" (FAT) in 2003. 

FAT focuses on innovation and knowledge 

In previous years, the FAT meetings have clearly 

highlighted that: the creative application and 

meaningful enrichment of existing knowledge is 

as important as innovation itself, and from these, 

theoretical possibilities can be efficiently transferred 

to practical applications. Therefore practical 

information and conversation with users 

from machine and plant construction take center 

stage in this symposium which is one of a kind. 

Far away from the themed exhibit islands 

The main focus of FAT 2006 is on planning and 

engineering with central backbone, safety and 

standards, which is also the theme of Digital Factory 

(Ethernet). Coordinated seminars make it 

possible to get an overview of a complete automisation 

solution from the planning stage right up 

to completion, through application examples. 

Therefore the partner companies are increasingly 

focusing on integrated solution methods in 

the implementation of projects. Success-critical 

factors such as cost advantages and flexibility 

are therefore constantly being considered in the 

application. 

Two strong partners are also on board 

New for 2006 – well-known users define specific 

requirements in their contributions The 2006 

event once again takes place in the Austrian 

cities of Graz, Vienna and Linz. In 2005, the original 

group expanded to incorporate the company, 

Sick, as an exclusive guest partner. Sick is 

the leading global manufacturer of sensors and 

sensor systems for industrial applications. In addition, 

Deutsche Messe AG (German Trade Fair 

Corporation) has become the most important 

cooperation partner. They introduce the most upto-date 

trends in the automatisation segment. 

Dates for FAT 2006: 

09. May 2006, Graz - Neue Stadthalle, (New 

Town Hall) Messeplatz 1, 

A-8010 Graz, Austria 

10. May 2006, Vienna - Austria Trend Eventhotel 

Pyramide, Parkallee 2, 

A-2334 Vösendorf, Austria 

11. May 2006, Linz - Altes Rathaus, (Old City 

Hall), Hauptplatz 1, 

A-4041 Linz, Austria 

Register at: 

www.factory-automation-today.at 

Practical information can be found in the symposium's 

motto "Factory Automation Today". 

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EPLAN Certified Engineer 

LANICAD CADburo was the first to receive the 

ECE quality certification. ECE stands for EPLAN 

Certified Engineer and it is viewed as the quality 

standard related to the EPLAN CAE firm. The 

fact that the ISO 9001:2000 standard was 

awarded halfway through July also proves that 

LANICAD CADburo has a long-term vision in 

the area of quality control. 

Switchboards for electrical systems 

"We have been active as a multidisciplinary 

drawing office specialised in drawing and designing 

technical installations since 1996. Our 

core activity is switchboards for electrical systems,” 

explains manager Nicolas Landuyt. Some 

impressive names can be found on the customer 

list of LANICAD CADburo: Vamix in Eeklo, the 

concert hall in Bruges, the Grolsch brewery warehouse 

in Enschede, the distribution centre in 

Zaventem, Volvo Cars Ghent, Opel Belgium, 

VW Brussels and Dortmund, Ford Genk, Kraft 

Foods, Electrabel as well as others. 

ISO 9001:2000 certification 

LANICAD CADburo customers can sleep soundly 

for years to come because Nicolas Landuyt´s 

company already distinguishes itself from the 

competition as a result of their ISO 9001:2000 

certification and achieving the ECE quality standard. 

"The ECE standardisation came about due 

to a demand from a few large German industrial 

companies that wanted a verifiable quality standard 

in the area of engineering,” says Nico De 

Baerdemaeker of EPLAN. "Holders of ECE certification 

have professional and technical knowledge 

and the practical skills of an engineer. 



Optimal customer satisfaction 

LANICAD-EPLAN: a future-focussed partnership with 

ECE certification 

New projects have already been produced! LANICAD is more than happy to continue growing 

together with EPLAN and to work towards optimal customer satisfaction. A success formula 

that can only be supported by the EPLAN Belgium team! 

The ECE exam is pretty difficult because of the 

variety of questions and parameters. You need 

a good knowledge of EPLAN Software and 

practical experience.” 

The first in Belgium 

EPLAN Software and Service is congratulating 

LANICAD to be the first customer in Belgium to 

received the ECE certification. This is also why 

LANICAD deserves to be proud of this recognition 

and they chose a very interesting way to 

show it – just take a look at the license plate on 

one of their company cars.



Awakening atmosphere 

News from emerging markets: EPLAN now offers 

software and service directly on your doorstep 

”EPLAN your Engineering!” is the conclusive 

answer to the differing worldwide market 

requirements within CAE business. Around the 

globe, EPLAN Software & Service therefore 

supports its customers not only with pure 

software but also with individual engineering 

services. 

Trends in Asia, Middle East, Europe 

With EPLAN currently pushing forward efforts in 

quality improvement in Asia, database-supported 

engineering is required in the Middle East. 

In Central Europe, the course is set for continuous 

automation and cost reduction, while in the 

German/Austria/Swiss region, EPLAN is preparing 

the way for functional and cross-disciplinary 

engineering. 

Transfer and training on the pulse of time 

Accordingly, central training measures as well as 

technical conferences are carried out each year. 

The know-how acquired at these events is then 

passed on directly to EPLAN customers onsite 

through a multitude of training measures, user 

meetings and training courses. 

Growth market opens up in China 

An example of our commitment is the EPLAN 

subsidiary in China. In only three months, the 

team of product engineers and sales staff has 

increased by five and services have multiplied. 


First-class dependence 

The EPLAN competence team is housed in the 

premises of Rittal Shanghai. This first-class 

infrastructure with ultra-modern offices and IT 

equipment proved a great help in the rapid start 

in September 2005. EPLAN benefited particularly 

from the market synergies and logistical 

performance of the Rittal parent company. 

Bright prospects 

With an EPLAN presence in the boom town of 

Shanghai, global business has received an extra 

boost. The initial situation backs this up firmly. 

Chinese companies such as China Tobacco are 

making use of EPLAN solution competency in the 

same way as global players on the European 

markets: the focus in China is on performance 

and they need globally active partners to provide 

worldwide support for their engineering requirements. 

In this respect, an international presence 

is as powerful an argument as global-orientated 

technology with local standards and languages. 

EPLAN 21 at the forefront in China 

While EPLAN 5 is the leading system on the 

European market, China marches to a different 

beat. The object-oriented software EPLAN 21 

now leads the way. EPLAN 5 is mainly used in 

companies with strong international integration 

and uniform English-speaking application. 

500 leads with concrete 

projects on the horizon – 

An excellent outcome of 

EPLAN’s participation at the 

‘Factory Automation’ fair 

in Shanghai at the end of 

2005. 

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Modular approach for 

production system construction 

New ways in electrical engineering: 

EPLAN Engineering Center at FFT EDAG 

FFT EDAG Produktionssysteme 

FFT EDAG Produktionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG 

in Fulda is one of the largest international 

manufacturers of production systems for 

automotive manufacturing and other sectors of 

the mobility industry, such as aeronautical engineering: 

FFT EDAG systems weld or bond bodyshells 

together, assemble vehicle modules or 

calibrate the finished systems and modules. For 

the electrical engineering of highly sophisticated 

systems, FFT EDAG uses EPLAN to build them in 

an impressive 10,000 m 2 plant floor first and 

only after a dry run and customer acceptance, 

installs them on-site. 



One of the largest international manufacturers of automotive manufacturing production 

systems, FFT EDAG Produktionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG, is currently building a module system 

in the EPLAN Engineering Center (EEC) for cross-disciplinary constructions of these highly 

complex systems. 

This is because a great majority of customers in 

the automotive industry also use EPLAN. 

Special machine construction with a particular 

degree of difficulty 

Every FFT EDAG customer works with their own 

specifications that are so extensive that it takes a 

lot of experience to master and implement them, 

both in terms of the components that are to be 

used and the preparation of drawings and documentation. 

This means: there is no uniform FFT 

EDAG standard; adaptation to the customers’ 

wishes is part of every project. Klaus Apel, Head 

of Engineering Project Management: "We 

have specialists for every customer with expert 

knowledge of the manufacturer’s specifications.” 

Desire for standardization 

How can standardization be achieved under 

these particular circumstances and despite the 

many customer-specific requirements, in order to 

optimize process quality? The electrical construction 

hardware development department has 

tackled this question over the past year, focusing 

mainly on CAE systems that can fulfill these tasks 

– including the EPLAN Engineering Center 

(EEC).



EEC: modular system for cross-disciplinary 

construction 

At the EEC, the designer can rely on the modules 

defined there. These modules go far beyond 

pure electrical construction and EPLAN 5: other 

CAD/CAE tools such as M-CAD systems or PLC 

programming systems may also be used to create 

the individual modules. During construction, 

all the designer has to do is select the modules 

he needs and define project-specific parameters. 

If the user defines individual regulations for 

the EEC, these parameter values can even be 

calculated automatically. As the functional 

modules are described in cross-disciplinary 

fashion, all available information is transparent 

and universal, avoiding double entries and 

inconsistencies in data management. At the 

same time, the designer profits from a new working 

method: he uses function-oriented, modulebased 

engineering. 

Successful pilot project 

After presentation of the EEC by EPLAN Software 

& Service, the management quickly 

decided on a pilot project and the first macros 

were defined jointly with EPLAN consultants. 

Patrik Möller, responsible within FFT EDAG 

Hardware Construction for the implementation 

of the EEC project: "Our goal was the electrical 

representation of various subsections within smaller 

projects such as electro-pneumatic valve clusters 

on devices for welding systems in bodyshell 

work.” 

The first step: an OEM-specific library 

After the successful completion of the pilot project, 

the EEC’s reach was extended to other components 

such as terminal boxes for tools and drives, 

remaining initially at the level of individual 

customer specifications. This means, for example, 

that modules for terminal boxes were defined 

according to Ford, BMW or VW specifications. 

Based on the excellent results in hardware 

construction, the next step was the reproduction 


of a second discipline in the EEC. The pneumatic 

element of the valve clusters was chosen for 

this step. Patrik Möller: "As electrical equipment 

and pneumatics are pretty much based on the 

same data in this subsection, we were able to 

instantly achieve extensive synergies.” 

The goal: customer-independent modules as 

construction basis 

Customer-specific modules make work much 

easier for electrical engineers, who now have a 

virtual stock of parts to use when they are constructing 

a valve cluster or terminal box. FFT 

EDAG, however, is pursuing an even greater 

goal: in the next step, modules are to be configured 

independent of any specifications. What 

does this mean for construction? Systems will 

initially be constructed independent of any specifications, 

with these being added automatically 

afterwards as far as possible. Klaus Apel: "If 

this goal is realized, work on projects will be 

much more flexible and no longer dependent on 

the knowledge of individual employees. Furthermore, 

it would be possible to define a unified 

quality standard on a construction basis.” 

‘Work in progress’ 

The project leaders realize that this long-term 

goal cannot be achieved overnight – but they 

are convinced that their investment in this project 

will pay off. It is for this reason that FFT EDAG is 

pressing ahead with modularization with the 

EEC and can therefore count on the support of 

EPLAN Software & Service. Klaus Apel: "The 

Cooperation with EPLAN in the individual configuration 

of the system is excellent: we are working 

out together what is right for our individual 

purposes and are gradually making use of all 

the advantages of the EEC.” It is not just electrical 

engineering that is being considered here, 

but software as well: modules are also to be defined 

for PLC programming and filed at the 

EPLAN Engineering Center. 

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Simply the best 

General Motors hands out Boss Kettering Award 


In film, it’s the Oscars – in engineering, it’s the Boss Kettering Award: General Motors Corporation 

(GM) awarded the exclusive prize in May 2005 to the internal GM EPLAN CAE team in 

the USA. 

Company development worldwide 

Investment in growth markets: Since 

2005, EPLAN Software & Service 

has had a subsidiary in China, three 

new employees in India and a new 

branch office in Ekatarinenburg. 

Since 1 January 2006: A subsidiary 

in Mexico as the starting point for 

support in Latin America. 

Planned for 2006: increased activities 

in Russia and Lithuania, appointment 

of 28 new EPLAN employees 

worldwide. 

EPLAN is active in over 50 countries 

with its subsidiaries and distributors, 

and supporting other countries 

through regional subcontractors. 

EPLAN Software & Service ensures a 

dominating presence through participation 

in over 90 trade fairs worldwide. 

Clear advantages for GM 

The Boss Kettering Award is the highest accolade 

for recognizing engineering and innovation 

services. It honors GM employees across the 

world who have identified and implemented 

advantages for General Motors with application 

and imagination. The prizewinners are 

among the GM elite who strengthen the tradition 

of innovations within the company. The award is 

named after Charles F. "Boss" Kettering, the 

founder of the GM research and development 

department in 1920. A worthy patron for certified 

recognition with more than 140 patents of 

his own. 

With software, service and commitment 

What does this mean for EPLAN Software & 

Service? For one thing, it is a superb reference 

that documents the vital commitment of the key 

account team at EPLAN Software & Service. It 

is also real proof of the performance of the 

EPLAN portfolio. It also means: from Detroit to 

Rüsselsheim, the motto holds true: EPLAN your 

Engineering. 

Worldwide cooperation with over 

20 strategic partners, such as RITTAL, 

PHOENIX, CONTACT, AUTODESK, 

SIEMENS, FESTO, SCHNEIDER 

ELECTRIC, ABB, PILZ and LAPP, are 

cornerstones of the EPLAN network in 

electrical, mechanical and fluid technology. 

This means EPLAN Software 

& Service also has top relationships 

at its fingertips in order to create the 

engineering of the future. 

News ticker




The next generation! 

Hanover Fair 2006: 

An amazing world premiere in electrical engineering 

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Bulls eye! 

EPLAN Electric P8: Tap into 

unprecedented freedom with 

macro-variant technology and 

graphics- /object-oriented 

approach 



Feel your heart beat faster again at the Hanover Fair 2006: Hanover is the showcase for 

a world premiere! EPLAN Electric P8, the new marvel in CAE, will be unveiled to the trade 

public for the first time. Expect an explosive display of functions – coupled with ultimate 

flexibility and integration. With optional graphic and object orientation, sophisticated platform 

technology and complete data transfer from EPLAN 5 and EPLAN 21, EPLAN Electric P8 

represents the future of electrical engineering. Reach the next level in global competition in 

terms of efficiency, productivity and cost advantages with EPLAN Electric P8. 

All in the blink of an eye 

Thanks to the innovative macro-variant technology, 

your projects will become uniquely variable 

from now on. All component circuit diagrams 

can be generated complete with variants, whose 

suitability for reuse or amendment is guaranteed. 

The structures and circuitry for individual 

functional units are usually identical in terms of 

drawing. Only the dimensioning and component 

selection vary from one task to the next. For 

example, a large electrical drive needs more 

powerful protective equipment, cable and terminal 

diameters. You can now save these combinations 

as variants – and the correct circuit can 

be selected and dimensioned in a flash. The potential 

of the new macro technology in EPLAN 

Electric P8 is incredible. You can count on time 

savings of up to 50 %. 

A triple plus 

Additional benefit: your stock of macros will 

become more streamlined and easier to manage, 

as well as supporting your first steps towards 

standardization. The component circuit diagrams 

will remain identifiable as a group, so 

rather than editing data individually for a new 

project, all you need to do is simply select the 

suitable variant. It’s crystal clear to see: copying 

and amending pages of the plan and re-dimensioning 

circuits is now a thing of the past. 

Last Minute Change 

There’s no doubt that manual changes are not 

only time-consuming but also pose the risk of 

error. No problem with EPLAN Electric P8 – 

amendments are supported even in the final 

stages of a project. Parametrizing rather than (re-) 

designing is the key here. Simply select the suitable 

variant afterwards and the work is complete 

in next to no time. Naturally, the consistency 

of associated dependent data is guaranteed, 

regardless of whether certain technical necessities 

have been observed or your client is 

requesting a last-minute modification. 

Power for engineering Productivity for fast time-to-market



Uniting two worlds 

Workflow-controlled engineering means that the 

processes themselves determine the approach 

and working methods, rather than the software 

system architecture. The crux of the matter: all 

other systems currently on the market are either 

graphics- or object-oriented – EPLAN Electric P8 

can do both. A totally unique selling point! This 

guarantees you an unpresedented level of consistency 

in the future. Many systems only offer an 

object-oriented approach. This makes sense if 

you want amendments to affect every representation 

of a given component. However, object 

orientation remains consistent throughout, even 

in places where you might not notice the amendments: 

for example, elements that have not yet 

been positioned. This invisible information is duplicated 

each time it is copied. The undesirable 

result: the system ‘project plans’ elements that 

should not exist. At the start of a project, it makes 

sense to work with a graphics-based approach. 

You remain in control of the situation, even when 

copying. If an object-oriented approach becomes 

more appropriate at a later stage, you can 

simply switch. This way, you can derive the maximum 

possible benefit from this holistic approach. 

The unique selling point of EPLAN Electric 

P8: both graphics- and object-orientated approaches 

are supported equally. 


Performance for exception Process for continuous workflow 

Last Minute Change: macrovariants 

for rapid project 

entry and amendments with 

consistent data. 

Preliminary design data can 

be transferred from any MRP 

system and components can 

be positioned in EPLAN – 

including online control of 

the calculated quantities. 

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Technology and sophistication 

from A-Z 

EPLAN Electric P8: Microsoft Office integration – 

Transfer of standards – Workgroup engineering – 

Project Manager – User interface configurator 

Added performance: Microsoft Office 

integration 

Integration into the Office environment ensures 

an added productivity boost. Excel is the standard 

tool for editing mass data where routine 

tasks are eliminated. This integrated solution offers 

extremely high standards of flexibility. Every 

company has its own standards with regard to 

the labeling and sorting of components. An assistant 

helps the user to transfer each EPLAN data 

record into the Excel editor; no programming 

knowledge whatsoever is needed. This way, the 

system becomes a universal tool. Any number of 

data records may be edited at the push of a button. 

What is more, Excel is fast becoming the universal 

data exchange format – more and more 

companies are transmitting information in spreadsheet 

form. As well as producing a clear and 

manageable output, this allows easy subsequent 

processing of large quantities of data. Not just 

by you either: this data may also be used in the 

production department for component labeling 

purposes, for example. Once the information has 

been entered, it is available for other process stages 

– the emphasis is on productivity, from the 

first click right through to the last. 

Automatic transfer of standards 

EPLAN Electric P8 supports all international 

standards such as IEC 61346, JIC, NFPA or the 

Russian GOST. The automatic conversion of 

standards helps to ensure your global compe- 



How can the future of engineering be rendered flexible and profitable? By applying simplified 

solutions for increasingly complex tasks. EPLAN Electric P8 tackles the new requirements with 

real class, thanks to a range of new features and benefits. Discover the ideas of a new era in 

international CAE with EPLAN Electric P8. 

titiveness against a backdrop of growing internationalization. 

The standard templates, evaluation 

forms and mapping of the different symbol 

libraries are defined. The system automatically 

converts existing projects into the chosen standard, 

eliminating the need for additional work. 

One click, and projects are dispatched instantly 

via e-mail and PDF export – for global data 

exchange beyond national borders. 

Going totally global with workgroup 

engineering 

The decision is yours: EPLAN Electric P8 allows 

any number of users to work simultaneously on 

one project. Workgroup engineering operates 

across an entire network, across different locations, 

and across national borders. Distributed 

working means that your sub-processes are 

parallelized. The most significant benefit: you 

can compensate for tight deadlines without any 

loss in quality. The consistent Unicode capabilities 

of EPLAN Electric P8 allow circuit diagrams 

to be supplied in all languages. For example, 

everything is translated, from Chinese wiring 

schematics to Russian bills of materials, either 

online or following completion of the work. You 

simply design projects in your own native language 

and the system translates as required, 

whether into one language or several. 

Progress for innovation Precision for design-to-order




Project Manager – the perfect assistant 

Utilizing the full performance capability of the 

software while retaining a full overview is every 

bit as good as it sounds. The Project Manager 

function is the key, as it guides you through the 

engineering process, without the need for specialist 

expert knowledge. The Project Manager 

highlights the available opportunities and decision-making 

paths, explains the individual 

options, and guides you reliably to your goal. 

If settings are repeated, these may be stored in 

project templates for immediate availability. 

This way, your efforts are rewarded twofold. 

User interface configurator: it belongs to you 

The system’s openness to individual configurations 

will enable you to reach your goal even 

faster in the future. Not only can the user interface 

be flexibly adjusted - various tasks and 

work phases can also be configured and stored, 

then re-accessed when needed. This applies to 

both device-oriented project planning and graphical 

editing in the style of EPLAN 5. If PLC 

editing is the main focus of project planning, the 

views and editing dialogs may be adapted to 

bus and PLC data. The general rule of thumb is 

that all relevant information is immediately accessible 

for every processing stage. Even occasional 

users soon get to grips with the software, 

because the toolbars may be reduced to a few 

essential functions. This rapid overview helps to 

keep individual work phases short. 

Passion for future technology Premium for quality and reliability 

PLC and bus topologies can 

be collected and processed 

in detail, with processes 

consistently based on these 

topologies. 

GET NEW TECHNOLOGY FIRST: 

GM awaits the international 

presentation of EPLAN 

Electric P8 (Hanover Fair, 

Hall 16, Booth C09/10). 

15

Sophisticated rights 

administration ensures user 

administration and 

adherence to company 

standards. 

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eplanet 

One solution fits all 

EPLAN Electric P8: process-oriented, integrated, 

automated 

More speed – better quality 

Uniform interfaces such as ODBC, XML or Excel 

mean that data from upstream processes is easily 

transferred and processed for electrical engineering 

purposes. The result is directly retrievable 

for downstream processes such as production. 

In addition to the speed benefits offered by 

this comprehensive communication, other key 

factors include data integrity and the quality of 

the results. 



The depth of integration in process operations is a major cost-cutting factor. So too is the 

opportunity for automation. EPLAN Electric P8 provides you with all the necessary means and 

options for trimming your projects and processes to achieve the desired level of efficiency. 

From the very start, from scratch - the software may be integrated as required into the 

company’s IT infrastructure. 

Automation at the push of a button 

The next stage is the automation of the design 

process. With EPLAN Electric P8, you are choosing 

a 2-in-1 solution as automation goes handin-hand 

with integration. The system may be fully 

controlled from the outside. The functions you 


EPLAN Electric P8 opens up a brand 

new dimension in engineering. With 

an explosive display of functional 

diversity and a free choice between 

graphic and object orientation, the 

software offers a clear technological 

leap. The system is unrestrictedly 

geared to market requirements, and 

accommodates users of EPLAN 5 or 

EPLAN 21 with their customary working 

methods. This ensures confidence 

in handling the software, and 

rapid engineering results. The added 

employ to generate results may be retrieved via 

an Application Programming Interface (API). This 

way, all stages and operations that you would 

normally carry out manually become automated. 

All connections to upstream and downstream 

processes are fully automated. 

Full power: ‘Install & Go’ 

First-time users and those switching from a different 

system can get started straight away, thanks 

to the flexible configuration and administration of 

the system. Administrators tailor the system to the 

required standards, according to the company's 

specifications. Adapting the interface to task- or 

user-specific criteria couldn’t be simpler, and 

even company-specific special or technical 

terminology may be integrated as required. 

Revolutionary platform strategy 

EPLAN Electric P8 is based on a revolutionary 

platform technology which guarantees 100 % 

data transfer from EPLAN 5 and EPLAN 21 (see 

Pages 18-19). At the same time, its modular structure 

supports both horizontal and vertical extensions. 

For the first time, electrical engineering, fluid 

engineering and instrumentation & control 

applications are able to communicate directly 

with one another. 

value afforded by the direct link with 

fluid and instrumentation & control 

provides extraordinary benefits for 

consistent processes. The renowned 

EPLAN quality guarantees a longterm 

advancement, and represents 

an investment in the future. 

EPLAN Electric P8: The new E-CAE-Solution that´ll change everything


Service news 

Dream start 

Expect no less than the best: new update training 

sessions for EPLAN Electric P8 


Seize the moment. Profit from it now. All training courses for users switching to EPLAN Electric 

P8 follow only one motto: sustainability, so that you can continue designing projects in EPLAN 

Electric P8 as effectively and consistently as you did before. With increased functionality. 

Without detours. Without loss of time. 

The best introduction to switching 

Discover the fantastic opportunities of the new 

dimension in software in a practice-oriented way 

that’s hard to beat. For example, with a cross-disciplinary 

project design task, the training plan 

covers all topics involved in everyday business: 

electrical engineering, pneumatic and hydraulic 

design. The high level of practical content and 

constant dialog between trainer and user give 

you the confidence to make an immediate effective 

start in daily project planning. To summarize: 

in addition to professional applications, participants 

learn efficient construction methods, 

from the preliminary and detail design stages 

right up to the execution phase. 

Deep knowledge at an introductory price 

A clean, consistent, simple structure: EPLAN Software 

& Service will offer two different update 

training sessions. The difference in Update Training 

Basics (3 days) and Update Training Professional 

(5 days) is in the level of detail. The 

5-day update training session provides a professional 

depth of knowledge in many areas – 

together with practice-oriented exercises and additional 

modules on system installation, administration, 

rights administration, user administration 

and revision management. Exactly the right training 

for anyone wishing to optimize their construction 

processes with the new engineering 

methods of EPLAN Electric P8. 

Seminar highlights for 

‘Update Training Professional’ 

· Customizable user interfaces and toolbars for 

simple, safe operation 

· Projects following individual factory standards in 

accordance with IEC 61346/ 61355 

· Schematic-oriented creation of wiring schematics 

through parameterized component circuit diagrams 

and intuitive copy / template functions 

· Object-oriented creation of wiring schematics with 

device lists (pre-planning and schematic design) 

· Automatic generation of assembly-related production 

documentation (e.g. terminal and cable diagrams, 

bills of materials, enclosure component 

lists, labeling, wiring lists etc.) 

· Automatic generation of multilingual documentation 

and country-specific, standardized display of circuit 

symbols 

· Comprehensive, assorted display of single and 

multi-line connections in PLC and bus topologies 

· Multi-location, multi-user project design 

· Status and change tracking enabled and documented 

through revision management 

· Logical and functional inspection of circuit diagram 

documentation according to user defined quality 

criteria 

· Customer-specific adaptation of standards sheets, 

output forms and circuit symbols 

17

18 

eplanet 

A new dimension in data handling 

The EPLAN platform technology creates the 

foundations for efficient cooperation between 

different disciplines. The modular platform provides 

a range of core functions which are essential 

for electrical CAE, fluid engineering and 

instrumentation & control. As well as a uniform 

database, the platform also includes basic functions 

such as the graphical editor (i.e. for wiring 



Green light: product development 

circle is closed 

Concentrated innovative power for the entire cycle: 

new EPLAN platform strategy breaks down discipline 

boundaries 

Under the new EPLAN development platform, electrical project design, fluid engineering and 

instrumentation & control are now able to collaborate directly with one another for the first 

time. All systems are supplied by the same database, and based on a uniform platform, 

without data losses or inconsistencies. For the first time, all disciplines are directly linked to 

one another without additional interfaces. 

schematics, fluid diagrams, PCT), a uniform rights 

administration system, the viewer function, online 

foreign language translation and the sophisticated 

revision management system. The unique framework 

concept is sure to impress users with its 

rapid results – not least thanks to the uniform look 

& feel throughout all applications. All making 

everyday business a simpler process.



One for all 

The new platform integrates various CAD/CAE 

solutions from EPLAN Software & Service. 

EPLAN Electric P8, one of the representatives of 

this latest generation, is based on the new platform. 

The direct, unrestricted link with fluid engineering 

– specifically with EPLAN Fluid (formerly 

fluidPLAN) – has perfected the combination of 

hardware design and fluid engineering. The uniform 

database and object orientation ensure reliability 

all the way. Amendments to one point 

are immediately made available to all relevant 

functions; regardless of whether the discipline in 

question is electrical or fluid engineering. 

User-friendly and reliable 

The instrumentation and control industry also benefits 

from direct communication with EPLAN 

PPE. In collaboration with EPLAN Electric P8, 

both systems operate on the same, uniform database. 

The electrical instrumentation & control 

and electrical engineering sectors are now fully 

integrated. Changes to the PCT loop diagrams 

or loops are always integrated and consistent, 

regardless of their location. 

Open for further integration 

Thanks to its openness based on the API interface, 

the EPLAN platform technology offers you 

the opportunity of integrating engineering tools 

from other disciplines. As well as other products 

from EPLAN Software & Service, tools from thirdparty 

suppliers may also be incorporated. This is 

the next step toward greater integration and 

direct interaction between the disciplines. 

PLATFORM STRATEGY 


Interaction is the key 

Machinery and systems are mechatronic system solutions. 

Each participating discipline must be individually 

suited to the respective product requirement in order 

to function correctly. The control software must be just 

as functional and consistent as the hardware concept. 

The same goes for sensors, actuators, cabling, enclosure 

configuration or hosing between fluid components. 

However, this in itself is not enough: ultimately, 

the challenge lies in the interaction between these isolated 

solutions. Effective, holistic engineering cannot 

be achieved without functioning interaction. 

Discipline-specific engineering is a thing of the 

past 

Most engineering is the result of individual, disciplinerelated 

activities. In the past, this meant that isolated 

CAD/CAE solutions designed for the specific application 

in question were used. However, certain types 

of data may be used on a cross-disciplinary basis, 

which inevitably leads us to consider ways of gaining 

access to such data – via the use of corresponding 

interfaces, for example. Nevertheless, certain restrictions 

remain, such as data inconsistencies or the 

technical linking of data between disciplines. 

To summarize: 

Thanks to the new EPLAN platform technology, users 

can wave goodbye to earlier engineering limitations. 

Former stand-alone disciplines are now combined into 

a powerful, all-round engineering approach - using the 

same database, making them more secure, faster and 

more efficient than ever before. 

19

1200 MNS switch bays 

were supplied to the 

power station 

”Schwarze Pumpe”. 

20 

eplanet 

ABB Schaltanlagentechnik GmbH 

ABB is a global player in low-voltage enclosure. 

In Ladenburg, ABB Schaltanlagentechnik GmbH 

develops and manufactures switchgear based 

on the modular constructed MNS ® system that 

is the worldwide ABB standard for low-voltage 

enclsoure systems and is produced in approximately 

40 countries. In this way ABB covers the 

power range up to 1000 volts and 6300 amperes. 

The MNS ® system portfolio includes the 

motor control center in addition to energy distribution. 

Moreover, the user can chose between 

fixed built-in modules and insertion modules that 

can be installed and removed when live. In total 

with MNS ® ABB has built approximately 

900,000 switch bays. The enclosure projects 

consist of 5 to a maximum of 1,500 switch bays. 



Engineering makes all the difference 

ABB Schaltanlagentechnik GmbH has designed 

an integrated information platform for enclosure 

construction 

ABB Schaltanlagentechnik GmbH in Ladenburg uses the EPLAN CAE system to engineer its 

high-quality enclosures that supply energy to, for example, computer centers, hospitals, power 

stations and industrial plants. The special thing here is that ABB has designed an integrated 

solution that also makes use of other software applications such as EPLAN interfaces to the 

procurement system, mechanical construction and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). 

Source: Vattenfall 

Advantages in the face of tough competition 

Competition in the field of switchgear construction 

is stiff; in addition to a number of large suppliers 

active worldwide, there are numerous 

local enclsoure manufacturers who possibly operate 

with lower prices. How does ABB aim to distinguish 

itself from its competitors? According to 

Hermann Graß, responsible for engineering at 

ABB Schaltanlagentechnik in Ladenburg: "We 

position ourselves as a system supplier for industry 

in particular. For units where high availability 

is important we develop and manufacture 

complex enclosures and pay attention to engineering 

and documentation as core competences 

in addition to production.” 

Type-tested enclosures 

In addition ABB can supply its customers with 

type-tested switchgear that is clearly superior to 

that of many of its competitors with regard to 

operational safety and system availability. 

According to Hermann Graß: "We guarantee to 

limit the failure of units to one output even in the 

case of an internal failure. This is an important 

contributing factor to high availability and personal 

safety.”



MNS switchgear in insertion technology. 

Dealing with complexity 

In the engineering of enclosure ABB must be flexible. 

According to Hermann Graß: "Sometimes 

customers provide us with consumer data such 

as power and line lengths, sometimes we receive 

concrete specifications from engineering 

companies that we incorporate in the design.” 

The challenge facing the ABB engineers is to 

choose the optimum solution from the diverse 

MNS ® portfolio as the process moves from 

general to detailed engineering. These diverse 

solutions are necessary due to the different customer 

requirements for voltages, fuses, motor 

overload systems and different kinds of connections. 

For these requirements ABB can make use 

of a modular component built of standardized 

modules. 

Goal: Integrated information platform 

How does ABB deal with this complexity? For 

this task ABB makes use of the EPLAN 5.70 CAE 

System and has incorporated the whole standard 

module in this system. The engineering 

starts here for the designers with EPLAN. According 

to Hermann Graß: "We aim to work with 

an integrated information platform right from the 

design phase.” In the CAE system the engineer 

selects the modules that have been specified as 

standard for defined tasks. The schematic is generated 

completely automatically using EPLAN’s 


schematics generator (ESG). This way the engineer 

is relieved of repetitive work as much as 

possible and can devote himself to his real task 

– actual engineering. 

Integration up to the ERP 

However, the integration goes even further than 

this: Using the schematics generator EPLAN prepares 

an interface component that ABB has expanded 

with "ESG 2000”. According to ABB 

project leader Thomas Grevener: "The ESG 

2000 contains the enclosure technology of the 

MNS ® system with EPLAN macros and material 

data. The engineering work starts with the customer’s 

bill of materials. The BOM is entered in 

the ESG 2000 and enables the connection of 

the components to select modules of the MNS ® 

system. Information such as device texts, current, 

and cable type can be read from the BOM and 

later taken over automatically to EPLAN for the 

generation of single lines and schematics. An 

arrangement tool has been designed in the ESG 

2000 in which the MNS modules are placed in 

the enclosure according to set regulations and 

these are used later in EPLAN for automatic front 

view generation. There is also a connection from 

EPLAN to SAP so that all relevant information is 

available on the higher ERP layer. According to 

Thomas Grevener: "All materials are entered in 

ESG 2000 and then transferred to SAP via a 

PMS databank. SAP updates the PMS databank 

automatically so that integration is guaranteed 

here too.” 

Unified database 

Thomas Grevener has invested time and effort in 

combining the individual software applications 

such as SAP, ESG and EPLAN and in simplifying 

the CAE processes. But his efforts have paid off 

as changes that inevitably occur during the course 

of a project can now be incorporated with the 

minimum expense and converted without errors. 

There is a common database. Another advantage 

of the integrated solution is that documentation 

such as the parts list and cable connection 

diagram is produced at the same time as the 

schematic. This saves time and means that the 

documentation is always up to date. From ABB’s 

More on Page 22 

21

MNS switchgear: 

motor control center for 

the chemical industry. 

Front view and single line 

produced automatically 

with EPLAN. 

22 

eplanet 

point of view it is optimum if the user also maintains 

the enclosure with EPLAN: The integration 

of the whole lifecycle is then complete. 

High degree of freedom with the CAE system 

In addition to the ability to communicate with 

other applications, EPLAN also gives the system 

a degree of freedom for the entry of additional 

information: For the individual MNS modules 

macros have been developed that enable automated 

field wiring. According to Thomas 

Grevener: "These macros enable us to save a lot 

of time when changes are made and they create 

the basis for highly structured engineering.” 



Many ways to make the work easier 

For the future, ABB is considering the use of 

EPLAN Cabinet to enable automated 3D-construction 

of enclosure and efficient production 

control. With this it is possible to determine automated 

pathways of lines and this is used as the 

basis of wire assembly. The production of cable 

trees by CAE would also be desirable. Integrated 

information for sign printing would also 

make work easier. The mechanical production 

of mounting panels and also the drilling of 

enclosure doors can be determined by CAE. 

“The engineer is the king” 

The optimum automation of enclosure engineering 

at ABB does not aim to make the engineer 

redundant. On the contrary, according to 

Hermann Graß: "The engineer is the one that 

makes the decisions at ABB. His experience is 

important and he selects the components. Our 

integrated information platform will provide him 

with the optimum support in this.” The CAE solution 

also helps ABB distinguish itself from its competitors 

by bringing its engineering competence 

to the forefront and converting it into high-quality 

enclosures.




Drive – Control – Motion 

Efficiency at the push of a button: extensive macro collection 

by Rexroth simplifies system project design 

It’s all about your project design, construction and documentation for machinery and installations. Rexroth 

and EPLAN Software & Service can offer you more speed and efficiency as of now and at no cost: with a 

jointly created collection of product macros. 

Drive & Control 

Bosch Rexroth AG, part of the 

Bosch Group, offers all relevant 

drive, control and motion technologies 

under the brand name Rexroth: 

from mechanics to hydraulics 

and pneumatics to electronics and 

the relevant services. This global 

player is active in over 80 countries 

for 500,000 customers as a 

strong partner and comprehensive 

supplier for industrial and factory 

automation, as well as mobile applications. 

As a drive and control 

specialist, the company relies not 

only on innovative drive concepts 

and open system solutions, but also 

on modular engineering tools in 

internationally accepted standards 

– with product data in 

EPLAN format. 

Productivity takes the lead 

All product data relevant to electrical 

engineering for the drive 

series Rexroth IndraDrive and IndraDyn 

– from the connection diagram 

to the mounting distance for 

enclosure components – have 

been compiled by Rexroth into a 

single EPLAN project file. The advantage 

for you: the IndraDrive 

interface macros are constructed 

on a modular basis and give you 

total freedom when laying out the 

electronic schematic. In future, navigation 

will be quick and unerring, 

as the practice-oriented tree 

structure is based on clear configuration 

and with macros named 

by product type. All components 

contained within these macros can 

be displayed as single lines. This 

considerably simplifies the generation 

of overview plans for complete 

enclosure wiring. 

Multilingual availability 

For further processing in machine 

bills of materials and procurement 

processes, you can rely on detailed 

article data for the devices, either 

using this information directly 

or exporting it. The full functionality 

of the current EPLAN versions is at 

your disposal. The topicality and 

consistency of the data ensures 

that you get what you want: an 

efficient, cost-effective working 

process without time-consuming 

research and with optimized planning 

and production times right up 

to machine documentation for the 

end customer. All data is already 

available in German, English, 

French, Spanish and Chinese. Rexroth 

has published this extensive 

data collection on the Internet at 

http://www.boschrexroth.com/indradrive 

as a free download. 

23

24 

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Advices for Technical Systems 

Advices for Technical Systems has grown to become 

an enterprise with ten locations and 500 

members of staff in 26 years’ time. During the last 

five years, in particular, many acquisitions have 

taken place. Currently, ATS has locations in Buggenhout, 

Ganshoren, Haasrode, Herstal, Courtrai, 

Liedekerke, Roeselare, Zedelgem and Zulte. 

Our headquarters is located in Merelbeke near 

Ghent. 

Diversification strategy 

The past acquisitions fit in within a strategy of 

diversification. Switchboard manufacturing, the 

development of electrotechnical installations 

and business automation have already been the 

core activities of ATS for many years. Industrial 

fire detection, data cabling, air-conditioning engineering, 

vacuum technology, hydraulics, pneumatics, 

electrothermal engineering, network 

management, robotics, cooling technology, 

mechanical engineering and product handling 

were added to our activities after the acquisitions 

with a vision to supply complete projects. 

And this for all possible sectors: from the automotive 

industry to the petrochemical industry but 

also the food industry. It goes without saying that 

engineering plays a major role. The core of engineering 

can be found at the headquarters in 

Merelbeke where approximately 65% of our 

time is spent on designing diagrams, indexes, 



”Maximum performance and 

minimum occurrences of errors” 

Peter Deschepper, ATS Electrical Engineering Manager 

ATS has been a synonym for top quality engineering for many years. It is a logical result from 

the high requirements that the company's employees and systems must meet. ATS continuously 

aims at minimising the occurrence of errors and maximising performance. This goal is getting 

closer all the time with the EPLAN CAE systems. 

switchboard layouts and cable, terminal and 

device lists. We have been using EPLAN for this 

for many years now. ATS has 13 EPLAN licences 

in total. Eight of these licences are based in 

Merelbeke. 

Shorter lead times 

Peter Deschepper coordinates what happens 

around EPLAN for the entire ATS Group. The 

past few years he has been laying the foundation 

for standardisation that is currently providing 

ATS with many benefits. Peter Deschepper: 

"Project lead times are becoming ever shorter. 

We must, therefore, work faster without errors. An 

engineering error will, after all, cost a company 

a lot of money: lost time in engineering and in 

relation to switchboard manufacture, costs due



to lost material and missed deadlines. We have 

managed to reduce the occurrence of errors to 

virtually zero thanks to EPLAN and the current 

standardisation. Our engineers are also achieving 

a higher performance with EPLAN. All of 

this ensures that we can quickly respond to the 

short delivery times of our customers.” 

Implemented standardisation 

The showpiece of our automation is our database 

with approximately 9000 different components. 

"All articles are available in Dutch, 

French and English. They are all linked to a macro 

to scale. This ensures that each article can be 

automatically displayed using the cabinet layout. 

Incorrect dimensions and incorrect or forgotten 

components are impossible. EPLAN also 

automatically generates all required terminal, 

cable and material lists. The lists are in a way the 

mirror of the plan. Both are always totally identical.” 

Manual design is absolutely forbidden at 

ATS. "Even when we only need a new article 

once, we will centrally generate a symbol and 

macro and add it to the database. Irrespective 

of the engineer from the group who uses the 

article: it will always be uniformly displayed. Do 

we need to make further developments and/or 

additions in four years’ time? It will not matter 

which engineer continues building based on the 

plan.” 


Example projects as the base 

What happens when a new engineer start at the 

company? He or she will be actively contributing 

to our business within a month thanks to the userfriendliness 

of EPLAN and standardisation. "We 

always reference standard diagrams for a distribution 

or automation panel. Production instructions 

can be found at the bottom of the plan. 

They indicate what needs to be placed where 

and why. An internal website offers continuous 

support. The engineer will find all technical and 

electrotechnical information regarding past projects 

on this site.” The compatibility of EPLAN is 

also a plus point. "We have also started to standardise 

project names in EPLAN as of the beginning 

of 2004. Each name now consists of an 

8-digit code. EPLAN will now automatically put 

together ordering lists that are immediately read 

by the purchasing software thanks to the link with 

our purchasing system. Again we obtain the 

same benefits: we work faster and errors are 

virtually impossible.” 

Positive evolution of EPLAN 

Peter Deschepper is very happy with the development 

of the EPLAN product. "The system is 

evolving very positively. I extensively test each 

new update before other engineers start to use 

the new version. You can easily notice that 

EPLAN has a firm eye on the needs of the market. 

The most recent version has a hundred new 

features of which 80 are very useful to us. This is 

the best possible proof that EPLAN does not only 

listen to its customers but that it also anticipates 

their requirements.” 

ATS uses 8 of their 

13 EPLAN licenses for 

engineering activities at 

their headquarters in 

Merelbeke near Ghent. 

25

26 

eplanet 



High-speed Engineering 

From zero to a hundred with EPLAN 21 and EPLAN PPE 

"Never change a running system!" A familiar motto that is a cast-iron law in the software 

sector. Nevertheless, the Freiburg automation specialists SSG Starkstrom-Systeme have 

stepped out of line here and all for the better – the planning of a building control system for 

a pharmaceutical laboratory and production building with a new software combination has 

proved to be a positive experience for all concerned, right from the start. 

Entrusted with the basic elements 

SSG Starkstrom-Systeme task profile: planning of 

I&C and central building control system engineering, 

including calibration and qualification, 

for a new laboratory and production building for 

the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim 

(Biberach). A broad range of specifications 

with a very tight timeframe and strict guidelines. 

In the end, a purchase order was issued 

for the implementation of EPLAN 21. The first bills 

of materials were to be supplied shortly before 

the project started. "We already knew about 

EPLAN” remembers SSG managing director 

Reinhard Egner, "but we had mainly worked with 

EPLAN 5 in the past.” However, the planners 

from the Black Forest are used to ‘taking the 

plunge’ – the second focus of SSG is the automation 

of whitewater rides and roller coasters. 

Demanding order format 

The basic data for the Boehringer Ingelheim project 

simplified the complexity of the guidelines. 

The new laboratory and production building 

consists of three sections: technical school, laboratory 

and sterile filling (PP1), each with their 

own central air-conditioning system and room 

controls. These include dry air systems and dust 

filter and fan filter units that are also to be integrated 

into the building control / MSR technology. 

The range of specifications to be implemented 

is rounded off by automation of the 

utilities, heating / refrigeration / sanitation systems 

and activation of clean media control – 

designed as package units.



Structured work – good atmosphere 

In terms of hardware, SSG used twelve Simatic 

S7-300/400 control systems and decentral 

peripheral ET200S modules connected via Profibus. 

Interim result: after only six months, twothirds 

of the specifications were complete. This 

rapid success resulted from the use of a tool with 

EPLAN 21 that made project planning much simpler. 

"The software has a clear structure throughout 

and ensures project design complies with 

all the relevant standards” – a statement of contentment 

by Ernst Fischer, SSG system engineer. 

Tackled together: design and execution 

"In order to cope with the high requirements set 

for schedule deadlines and the parallel development 

of design and execution, we decided 

on the database-oriented EPLAN PPE system” 

continues Fischer. "This fundamentally improved 

the quality of hardware design, ensuring consistency 

in all the different design documents – i.e. 

schematics, cable lists, legend lists, PLC data 

devices etc.” This really was a difference, as previously 

similar pages had simply been copied 

and adapted from existing projects or compiled 

manually using macros. 

A fresh breeze in engineering 

Work is entirely different now. EPLAN PPE is currently 

configured to focus on the project structure 

and requirements before the first design phase. 

Project data and the format of documentation 

can be defined freely. There is a set working process 

to which the user must become accustomed, 

meaning that at any given moment at any 

project stage, it is easy to pinpoint which loops 

or consumers still require work. If certain tasks 

are to be completed by a set deadline, EPLAN 

PPE provides the various tools needed, releasing 

the user from standard tasks. "Above all, all the 

employees in the project team are speaking the 

same language when it comes to project data” 

says Fischer, emphasizing the most striking 

advantage of this system. 

Hectic times pre-planned in detail: 

EPLAN PPE makes it happen. 


"A whole load of advantages” 

All data from the R+I schematics is transferred to 

EPLAN PPE. After typical construction (macros) in 

EPLAN 21, the data in EPLAN PPE can be used 

to generate an actual circuit diagram automati- 

cally (in EPLAN 21). "EPLAN PPE is particularly 

beneficial when it comes to loops” 

confirms Marco Stretzel, electrical 

engineer at SSG and EPLAN Certified 

Engineer. "As pre-planning 

with EPLAN PPE is more detailed, 

the amount of time taken is about 

the same, but there are a whole 

load of advantages for us as designers.” 

Tangible benefits – such as 

improved documentation and reproducibility 

for all project data. 

Consistent traceability and GMP 

conformity through clean data 

documentation is guaranteed. 

A great experience 

As a result of the Boehringer Ingelheim 

project, it has become apparent 

that exceptions may well become 

the rule, in terms not only of 

a major project, but also of adjustment 

to new software. Ernst Fischer 

puts it in perspective: "I have been 

working with EPLAN Software & 

Service for almost 20 years and 

have rarely come across such a 

competent, supportive dialogue 

partner.” 

”The software has a clear structure throughout 

and ensures project planning complies 

with all the relevant standards” 

Ernst Fischer, Freiburg. 

System structure in browser tree 

with a field device selected. 

27

28 

eplanet 

Progress in the forefront 

The new standard for efficient enclosure layout 

has a name: EPLAN Cabinet 

The daily race for quality, productivity and cost advantages can begin. With the newly 

launched EPLAN Cabinet, added value between electrical project planning and the production 

process can be optimized even further. This is enclosure layout at its very best. 

Practice-oriented, convenient and functional like no other. In other words: with EPLAN Cabinet, 

the decisive rationalization step has been taken. 

Progress begins in the mind 

Every engineering department worldwide is confronted 

with this dilemma: How can optimum 

results for ‘time’, ‘cost’ and ‘error risk minimization’ 

be realized without losing sight of practicespecific 

restrictions? In further development, 

EPLAN Software & Service therefore orients itself 

towards three targets: time reduction, quality optimization 

and continued advancements in the 

software intuitivity. Throughout every drive for 

innovation, EPLAN Cabinet remains what it was 

and always will be: an excellent tool you can 

use to equip complete enclosures quickly and 

safely, display complex layouts coherently and 

ensure deep integration into production. 



Quick, direct, high-quality 

The perfect symbiosis between engineering and 

production processes facilitates a smooth workflow. 

Potential equipment or assembly errors can 

be recognized at a very early stage in the project 

in virtual products and can therefore be prevented 

in advance, whereby a crucial role is 

played by central access to device, connection 

and parts data, as well as project synchronization. 

Downstream processes profit from high-quality 

documentation within the framework of 

enclosure processing and assembly. In upstream 

processes such as sales and marketing, a meaningful 

3D model not only improves the understandibility 

of the display but also increases 

the quality of the proposal phase. What does 

the new version actually do? Take a look and 

picture the opportunities offered by the new 

EPLAN Cabinet.



FEATURES & BENEFITS 

· The project assistant gets you going: a guided 

introduction to construction with EPLAN 

Cabinet. Based on EPLAN 5, EPLAN 21, 

EPLAN Electric P8 or as a stand-alone product, 

you create your virtual enclosure model 

in an early project phase. 

· Function-oriented placement and editing logic 

to accelerate the layout / construction 

process. 

· Direct component inclusion in the EPLAN 

project – through automatic navigation from 

EPLAN Cabinet. 

· Safety and overview through integrated collision 

control and 3D visualization. 

· Immediate orientation to your virtual 3D enclosure 

– get an impression of its actual appearance 

and dimensions at an early stage. 

· Automatic generation of views of equipped 

enclosure components. 

· Concise navigator structure displays the entire 

enclosure formation process, including 

mounting parts. 

· Individually adjustable browser filter for 

concise, convenient component selection. 

· Integration into the new generation software, 

EPLAN Electric P8. 

· Context-sensitive user guidance. 

· Central administration of device, connection 

and parts data. 

· Find instead of Search using optimized 

search filter option. 

· Can be integrated into heterogeneous 

M-CAD landscapes through direct interfaces 

to Autodesk Inventor and standard interfaces 

such as DXF, DWG, STEP and IGES. 

· Documentation under control: create a 

structured overview with individually configurable 

bills of materials and views. 

· Definition of standardized enclosure templates, 

including restricted areas and preassembled 

component placement. 

· Intelligent integration of Rittal enclosures 

and accessories from the RiCAD 3D product 

range. 

· Rittal TS8 enclosure configuration directly in 

RiCAD 3D. 

· Automated determination of wire lengths, 

wire routing, wire finishing, cable duct fill 

level. 

· Reporting system for connection, wire, and 

component lists. 

· Real 3D routing based on new routing 

algorithm. 

· Routing control center undertakes central 

control of all necessary information: 

– Define what should be routed (selection, 

mounting panel, enclosure or entire 

project). 

– Take care of organization – cable 

bundling enables grouping and bundle 

numbering 

– With the display options, you are 

always up-to-date – graphic information 

helps you avoid errors. See wiring 

pathways, cable duct fill levels, connection, 

wire and component lists, and 

incorrect routing pathways directly on 

the system. 

– Connection optimization: set demarcation 

lines, allocate materials. 

· Generation of information for activating 

cable assembly machines. 

· Linking to NC and drill machines. 


29

30 

eplanet 

Innovator and trendsetter 

It was the ‘PRO-OZON Initiative’ in 1992 that 

identified the Herborn specialists as the drive behind 

new and further developments in electronic 

cooling. With the R 134a coolant, Rittal had produced 

the first CFC-free cooling units for enclosure 

climate control. The following years have 

showed that the wheels never stopped turning 

for the world market leader – today, the company’s 

portfolio extends as far as high-performance 

systems with maximum cooling capacities 

of several hundred kW. Where required, Rittal 

also covers tool and procedure cooling – laser 

welding, for example, where it is a matter not just 

of cooling but of ensuring maximum coolant 

control accuracy to maintain a consistent weld 

quality, with deviations lower than one Kelvin. 

Premiere gala in Hanover 

Something to look forward to: Rittal will be presenting 

a range of interesting innovations in cooling 

technology at the Hanover Fair. 

· The air/water heat exchanger designs have 

now been incorporated entirely into customerfriendly 

platform strategies and new control 

concepts are expected. 



Fresh impulse–healthy atmosphere 

Rittal reaches new milestones in enclosure climate 

control: CO 2 cooling and nano-coating 

More than ever, creating a holistic cooling concept means taking responsibility: for the proper 

functioning of increasingly complex high-performance electronics, for the long-term profitability 

of user investments and for our environment. With this in mind, Rittal introduced fully functioning 

cooling units for enclosure climate control using CO 2 as the coolant in 2005. RiNano, 

a ‘glass-effect’ surface coating, also significantly increases the efficiency of cooling units. 

· The TopTherm cooling devices now come with 

two new features: available as standard with 

nano-coating on the cooling plates and with 

condensate evaporation. New international 

approvals have also expanded user options. 

· Rittal now offers the liquid cooling package 

(see picture in center) for server enclosures up 

to 1,200 mm deep and with an increased 

capacity of up to 30 kW as standard. 

A word in advance on the competitiveness 

factor: one thing is for sure – of the many developments 

in the Herborn laboratories, only those 

innovations that offer tangible benefits for customers 

and users actually make the jump to public 

release. 

Taking care of tomorrow today 

At Hanover, Rittal will be focusing on the practical 

implementation of CO 2 cooling. Background: 

the current standard, R 134a, is likely to 

be banned across Europe in the next decade. All 

things considered, although the halogen-free 

coolant does not react with the ozone layer, it 

does have serious greenhouse effect potential.



New protection for TopTherm devices: 

RiNano extends cooling performance 

Rittal now offers a further innovation as standard in the 

protective coating of TopTherm cooling units, with the 

surface finish RiNano. It consists of nanoparticles with 

different properties that align systematically when the 

coating hardens and bind themselves to the surface 

of the condenser. As purifying as the lotus flower, 

it prevents dirt particles settling on the ultra-thin, glassy 

surface, creating a protective layer that only requires 

infrequent maintenance even under the most extreme 

conditions (aggressive vapors, extreme oil coverage, 

dust) and makes any subsequent cleaning much 

simpler. 


Proactive with CO 2 cooling 

Rittal had already discussed the subject of CO 2 

in detail with key customers at Hanover Fair 

2004. Test systems followed at last year’s 

Hanover Fair and the new technology has been 

subjected to intensive field testing since Fall 

2005, optimizing the efficiency of the entire system. 

In addition to reduced operating costs, this 

optimization is crucial as only 3 % of the greenhouse 

effect is caused by the coolant itself, while 

97 % is caused by the cooling device’s energy 

consumption. 

Compact and high-performance 

In comparison to R 134a, the pressure ratios for 

CO 2 (R 744) are very different: up to 150 bar, 

as opposed to 27 bar. As compressors, valves, 

vaporizers, condensers and pipework have to 

be adapted, complex test series were carried 

out in the Rittal laboratories before prototypes 

were constructed, especially as CO 2 does not 

liquefy at the given operating temperatures and 

additional components are required, such as an 

internal heat exchanger as a gas cooler for proper 

energy balance. Depending on application, 

this can turn out better for R 744 than for R 134a. 

Direct comparison of CO 2 and R 134a identifies 

further savings potential. The heat capacity of 

CO 2 is higher, meaning that Rittal can select 

smaller internal pipe diameters for heat transportation 

and thereby make the structure even 

more compact. 

Imprint 

Published by: 

EPLAN Software & Service 

GmbH & Co. KG 

An der alten Ziegelei 

D - 40789 Monheim am Rhein 

Telephone: +49 (0) 21 73/39 64 - 0 

Fax: +49 (0) 21 73/39 64 - 25 

www.eplan.de 

info@eplan.de 

Layout: 

MEDIABRIDGES ® 

Agency for Communication and 

Brand Optimization 

YUCATAN (images) 

Editorial team: 

Birgit Hagelschuer 

Christian Henkel 

Martin Witte 

Peter Hintemann 

Thomas Michels 

Özlem Falkiewicz 

Markus Zink 

Contributors 

to this edition: 

Harald Weiss 

Hans-Robert Koch / Rittal 

Print run: 8,000 copies 

All rights reserved for shortening and 

publishing manuscripts, advertisements 

and illustrations. The authors consent to 

their articles being edited, provided this 

does not distort the meaning. Documents 

submitted will not be returned, except by 

special request. We reserve the right to 

make technical changes. The editors will 

not be liable for any errors. 

31


I n t e r n a t i o n a l 

Internationality 

Our customers operate around the globe – so do we 

WITHOUT LIMITS 

Seven German branches and more than 50 sales and service centers worldwide 

ensure you receive exactly the support you would wish. In all places. At all times. 

More than 15.000 customers with at least 54.000 installations have confidence 

in our services. Opt for a partner with consistent field alignment, long years of 

experience, individualized services and international presence. As a Rittal subsidiary 

in the corporate association of the Friedhelm Loh Group, EPLAN Software 

& Service is synonymous with continuity and investment security. 

EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG 

An der alten Ziegelei · D-40789 Monheim am Rhein · Germany 

Phone: +49 (0) 21 73 / 39 64 - 0 

Fax: +49 (0) 21 73 / 39 64 - 25 

info@eplan.de · www.eplan.de

April 2006 EPLAN your Engineering

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