Common pursuit. In order to achieve this goal, the two parties collaborated with the aim of integrating their interfaces and data modules together as much as possible. As a result, the two sides concluded a technology partnership in 2022 to join the Eplan partner network, which was announced at the Hannover MESse.

PM857K01 Weidmuller Board spokesman and CTO Volker Bibelhausen (right) and Eplan CEO Sebastian Seitz (left) are excited about Weidmuller joining the Eplan partner network. The collaboration will create synergies of innovation, expertise and experience that will deliver greater customer benefits

For a long time, control cabinet and switch cabinet manufacturers have been facing a variety of problems. In addition to a chronic shortage of trained professionals, there are cost and delivery and inspection time pressures to deal with, customer expectations for flexibility and change management, and keeping up with new requirements in industry areas such as climate neutrality, sustainability and circular economy. In addition, there is a need to meet the needs of increasingly customized solutions, often with flexible mass production.

Over the years, Weidmuller has been supporting the industry with proven PM857K01 solutions and innovative engineering concepts, such as the Weidmuller Configurator WMC, to meet different needs. As part of the Eplan partner network, the expanded collaboration with Eplan aims to achieve a very clear goal: to improve data quality, expand data modules, and enable efficient automated control cabinet manufacturing.

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We are all pleased with this cooperation: (Left to right) Arnd Schepmann, Head of Weidmuller’s Cabinet Products Division, Frank Polley, Head of Business Development for Weidmuller’s Cabinet products, Sebastian Seitz, CEO of Eplan, and Volker, Spokesman for the Board of Weidmuller and Chief Technology Officer Bibelhausen, Dieter Pesch, Head of R&D and Product Management at Eplan, Dr. Sebastian Durst, Chief Operating Officer at Weidmuller, and Vincent PM857K01 Vossel, head of the Business Development team at Weidmuller

Volker Bibelhausen, spokesman for the Board of Directors and Chief Technology Officer of Weidmuller, said: “The purpose of this technical collaboration with Eplan is to develop forward-looking data modules and interfaces to enhance the consistency of data in the process chain and increase the automation of control cabinet manufacturing. At the same time, the collaboration strengthens the business community, which, under the auspices of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing Association (ZVEI) and the German Machinery Manufacturers Association (VDMA), will work together to promote the core digital technology innovation of Industry 4.0.”

To achieve this, Weidmuller adopted ECLASS Advanced data, which can be converted into the Eplan data standard, making all data available in the Eplan data portal. At the same time, Weidmuller has also developed connectors that allow Weidmuller software systems, such as M-Print Pro product label identification software, to be controlled directly from Eplan. WMC, a web-based design tool, also provides wizards to help users find the right, approved products and components around the solution.

From planning to approval, logistics planning and production process control are crucial. The use of pre-assembled terminal strips and the implementation of continuous product identification of components and connectors increase assembly rates. However, the assembly of cable harps and the implementation of partial or fully automated production lines require more precise data modules to safely control the process and obtain high-quality products. Sebastian Seitz, CEO of Eplan, concluded: “This optimization of data and workflows allows customers to achieve more precise control of production processes, improving production efficiency and quality.”