Electricity and Control May 2022

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Services support for plant engineers

Solutions provider Eplan has introduced the Eplan Marketplace, an international platform that networks users of computer aided engineering (CAE) software and service providers – in engineering, control cabinet manufacturing, panel building and consulting, for example. Quick access to service providers in these Eplan environments enables project work to proceed, even in the event of resource issues. Eplan Marketplace provides companies around the world with fast access to service providers in the fields that Eplan covers. On this platform, accessed via Eplan’s website, people can search for providers that offer services related to Eplan applications. Finding the right service provider The objective is clear: “We want our customers around the world to be successful,” says Eplan Senior Vice President

The Marketplace platform is designed to enable quick access to service providers in the Eplan environment, around the world. Strategy & Corporate Program, Marco Litto. Day-to-day operations show that the project business faces many of its own hurdles with data preparation and integration, things companies sometimes cannot handle on their own. Often they also need personnel resources as support. So

this raises the question: Which provider in the field of CAE software, specifically in the Eplan environment, is suitable for this? Then the search begins, especially in larger countries where there is less coverage with Eplan expertise. Until now, Eplan Sales has assisted in establishing contact with companies. This search process will now be simplified with the Marketplace. Quick access to international suppliers The Eplan Marketplace is divided into three sectors. The Engineering Services sector includes services such as creating schematics, hardware design or setting up device data where companies may find what they are looking for to compensate for project bottlenecks, for example. The

A map-based view makes it easy to find which suppliers can provide support in the international market environment.

3D machine vision camera

both colour and depth, as well as dimensions, even in environments with low ambient light. This means it recognises items and objects reliably, so it can identify and select individual products in densely packed boxes, for example. It also features a high recording speed, making it effective in high-speed applications. It integrates easily into existing systems using system integration (SI) software, to enable prompt optimisation. The easily configurable input and output functionality make the Visionary-S CX versatile and flexible. Robotic carton handling or quality control packaging systems have largely been limited by 2D technology. A robot could be programmed to pick or select an item that was positioned at specific coordinates on a pallet, a table, or conveyor belt. If the item was not in that precise location (or not positioned accurately, at the optimal height or depth) the system failed. “The Visionary-S CX in effect gives the robotic system the vision to identify target items and understand where these are,” says Grant Joyce,

SICK Automation, a leading producer of sensor automation solutions, has introduced a 3D machine vision camera that facilitates automated management of products or goods in the factory or warehouse environment. The Visionary-S CX is designed to integrate with robotic handling systems (such as depalletisation or picking systems) or quality control solutions to enable the real-time identification, picking, and selection of goods accurately and quickly for optimised warehouse or production operations.

The Visionary-S CX 3D machine vision camera can ‘see’ colour and depth as well as dimensions, even in low ambient light.

The Visionary-S CX is a rugged camera with the ability to ‘see’

8 Electricity + Control MAY 2022