Electricity and Control October 2022

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

Streamlining engineering project planning, internationally The new Eplan Platform 2023 is streamlining and accelerating project planning with new cloud based device management and multi-standard support for schematic macros.This means users can get results more quickly – especially when working on international projects – due to the simplified device data management system, and increase overall project quality. Other features also add new performance capabilities and transparency in engineering.

Eplan Vice President Software Portfolio, Thomas Weichsel.

T he new Eplan Platform 2023 combines a number of elements that make it easier to use – and to pay off through time savings and increased performance for users. Eplan Vice President Software Portfolio, Thomas Weichsel says, “Along with the many opportunities for collaboration in engineering, the new multi-standard support for schematic macros is a key feature. On the new Eplan Platform 2023, it saves users from having to deal with device data management, which used to be quite time consuming – particularly on international projects.” Company-specific standards such as guidelines, different dimension specifications and varying standards on the world market – such as NFPA or IEC – require different ways of representing devices in the schematics. Previously, just one macro could be saved per device. With the new device data management system, up to twenty different schematic macros can be assigned to each device. The advantage for users is that the software now automatically assigns the correct macro after the relevant standard has been select ed, and it can then be easily transferred into the schematics via drag and drop. This simplifies how devices are handled, provides a better project overview and reduces the admin istrative effort required. Standards compliant – up to twenty schematic macros for devices

Component manufacturers that provide device data for the Eplan Data Portal, according to the Eplan Data Standard, also benefit, as Weichsel explains. “In future, a driver – for example – can be stored and maintained as one data set with different schematic macros on the Eplan Data Portal. This considerably reduces the amount of effort required of manufacturers in providing and maintaining their data.” Cloud-based device management Using Eplan eStock, the new device data management means device data can be maintained in the Eplan cloud. This makes collaboration easier and reduces coordination times and media disruptions. Accessing Eplan eStock works independently of company location; project partici pants can access the device data in the cloud easily and securely, whether they are working from home, at another company location internationally, or are data sharing with business partners. Companies thus save time as well as the costs of setting up and maintaining their own extra IT infrastructure. 3D graphics engine Machines and plant systems are becoming increasingly automated and the digital twin is becoming an integral part of control cabinet and switchgear engineering processes. This is accompanied by increasing complexity and higher

demands for the 3D structuring of control cabinet layouts. The amounts of data and information that must bemanaged are increasing exponentially. Users previously needed a lot of patience, especially for renderings of large 3D models. With the new Engine Direct3D graphics core, Eplan has sped up project processes. The 3D rendering is faster, and actions such as zooming or rotating are much smoother and easier. Optimised cable management Eplan Platform 2023 also simplifies the field cabling of control cabinets that may be distributed throughout a plant system in a decentralised way. For instance, the new cable editor makes it easier to manage and visualise a cable on the Eplan Platform – no matter the

Company-specific standards, and different international standards, can be easily depicted with the new device management system.

4 Electricity + Control OCTOBER 2022