EPLAN Pro Panel and Rittal Perforex: a winning combination!

EPLAN Pro Panel and Rittal Perforex: a winning combination!

Burnell Switchgear and Control offers mission-critical power distribution solutions based on fully certified and accredited systems. The company operates from production facilities in Dartford and Gravesend, and the majority of its products are customised to meet individual client requirements. Strong and sustained growth in demand for its products meant that the company needed to reduce design and manufacturing time to boost capacity. The Burnell Switchgear and Controls management team decided that implementing a CAE system would help, and asked EPLAN to advise.

The Challenge

• Streamline manufacturing processes

The Solution 

• EPLAN Pro Panel
• EPLAN Data Portal
• Rittal Perforex Machine

Control cabinet switchgear in 3D

"We realised that we needed a design solution that would overhaul our engineering operations and help us to streamline our manufacturing processes," explained Piotr Wozniak, Project Manager at Burnell. "So it was an easy decision to get in touch with EPLAN, as the company is the leader in the CAE field. After looking at our requirements, the EPLAN engineers suggested that we should visit the Rittal Innovation Centre in Germany, so that we could see first hand the benefits of EPLAN Pro Panel, and also the Rittal Perforex machining centre."

EPLAN Pro Panel enables engineers to design and lay out switchgear and control panels. It handles all wiring, component mounting and busbar configuration details, and produces 3D views so that engineers and customers can see exactly what the finished panels will look like, even before work begins on building them.

The virtual 3D model of the control cabinet switchgear system helps designers make best use of the valuable control panel space. Integrated planning aids such as collision testing, adherence to manufacturer installation guidelines, minimum clearances and bending radii, allow quick and optimum positioning and installation.

Designed with flexibility in mind, EPLAN Pro Panel allows the user to choose their preferred approach, whether it is based on equipment lists, connection lists, or circuit diagrams. All necessary components can be easily entered and positioned on the 3D layout, thanks to the innovative eTouch technology.

"While we were at the Rittal Innovation Centre in Germany, we checked out the Rittal Perforex machining centre, which automatically drills holes and cuts apertures in enclosures, doors and mounting plates, using data generated by EPLAN Pro Panel," said Piotr, "and, having seen the machine in action, it wasn't difficult to decide that we needed one. So, in the end, we purchased licenses for EPLAN Pro Panel, and a Rittal Perforex machine!"

Do you prefer video? You can watch the Burnell Switchgear and Controls case study over on our YouTube channel:

CNC Machining

Perforex is a CNC machine tailored to the challenges of switchgear manufacturing. It is ideal for the automated production of holes and cut-outs in sheet metal, and can also tap holes to facilitate component mounting. Rittal Perforex machines are suitable for all materials typically found in switchgear and control panels, including steel, aluminium, copper and plastics. Moreover, an automatic tool changer allows multiple tasks to be performed in a single operation, without the need for operator intervention. Importing the design data directly from EPLAN Pro Panel design software further enhances productivity.

"For use alongside EPLAN Pro Panel, Rittal Perforex was a natural option for Burnell Switchgear and Control," said Jarett Lathey, EPLAN Regional Sales Manager.
"Compared with traditional manual methods, Rittal Perforex delivers vastly improved efficiency and productivity when manufacturing switchgear and control panels. In fact, the company has told us that preparing a door which used to take at least 8 hours with manual tools, takes only 15 minutes on the Perforex machine."

EPLAN Data Portal

In addition to EPLAN Pro Panel and Rittal Perforex, Burnell Switchgear and Control also use the EPLAN Data Portal, a web-based platform with information from major suppliers of electrical, mechanical, fluidic and pneumatic products. This provides Burnell's engineers with instant access to accurate and up-to-date information for almost all of the components they use in their systems, in a format that is directly usable in EPLAN Pro Panel. The EPLAN Data Portal is expanding constantly, but at the time of writing it contains more than 800,000 components from over 220 manufacturers.

At present, Burnell Switchgear and Control has three trained engineers using EPLAN full time. The company expects that by the end of the year it will have six fully trained EPLAN specialists, and has already purchased an extra 20 days of training for future use.

What the customer needed: EPLAN

"With EPLAN Pro Panel and the Perforex machine we have greatly increased our productivity and capacity. More and more customers are asking what software package we're using and we're finding that EPLAN is becoming the gold standard for our industry sector. Thanks to this winning combination - EPLAN Pro Panel, Rittal Perforex and the EPLAN Data Portal - we are now increasing our lead over competitors, and going from strength to strength."

Discover how EPLAN and Rittal can deliver major productivity enhancements in your business, by requesting a free demo of the EPLAN solutions. Get the opportunity to sit down with both companies to explore your winning combination that will not only improve efficiencies in your department, but through the whole business. 

Do you also work in the panel building industry? Check out the new animation and discover for yourself which EPLAN solutions can improve your processes; from sourcing and engineering, through to panel modification and wiring.

Click the image to view.