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This year, Hanover becomes the showcase for a global premiere! EPLAN Electric P8, the new CAE sensation, will be unveiled to the trade public for the first time at this year’s fair. Established EPLAN users can expect an explosive display of functions, coupled with the ultimate in flexibility and integration. With optional graphic and object orientation, sophisticated platform technology and complete data transfer from EPLAN 5/EPLAN 21, EPLAN Electric P8 represents the future of electrical engineering.
More productive with variant technology
Thanks to the innovative macro-variant technology, projects become uniquely variable: All component circuit diagrams may 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 the actual drawing ; only the dimensioning and component selection vary from one task to the next. For example, a large electrical drive needs more powerful protective gear, cable and terminal diameters. These combinations may be saved as variants – and the correct circuit may be selected and dimensioned in a flash.
An additional benefit is that the stock of macros becomes more streamlined and is easier to administer. The software also supports initial steps towards standardization. These component circuit diagrams remain identifiable as a group, so rather than editing data individually for a new project, the user simply selects the suitable variant. The need to copy and amend pages of the plan and re-dimension circuits is now a thing of the past. EPLAN Electric P8 speeds things up significantly for users – in fact, this macro-technology offers time savings of up to 50 %.
Last Minute Change
Manual changes are not only time-consuming but also harbor a risk of errors. 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 retrospectively, and the work is complete in next to no time. Of course, the consistency of associated dependent data is guaranteed, regardless of whether certain technical necessities have been observed or the client is requesting a last-minute modification.Uniting two worlds for absolute consistency Workflow-controlled engineering means that the processes themselves determine the approach and working methods, rather than the software system architecture. All other systems currently on the market are either graphics or object-oriented – EPLAN Electric P8 can do both: a totally unique selling point!
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 which have not yet been positioned. This invisible information is duplicated each time it is copied. The unwanted result? You discover that non-existent elements have been “project planned”. This is where the true strength of EPLAN Electric P8 lies, because it supports both the graphics and the object-oriented approach.
A graphics-based approach can often be useful when starting a project. The user remains in control of the situation at all times, even when copying. If an object-oriented approach becomes more appropriate at a later stage, the user simply switches. In this way, he is able to derive the maximum possible benefit from this holistic approach – even within the same project.
Added performance, thanks to Office integration
Integration into the Office environment ensures an added productivity boost. Excel is the standard tool for editing mass data: 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. In 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. This data may be used in the production department for component labeling purposes. Once the information has been logged, 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 global competitiveness against a backdrop of growingi nternationalization.
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.
Totally global with workgroup engineering
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 sub-processes are parallelized, and tight deadlines may be compensated. The consistent Unicode capabilities of EPLAN Electric P8 allow circuit diagrams to be supplied in all languages. Everything is translated, from Chinese wiring schematics to Russian bills of materials, either online or following completion of the work. The user simply project-plans in his own mother tongue, and the system translates as required, whether into one language or several.
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 facility is the key, as it guides users 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 the user reliably to his goal. If settings are repeated, these may be stored in project templates, for immediate availability. In this way, your efforts are rewarded twofold.
Extremely flexible, thanks to a surface finish configurator
The system’s openness to individual configurations enables users to reach their goal even faster. Not only can the surface finish be flexibly adjusted; various tasks and work phases may 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.
Process-oriented, integrated and automated
The depth of integration in process operations is a major cost-cutting factor. So too is the opportunity for automation. This is where EPLAN Electric P8 really comes into its own, as the software may be integrated as required into the company’s IT infrastructure. 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 next stage is the automation of the planning process. With EPLAN Electric P8, this step goes hand-in-hand with integration. The system may be fully controlled from the outside.
The functions a user employs to generate his results may be retrieved via an Application Programming Interface (API). In this way, all stages and operations a user 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 specialist 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 5/21. 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. The platform is comprised of function blocks which are used on a cross-disciplinary basis. This includes the Application Programming Interface (API) as well as project and user rights administration, and revision management.
Summary: 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 lead. The system is unrestrictedly geared to the user’s 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 value afforded by the direct link with fluid and instrumentation & control provides inestimable benefits for consistent processes. The renowned EPLAN quality guarantees a long-term advancement, and represents an investment in the future.
*EPLAN Electric P8 will be introduced for the first time at this year’s HMI and will be available from summer 2006 in german, english, french, spanish, danish, swedish und dutch. For more information, logon to www.eplan.de.
EPLAN Software & Service, April 2006
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