The major new release of the EPLAN Platform has launched. Version 2.3 focuses on standardization and automation, which opens up new opportunities for users when it comes to standard-compliant design and handling safety values. Simple macro editing and extended search functions for system settings guarantee highly productive engineering for users. Another practical benefit: central administration of phased-out devices and associated test runs to give transparency and safety to existing projects.

Since mid-April, EPLAN has been an official Siemens PLM Solution Partner. The aim of the partnership is to offer an interface between two market-leading systems - EPLAN and Teamcenter. This integration closes a loophole in the PLM process through the configuration data for the EPLAN Platform can now be processed in Teamcenter. Companies from different industries can benefit from this integrated approach which forms part of a consistent product creation process. "The new Teamcenter integration opens up lots of doors for us in the growing PLM solutions market," reports Maximilian Brandl, Chairman of the Executive Board of EPLAN.

Do you need to select components directly from your machine in the event of faults or maintenance requirement? If you answered yes, then with the new EPLAN Data Portal app, which is now available in two languages from the iTunes Store, this is possible. It allows users to access over 230,000 components in the portal. Users can now search in their mobile devices and select their desired components. Current subscribed EPLAN Customers can use this intelligent app to transfer the data that has been collected into their EPLAN project.

Based on the motto of "Integrated Industry", the new version of the EPLAN Engineering Center One (EEC One) is not only the individual discipline specialist combined to produce an overall solution, but-now has multi-lingual functionality to lift international barriers. With this functionality, it ensures improved interaction for automation on an international stage. Customers use the software to generate schematics and fluid plans automatically - now in Russian or Chinese too.

The Eplan Data Portal has grown massively since its launch in 2008. The number of manufacturers has in-creased to 48 - with component manufacturers Sick and Saia-Burgess among the new additions. Data and mac-ros relating to more than 225,000 parts can be simply imported into the project by means of Drag & Drop. This saves the time-consuming independent development of device macros. Users can benefit from standardized, up-to-date data and efficient configuration with no changes in media format.

Advanced Machine & Tool, AMT, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, saw considerable productivity improvements by using EPLAN solutions and has switched from AutoCAD Electrical to EPLAN. Time-consuming product development steps, like device tagging, wire numbering, and machine design standardization, including archiving and re-using recurrent content, have been simplified and accelerated.

Partners, Festo and EPLAN, are each pushing forward with the goal of connecting the worlds of configuration in electrical and pneumatic engineering. Festo developed a data package specifically for EPLAN users with over 2,000 smart devices macros that now gives extra strength to the mechatronic orbit of the CPX terminal. Users of the EPLAN Platform can use this to simply and easily create overview drawings, electrical and pneumatic circuit diagrams, and PLC overviews.

Solution provider, EPLAN, showcases the new Version 2.2 of the EPLAN Platform at SPS IPC Drives, Hall 7A / Stand 240. With numerous functional extensions and innovative additional modules, for example for field cabling, it opens up new perspectives in engineering for users. The new graphical macro selection, smart terminal analysis and automatic termination points when copying sections of a circuit provide rapid design engineering results. Engineers receive a solid system which accelerates processes and provides a basis for standardization and automation.

Today the manufacturing of control panels is traditionally a labor intensive process with few options for process automation. Most operations are done manually including engineering, laying out, punching and drilling back panels and enclosures; cutting to length, stripping crimping and labeling wires, installing components and wiring panels.