New Eplan Platform delivers more speed in engineering

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 that users can get results more quickly – especially when working on international projects – due to the simplified device data management system while increasing overall project quality. The new 3D graphics core, an optimised cable editor and the new Insert Center also bring more performance and transparency to engineering.

The new Eplan Platform 2023 combines a number of new features that make it easier to use and pay off in time savings and increased performance for users. Eplan vice president for the software portfolio, Thomas Weichsel, says: “Along with the many opportunities for collaboration in engineering, the new multi-standard support for schematic macros really stands out. On the new Eplan Platform 2023, it saves users from having to deal with device data management that used to be quite time-consuming – especially on international projects.”

Company-specific standards such as guidelines, different dimension specifications and varying standards on the world market – for instance 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, now 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 selected, which can be easily transferred into the schematics via drag and drop. This simplifies how devices are handled, provides a better project overview and reduces the administrative efforts required.

Component manufacturers that provide device data for the Eplan Data Portal, for instance according to the Eplan Data Standard, also benefit, as Weichsel explains: “In the future, a driver – for instance – can be stored and maintained as one data set with different schematic macros on the Eplan Data Portal – considerably reducing the amount of effort required of manufacturers for providing and maintaining their data.”

Cloud-based device management

Using Eplan eStock, the new device data management in the Eplan Platform 2023, means that device data can be maintained in the Eplan cloud. This makes collaboration even easier and reduces coordination times and media disruptions. Accessing Eplan eStock works independent of company location; project participants can easily and securely access the device data in the cloud whether they’re working from home, are at another company location around the globe, or are data sharing with business partners. Companies hereby save time, not to mention 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 be managed 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 considerably sped up project processes. The 3D rendering is now considerably faster, and actions such as zooming or rotating are now much smoother and easier.

Optimised cable management

The Eplan Platform 2023 also simplifies the field cabling of control cabinets that are 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 – regardless of the number of wires. Device and type number, source and destina-tion, and the shielding and connection are graphically displayed in a single dialog box. The new cable editor thereby also lays the foundations for virtual machine cabling and easy cable-length determination in Eplan Harness proD. Cable information is now visible at a glance – from the source to the destination.

Greater project overview

Symbols, macros and devices can now all be displayed in a more focused manner as a table in a dialog box. The expanded Insert Center in the Eplan Platform 2023 makes this possible, thereby providing a better project overview. Users can also intuitively search for devices – even in external or linked documents. Which components use which current strength? When clicking in the table, the logic information is made visible directly.

And the new tagging function also makes navigation easier: logical selection paths and better project structures accelerate both searching and project planning in general. The new interface to Microsoft Excel simplifies work for users: they no longer need to install the software themselves to output data in that format, making the outputting of lists and tables more efficient overall.