Joining forces to add value

By combining forces, sister companies Rittal and Eplan deliver solutions to speed up processes and boost productivity. 

Thanks to its established international footprint, these brands have found ways to optimise and streamline customers’ value chains at every stage in the process. “From engineering, sourcing and manufacturing through to operations and IT, we are helping customers reach the new industry 4.0 standard,” explains Adrian Buddingh, Managing Director for Rittal South Africa.

“Rittal and Eplan use combined software solutions, system technology and machinery for automation. Only switchgear manufacturers who offer digitalisation and end-to-end data across all processes and systems will survive in the future. Together, Rittal and Eplan are at your side with their combined know-how and perfectly co-ordinated solutions,” adds Johan Reyneke, Managing Director of Eplan South Africa. “Adding to this, the unified integration between Rittal RICS configurator and the new EPLAN ePulse cloud solution will make the journey from panel configuration to project completion quick and seamless.”

The value add at each stage is detailed as follows:

Engineering

The key to greater productivity in enclosure manufacturing lies in digital integration and end-to-end data transfer throughout the entire value chain. Digital prototyping from the outset, with the digital twin taking centre stage, provides the basis for rapid links across processes and systems.

Sourcing

Never has it been easier to configure and order your perfect product and get it delivered in no time at all. Our configuration and online shop solutions are closely interlinked with digitally integrated production at the new Rittal plant. Your company’s own value chain will also benefit from end-to-end data during the sourcing process and beyond.

Manufacturing

Benefit from the fully automated machinery and innovative automation solutions of Rittal and Rittal Automation Systems in your manufacturing operations. The digital twin from the engineering stage courtesy of Eplan serves as a virtual prototype and a central database throughout the production process.

Operations

After commissioning, machines and systems must ensure reliable long-term operation as the key to efficient, high-performance production. Here, too, Eplan and Rittal are at your side with innovative solutions.

Your added value

End-to-end data is the real success factor, saving time and money in your value creation process, preventing errors and leading to a lasting improvement in productivity.

The digital twin

“At the heart of all this is the digital twin of the actual product, which links all process steps – from electrical engineering through to service operations,” says Reyneke.

“Products from Rittal and Eplan provide comprehensive support at every stage of the entire process – from engineering, sourcing and manufacturing through to operations and IT. They enable you to reap the rewards of successfully completing the transformation to industry 4.0.”

Buddingh concludes: “Rittal provides tailored IT and OT solutions for the data required and generated during the production process. These range from modular, scalable system architecture and energy-efficient data centres with innovative security concepts for physical data and system backups all the way through to edge cloud data centres in the actual production environment that combine data sovereignty and real-time capabilities with AI-based applications.”