Strategic Partners: Mitsubishi Electric Europe and EPLAN

More integration for electrical engineering and PLC programming

Transferring data from electrical engineering directly into PLC programming – this is now state-of-the-art technology with the integration of EPLAN Electric P8 and GX Works2. Yet Mitsubishi Electric Europe and EPLAN continue striving for more as partners in the e-F@ctory Alliance to further increase project quality and data consistency for users. Monheim, 28 October 2014 – The development departments at Mitsubishi Electric and EPLAN are working closely together in order to realize the optimal integration of electrical engineering and PLC programming. The EPLAN Platform and GX Works2 – Mitsubishi Electric’s programming software for their PLCs of the MELSEC Series – are now linked via a new interface. This enables reductions in development costs of more than 50 per cent for joint customers. Here is one specific use scenario: an electrical engineer creates a wiring diagram and, with a click of the mouse, sends the information for the I/O addresses and function texts (as examples) to the PLC programmer, who is programming GX Works2 controls. This automatic data exchange prevents time-consuming and costly inquiries. This, in turn, leads to considerable reductions in development and commissioning times for plants and systems. As part of this platform, EPLAN Electric P8 combines the data for the electrical hardware planning and control technology as well as the associated comprehensive documentation. “The project quality and data consistency increase through the integration with GX Works2 and at the same time, cost and development time of our mutual customer will be reduced.” says Hartmut Pütz, President of Mitsubishi Electric’s Factory Automation – European Business Group.“ Maximilian Brandl, President of EPLAN, adds, “We are pleased to be a member of Mitsubishi Electric’s partner network. Our global customers benefit from the E-CAD and PLC interface, and the high component availability at the EPLAN Data Portal. Furthermore, this cooperation with Mitsubishi Electric Europe will strengthen our new market presence in Japan.” The central EPLAN Platform includes all data from preliminary planning through to detail engineering. This information can be used as the basis for subsequent project phases in the PLC-oriented automation technology. Furthermore, macros (libraries) and CAD product data from Mitsubishi Electric can be integrated in order to accelerate component selection, configuration and schematic designs. Once electrical engineering has been completed, all of the data stored in EPLAN can be directly imported into GX Works2, which enables quick and simple system configuration and programming. Projects saved in libraries can also be used for future applications; a function, programme or system structure that has been designed, tested and approved is then available to be integrated into a new system in just a few minutes, which considerably simplifies the creation of future designs. Engineers benefit from these innovative engineering solutions across disciplines and beyond project phases and development processes.

Background

Normally, plant engineers and system integrators begin with the initial design idea and then pass through planning and predevelopment phases down to detail engineering, construction, testing and commissioning. Throughout this process, specialists usually work through the variety of tasks in separate CAD systems, spreadsheet tools or databases. Further along in the project these data must frequently then be integrated, which often proves to be a complicated and time-consuming process. In order to avoid this problem, a process-oriented engineering solution has been developed that enables optimization of project phases from the initial idea through development to commissioning.

About the e-F@ctory Alliance

The e-F@ctory Alliance, an initiative of Mitsubishi Electric Europe, is a partnership of companies sharing experience, expertise and integrated industrial automation products and services. It is dedicated to helping improve the performance of any manufacturing enterprise.Each partner has unique mastery and expertise in a particular field, which they can bring to different production environments to reduce total cost of ownership, maximise productivity and provide truly seamless integration of various automation systems and subsystems.Any number of partners can be brought together to work on a given project, the objective being to deliver the best possible skill set. Because they work together regularly, the partners are able to act in perfect harmony to produce the optimum solution in the minimum time.Other partners include: 3S-Smart Software Solutions GmbH, Adroit Technologies, Atos Origin, Auvesy, CLPA, Cognex, Datalogic, DP Technology, Emulate3D, EPLAN, eWON, FAG, Felten, HMS, IBHsoftec, INEA, Invensys/Wonderware, Janz Tec, LEM, Mitsubishi Electric Europe Factory Automation, mpdv, nxtControl, ProLeiT, Raima, Real Time Logic, RITTAL, RT Leaders, SCHAD, Schaffner, Visual Components.

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