Automated engineering at the push of a button

Being presented at the Hannover Messe 2017: The new EPLAN Cogineer system for the automated creation of electrical and fluid power schematics at the push of a button. The software is fully integrated into the EPLAN Platform and offers maximum simplicity and ease of use. Dieter Pesch, head of product management and development at EPLAN Software & Service, explains the background. What is meant by "Cogineer"? It sounds like an aid for engineers. Pesch: Yes. That's what it is in principle. EPLAN Cogineer is an easy-to-use tool for engineers. Cogineer derives from "Configuration" and "Engineering". "Co" also stands for terms such as cooperation and collaboration. The new automation solution is fully integrated into the EPLAN Platform so the software can be used instantly – to get fast results without hindrances or lengthy periods of familiarisation. No expertise in configuration or variant management is required – standard macro technology know-how is sufficient. How does EPLAN Cogineer differ to the systems used so far? Pesch: EPLAN Cogineer is a tool to automatically create electrical and fluid power schematics without the need to copy and paste. This also means preventing the typical sources of error made in schematic creation and ensures nothing is overlooked again. It is a tool for every day usage – easy, flexible, intuitive and efficient. With EPLAN Cogineer, users achieve major time savings and improve the quality of their work. Do you have a practical example? Pesch: of course – let's take a motor-control unit as an example. "Conventional” design methods would manually include the complete control unit either as a macro or by copying and pasting from a sample project. EPLAN Cogineer provides a mini configurator for the motor control unit. From an easy to use interface, the user selects all the main parameters and EPLAN Cogineer then generates the correct control unit, which appears in the schematic. Users no longer need to worry about selecting parts for the motor starter or about cable sectioning. The new automation software undertakes both of these tasks based on the stored rule set. EPLAN promises major time savings from using the tool. What do you base this on and how much time can be saved? Pesch: Because schematics can now be automatically generated at the push of a button, time previously spent searching, copying and pasting is saved. This drastically reduces the manual effort required in engineering. Depending on the level of the rule set, savings of 30–80 % in engineering are realistic. Is EPLAN Cogineer a separate software product or an additional (chargeable) component for the EPLAN Platform? Pesch: EPLAN Cogineer is an add-on for the EPLAN Platform and available for EPLAN Electric P8 (from module package Select), EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN Pro Panel. We are also taking a new approach to sales. The software is available in a rental-model format with costs being charged on an annual basis. This enables cost-effective entry to all and fast results. Interview for MM / Messezeitung HM 17