Complex products such as enclosure systems planned easily in 3D, configured individually, and ordered quickly, thanks to direct price information: For system planners, this is now even easier. With Rittal’s new RiPanel enclosure configurator, customised enclosures, including accessories and price information, can also be configured and ordered online. The new version also provides live price information for transparency.
A simple selection tool for standard enclosures with its sole focus on price information was too little for the software specialists at Rittal. The demands in panel building and switchgear manufacturing are much higher. System planners and designers need configurators that can also be used to configure individual enclosures easily – with appropriate accessories, plausibility checks to prevent errors, 3D visualisation, libraries with predefined drilling patterns and a direct connection to Eplan Engineering and the Online Shop. In addition, users can now import and place individual cut-outs. Thus, even the more unusual requirements of control and switchgear engineers are easily implemented.
System planners have a powerful configuration tool at their fingertips in the shape of Rittal’s RiPanel configurator – operation is simple – with maximum transparency and consistency throughout the whole engineering, ordering and manufacturing processes.
Customised, yet standard – simply ordered with a click
Customised solutions are also possible, however. For example, when preparing the enclosure for machining, the RiPanel user can use predefined drilling patterns and cut-outs if desired. The placement of the cut-outs is now done graphically in 3D. This means that the user can always see exactly where the cutouts are located in relation to other components of the cabinet. A parts list of the selected components shows which parts have been selected and provides information on the total costs with a connection to the online shop. The user can now see at any time during configuration what his current configuration will cost, not only for a series order, but also for production including assembly by Rittal. Transparent costs simplify the decision between different variants. The parts needed can be ordered from the Rittal online shop with just one click. Customers also benefit from the 24/48 delivery service if things have to move fast.
Integrated plausibility checks prevent possible incorrect orders or wrong designs as early as the planning phase. Moreover, only those parts that fit together can be configured. Finally, all the data is stored in RiPanel and can be easily used for subsequent projects, even if modifications are made.
Highly automated and efficient manufacturing
The Eplan and Rittal developers have logically thought the process through to production: The virtual prototype of the planned enclosure can be transferred to production machines for further NC machining, using the Perforex MT for example. The data can also be transferred to the new RiPanel Processing Center production control system.