To give our customers greater insight into the manufacturing of their UL control cabinets and to incorporate adjustments into the planning process at an early stage, we are continuing to digitize our processes. As a result, we are now working with a digital twin, which offers significant advantages for both our customers and us. In the CAD design phase, we use EPLAN Pro Panel to create a virtual 3D model of the UL control cabinet that precisely shows how the cabinet is structured and where all components are located. With this digital twin, you as a customer receive a complete digital view of the control cabinet even before production begins. You can verify that all components are in their optimal positions and make any necessary changes to the details. If you also use EPLAN software, you can rotate and orient the digital version of your UL control cabinet in any direction.
From the Schematic to the 3D View
Before the era of the digital twin, there was only a circuit diagram, and you could only inspect the entire control cabinet after it had been manufactured. Minor changes—such as moving the display slightly to the left or right, or positioning the buttons higher or lower—could not be incorporated retroactively. With the digital twin—also known as a “Digital Twin”—all of this is now very easy to do. Your ideas and requirements can now be incorporated into the planning in much greater detail before manufacturing begins. You know exactly what the finished control cabinet will look like right from the start.
But the digital twin plays an important role at KRAYER not only in planning but also in manufacturing, because the data it generates is used consistently across multiple manufacturing processes. For example, EPLAN Pro Panel has an interface with our Rittal Perforex machining center, which ensures seamless integration with the machine. This saves time and costs while increasing productivity.
Another advantage is that any design flaws or suboptimal details are identified as early as the planning and development phase. This allows them to be corrected early on, ensuring that the project runs much more smoothly in later phases.
Real-Time Project Progress
By introducing the digital twin, we aim to create greater transparency and make processes faster, more flexible, safer, and simpler. The finished UL control cabinet should meet your expectations 100 percent, and the digital twin helps us make significant progress toward that goal.
About the Digital Twin
The digital twin is regarded as the beating heart of industrial production in this century. Embedded within the megatrends of “Industry 4.0” and the “Industrial Internet of Things,” it delivers significant benefits to all stakeholders throughout the entire product lifecycle.
