Data-driven automation plays a key role in modern control and switchgear construction. It makes it possible to meet increasingly complex customer requirements individually and with short throughput times. This allows companies to take advantage of growth opportunities and develop sustainably, even in the face of a persistent shortage of skilled workers.

Expansion for the fully automatic wire assembly machine

As the market leader, Rittal is constantly driving forward the further development of its extensive automation portfolio. Rittal Automation Systems recently presented the “Wire Handling System,” a new, compressed air-based wire distribution system for pre-assembled wires, which can be used as an extension for the fully automatic wire assembly machine “Wire Terminal WT C.” The prepared wires can be transported directly from the Wire Terminal to up to four workstations using compressed air. The system, which consists of a wire distributor, wire receiver, and Teflon hoses, is designed for all common wire types with a cross-section of 0.5 to 6 square millimeters and a length of 220 to 4,000 millimeters. The maximum transport distance is 80 meters.

Error-free and accelerated wiring

In conjunction with the Wire Terminal, the new “Wire Handling System” optimizes what is by far the most time-consuming step in control and switchgear construction – wiring. The potential for time and cost savings is therefore high. Instead of removing the wire sets from the Wire Terminal in wire rails or chain bundles, the pre-assembled wires are delivered to the respective workstation just-in-time and just-in-sequence at the touch of a button. This significantly streamlines intralogistics and helps to save space for storage.

Time savings of up to 90 percent possible

The integration of the “Wire Handling System” into the “Eplan Smart Production” software solution ensures that the wires always arrive at the workstations at the right time and in the right order. Based on the data of a digital twin created in engineering, “Eplan Smart Production” is a digital assistance system that guides users step by step through the wiring process with “Eplan Smart Wiring” and requests the required wires as needed via the wire terminal and the output system. This should enable even less experienced or semi-skilled personnel to carry out error-free and significantly accelerated wiring. For example, time savings of up to 90 percent should be possible in wire assembly.

Consistent data-driven automation

As an automated solution for intralogistics, the new “Wire Handling System” closes another gap in the consistent and data-driven automation of control and switchgear construction. The manufacturing process can now be made even more efficient, and companies can meet today's – and tomorrow's – market requirements much better, even with fewer skilled workers.

“The future of control and switchgear construction”

“By further accelerating the wiring process and reducing errors through the interaction of Eplan software and the output system, the new Wire Handling System generates immediate added value,” explains Thorsten Eberz, Head of Product Management at Rittal Automation Systems. “At the same time, companies are already preparing for the future of control and switchgear construction with this solution: the wire distribution system can be used to supply not only workstations but also future wiring robots.”

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