The energy transition calls for the conversion and expansion of the electricity infrastructure, thus boosting demand for low-voltage switchgear. Visitors to the new Rittal Application Center in Gera are working with Rittal, Eplan and Ehrt to find out how they can speed up the construction of switchgear by automating their processes and through pre-assembled distribution systems and suitable rails. This way, switchgear manufacturers can process more orders, which are urgently needed to implement the energy transition in times when skilled workers are scarce.
Rittal has been operating a pre-assembly centre in Gera since April to help customers quickly set up the systems using pre-assembled VX25 Ri4Power power distribution systems and assembled copper busbars. The Rittal Application Center was opened to customers on 21 September. Prof. Friedhelm Loh and the Rittal management ceremoniously cut the red ribbon with Gera’s mayor Julian Vonarb and immediately spoke to the first customers at an information and networking event.
“The new Rittal Application Center is a competence centre for holistic solutions. Customers can not only order assembled copper rails as the results of the machines, but they can also look at the manufacturing process and the possibilities for their shop floor during a visit,” says Uwe Scharf, Managing Director of Rittal Sales Germany. Rittal Automation Systems and copper specialist Ehrt, another member of the corporate group, also offer the machines in conjunction with Eplan as automation solutions for switchgear manufacturers’ shop floors.
In Gera, visitors are working with experts from Rittal, Eplan and Ehrt to determine which automation steps will achieve the best results in their production plant when setting up substations. They can test it directly, using their projects on the running machines.
Speed for the energy infrastructure with standardised processes
The machines working in Gera are part of the coordinated software and hardware solutions from Rittal, Eplan and Rittal Automation Systems, all aimed at accelerating and optimising the panel building and switchgear manufacturing process.
“The industry needs high speed and standardised quality when expanding the energy infrastructure. Switchgear manufacturers play a key role in this,” says Markus Asch, CEO of Rittal International and Rittal Software Systems: The main optimisation potential lies in industrialised work processes, especially in times when there is a shortage of skilled workers. The process must become faster, more efficient and more standardised. The only way to achieve that is by ingeniously combining hardware and software through digitalisation and automation.”
Which machine and which solution will pay off the fastest – and for which types of orders? Does it make sense to invest in your automation solution? Or will the currently scarce human resources be freed up more quickly for value-adding process steps if the Rittal system technology and copper rails are initially purchased pre-assembled and configured from Gera? A contact point based on the innovative Rittal Application Center concept has been set up in Gera to answer these and other questions relating to energy, power and process automation.
Rittal Application Center: Experience value creation – live
Rittal Application Centers are currently being launched worldwide as “boot camps” for panel builders and switchgear manufacturers. Under the motto “Join. Apply. Grow”, this is where existing and new customers can work on their projects with experts from Rittal, get to know new technologies and simply try them out.” They can bring their projects along with them, test new workflows for efficiency in real workshop environments, and discover the benefits of software solutions and automation technology.