System Integration

Five control panel building tips

Software, data management, and decreased wiring are among control panel design benefits, when digitalization is integrated in design.

Many components, devices and systems can go into a control panel. Optimizing layout and design and then using the resulting information can save resources, time, and money. On the left is an industrial control panel with Siemens components; on the right is a large screen with a digital twin of the same. Courtesy: Siemens
Many components, devices and systems can go into a control panel. Optimizing layout and design and then using the resulting information can save resources, time, and money. On the left is an industrial control panel with Siemens components; on the right is a large screen with a digital twin of the same. Courtesy: Siemens

Optimizing control panel planning and designs increases efficiencies, decreases wiring and enables new opportunities for industrial digitalization.

Mike Burke and Gerhard Flierl, control panel consultants with Siemens, explained that electrical planning can be complex and multifaceted, with many possibilities for improving efficiency.

Efficiencies in control panel design include:

  1. Use of electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) software features to help automate and optimize the design.
  2. Setup of optimized data management.
  3. Because engineering costs can account for half of a control panel’s cost, downloading and using information from the design simplifies creation of related documents and other types of data needed during electrical project engineering and documentation creation.
  4. Reduction of engineering costs using ECAD software and other tools.
  5. Getting data from the panel quickly and easily saves costs and time.

For more on these topics, industry experts from Siemens, Eplan, UL, and CSA will host a Control Panel Online Symposium on Dec. 12 for electrical engineers, engineers or anyone involved in the design and manufacturing of industrial control panels.

Edited from information provided by Siemens by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, [email protected].

KEYWORDS: Control panel design, digitalization

Optimize control panel design with electronic computer-aided design software.

Design information can help create related documents.

The control panel itself can provide digital information.

CONSIDER THIS

Are your control panel designs optimized? Do they deliver needed data?

Written by

Mark T. Hoske

Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.