EPLAN started its Partner Network (EPN) to provide a framework for existing and new partnerships to jointly develop and market interfaces. The EPN partnership is focused on common binding goals for enhancing and supporting interfaces. This commitment both increases customer benefits and enhances quality. The users profit from this increase in continuity and integration, especially in the areas of PLM, ERP and PLC as well as simulations. Customers can easily integrate vast numbers of systems used on the market through the in-depth interchange amongst the manufacturers.

Key global automation players are participating in this initiative, such as Bosch Rexroth, B&R, Endress+Hauser, Festo, ifm electronic, Mitsubishi Electric, Phoenix Contact, Pilz, Rittal, and Rockwell Automation. In the new network, some of the participating software partners are configit, Contact Software, encoway, Gain, ISD, ISG, keytech, machineering, Procad, Quanos, and SAE. German and international companies are also being approached to participate, and the company is currently in talks with many of them. UDMTEK in Korea was the first Asian company to seal the membership deal and others are certain to follow.

Explaining the importance for providers to coordinate integrations across companies, Sebastian Seitz, CEO, EPLAN, concluded, “With the EPN, we’re maximizing the overall benefits of our own solutions and those of our partners in the ecosystem of industrial automation for shared customers. Together we’re creating a win-win situation for both customers and partners.”

Elaborating the impetus for the new EPLAN Partner Network and its ambitious goal, Marco Litto, Senior Vice President Strategy & Corporate Program, EPLAN, added, “The professionalization of our network systematically increases the benefits for end-users.” 

Being on board, Tom O’Reilly, Vice President Global Business Development, Rockwell Automation, USA, said, “A digital thread of data within and across organizations is one of the key requirements to bringing the Connected Enterprise to life. Together with EPALN, we support companies through their digital transformation by enabling data consistency, improving efficiency of engineering processes and shortening time-to-market.”

 Getting involved right at the beginning of the network, Steffen Winkler, Vice President, Sales, Bosch Rexroth, explained, “Configuration of automation solutions and the dynamic provision of exact device data are essential with regards to Industry 4.0. The Bosch Rexroth ctrlX Configurator enables easy configuration of complete ctrlX AUTOMATION solutions. By directly integrating our configurator into the EPLAN Platform, users will receive all device data of the configured system topology including detailed product lists and CAD data at the touch of a button. This integration ensures full data consistency and reuse of product data throughout the entire digital design phase.”

Stating the reasons for joining, Gi Nam Wang, CEO, UDMTEK, asserted “We have decided to partner with EPLAN through EPN to leverage our industry-leading offerings and combine them with EPLAN’s best-in- class engineering platform. We are excited to partner with a world-class company as we embark on our next phase of growth and innovation."

For more information: www.eplan-software.com