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SCADA system unveiled in Hannover

A Copa-Data product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 29, 2007

Seamless integration with the new zenOn 6.21 SCADA/HMI software enables Eplan users to automatically engineer the control and visualisation parts of the system without specialist knowledge.

A powerful new SCADA and computer aided engineering (CAE) software integration concept will be presented at the Hannover Fair.

Seamless integration with the new zenOn 6.21 SCADA/HMI software enables Eplan users to automatically engineer the control and visualisation parts of the system without specialist knowledge, and improve operation over the product lifecycle.

The zenOn SCADA/HMI software and Eplan integrate at two points, the Eplan platform and the Eplan engineering centre.

During the design process, the engineer can directly access zenOn from the Eplan platform.

Similarly, the Eplan viewer or indeed the full Eplan suite can be accessed directly from zenOn during runtime to track alarms and debug systems.

This powerful exchange of data between the two systems improves workflow from design to maintenance and makes automatic engineering possible.

Eplan divides a process or a machine into several modules, during which functional units are defined as cross-discipline mechatronic objects, for example comprising an electrical design and the related visualisation functions in zenOn.

These are then compiled into a set of mechatronic building blocks.

This "divide and conquer" approach not only simplifies design engineering, but also encourages the re-use of design elements.

Timm Hauschke Product Manager, EPLAN Software and Service, considers the fact that sequential engineering processes are still standard in mechanical engineering as a frequent source of errors, "This causes long lead times, poor coordination and above all, many errors arise from manual copying".

"The consequences are more costly engineering time and unnecessary site visits".

Standardising functional components into sets of building blocks can lead to noticeable improvements in productivity because blocks can be re-used, saving engineering time and improving the design workflow.

Copa-Data Product Manager, Axel Netuschil is excited about the new automatic engineering possibilities, "At the push of a button, EPlan users can generate all discipline-specific documentation such as circuit diagrams, fluid diagrams, PLC programs and project information in the zenOn SCADA/HMI system".

This radical new functional engineering approach not only structures complex plant or machine processes into clearly structured modules, it also reduces the dependency on highly specialised engineers that are often contracted by the day.

Integration also benefits operation and maintenance The Eplan and zenOn integration is very powerful, and can significantly reduce the operation and maintenance resources that need to be allocated over the product lifecycle.

The source of an alarm generated in zenOn can be tracked back to the source in Eplan.

For example, a faulty valve actuator could be tracked back to the electrical engineering plans in Eplan Electric P8.

In the past, the operator would need to alert the maintenance team, who would then spend valuable time tracking a fault through electrical plans to find the valve in question.

The runtime link between zenOn and Eplan also makes maintenance tasks easier to manage.

For example, the master data and maintenance data required by zenOn Industrial Maintenance Manager can be automatically generated when a motor is added within the Eplan platform.

A motor could be included in an Eplan design that needs checking every 5000 hours.

This motor could be automatically registered within zenOn, which will alert maintenance personnel at the correct time to check the motor.

Product Manager Axel Netuschil, Copa-Data, has found Eplan users curious about the new possibilities offered by zenOn integration.

"The direct combination of zenOn and Eplan platform saves a lot of time, money and energy".

"Instead of looking for error sources manually after an alarm, the source can be opened directly in Eplan".

"Users can react quickly and accurately with the support of zenOn".

By improving workflow from design to maintenance, engineering costs can be reduced and special customer requirements can be met more easily.

These significant improvements in productivity free up resources for the development of new technologies and products.

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