EPLAN : CAE Solution, Faster – Accurate – Worldwide

Q. EPLAN Software & Service is a 100% subsidiary of RITTAL International, which is part of the Friedhelm Loh Group and is one of the leading providers of software solutions in the CAE sector. How did your company manage such tremendous growth?
EPLAN is an intelligent CAD/CAE solution provider used for design, engineering, documentation of electrical controls and automation, Fluid, Process plant, P&ID, and panel design in 3D environment on single platform to get cross linking between each other.

EPLAN innovation provides inter disciplinary engineering without limits. A major advantage of using this intelligent tool is the reduction of up to 70% of the design time and man-hours. In addition, it is able to produce error free drawings and reports by automatically generating all related documentation.

After the financial crises, the Indian engineering companies believed in implementing high-end technological solutions to sustain growth in this competitive market. EPLAN engineering solutions help to do electrical engineering in the most efficient, accurate and fastest manner.

Q. What is the overall outlook of EPLAN Software & Service; also brief us about the company’s global & domestic presence?
EPLAN Software and Service, which is part of the German-based Friedhelm Loh Group deals with specialized CAD/ CAE software solutions for Electrical, Fluid, Instrumentation, P&ID, and cabinet design in 3D. EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co, based in Monheim, Germany started in 1984 with a vision to provide comprehensive design and engineering solutions in the world of automation. During the past 25 years, we have grown into a multinational corporation operating in 50 countries in six continents with over 35,000 loyal customers and 95,000 installations worldwide. EPLAN is a synonym for innovative strength, continuity, progress, and investment security within this strong business group.

The EPLAN India operation started as a sales and support team in the year 2000 with the head office in Bangalore and regional offices in Mumbai, Faridabad, Chennai and Pune. We have a customer base of 650 and around 1,700 installations in the Indian market. EPLAN India has proven its success with its stellar software solutions and excellent customer service for over 12 years. EPLAN India is responsible for the promotion of software solutions, training, pre& after sales support, as well as consulting services, customized solutions, and related activities for our range of engineering solutions in the Indian market.

Q. What are the different focus areas for EPLAN?
Our major focus is on all companies related to Factory and Process Automation, System Integrators, as well as general engineering firms and consultants. In addition, we target all types of machinery manufacturers, EPC contractors, and building automation firms. We serve a vast array of industries, ranging from Power & Energy, Automotive, and Machine tools to Crane, Marine, Ship Building, and Material Handling.

Q. What are the market opportunities for your products in India? How do you plan to position these products?
The engineering level in India is still lower compared to other countries; most companies still utilize drafting tools, but the slow migration towards high-end automatic tools can be observed since it´s imperative for survival in this competitive world.

The scope of our products and solutions is very high, and we expect very high growth in the coming years. EPLAN Efficient Engineering provides interdisciplinary engineering without limits. We are positioned as one of the leading engineering software solution providers and play a very important role in the Control & Automation field related to Electrical, Fluid and Process Plant engineering. EPLAN innovation is faster, more accurate, and available worldwide.

Q. Can you please elaborate on the contribution of R&D in the success of the company?
Dedication and investing in R&D is a key factor for our success and continuous growth. EPLAN’s development team in Germany develops globally applicable standard engineering solutions and incorporates valuable customer feedback into our solutions in order to fulfill and satisfy our customers´ requirements.

We want to further improve our solutions and to optimize our design and engineering process for our clientele. EPLAN’s research team detects trends and future technologies which will then be implemented into our software by the development team. Also, the focus is to developtailor-made PDM and PLM concepts customer-specifically. EPLAN keeps on adding new features and makes required changes in new versions to stay updated.

Q. Brief us about the quality policy for the business?
We regard our customers as our partners in growth and integral to our success. We believe in meeting our customers to listen to their needs and to offer them the best solution. Our policy is to be with our customers on time and to ensure the proper implementation of software solutions to its fullest. Of course, we also offer support service for feedback and questions.

Q. Can you brief us more about EPLANS’s latest versions & its applications?
The current version released recently is EPLAN 2.3; Version 2.3 furthermore provides numerous new application options in the mechatronical engineering process. These include in particular the additions in the field of pre-planning and the configuration of connections that can be routed freely in electrical switch gears as well as in the field of compact pneumatics. EPLAN also includes Wire Harness to its range of Engineering solutions offered. EPLAN Engineering Center One, EPLAN Integration Suite are now more advanced with new features.

Q. What do you think are the strengths of the CAE software solutions industry and how it is positioning itself in the global marketplace?
The strengths of CAE solutions are:

• Workflows are more structured due to stream-lined engineering
• Maintenance with a CAE system is simpler with symbol libraries, macros, existing data base etc.
• Automatic Reporting, Documentation like cross reference, Terminal Overview, Plant diagram, Cable over view, Parts List, Device tag numbering etc.
• Interdisciplinary design & engineering without limits
• Reduces man-hours, increases accuracy, and improves the quality of engineering.
• To stay competitive in this highly globalized market, CAE is becoming mandatory and a necessity for each and every industry. In this fast and furious era, every industry has to stay updated on the latest technology in order to compete and move ahead.

Q. Please highlight the global influence of the CAE software solution industry and what is the differentiating factor?
It helps everybody to work and standardize on a common platform, and it allows companies to be on the same page, using a healthy and effective communication channel. In the present era of globalization, CAE solutions help to communicate in the same standard.

Q. According to you, what is the forecast for the computer aided engineering software industry?
In all emerging markets, like India, scope and demand of CAE is very high, but we are still at the preliminary stage of adapting and implementing such tools. We predict a 45-50% growth over the next five years.

Q. According to you what are the factors affecting your business?
Our direct presence in the Indian market for sales and support, local presence in different parts of the country, a strong user base, highest market share, better support from our principal, R&D, and excellent support from all our users in order to get more and more references all affect our business growth.

Q. What are the issues you need to address that are related to the CAE software industry?
We should focus and invest in more CAE education on a basic level, so as to increase the competence level in the market. In this manner, all related industries will be able to attain more skilled professionals with some basic knowledge. Higher management in each industry should make this goal a top priority and to make provisions in the yearly budget to invest in such an educational training.

Even after implementing an educational program, a company should invest every year for training and consulting. In addition, they should continuously upgrade their software to the latest version and renew software services in order to get a faster return on their investment.