In order to increase our level of automation in control cabinet construction, we have invested in a Perforex MT milling center from Rittal. Recently, Mr. Reinhard Fürlinger from Rittal and Mr. Gerhard Baumgartner from EPLAN visited our factory in Wels to conduct an interview for an article in the New Business Magazine. We are very pleased about the good cooperation and the successful technical article with our partners, which we would like to publish here.
Innovative solutions and the highest quality in production are particularly important to us in control cabinet construction. For the individual adaptation of mounting plates, we have expanded our machine park to include the Perforex MT2101 Milling Terminal. In this way, we guarantee precise results in production and can also efficiently implement large quantities.
Perforex MT creates competitive advantage
Decision for the future
In order to increase its level of automation and thus remain competitive, the Upper Austrian project engineering company WIMTECH has invested in a Rittal Perforex MT. In conjunction with EPLAN Pro Panel, the advantages of data consistency along the value chain are evident.
Globalization has long been increasing the pressure on domestic markets. The differences in quality compared to producers in non-European countries are smaller, but the differences in price have become larger. Anyone who does not want to get involved in price dumping in this international clash must come up with something else. For many Austrian plant manufacturers, the solution is automation. This is exactly the path that projektengineering gmbh WIMTECH from Wels has taken. "The industry of the future is automation, especially in Austria, where employees are expensive. You have to remain competitive and that can only be done with machines and automation," says Philip Wimmer, managing director of the Upper Austrian plant manufacturer. Reinhard Fürlinger, Key Account Manager at Rittal, is of the same opinion: "Switchgear construction in Europe is faced with very high wage costs, so you have to come up with something. Rittal is sticking to its production in Europe and has also invested a lot in automation in order to be able to offer competitive prices and products." Philip Wimmer is not one to bury his head in the sand either. He is convinced that there is no need to be afraid. Because if you are scared to death, you are also dead. In order to stand out from the competition, the company has massively upgraded its internal facilities, particularly in terms of control cabinet construction - both in terms of personnel and in-house production. "We wanted to develop further, improve step by step and not just be there," explains Philip Wimmer. This further development included the construction and move to the new company headquarters and factory at the Wels site in 2022 and the purchase of a Rittal Perforex MT 2101 at the beginning of 2023. "We have made a decision for the future," assures the managing director.
One step forward with Perforex
Efficient integration into the manufacturing process
As a partner for the planning and implementation of assembly projects in the industrial environment, projektengineering gmbh WIMTECH manufactures control cabinets, control panels and terminal boxes precisely according to the individual requirements of its customers. Andreas Kastner, Managing Director and Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at WIMTECH, remembers the phase before Perforex: "We were no longer able to accept various orders because we did not have the internal resources for short-term implementation. It soon became clear to us that we had to talk to Rittal ." Reinhard Fürlinger helped with the decision for the latest generation of Rittal processing machines. The new features of the Perforex MT include the integrated chip extraction directly on the spindle, which, together with a new base seal, reduces the amount of cleaning required. In addition, new workpieces can be clamped much more quickly. The new automatic tool measurement checks the length of the current tool and automatically transfers the parameters to the machine control system; tool breakage is also detected. The result: fewer failures and higher overall productivity. The patented pressure plate reduces vibrations. This leads to longer tool life, higher cutting speeds and better cutting edges. New light barriers and light grids ensure safety. "WIMTECH's vision was to be more flexible. With the Perforex, they can immediately ensure their productivity. A separate handling system was even developed and built for the material supply to the Perforex in order to optimize the machining process. Such considerations are typical for WIMTECH," explains Fürlinger.
Rittal did not simply set up the Perforex, but optimally integrated it into the manufacturing process. "These were questions that we answered together with those responsible at WIMTECH," says Fürlinger, who is also a value chain consultant at Rittal. A topic that has become increasingly important at Rittal in recent years. This means thinking not only in terms of products and solutions, but also in terms of process optimization along the entire value chain. The Perforex has been an integral part of production at WIMTECH since May 2023. And Andreas Kastner confirms that it was urgently needed: "Ever since the Perforex was installed, it has been running more or less non-stop. The orders were already ready and were just waiting for the machine."
EPLAN is part of the value chain
Optimization and digitalization of manufacturing processes
EPLAN has also recently found its way into WIMTECH. This was triggered by the collaboration with a customer who has been working with EPLAN Pro Panel for years and can now deliver his data to WIMTECH ready-made via the EPLAN Cloud. And that is exactly the direction that Rittal and EPLAN are promoting: the networking of cross-system ecosystems, the clever combination of software and hardware solutions and the optimization of digitally supported processes. Because why shouldn't data that is generated digitally in the engineering process, for example, also be reused digitally? "WIMTECH has perfectly understood how to network digitally with a customer," says Fürlinger, who describes this interaction as an absolute game changer. Nevertheless, many plant manufacturers are still hesitant about this type of networking. One frequently cited reason: fear of data loss. Gerhard Baumgartner, Sales at EPLAN Austria, understands this concern, but he allays these concerns with a simple reasoning: "It is much less secure to send a PDF by email than to make data available in the cloud with different permissions." An additional benefit of the EPLAN Cloud: If there are any revisions or corrections to the plans, these are immediately visible. There is no need for further messages about the current version.
Support in production planning
The interface from engineering to machine control
How does the data get from the cloud to Perforex? This connection is called RiPanel Processing Center, or RiPPC for short. Rittal's production management tool optimizes the interface between engineering and machine control. Design data from Eplan Pro Panel and information such as quantity and target date are taken directly from there and converted into machine jobs. An integrated tool for order management supports production planning and control. RiPPC consists of two modules: the layout tool and job management. The library integrated in the layout tool already contains a selection of 2D-modeled components from Rittal and can be expanded as required. Job management enables the management of production orders for the registered Rittal machines. It is still too early for WIMTECH to invest in additional processing machines such as a wire terminal for wire assembly, but Andreas Kastner is certainly keeping an eye on them.
Give and take
Collaboration with Vision
This foresight is what makes working with the Wels-based company so exciting for Reinhard Fürlinger: "WIMTECH is very demanding. Those responsible think very carefully and try to find the best solution for every problem. As a supplier, we are challenged and have to get involved. And that is precisely what gives us our competitive advantage." The two managing directors, Philip Wimmer and Andreas Kastner, like this commitment. After all, they also benefit from Rittal's many years of experience. So it is a matter of give and take. And, as everyone confirms, this is still done by people. A functioning interpersonal level is what determines success or failure. And that is particularly important to Philip Wimmer and Andreas Kastner. And in the end, the two agree on one thing: "Reinhard Fürlinger should not retire until he is 75."
„Long-term partnerships are important to us - we are pleased about the good cooperation with Rittal and EPLAN and are already planning the next projects!”
credits
Report: Mag. Barbara Sawka, freelance editor, www.sawka.at
Photos: Wolfgang R. Fotofürst, photographer, www.fotofürst.at
Rittal: Reinhard Fürlinger, MBA, Value Chain Consultant / Rita Rottensteiner, Campaign Management Industrial Products, www.rittal.com
EPLAN: Gerhard Baumgartner, Sales Manager Austria North, www.eplan.at
WIMTECH: Philip Wimmer, Managing Director WIMTECH / Andreas Kastner, Managing Director Electrical Engineering WIMTECH
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