Mittelstandspresse
04.11.2026
Rittal and Eplan at SPS: Systemic approach for greater productivity
Herborn/Monheim, 04.11.2026 (PresseBox) - Produce faster, reduce costs, save energy: European industry has to improve its efficiency at all levels to remain competitive on the global stage. However, the greatest potential no longer lies solely in optimizing individual processes. That is why Rittal and Eplan take a systemic approach: The digital twin from engineering, production automation, along with high-performance energy and IT infrastructure all work together seamlessly. At SPS 2026 (Hall 3C, Booth 321), the two companies demonstrate how a consistent systemic approach can unlock new productivity potential.
“We need to think outside the box more in the industry. It is not enough simply to accelerate the engineering process, automate enclosure production, or reduce the energy consumption of individual components. The question is: How can we combine all of this to make the entire company more productive? To achieve this, we need consistent data and coordinated solutions. We continue to advance precisely this integration,” says Uwe Scharf, Managing Director of Sales for Germany and Europe at Rittal.
Energy efficiency starts with electricity metering
Anyone who takes a systemic approach to energy efficiency starts with electricity distribution. Energy consumption is one of the greatest challenges the industry is facing. Anyone designing power distribution systems for machines, data centers or buildings today must increasingly provide their customers with transparency about when and where energy is needed. Energy transparency in power distribution thus becomes an added value for users. Especially in complex power distribution systems, engineering is demanding and the necessary measurement technology is expensive. This makes it difficult to implement the technical foundation for effective energy management cost-effectively..
At SPS, Rittal and Eplan aim to discuss with their customers along the entire value chain how to overcome this hurdle in the future. In a special energy management arena, they will present technological approaches for simplifying electricity metering and potential future load management. The user’s feedback will be incorporated into future development.
Respond faster with a data advantage
The availability of information in engineering determines how efficiently companies can operate. Product changes or components being discontinued are typical examples. Machinery and equipment manufacturers often do not learn of the changes until too late. This can delay ongoing projects and require additional coordination.
For this reason, Eplan has developed a Product Change Notifications (PCN) solution and will present it at SPS in collaboration with Phoenix Contact and other manufacturers. In the future, component manufacturers will announce product changes via the Eplan Cloud, ensuring that affected Eplan users are specifically informed ahead of time. The technical foundation consists of standardized product information based on the Asset Administration Shell and ECLASS Advanced.
“PCN demonstrates how collaboration between component manufacturers and users will change in the future: Information will be available exactly where it is needed to make the next decisions,” says Dr. Marco Litto, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Programs at Eplan. “We are working hard on the final implementation with more than ten other manufacturers who have also opted for this solution.”
Simplify processes, expand automation
Using additional applications, Rittal and Eplan will demonstrate at SPS how a systemic approach based on end-to-end data integration can simplify and automate processes. The Automated Project Generation software application, for example, enables the automatic creation of circuit diagrams based on predefined macros. A new feature is the ability to automatically position components in the Eplan Pro Panel 3D model based on a predefined layout and a parts list. With a new support arm configurator, Rittal has simplified the selection and design of suitable support arm systems. The tool takes factors such as load capacities and dimensions into account and provides 3D data, CAD data, and parts list for the digital twin of the enclosure in Eplan.
Rittal Automation Systems’ machines consistently extend the digital twin from engineering into production by making its data immediately usable for mechanical machining and automated wire assembly.
The modular Rittal RiLineX system platform is becoming the international standard and enjoys a growing ecosystem of partners who develop compatible components without the need for adapters. At the trade fair, Rittal and its partners will demonstrate how the platform and its ecosystem continue to evolve. Digital engineering and assembly are also closely interlinked here. The platform can be digitally configured using Eplan. Eplan Smart Production then guides the shop floor worker through the assembly process with step-by-step instructions.
How partner technologies interact
Rittal and Eplan are advancing the integration of technologies across company boundaries. They demonstrate this with exhibits at Eplan, Rittal and Rockwell in collaboration with Rockwell Automation, one of the world’s largest industrial automation and digital transformation enterprises. At the joint Rittal and Eplan booth, visitors can experience a process cabinet developed with Eplan. The exhibits and their corresponding digital twins in Eplan clearly demonstrate how this data can be utilized throughout the entire value chain from engineering to enclosure production to manufacturing.
At the Rockwell Automation booth, a Motion Cabinet equipped with a standard CompactLogix PLC controls a high-speed Delta robot from autonox, a German specialist in robotic mechanisms. The demonstration showcases the integration of Eplan and the Emulate3D digital twin software for virtual commissioning. At the same time, it presents the benefits of Rockwell Automation’s ArmorKinetix portfolio, which enables power delivery, control, and feedback communication over a single wire. This simplifies the machine design and reduces the amount of wiring required.
Systematic service: Proactive maintenance, reliable production
A look at the service offerings at the trade fair also shows how existing data can be utilized throughout a system’s entire life cycle. During ongoing operation, engineering information can also help to clearly identify the correct components, determine the appropriate maintenance tasks, and resolve malfunctions more quickly. This enables a 30 percent reduction in maintenance costs through reliable and preventive maintenance, while also significantly reducing the risk of machine failure. Rittal continues to consistently expand its range of services. The company helps its customers to reduce costs and prevent machine failures through Augmented-Reality-powered remote support and a new contract model.
Rittal and Eplan at SPS – Smart Production Solutions
November 24–26, 2026, in Nuremberg
Hall 3c, Booth 321
Ansprechpartner
Birgit Hagelschuer
+49 (2173) 3964-180
Zuständigkeitsbereich: Brand & Corporate Communications
Steffen Maltzan
+49 (2772) 505-2680
Über Rittal GmbH & Co. KG:
Rittal is a leading global systems provider of hardware, software, and automation systems. Rittal’s solutions for industrial, IT, energy, power, and cooling applications are used in more than 90 percent of industries worldwide. Eplan has established one of the world’s leading software solutions for machine, plant and enclosure production. Eplan is also the ideal partner for simplifying challenging engineering processes and supports its customers with software and service solutions for electrical engineering, automation, and mechatronics. As pioneers in the field, Rittal and Eplan are driving the advancement of AI in software and enabling a high-performance IT infrastructure. They are part of the owner-managed Friedhelm Loh Group, which operates worldwide with 13 production facilities and 94 international subsidiaries. The corporate group has 12,900 employees and posted a revenue of 3.2 billion euros in 2025. In 2023, the Friedhelm Loh Group was presented with the “Employer of the Future” awards, and in 2026 with the “Top Training Company” award. In 2026, Rittal was awarded the Top 100 Seal as one of Germany’s most innovative medium-sized companies for the fifth time in a row. In 2025, the Rittal Haiger plant was named the overall winner in the “Factory of the Year” benchmark competition and is thus one of Europe’s best factories.
For more information, visit www.rittal.de, www.eplan.com and www.friedhelm-loh-group.de.
Datei-Anlagen:
(757 kB)
1638105.attachment
Faster production, lower costs, greater energy savings: At SPS 2026, Rittal and Eplan will demonstrate how a consistent systems-based approach can unlock new productivity potential.
(293 kB)
1638106.attachment
Uwe Scharf, Rittal: "We need to think outside the box more in the industry. It is not enough simply to accelerate the engineering process, automate enclosure production, or reduce the energy consumption of individual components. We we need consistent data and coordinated solutions".
(615 kB)
1638107.attachment
Power for AI Applications: Remote Power Panels distribute power close to the IT infrastructure. Pre-designed application samples and comprehensive engineering data accelerate project-specific planning and implementation.
(5 MB)
1638108.attachment
Eplan is presenting Product Change Notifications (PCN) in collaboration with Phoenix Contact and other manufacturers at SPS—developed based on the Asset Administration Shell and ECLASS Advanced.
- Mehr Infos zu dieser Meldung unter www.pressebox.de
- zurück zur Übersicht
