To-the-point engineering

Pascal Deprez is co-founder and project manager at Dynamics. This system integrator, based in Belgium, specialises in partial and turnkey projects with a focus on retrofits, safety and motion. The company works for both machine builders and end-clients worldwide. In mid 2010, Pascal began a large-scale project at a fibreboard producer. For the implementation of the project, he relied upon products from his key partners, EPLAN and Rockwell Automation. ”When we founded Dynamics in May 2002, we immediately decided to establish strategic partnerships with EPLAN and Rockwell Automation” recalls Pascal Deprez. “Logical choices. EPLAN was the only party offering an engineering tool that went beyond a simple drawing package. Parts management, revision management, automatic schematic generator ... it’s all included. And Rockwell Automation? They supported us from the very start, despite the fact that we were starters and didn’t even have our offices in order yet. Rockwell Automation seeks potential; capacity is less important. An approach we really appreciate. In all the intervening years, we have never once doubted that we made the right choice with these partners.” Knowledge is key
The people at Dynamics completed a number of intensive training programs and the company as a whole has achieved the status of Rockwell Automation’s Recognized System Integrator and Safety Partner. Pascal Deprez is now also an EPLAN Certified Engineer: “Both Rockwell Automation and EPLAN are known quantities in the industry. Thorough knowledge of their products and systems is therefore essential. That know-how is exactly what Dynamics wants to project. It is what truly sets us apart. The long-term engagement at our customer is a perfect example. Because EPLAN and Rockwell Automation work so well together, our time to market is 30% of what it would otherwise be.” A great challenge
The challenge the end customer presented to Dynamics was not a small one: a total safety retrofit of its thirty-year-old production lines – without a negative impact on the productivity. “Today the production is even more efficient than before we began” notes Pascal Deprez. “Furthermore, we’ve worked with Rockwell Automation to update and automate critical parts of the machines, such as motor controllers. That has resulted in considerable energy savings. Condition monitoring shifts the accent from reactive intervention to preventive maintenance. The result? The downtime has been reduced and there are fewer unexpected problems. In turn, this also improves safety.” Ideal relationships Following a safety analysis, Dynamics and Rockwell Automation worked out the entire concept together. “Another important aspect is that engineering, production and maintenance form a single, well-oiled machine. Our partnership with Rockwell Automation proved essential to achieving this goal. We consider all options together so we make the right choices and ensure the safety aspect doesn’t have a negative impact on production and maintenance.” EPLAN also plays an important role. Pascal Deprez states: “A retrofit of this scale doesn’t happen all at once. That would have too great an impact on the line. We have to implement the improvements one step at a time. What it really is then, is a series of small projects that must ultimately form a single, coherent whole again. Thanks to EPLAN, the documentation and data are transparent. We design more quickly, and the revision management enables us to keep an overview every step of the way. That is absolutely essential for projects implemented over an extended period.” Reducing time to execution
Dynamics is also seeing improvements in its time to market as a result of the ever-improving integration between EPLAN and Rockwell Automation. “On one hand, there’s EPLAN’s Data Portal which includes thousands of Rockwell Automation components – each and every one of top quality. That speeds up our design work considerably. On the other hand, we have the RSLogixTM Architect from Rockwell Automation, with a new interface that allows their development and programming interface to integrate seamlessly with the EPLAN Platform. In the future, we will link the EPLAN Platform to our ERP system, which will enable us to make direct use of our pre-engineering data for the engineering phase – yet another step forward in terms of efficiency” states Deprez. “What’s more, the client can be confident that the installation will be built in accordance with the specifications - within the requested time frame. This is essential in a sector in which there is ever increasing pressure on turnaround times.” Successful integration
Belgium-based system integrator, Dynamics, specializes in partial and turnkey projects with a focus on retrofits, safety and motion. The challenge the customer presented to Dynamics was not a small one: a total safety retrofit of its thirty-year-old production lines – to be achieved without a negative impact on the productivity. Production is now even more efficient than before the project. An important aspect was that engineering, production and maintenance form a single, well-oiled machine. Dynamics’ strategic partnership with Rockwell Automation proved essential to achieving this. The companies worked together in order to make the right choices and ensure that the safety aspect didn’t have a negative impact on production and maintenance. EPLAN also played an important role. The improvements had to be implemented one step at a time. A series of small projects ultimately had to form a single, coherent whole again. Thanks to EPLAN, documentation and data are fully accessible and easier to manage. Dynamics is also seeing improvement in its time to market as a result of the ever-improving integration between EPLAN and Rockwell Automation. On one hand, there’s EPLAN’s Data Portal which includes thousands of Rockwell Automation components – each and every one of top quality and that speeds up the design work considerably. On the other hand, there is the RSLogix Architect from Rockwell Automation, with a new interface that allows their development and programming interface to integrate seamlessly within the EPLAN Platform. Find out more about Dynamics at www.dynamics.be.