Reducing Panel Build Times
Customer Application Story
A control panel manufacturer in the US significantly reduces their panel build time and increases production by implementing EPLAN Pro Panel Professional and EPLAN Smart Wiring software, along with the Rittal Perforex and Rittal Wire Terminal WT machines, to maintain competitiveness in their market.
Founded in 2020, Kratos Industries is an industrial power distribution and control equipment manufacturer. They provide control panel design, manual and automatic transfer switches, safety switches and disconnects and generator connector cabinets, among other components. Located in Golden, Colorado, the company employs approximately 100 people.
Business Need
Kratos Industries was looking for ways to automate the manufacturing of their panels, in addition to becoming more efficient and reducing human error. The company also needed to maintain lead times to stay competitive in their industry. To support their goals, Kratos Industries sought new technology to increase production.
Solution Implementation
To meet their needs, Kratos Industries implemented EPLAN Pro Panel Professional software to design controls for panel design layout. The Pro Panel software helps them automate their panel design and production, thereby enabling them to shorten their lead times. They also installed EPLAN Smart Wiring software on the plant floor to guide the physical wiring of the panel to improve the consistency of the final product without the requirement for highly trained personnel.
In addition, they installed a Rittal Perforex machine to help automate panel building production. The machine automatically drills holes and cut outs in their steel enclosures. To further automate the building process, they installed a Rittal Wire Terminal WT machine to process cut, strip, ferrule and label all the wires needed for their control panels.
“It (EPLAN software) works with the way my mind works. Understanding that you can have equipment on one side of the equation and engineering on the other side and it bridges this gap, essentially flawlessly. Everything has problems but when you can minimize those problems, you’re off to the races. It was an easy transition for me as an engineer to see a platform like this that was so well thought out. EPLAN is a no-brainer.” - Tom Huseas, Founding President of Kratos Industries
Benefits
By implementing EPLAN Pro Panel Professional and EPLAN Smart Wiring software, along with the Rittal Perforex and Rittal Wire Terminal WT machines, Kratos Industries was able to restructure their workforce. For example, instead of having three to four people drilling holes in a control panel, the Perforex machine automated that step. This enables technicians to focus on higher value-add tasks.
Looking ahead, they can now hire additional people for product development to expand their portfolio. With the coordinated solutions between EPLAN and Rittal, and the automation it offers, Kratos Industries significantly reduced their panel build time. Last, this increased production and the ability for portfolio expansion has set them far apart from their competition.
