Faster access to the offer through optimised processes: Scheuch, a competence leader in innovative ventilation and environmental technology, has achieved this goal with the help of Cideon. Project planners at the Austrian company can now easily assemble an environmental system with digital assets from a library in project engineering. “Since the assets contain far more than the geometry, we are laying a comprehensive digital foundation for the later processes,” explains Manuel Eitzinger, Team Leader for technical IT at Scheuch.

Among other things, the assets contain all the possible configurations of a mechanical assembly, including the corresponding rough geometry with projecting edges, connecting flanges and hole patterns. The variants possess internal logic, so that, for example, when selecting a pressure stage, all the parameters and geometries that depend on it are automatically correctly defined.

Manuel Eitzinger says: “The range of assets extends from simple pipes with diameters of 63 to 2,800 millimetres to complex industrial cleaning systems to filter dust and gases. Each asset has a type of ‘user interface’through which the project planner enters the parameters needed. These entries define the required variant, and the rough geometry can be entered in the system layout – then a price type is generated. The most accurate quote possible can be created very quickly from these price types.”

ASSETS ENSURE FAST DESIGN

Creating an asset calls for a great deal of knowledge about products. What areas of geometry are important? Which variants exist and how can they be mapped? Here, Scheuch needed support from Cideon. “Implementing these models is more complex than it appears at first,” Eitzinger interjects. “It starts with the fact that a planning asset for a fan, for example, consists of a single solid model, while the same fan – during the design stage – is a highly complex assembly with many individual parts. Here we are working closely with Cideon to find efficient solutions.” Among other things, the Cideon ‘Manage Components’ tool is used, which makes it easier to reuse components.

Eitzinger continued: “Cideon has now worked its way through our product range extremely well. This has made our work much easier; we have created the most widely used assets ourselves and could leave the mapping of the less frequently used components to the colleagues from Cideon. This has saved us lots of time over the last two years!” Another important point from Cideon’s perspective: For the overall model to remain usable, individual assets must not be accompanied by too much data or involve dependencies. Since, in project planning, the system consists almost entirely of intelligent assets, it is guaranteed that all the elements meet the specifications and fit together. This permits large systems to be designed free from errors – and fast.

THE PLAN: IMPROVED ADDED VALUE THROUGH THE DIGITAL TWIN

“We are accompanying Scheuch along the product lifecycle to enable the use of the data in other areas,” explains Dr. Harald Schrenk, Managing Director of Cideon Austria. “We are opening the silos and developing a genuine digital value chain, which should ultimately lead to a digital twin that contains sensors, circuit diagrams from Eplan, documentation and service information, and which can also be used by the customer, for example, for spare parts management. Marketing is already working with the planning models to create visualisations, and other departments will also gradually benefit from the data.”

This benefit is already being exploited to the full: When the order is placed, the designers use the intelligent planning model (asset) as a template for creating the detailed design. Cideon and Scheuch are currently working on intelligent design models that automatically generate the appropriate detailed geometries, drawings and other data based on the planning model’s parameters. Material masters and other information will also be transferred via the link to the ERP system, which is also from Cideon.

HIGHER SALES WITH THE SAME TEAM

Schrenk looks back: “In 2014, during the evaluation, company owner Stefan Scheuch said that “We know where we want to go – can Autodesk and Cideon follow this path?” The evaluation was accordingly detailed. The broad Autodesk portfolio, which offers a lot of room for expansion, finally convinced us. Cideon was also able to impress with intelligent solutions and a detailed implementation strategy. Alongside the ongoing issues, we are currently looking towards an actively shaped future for Scheuch with PLM and many other business cases.”

Manuel Eitzinger concludes: “Cideon has played an important role by providing expertise and services that have enabled us to move forward quickly. Thanks to Cideon, we are getting ever closer to our goal of generating more sales with the same team through gains in efficiency.”

• Complete coverage – through Autodesk, Cideon, Eplan and Rittal

  Scheuch currently uses 260 workstations of the Vault Professional PDM system, as well as Autodesk’s Product Design & Manufacturing CAD solution.

  A variety of Cideon toolboxes are also installed on all the workstations. The Cideon interface “Vault to SAP” ensures connection to the SAP environment. The “Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection”, which includes Revit, creates the connection to the construction sector. Fusion 360 is an innovative design tool that enables the use of the Eagle PCB development tool, among other things. Cideon has linked many of these Autodesk solutions to SAP, so that the entire inventory management system is integrated into the engineering process. Scheuch uses ten licences from Eplan for electrical engineering development and, of course, the system controls are installed in Rittal enclosures.