MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Not all that long ago, everything looked very different. R&D Specialties only took the decision to use Eplan software and Rittal automation solutions a year ago. The Texan company had previously tried a milling and drilling machine from a different manufacturer. “But the software didn’t work,” says Howell, stating one of the reasons for the lack of success. There was another reason for moving away from this manufacturer, though. “When we received the software program, there were fewer than 20,000 device data sets in the library,” Howell continues. That made switching to Eplan a logical decision for him. Thanks to an Eplan parts consultation and the Eplan Data Portal, he now has some two million high-quality component data sets from numerous leading equipment manufacturers at his disposal, directly from the Eplan Cloud. “I would never go back on my decision to use Eplan and Rittal,” admits Howell. R&D Specialties continues to receive partner support from Eplan and Rittal to this day.
Mr. Howell, what was your initial reaction the first time you visited the Rittal Application Center in Houston?
To be honest, my team and I were concerned when we saw the ultramodern Rittal automation solutions. We wondered how something like that could be integrated into our existing, ageing production setup, and also how we would manage to work with it. But the professional advice we received here gave us the answers we were looking for, showing us how Eplan software and Rittal automation solutions work together. We headed home feeling satisfied and realised this was the approach we needed to take.
Why did you invest in Eplan software and Rittal automation systems?
We were looking to expand and grow, but we couldn’t find suitable staff for our panel building operations. Automation is the only way for us to move forward. Eplan software and the two automation solutions from Rittal – the Perforex MT S and the Wire Terminal WT – are speeding up our processes, making them around 40 percent faster. Efficiency has improved dramatically, so the decision was very much a success and also easy to realize.
How have your customers reacted to this big investment?
When our customers get their first look at the automation solutions, they’re impressed. They see how the equipment operates and how much more efficient everything is. They’ve mentioned on more than one occasion how much better our panels look.
