The EPLAN Platform 2027, first unveiled at EPLAN Next26 in May, is now officially live. The latest version introduces more than 500 enhancements across preplanning, electrical engineering and control cabinet design, helping users accelerate engineering workflows and access information more efficiently. The new platform also makes it easier to integrate EPLAN into existing IT environments.
A key addition is EPLAN Copilot, an AI-powered assistant integrated directly into the platform. Designed to support engineers within their existing workflows, Copilot provides access to EPLAN’s technical knowledge and can help users find solutions to complex engineering questions. It also supports everyday tasks such as translation, menu simplification, bill of materials creation and quality checks through voice or text prompts.
EPLAN Copilot can also help engineers track where specific devices or components have been used across projects. By entering a part number, users can search projects stored in the cloud and access direct links to the relevant project pages. This makes it easier to locate existing information and reuse engineering data across projects.
Also Read: Aimtron Electronics Enters New Global Engagement with Curtiss-Wright
New: Central device management in the cloud
The additions to device management set a clear strategic focus on consistent, end-to-end data and efficient collaboration. With the new cloud-based device management and the associated synchronization capabilities, Eplan, the solutions provider, addresses a central requirement for modern, hybrid engineering environments and is hereby laying the foundation for consistent master data, digital twins and cross-system traceability. These core functions are complemented by targeted improvements in searching, selecting, transparency and data quality, all of which significantly simplify the day-to-day management of large parts inventories. Taken together, these improvements enable better-integrated working and significantly more efficient workflows throughout the entire engineering and life-cycle process.
Cloud device management is now synchronized
Looking at today’s processes in device/parts management, the process is characterized by media disruptions. In hybrid IT environments, companies operate both cloud-based and local systems in parallel. Differing user interfaces, product data maintained in multiple locations, and limited remote access often lead to inconsistencies, increased efforts needed for maintenance and data gaps in the engineering process.
The new Eplan Platform 2027 creates greater clarity in this area and synchronizes processes. By provisioning data from the Eplan Cloud, users have a uniform front-end workflow, the advantages of which are obvious. Product data is maintained only once and automatically synchronized bidirectionally between the cloud and local systems (keyword: data management). This is true for device data as well as master data such as formulas, plot frames and symbol libraries, which can all now be synchronized. At the same time, this workflow ensures location-independent access to parts information that is up to date. Users thereby achieve maximum data consistency, greater reusability and reduce efforts required for device management.
Also Read: Maharashtra’s Nuclear Moment: What JSW Energy and Torrent Power Are Planning
End-to-end processes in focus
The Eplan ecosystem is continuing to expand by way of targeted additions for partner integrations. This expansion is driven by the growing need to seamlessly connect engineering systems with automation solutions and ERP/PDM solutions in order to avoid information silos. Enhanced integrations create end-to-end data flows between Eplan and leading partner solutions, such as Rockwell Emulate 3D (as just one example). By importing Eplan data into Rockwell’s virtual testing and simulation environment, users can simulate and validate machine and plant system layouts, including the actual control logic (PLC) – long before the hardware even exists. Additional integrations to ERP/PDM systems enable transparent, controllable device synchronization, which significantly improves data reliability over the long term.
Key Takeaways from Eplan Platform 2027
The Eplan Platform 2027 stands for connected, AI-supported engineering. Further developments in preplanning, improvements in the management of device data and in handling devices, expanded collaboration and integration – not to mention the inclusion of Eplan Copilot – make it clear that with the Eplan Platform 2027, users can access relevant information more quickly, utilize existing data more consistently and focus more on their actual engineering tasks.
