Rittal ePocket Digitizes Control Cabinet Documentation

Rittal and its sister company Eplan have introduced Rittal ePocket, a new digital solution for the documentation of control cabinets. This cloud-based system aims to replace traditional paper-based documentation, leading to improved data accessibility and reduced paper consumption.

Traditionally, control cabinet documentation has been stored in thick binders. However, experts from Eplan and Rittal consider this outdated in the era of digitalization. Rittal ePocket offers a digital "pocket" for storing and sharing all relevant information, including wiring diagrams, maintenance schedules, and certificates. This provides faster access to up-to-date information, benefiting designers, engineers, and service technicians alike.

"With Rittal ePocket, our customers can further leverage data quality for growing applications in plants and for service," states Uwe Scharf, Managing Director for Business Units and Marketing at Rittal. With all project design data available digitally, it becomes easier and faster to review and implement changes directly within the project. This minimizes the number of documentation versions and ensures the latest documentation is always readily accessible to all involved, including service personnel, thereby reducing downtime.

The system operates via Eplan Cloud, where each control cabinet from popular Rittal series (VX25, VX SE, AX, and KX) is assigned its own cloud space. A QR code on the cabinet grants access to the relevant digital documentation, including the digital twin, via Eplan Cloud. This facilitates service and maintenance personnel who can access diagrams directly at the equipment via Eplan eView using a smartphone or tablet. For repairs, this ensures rapid identification and resolution of faults.

The digitalization from schematic creation to maintenance offers companies triple benefits: faults are rectified faster, significant time savings are realized by avoiding the printing of hundreds of pages, and the environment benefits from reduced paper usage and CO2 emissions. Furthermore, fire risk is reduced by eliminating paper storage within the cabinets. Rittal ePocket establishes a central, digitized, and constantly updated repository for all documentation throughout the product's entire lifecycle.