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Increase in Efficiency for Control Cabinets

Efficiency is a requirement for the use of well-engineered control cabinet solutions and must, of course, be provided as needed. Smooth, optimized processes and error-free automation, as well as space-saving construction and manufacturing approaches, are decisive factors here. Intelligent solutions and economical use of space can significantly increase the cost-effectiveness of control cabinets. In this blog post, we have summarized the steps you should take and the methods that make sense to increase efficiency.

Posted by Markus Flechtner | | 4 min read

Control cabinet construction: Everything must be organized

Well-organised processes are the key to maximum efficiency – that’s why it’s important to avoid chaos in the control cabinet in the first place. Especially with large control cabinet systems, it would quickly become confusing without a plan and system. Elaborate cable management and a well-planned arrangement of the various components make operation easier and the space required is reduced. At Bürklin you will find a range of products to help you bring structure to the cable world of your control cabinet.

Cable entry frames are the ideal tools for guiding a wide range of cables and wires safely and in a controlled manner through the control cabinet. From the manufacturer HellermannTyton you will find, among other products, insert grommets for the targeted and protected routing of cables at Bürklin.

Unused cable openings can be sealed with dummy grommets. For clear arrangement, connection and wiring within the switch cabinet, flexible stranded wires are the right choice. You will find particularly high-quality models from LAPP in the Bürklin online shop.

Cable marking systems (labelling plates, labels, cable markers) for adequate labelling of cables and lines make it easier to find the right lines when the control cabinet is used later. This makes it easier to carry out various extensions. Proper documentation and maintenance also benefit from marking systems.

Means to improve efficiency

Increasing performance through digitalization

The cost-effectiveness of value-added processes in control cabinet construction has to be improved. While digitalization is already well advanced in other technical areas, control cabinet technology is still largely based on manual steps. But: The potential is great and change is essential.

Digitalization in control cabinet construction promises cost reductions, more precise processes and extensive error reduction. The so-called digital twin is an important support here: It is the virtual image of a material or immaterial, existing or only planned process, and the application of this methodology offers plenty of room for manipulation and test procedures of all kinds. This facilitates the actual realization enormously and helps to reduce the total assembly time – entirely in the sense of cost savings.

Good to know

Modular control cabinet systems allow the interior of a control cabinet to be assembled independently of the final location. In the production facility, the control cabinet in the form of a module can be largely finalized and prepared together with the appropriate cable management. After delivery to its destination, it then only needs to be installed in the designated niche.

Energy management systems

Intelligent building and plant automation naturally requires an increase in performance in control cabinet technology. Smart measurement and subsequent analysis aim to optimize ongoing building operation.

The claim: to identify the largest consumers and reduce their reactive power to an absolute minimum. In order to use energy with a particularly high degree of efficiency, centrally controlled systems can also be used to regulate consumption.

Selection of components

“Eyes wide open” is the key when it comes to selecting individual components: High-performance products contribute to the overall economic utilization of control cabinet technology in the long term. The higher acquisition costs for energy-efficient components quickly pay for themselves thanks to the effective energy savings.

Our advice

There are also significant differences between the various components in terms of their size. Narrow switches and miniature versions of power supplies or relays take up less space in the control cabinet. If these elements are also arranged sensibly, the size of the entire cabinet can be greatly reduced.

Optimized thermal management

Efficient control cabinet systems make optimum use of the available space. They are designed with particular precision, resulting in a high density inside – namely countless control cabinet elements lined up close together.

But: They all give off heat – which, due to the small space in which they are located, leads to the heating of the entire unit. Special cooling and ventilation systems keep the control cabinet and its components from overheating. With the right thermal management, the processes also run in a highly energy-efficient manner.

Energy saving lighting

In terms of low energy consumption despite high luminosity, LED lighting is chosen for control cabinet construction.

Increased efficiency through optimized maintenance

Regular maintenance ensures consistently high system performance, and sudden failures or production downtimes can be largely prevented. If a process runs smoothly and without glitches, it also requires significantly less energy in the long term.

Increased efficiency in control cabinets with Bürklin Elektronik

Have you set yourself the goal of increasing efficiency in your control cabinet systems? Order the necessary material in premium quality – quickly and easily! Almost all components for your control cabinet project are permanently in stock with us, and the prompt delivery of your desired products is thus guaranteed.

In modern control cabinet construction, three topics are paramount: Safety, efficiency and digitalization. It is essential to take a look at the big picture, including the relationship between the performance factors. After all, the areas of activity within control cabinet technology influence each other because they overlap in many aspects.

Posted by Markus Flechtner, Markus Flechtner has been with Bürklin Elektronik for over a decade and has more than 20 years of experience as a product manager in the electronics industry. At Bürklin Elektronik, he is responsible for the Cable & Wire product range, Cable Management as well as the Electromechanical and Connector product ranges and is constantly expanding these through his close relationships with brand-leading manufacturers. Thanks to his specialist knowledge, he is able to offer our customers a high-quality range of products for all areas of application.