CADENAS Provides Automation Planning Data via Siemens Products

Intelligent product data is used as the basis for an efficient engineering process.

Intelligent product data is used as the basis for an efficient engineering process.

CADENAS GmbH, a software specialist for digital CAD product catalogs, now provides planning data for automation and switching technology products from Siemens via its platform for 3D CAD models. Users of Siemens PLM solutions will now have direct access to digital Siemens components such as switches, controls, relays etc., which are available within Siemens NX, Solid Edge, Teamcenter as well as the CADENAS portal, enabling engineers to quickly integrate them into their product designs.

CAD Data as Step Toward Industry 4.0

“Siemens plays a pioneering role when it comes to comprehensively representing constructions as digital twins. Intelligent, native 3D CAD data of the individual components are required to simulate and optimize the virtual representation of a design in advance. Here CADENAS, with its many years of know-how in the creation of digital parts catalogs, makes another important contribution to the holistic implementation of the Industry 4.0 strategy of Siemens,” explains Thorsten Reichenberger, senior business development, Digital Business at Siemens.

Enrichment of Digital Parts Data

Automation and low-voltage switchgear from Siemens comprises more than 50,000 products and systems. Access to planning data and CAD data for these components was previously only possible via Siemens' own online platform, the Siemens Industry Mall. To use the planning data in NX, Solid Edge or Teamcenter, a manual import was necessary. The planning data was mostly available in the neutral STEP format.

As part of the cooperation between Siemens and CADENAS, the first step was to make the basic data available within the CADENAS platform which is also integrated directly into NX, Solid Edge and Teamcenter as a component library. Users of the Siemens PLM solutions can now find these components with just a few clicks and insert them directly into their product design without changing systems or the need to store the files locally. Additionally, the digital product catalog is available via various channels: The online download portal is here. 

SIRIUS 3RB3 overload relay as 3D CAD model based on CADENAS technology for parts catalogs in Siemens NX. Image courtesy of CADENAS/Siemens Digital Industries Software.

“As an OEM partner of Siemens, we can make a significant contribution with our many years of know-how from over 800 successful catalog projects to further extend Siemens' lead in Industry 4.0,” says Walter Leder, COO of CADENAS GmbH.

Simulation of Systems 

Software solutions for simulation, such as the Mechatronics Concept Designer (MCD) from Siemens PLM, make a contribution on the way to Industry 4.0: As an integrated solution for automation development within the 3D CAD software NX, the MCD in combination with the intelligent digital components from CADENAS, enables virtual testing of the commissioning of technical systems in advance and digital coordination of the control system details. 

“The aim of the cooperation between CADENAS and Siemens is to support manufacturing companies by improving the flexibility and efficiency of their design and production processes, helping bring products to market faster. This consistently increases efficiency, minimizes the error rate and significantly shortens development cycles. All in all, this means a sustained increase in competitiveness for companies,” says Reichenberger.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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