AI is at the starting line. Expectations are high. But how can industry unlock these opportunities and take automation to the next level with AI? Under the motto “Automation – Do it”, Eplan, Rittal and Rittal Automation Systems will present answers at SPS 2025. Their approach: fully digitalized processes and intelligent interaction between software, hardware and automation. Plant engineers can experience how this works in practice during a guided tour of the booth. Engineering highlights include AI use cases such as the Eplan Copilot and Automated 3D Design, new approaches using the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) in the area of Product Change Notification (PCN), as well as the Eplan Platform 2026. New automation and hardware products include the new Wire Handling System from Rittal Automation Systems and enhancements to Rittal’s Blue e+ chillers.
Plant engineers and control panel builders who want to remain competitive must continuously advance technologically. Complex engineering and production tasks need to be simplified and accelerated—and process steps must now also become AI-ready.
“The enormous opportunities we anticipate through AI are the reason why plant engineers should now significantly accelerate their digitalization,” says Uwe Scharf, Managing Director Sales Germany at Rittal. Fully digital workflows across engineering, production and service are still not standard for many companies. “Only those who digitalize properly will be able to automate more efficiently in the future and truly benefit from new technologies such as AI,” Scharf continues. When chosen wisely, even small digitalization steps generate immediate value.
AI-Ready: Customer Benefits at the Center
Eplan and Rittal demonstrate what will be possible in the future using AI through a variety of engineering-oriented use cases—such as the Eplan Copilot, agent-based concepts, Automated 3D Design and more. Eplan follows a clear objective:
“We intend to deploy AI precisely where it supports designers and increases efficiency in the engineering process. Our aim is customized solutions that elevate our customers’ processes to the next level,” explains Sebastian Seitz, CEO of Eplan. “Maximum and sustainable customer benefit is our goal, which is why we focus on generating real added value for our users through AI.”
AI-Ready: The Data Foundation Must Be Right
High-quality data is the foundation of any automation—and even more so for AI applications. At SPS, new concepts based on the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) and the eCLASS standard will be presented and discussed. Eplan is also introducing new possibilities for product change management through solutions in the area of Product Change Notification (PCN), relevant both for software users and for component manufacturers. A live demonstration shows how a component change communicated by the manufacturer is displayed directly within Eplan.
Software: The New Eplan Platform 2026
Eplan will also present the new Eplan Platform 2026, featuring a fundamentally enhanced portfolio with even greater focus on customer requirements in specific market segments. A central objective is a significant reduction in complexity. The new software portfolio makes the full performance of the Eplan Platform more transparent, while numerous enhancements turn it into a comprehensive end-to-end solution for specialized applications. Various engineering disciplines can now be integrated even more deeply—enabling the creation of a complete digital twin of automation systems for machines or plants.
Automation: Rittal Wire Handling System
With the new Wire Handling System (WHS), Rittal Automation Systems increases the efficiency and flexibility of the fully automated wire processing system Wire Terminal WT, in combination with the digital assistant system Eplan Smart Wiring. The new system, available starting at SPS, transports processed wires from the Wire Terminal directly to remote workstations via a pneumatic distribution system. With Eplan Smart Wiring, even less experienced employees can perform wiring tasks—now they simply request the next correct wire at the push of a button. The risk of mix-ups is eliminated. A major process advantage: one Wire Terminal can now supply multiple projects and workstations simultaneously. The high data quality from Eplan and the solutions from Rittal Automation Systems also pave the way for upcoming robot-assisted wiring.
Hardware: New Chiller Program and Explosion-Proof Enclosure Certification
Rittal will also present the expanded Blue e+ chiller portfolio for efficient machine cooling and climate control of enclosures and server racks. Rittal now offers F-gas-compliant solutions for nearly all applications—from machinery and battery energy storage systems to IT. The portfolio expansion focuses on new performance classes from 1.5 to 7 kW, outdoor models and a hybrid IT chiller with free cooling for maximum energy efficiency. Rittal also introduces updates to its Ex enclosures: with UL HazLoc certification, these now cover an operating temperature range from –50 to +180°C. ATEX and IECEx certifications for the same temperature range are already in place.
