Take the Guesswork Out of Cable Management with Eplan
October 14, 2025
By Marcella Escourse-Corry, Marketing Communications, Eplan
Mastering Cable Management
Cable management planning can be a time-consuming process that requires considerable skill. Engineers need to choose the right type, length, and part number of the cables between the machines and the control cabinet and place them correctly. When Machine Builders use standard products, they select the cable lengths to order from lists of off-the-shelf cables. Unfortunately, purchasing the wrong cable length is common and remains a significant cost driver in machine building. It also extends lead times and increases waste, because of this cable management planning is usually undertaken by skilled and experienced electrical engineers, making it an expensive and resource-intensive process.
However, Eplan’s solutions support your machine cabling design, making it faster, reliable, and cost effective. Eplan Cable proD, our 3D CAD solution, digitalizes and streamlines the machine cabling process by creating a digital twin to achieve precise planning and automated cable length calculations. Cable proD is integrated into Data Portal’s cloud database, containing millions of parts, parts data, and macros, so engineers do not have to spend time constructing them.
Additionally, the integration of ECAD and MCAD, enables engineers to simplify tasks such as part placement, routing, and assembly. This results in increased efficiency, productivity, and reduces the cost of labor. Cable proD Task Manager checks for issues, such as collisions between cables and machines parts, and verifies bend radius, cable fixed lengths, and other tasks.
Once completed, the 3D cable designs are transferred to the MCAD system, providing a clear view of the cabling connections, control cabinets, and machines. It also allows mechanical and electrical engineers to collaborate over placement issues before passing to the shop floor. The final 3D model is exported via HTML to assembly technicians and used as a virtual prototype during manufacturing to visualize cable placement, making installation a trouble-free, and efficient process.
Design Advantages of a Digital Twin
- Easy planning and visualization of cable routing
- Cable lengths confirmed during the planning process
- Timely placement for prefabricated cables
- Clear specifications and 3D visuals for assembly
Assembly Advantages of a Digital Twin
- 3D model available as a digital prototype for standardized cabling
- Prefabricated cables can easily be connected
- Trouble-free assembly
- Lowers material consumption and waste to reduce production costs
