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55thanniversary


ENCLOSURES


FEATURE : The quieT revoluTion


stress, the level of which will depend on the load placed on the machine. The reliability and performance of devices


such as PLCs, VSDs and transformers, which are indispensable for production line processes, are affected by excess heat which can lead to expensive, unplanned production line stoppages. The solution to alleviate this stress is climate


control technology which cools the components and avoids major temperature fluctuations within the enclosure. However, cooling equipment consumes a significant amount of energy, which is a concern at a time when production margins have been squeezed by mounting energy prices as well as rising labour and supply chain costs. In response, Rittal launched its award-winning


Blue e+ system, which not only uses state-of- the-art technologies to deliver industry-leading climate control, but is also far more energy efficient than existing cooling solutions. Key to its efficiency is Rittal’s innovative


previous systems required a range of different accessories depending on its orientation or location within the enclosure, the VX accepted the same component anywhere. It meant that panel builders managing multiple


projects now had fewer part numbers to track and reduced stock holdings. They also spent less time on fitting and were able to reduce the manufacturing cost of each enclosure.


“Over the last


sixty years these humble cabinets have undergone a considerable


transformation, driven by evolving market demands and technological advances”


The digiTalisaTion of The value Chain In recent years, perhaps the most significant development has not been to the physical structure of the enclosure but in terms of how it is designed, specified and built. In common with most of the industrialised


world, the panel building industry is in the middle of the digital revolution and its implications are running right through the value chain.


www.designsolutionsmag.co.uk Design software such as Eplan now allows the


panel building engineers to map out a panel in detail before any components are ordered or holes are drilled, and automate the machining process. Engineers send their digital designs to the shopfloor where CNC machining and laser cutting equipment (what Rittal terms its RAS (Rittal Automation Systems) platform) manage most of the manufacturing process entirely autonomously. It means that cutouts and back plate modifications that would have taken skilled technicians days to complete by hand can now be executed by machine in a fraction of the time, freeing up a company’s experienced, skilled workforce for the more intricate work of component fitting and wiring. One of the driving forces behind digitalisation,


particularly in recent years, has been the scarcity of skilled labour in the sector. The UK’s traditional panel building workforce is ageing and unfortunately recruitment has not been able to keep up with demand. Those companies that invest in design software and automation can support any shortfall in their resourcing needs, while boosting business capacity, productivity and employee job satisfaction. What’s more, the development of free online


configurator tools means that businesses can now build digital twins of their enclosures before they buy. This allows engineers to check the fit of components and plan modifications ahead of placing an order. The design files can then be downloaded directly to the machining equipment. Meanwhile, end users can use QR codes placed


on enclosure components to get rapid access to useful information, particularly around ordering spare parts, servicing, and maintenance.


ClimaTe ConTrol & award winning hybrid TeChnology One of the most common pressures placed on system control components is thermal


patented hybrid system which uses a clever combination of a compressor cooling device and a heat pipe to take maximum advantage of passive cooling. As a result, the Blue e+ units use up to 75% less electricity than conventional cooling units, which is a quantum leap forward for cooling systems, and a major incentive for manufacturers seeking to mitigate for fluctuating energy prices. In fact, sustainability is helping to reshape


huge swathes of our operations. For example, legislation is now requiring the industry to move away from using fluorinated carbon F-gas refrigerants. Instead, the focus has shifted to employing alternatives such as R1234YF – a change which Rittal has already universally adopted because of its significantly lower Global Warming Potential. In recent years, we have also invested heavily


in areas such as supply chain transparency, alongside energy efficiency measures and


advanced CO2 emissions monitoring. In 2026, we were awarded the prestigious


Gold Medal rating from EcoVadis, placing us in the top 5% of companies worldwide for sustainability performance.


The road ahead Industrial enclosures have come a long way from the fabricated metal boxes of sixty years ago. They are now the physical infrastructure of a digital, automated and increasingly sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. The panel builders who specify, build


and maintain them are at the centre of that transformation and the decisions they make about design software, automation investment and product selection will shape how competitive and resilient their businesses are in the years ahead. The continued scarcity of skilled labour, and


pressures on productivity and efficiency, are likely to mean that digitalisation and automation extend further into the sector over the next few years, as we transition into the next manufacturing era.


rittal www.rittal.com/uk-en/


JULY/AUGUST 2026 DesiGn sOLUtiOns 1971-2026 49


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