Pfullendorf, March 18, 2024 – Each control cabinet is individually designed. The designer determines the dimensions, materials, and components required for the construction of the cabinet. After acceptance by the client, we procure the necessary materials, e.g., housings, rails, wiring, fuses, switches, and other electrical components.
Equipped with a circuit diagram and bill of materials, training manager Manuel Schuler instructs the ESCAD apprentices in the first steps of building a control cabinet: “Our apprentices should be able to do as much as possible themselves. Because only those who try things out can make mistakes, and only those who make mistakes will learn from them and get better.”
Based on the bill of materials, instructor Manuel selected a suitable control cabinet for the apprentices. It starts with cutting and assembly. The cabinet housing parts are cut and assembled. This includes drilling and milling holes and cutouts for switches and sockets, as well as attaching mounting plates and rails for the electrical components.
After the housing parts are assembled, the electrical components are wired and cabled. This includes connecting switches, sockets, fuses, relays, controls, and other components. Cable holders are also installed. All components and lines are labeled – with wrap-around labels and single-core labeling. Power supplies are also connected (supply line + 24V), voltage regulators are bypassed, fuses, batteries, and grounds are connected. Throughout all steps, training manager Manuel is always available for his apprentices – to correctly convey new information from the outset and answer emerging questions.
After the control cabinet is wired, all electrical connections are tested to ensure they function correctly. This includes checking the voltage, current, and continuity of the connections. After all tests are completed and the control cabinet functions correctly, it is finished and packaged for delivery to the customer.
Training manager Manuel Schuler is satisfied with his protégés: ““They did a great job on the project. They were already trained on the circuit diagram. It listed wire cross-sections from 0.5mm² – 16mm², and the apprentices were thus able to assemble various cross-sections. Complete cables were also included. That caused a bit of confusion. Nevertheless, I am highly satisfied with the result.””
And the two apprentices for electronics technicians for industrial engineering, Yunus and Liam, also gained a lot. ““The collaboration with my fellow apprentice worked out great””, says Yunus. ““I learned a lot of new things about power supplies. But what I enjoyed most was wiring the control cabinet.”” Liam sees it similarly. He was able to improve many small details in his workflows. ““I believe that everyday work will give me even more routine, e.g., when assembling cables. I personally enjoyed the project part where we assembled and mechanically processed the cabinets the most.””
