Article in the trade fair magazine “The Official Day” (Computer&Automation) on the SPS trade fair 2025 in Nuremberg
Author: Inka Krischk (Pelemedia GmbH)
Using two demonstration cabinets, WSCAD is showcasing for the first time live how Artificial Intelligence can automatically generate a control cabinet layout from a digital schematic and transform it into a real, physical cabinet.
Industry visitors can experience how comprehensive data and AI integration fundamentally changes the entire engineering and manufacturing process in control and plant engineering. The foundation for this is the AI functionality of ‘ELECTRIX AI 2026’, which automatically creates a complete control cabinet layout from a schematic, including device placement, wiring, and labeling. The algorithms take electrical connections, component parameters, and manufacturer data into account, producing a manufacturing-ready layout in seconds. Additionally, AI is used to automatically convert existing paper, DWG, and PDF schematics into intelligent electrical plans with cross-references and jump marks. Project data from external formats can thus be directly imported into WSCAD, and maintenance personnel can generate digital twins, significantly speeding up maintenance, documentation, and troubleshooting.
Demonstrator 1
The first cabinet, developed in cooperation with Schneider Electric and generated by ELECTRIX AI 2026, showcases Schneider Electric’s new product series ‘TeSys Deca Snap-In’ with tool-free plug-in technology. Compared to screw connections, conductor connections can be made in seconds – reportedly saving up to 96% of installation time according to the manufacturer. Using the Schneider Electric product configurator in ‘wscaduniverse.com’, components and accessories are directly imported into the project. Pro-Clima is also integrated, calculating and configuring the cabinet’s climate control and airflow.
Demonstrator 2
The second AI-generated cabinet, built at Phoenix Contact, is a joint project with WSCAD, ABB, Häwa, and Phoenix Contact. It demonstrates the complete digital process chain from schematic to assembly. The basis is the digital product data of components from wscaduniverse.com. “Digital product data are highly important at ABB. That is why we provide these data on the platform wscaduniverse.com and continuously expand our digital portfolio,” explains Manfred Lindert, eCommerce Specialist at ABB.
Sophia Hardeck, Director Product Marketing Business Unit Industrial Cabinet Solutions at Phoenix Contact, adds: “The future of control cabinet construction lies in the intelligent and efficient integration of engineering data with both manual and automated cabinet manufacturing.”
During cabinet assembly, terminal strips are transferred to the software ‘ClipX Engineer’, automatically completed there, and then re-imported into ELECTRIX AI 2026. This generates material lists, terminal, and wiring diagrams that guide the further manufacturing process.
The marking software ‘Marking system’ creates labeling data, controls printing systems, and ensures consistent labeling of all components. Wiring information is transferred to ‘Wire Assist’, which semi-automates wire cutting, stripping, crimping, and labeling, supporting the wiring process via a worker assistance system. This creates an error-free workflow, resulting in a fully wired control cabinet in a very short time.
At the Häwa booth, a 3D model of this cabinet is on display. Using a VR headset, visitors can experience live how the empty cabinet will later appear with installed components. “With digital transformation, value creation is increasingly shifting into the planning phase,” says Martin Miller, Product Manager at Häwa.
Weidmüller will also be presenting its Klippon Automated RailLaser laser-based marking technology live at the WSCAD stand every hour. In combination with M-Print PRO, it will demonstrate how marking data from Electrix AI 2026 is transferred directly to laser and printing systems. This is another example of continuous digital data exchange between engineering and manufacturing. Visitors will also be able to take home personalised, laser-engraved giveaways.
With this joint project, WSCAD will be presenting a market-ready solution at SPS 2025 that digitises the entire engineering and manufacturing process.
A world first in electrical CAD: in just a few minutes, the AI of ‘Electrix AI’ 2026 generates a control cabinet layout from a circuit diagram – and remembers customer-specific rules and preferences. Image: Dr Axel Zein and Christian Rathgeber from WSCAD.
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