Taking CAD to Electrical Engineers

How often have you heard electrical engineers complain about functional
limitations of CAD packages when it comes to electrical designing? This is
mainly because vendors offer CAD packages predominantly aimed at mechanical or
civil engineering. Electrical engineers can now make use of a new and cutting
edge software–PCschematic Elautomation–recently launched in India by
Denmark-based DpS CAD-Center ApS.

PCschematic is a Windows-based CAD program that is designed for documentation
of electro-technical and electrical installation projects. The software is
project-oriented. For instance, multiple projects can be opened and can be saved
in a single file. This functionality makes the integration of various diagrams
like electrical and mechanical possible. Also working on several projects
simultaneously enables the user to copy between projects.

The launch of PCschematic Elautomation is an initiative by Chennai-based CADD
Center, which had forged a tie-up with DpS CAD. CADD Center will train, market
and support PCschematic in the country. Says R Parthasarathy, executive
director, CADD Center, "An analysis of the CAD training market revealed the
need for specialized CAD solutions and training in areas like electrical
designing."

The launch of DpS CAD assumes significance for CADD center because it is the
first and the only company in the country offering CAD training and solutions to
the electrical engineering segment. The US slowdown has changed the mindset of
engineering college students–for instance, recently many engineering colleges
in the country saw a fall in number of applicants for their Computer Science
degrees, which were quite sought after the software boom. In fact, this year,
branches like electrical and civil were preferred. This basically means that the
CAD training market in the country is in for good times. This brings in a
scenario wherein the usage of computers will be domain-specific like mechanical
engineers increasingly using applications like M-CAD and the same applies to
other engineering segments like electrical or civil.

According to Ove Larsen, partner, DpS CAD-center ApS, "PCschematic is a
software designed by electrical engineers for electrical engineers. For those
who ask why do we need a separate CAD solution for electrical industry, my
answer is simple–most machines work on electricity and they all need to be
designed. PCschematic does that task in the most efficient manner."

CADD center has put in place a two-pronged strategy for PCsche—matic. It
will offer PCschematic through its 47 training centers spread across the country
and market the products through resellers and direct sales. Says Parthasarathy,
"Our Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai launch of PCschematic attracted close
to 300 participants. On the training front, we are in the process of tying up
with major engineering colleges in the country.

G Shrikanth in Chennai