HVAC projects are no longer limited to simple heating or cooling installations. Today, they incorporate a multitude of interconnected technical components: programmable logic controllers, advanced control systems, home automation solutions, monitoring interfaces, and centralised technical management (CTM) and building management system (BMS) platforms. Each project requires a combination of skills spanning electrical engineering, automation and HVAC engineering.

This increasing complexity is directly reflected in the design phases. Electrical diagrams must incorporate an ever-wider variety of equipment, control architectures that are sometimes highly sophisticated, and stricter requirements for document traceability. Design offices face tight deadlines, multi-stakeholder projects and ever-increasing client expectations. In this context, relying on high-performance CAD is no longer an option: it is an essential requirement for producing reliable, consistent designs that comply with current regulatory requirements.

The quality of deliverables produced during the design phase also has a direct impact on the shop floor. Incomplete or poorly structured diagrams lead to wiring errors, delays in commissioning and additional costs. The accuracy of the design tool therefore determines the success of the project right through to its handover.

The panel builder receives a photovoltaic design study containing sizing data: protection ratings, and DC and AC cable cross-sections. SchemELECT allows this data to be converted into single-line or multi-line diagrams that are directly usable for manufacturing, without the need to re-enter data from an external spreadsheet. FTZ-Panel 3D takes over for the physical design of the enclosure: component layout on DIN rails, terminal block positioning, cable tray routing, and internal organization of a shelter or photovoltaic low-voltage switchgear. The panel builder visualizes the equipment in three dimensions before starting the wiring in the workshop, which reduces adjustments and rework on the production line.

One of SchemELECT’s major advantages for COUGNAUD lies in its manageable database. Teams can use it to centralize and manage their internal standards, which significantly simplifies day-to-day design work. Every component and every part number can be accessed quickly, without the need for manual re-entry or the risk of errors.

This database also provides a direct benefit to the Purchasing department. From projects created in SchemELECT, it is possible to automatically extract a complete and structured list of materials, which can be used directly for orders and supply tracking.

“The manageable database allows us to easily use our standards. It enables us to generate a list of materials for the Purchasing department.”

From the design office to the manufacturing shop floor, via the purchasing teams, FTZ software covers a large part of COUGNAUD’s value chain and streamlines the flow of information between departments.

Since adopting SchemELECT, NECTRA has been creating all of its electrical cabinet diagrams using the software. As a result, every machine produced comes with comprehensive electrical documentation that is accurate and consistent with the project’s technical specifications.

What makes the difference on a daily basis is SchemELECT’s ability to adapt to a variety of configurations. No imposed format, no rigid hierarchy: the design office creates drawings based on the actual needs of each machine, with the freedom required to handle projects as specific as those at NECTRA.

“With SchemELECT, we can create drawings that are truly specific to our machines. Each cabinet has its own diagrams—it’s exactly what we needed.”

This flexibility is particularly valuable for a company whose core business relies on customization. Where other electrical software imposes its own constraints, SchemELECT adapts to the client’s.