Penn Elcom has launched a significant upgrade to its Panel Designer software product, which enables customers to design and order their own custom 19″ rack panels.
A key feature of this latest upgrade enhances the platform’s DXF upload functionality, allowing users to upload their own custom cut-outs – unique shapes, connectors, and device cut-outs – not yet available in the existing library, which can now be incorporated into their rack panels.
Panel Designer has been a successful product and service offered by Penn Elcom since its launch in 2019. During this time, the company has manufactured over 35,000 individually tailored panels for customers in 65 countries. This upgrade further boosts the accessibility of Panel Designer by combining the speed of a web-based tool with the precision of custom engineering, in the process assisting system integrators and rack builders to deliver individual solutions quicker and more efficiently than ever in a world where time is constantly tight.
Even before this upgrade, Penn Panel Designer already had a comprehensive library of industry-standard connector cut-outs and was renowned for its intuitive “no-CAD-required” interface and operation. This update fully bridges the gap between user-friendly design and high-end engineering. It gives industry professionals even more extraordinary creative freedom AND proven technical accuracy to design their bespoke 19-inch rack panels.
In addition to the enhanced DXF functionality, other important new features include: Intelligent Connector Guidance: A series of new informational icons and data overlays that provide real-time size specifications for cut-outs, ensuring hardware fits perfectly the first time, reducing errors and ensuring compatibility before production.
Advanced Text Positioning: This offers improved padding and positioning controls for tighter, cleaner labelling. Text can be moved closer to cut-outs for high-density layouts and still be clear and readable.
Streamlined Workflow: The Panel Designer interface is accessible to those without formal CAD training and seriously reduces the time taken from conception to production.
“This release truly empowers customers and expands their ability and autonomy in creating individual rack panels,” noted Penn Elcom Sales Director, Rob Platt. “Completely unique panels can be designed, ordered and delivered to meet exact requirements, without needing input from anyone else.”
Dean Rowbotham of Sheffield-based D R Guitars added: “Panel Designer makes ordering very easy, and the quality of the products is always top-notch!”
Jack Franklin of flight case specialist Nomad Cases enthused: “The software is intuitive and precise, making it quick to create accurate, professional rack panels. A real time saver!”
For Absolute Casing’s Sam Robinson, it is “simple, efficient, effective and delivered in a timely manner. It’s our go-to for custom panels,” and he adds that the logo upload process is “amazingly straightforward” and the new DXF tool is “the most innovative thing I’ve seen for ages!”
Aramus Raynier of Colour Sound Experiment concluded: “Penn Elcom’s Panel Designer enables us to move from a concept to a completed working panel quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively.”
