WESTFORD, MA, Dec 3, 2025 – Zuken released Panel Builder 2026 for E3.series, adding tools for control panel and switchgear production. Panel Builder 2026 allows engineering and manufacturing teams to generate wiring and assembly instructions from electrical design data.
The 2026 release adds features that support collaboration and streamline production workflows. These updates help teams build panels while keeping output aligned with engineering requirements.
“This release represents a real step forward in how we bridge engineering and manufacturing,” said Paul Harvell, vice president of engineering at Zuken USA. “By embedding live feedback, supporting variant-heavy production, and integrating with a wider range of equipment, we’re reducing the friction between design and delivery. Panel Builder 2026 isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a shift toward smarter, more connected production lines.”
Track Repeat Builds with Greater Control
Panel shops often build several units from the same design to meet high-volume orders and reuse configurations. Multiple Build Tracking lets supervisors manage wiring tasks for identical panels while tracking a history linked to a single panel. This helps wiring operations scale with traceability.
Strengthen Connected Manufacturing Automation
Panel Builder 2026 supports Zuken’s move toward automated wire processing. Updates to the PWA 6000 output align with Wiring Task Manager wire data and sort order, helping manufacturers maintain accuracy from engineering through final assembly.
Optimize Wiring Workflows and Technician Guidance
New enhancements streamline build preparation and work assignments for engineers:
- The Skip Attribute feature adds precision to wiring logic by enabling selective exclusion of devices or pins based on attribute values, suited for custom or variant builds.
- Engineers can optimize work instructions with pin-level wire sorting, offering granular control than device-level sorting.
Technicians gain digital work instructions, including the ability to toggle between 2D and 3D sheets based on the installed wire. This makes assembly visual and error-resistant. Enhanced filtering options, including “completed/total” indicators, simplify tracking progress and task prioritization, giving technicians real-time information.
“The new workflow controls and visualization options are designed for the realities of modern panel shops,” said Geoffrey Ng, E3.series technical marketing manager at Zuken USA. “Technicians see only the most relevant tasks, supervisors can react to changes faster, and engineering updates flow through to the shop floor without rework or confusion.”
Improve Assembly Coordination on the Shop Floor
The Panel Builder Assembly module provides new task management features in the 2026 update. Technicians use improved filtering to find and organize tasks in complex builds. The update also allows changes to the .e3s file to load without losing existing tasks, helping teams incorporate late design updates without interrupting production.
Panel Builder 2026 extends Zuken’s tools for connected and adaptable manufacturing. The release adds multi-build support, improved automation, and updates that help production teams work efficiently.
Panel Builder 2026 will be available in Dec’2026 as part of Zuken’s E3.series suite.
Source: Zuken
About Zuken
Zuken Inc., founded in 1976 in Yokohama, develops software for electronic and electrical design. The company provides tools for printed circuit boards, electrical and fluid systems, and 3D cabinet and wire harness layouts. Its core platforms, CR-8000 and E3.series, offer 2D and 3D system-level design environments with integrated data and configuration management. Zuken serves industries such as electronics manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and telecommunications, and employs about 1,600 people worldwide. The company is also expanding into model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to support digital engineering and product lifecycle integration. Across its product lines, Zuken focuses on helping manufacturers manage design processes with engineering tools and MBSE capabilities.