Little brother steps in: the new Rittal Wire Terminal WT L

There aren’t many businesses that are too small to boost their efficiency through automation – provided the right solutions are in place. At Hannover Messe 2026, hardware, software and automation specialist Rittal will be unveiling Wire Terminal WT L, which has been specifically designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized panel builders and switchgear manufacturers. With this new fully automatic wire processing machine, Rittal Automation Systems has developed a significantly more compact alternative to the larger Wire Terminal WT C. Both machines share the same efficient technology and capabilities and deliver the same level of process reliability and quality. With the new WT L Wire Terminal, users can reap the benefits of fully automated processing but with a much a smaller capital outlay. In fact, the new machine speeds up wire processing by up to 11 times. A significant reduction in the time taken to process wires results in significantly shorter lead times, lower costs and a marked reduction in the workload for specialist or skilled labour. The payback period is 2.5 years if annual production amounts to 150 enclosures, each containing 500 wires.

“The need for process automation, optimisation and streamlining is irrespective of and unrelated to a company’s size, as is the shortage of skilled workers. At Rittal Automation Systems, we see it as part of our commitment to also give small and medium-sized companies the opportunity to prepare for the high level of digital automation that will characterise and form such an important part of future panel building,” says Thorsten Eberz, Head of Product Management at Rittal Automation Systems: “To this end, we maintain close contact with customers sizes through, for example, the Rittal Application Centres, which are increasing in number worldwide, and via our partner network.”

Efficiency and flexibility for small-scale manufacturing

The range of functions includes cutting to length, labelling and crimping the wires. The WT L utilises the same core technology of the already established WT C, such as the servo-driven crimping module and the high-precision wire feeding system with RFID-assisted wire feed – but in a more compact design with a footprint of just 2 m² and a wire processing system specifically tailored to the needs of smaller businesses. Focusing on a 12-strand wire feed and a single wire delivery system reduces the complexity and capital investment cost without significantly compromising the core functions and benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.

The new machine is available in two product versions and covers the wire cross-sections typically used in enclosure manufacturing: The WT L5 Wire Terminal processes wire cross-sections of 0.5 – 2.5 mm² and feeds the ferrules with plastic collars from five feeder pots, whilst the WT L10 Wire Termina is designed for cross-sections of 0.5 – 6 mm² and has ten feeder pots. In both cases, the wire is fed into a 5-track wire guide system, a wire chain bundler – or directly into the wire conveyor unit of the new wire handling system, which uses compressed air to transport pre-assembled wires just-in-time and just-in-sequence from the wire terminal to up to four workstations, thereby further increasing the effect of the system.

Seamless data integration for panel building of the future

Like its larger counterpart, the new WT L Wire terminal imports from Eplan all the wiring data for specific enclosure projects. Fully automated wire processing – from cutting to length, labelling and crimping – therefore makes consistent use of the digital twin, which is created using high-quality data right from the engineering stage in Eplan. When used in conjunction with software solutions such as Eplan Smart Production or the RiPanel Processing Center production management tool, as well as the Wire Handling System, it is possible to create a highly digitised and automated engineering and manufacturing process.