Introduction
Indicon LLC, a premier control systems integrator and industrial panel manufacturer, found itself constrained by a series of challenges that kept increased growth at bay. Complex compliance requirements, fragmented vendor ecosystems, and the need to deliver ever‑higher power capacities in limited floor space kept them below where they could be. Their engineering teams needed a unified platform that could simplify design, provide global consistency, and accelerate both procurement and assembly. By collaborating with Rittal, Indicon was able to change all that and transform their own customer solution capabilities.
About Indicon
Indicon LLC was founded in 1992, has grown to over 300,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, and is staffed by more than 95 controls engineers and 250 technicians. The company specializes in PC‑ and PLC‑based control systems to design and build industrial control panels for high‑demand sectors. Supporting their operations is a commitment to cutting‑edge technology, superior quality, and unwavering customer satisfaction. We spoke with Ron Thinel, Project Engineer for Indicon, to get the full details on the collaboration between Indicon and Rittal. Thinel leads power‑distribution engineering efforts to ensure each panel meets exacting performance and safety criteria, especially in automotive, aerospace, and global supply chain.
The Challenge
Thinel explained further how Indicon needed flexibility to meet customer demands, saying, “Solving our customers’ challenges involves designing and providing electrically safe, cost-effective, configurable power distribution panels to fit a multitude of different scenarios. We need to be flexible in our designs to accommodate a wide range of power requirements across different voltage types of AC and DC in a form factor that readily fits the manufacturing architecture provided.”
Indicon’s continued growth was met with six critical challenges:
First, navigating stringent regulatory compliance, including panel design criteria, circuit protection coordination, and AC/DC connectivity, became increasingly time‑consuming.
Second, their need for design flexibility to accommodate several different applications forced engineers to reconfigure panels frequently as customer requirements changed, which slowed down delivery.
Third, limited floor space demanded solutions that packed high-current capacity into smaller footprints.
Fourth, sourcing enclosures, busbars, and accessories from multiple vendors introduced part‑number proliferation, inconsistent documentation, and integration headaches.
Fifth, finding a busbar system capable of handling large feeder currents alongside multiple branch circuits in a single integrated platform proved difficult.
Sixth, Indicon’s clientele sought identical components delivered globally without redesign or delay—an expectation that existing vendor networks struggled to meet.
The Rittal Solution
Thinel was impressed with Rittal’s complete solution suite would satisfy Indicon’s complete range of requirements, saying, “After reviewing Rittal’s product line, I had become a convert and have been happy ever since.”
Rittal addressed Indicon’s pain points with a cohesive suite of modular products and services:
- Enclosures: The TS 8 and VX25 platforms provided scalable, tool‑free chassis with standardized accessory mounts and rapid field modifications.
- Busbar Systems: RiLine 60 and the high‑ampacity PLS1600 variant delivered up to 1,600 A in a compact 60 mm busbar platform.
- Busbar Cutting: Rittal’s busbar cutting services ensured precise lengths and holes with predictable lead times.
- Accessory Ecosystem: Rittal’s accessories—like mounting rails and contact-hazard protection covers—eliminated the need for multiple suppliers and guaranteed compliance.
- Documentation & Support: Catalogs, datasheets, drawings, and rapid technical responses empowered Indicon’s engineers to design and validate panels quickly.
The Implementation
Implementing Rittal’s solution followed a structured, collaborative approach. Indicon’s engineering team first evaluated TS 8, VX25, and RiLine 60 against existing products, confirming that Rittal’s modular design met all compliance criteria and footprint constraints. Engineers selected enclosure sizes, busbar configurations, and accessories that aligned with specific tool‑floor architectures.
Thinel appreciated the smooth process of working with Rittal: “Implementation was straightforward. Starting with the catalogs, datasheets, and drawings, everything was thorough and easy to find. Responses to technical inquiries were fast and accurate, and procurement was simple and timely.”
Pre‑configured kits and custom‑cut busbars arrived on predictable schedules to streamlined procurement. Throughout implementation, Rittal’s technical experts provided reliable support, ensuring any inquiries or adjustments were handled promptly.
Thinel continued, “Rittal’s complete line of components integrate well together, thus making the overall design simple, whereas multiple manufacturers would be needed to accommodate the same result.”
The Results
Rittal’s all‑in‑one solution streamlined Indicon’s supply chain, reduced part‑number complexity, and ensured each component met global regulatory standards. Indicon also achieved gains across operations, including:
- Design Efficiency: Consolidating enclosures and busbars into one modular platform cut spec‑to‑draft engineering time and allowed engineers to focus on innovation.
- Assembly Speed: Tool‑free chassis features and pre‑cut busbars reduced panel assembly time and helped Indicon respond more rapidly to customer demands.
- Footprint Optimization: The combined TS 8, VX25, and RiLine60 PLS1600 busbar systems allowed Indicon to deliver high‑capacity panels in smaller footprints than prior solutions.
- Global Compliance Assurance: Continuous contact hazard protection, global approvals (UL 508A, IEC 61439), and expanded power capacity opened up new opportunities to satisfy customer requirements worldwide.
- Supply Chain Reliability: Rittal’s predictable busbar cutting and enclosure distribution ensured on‑time deliveries, further improving Indicon’s project delivery times.
Thinel expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration throughout this partnership, saying, “Rittal regularly meets with us to ensure our needs are constantly met. This helps to ensure any delays or issues are communicated and solutions are provided…Their bus and enclosure products make it easy to scale up our offerings for our customers.”
Conclusion
By partnering with Rittal, Indicon transformed its power‑distribution workflow from a fragmented, multi‑vendor model into a cohesive, modular system that excels in performance, compliance, and global consistency. Rittal’s enclosures, busbar platforms, and busbar cutting services met every technical and logistical challenge, which helped Indicon reduce completion times, optimize floor space, and guarantee regulatory compliance. Indicon is well-prepared to expand its offerings, tackle larger projects, and deliver mission‑critical automation solutions to customers around the world, and Rittal is excited to continue partnering with them on future endeavors.
Thinel had these final comments about the quality of this ongoing collaboration: “Rittal is more than just an enclosure manufacturer; they have expanded their product line to include a wide range of power distribution products and services, as well as powerful engineering software suites. For panel shops, they can provide the necessary set of tools and machinery that maximizes efficiency and quality.”
Contact Indicon for Control Panel Expertise
If you’re looking to implement quality control panels for conveyors, tooling, operational processes, vision systems, and UL-certified fabrication, contact Indicon today.
Contact Rittal for Power Distribution Made Easy
Ready to simplify your power distribution projects? Contact Rittal today to discover how our modular enclosures and busbar systems can easily boost your efficiency, compliance, and scalability.