Creation of technical documentation and preparation of animation for Endress+Hauser

Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process engineering. They offer solutions for flow, level, pressure and temperature measurement. All equipment enables the optimization of process in terms of economic efficiency, safety and environment protection.

A lot of tasks, not much time

New solutions and products naturally increase the workload, especially with technical documentation. The challenge is to handle many documentation tasks within a short time frame. In such a situation, it is very helpful if the work can be distributed among several hands. This is where Etteplan comes into play.

Etteplan has been working for Endress+Hauser since 2019. Our main activity is preparing technical documentation, migrating it to the special system, modification of content and simplifying it where necessary. We created some animations as well to show for example steps of installation. Animations are useful for clients but they can be a sales department’s tool to show product configuration possibilities.  Since 2022 we are part of a big project which aim is to decrease the content of quick guides which are delivered to the end-customers in paper. Therefore, decrease amount of printed content. Etteplan serves Endress+Hauser with experts in technical documentation and graphics – both in Germany and Poland.

When it comes to animations, the creative process comprises 4 different phases. First was brainstorming based on materials like documentation or 3D models from Endress+Hauser. Then, Etteplan’s TCS Team prepared storyboards – visualization of the scenario by means of a presentation with key frames, collected in one document. Third step was creating an animatic. It was an animation based on the storyboard, but without special effects, micro animations, realistic textures and materials.

The role of the animatic in the entire project is limited to determining the exposure time of certain objects on the "stage" and selecting the most appropriate shots. The exclusion of visual effects during the realization of the animatic is intended to speed up the rendering of subsequent frames and the editing of individual video sequences – explains Tomasz Wagel, Senior Visual Designer in Etteplan Poland. The final version of the animation includes the visual elements that were not included in the animatic before like textures, sound or opening and end credits.

Make space for working on new projects

Creation of technical documentation and animation is a time consuming process. It needs specific knowledge and attention to details. On the other hand, materials enhance the value of products and the same way products’ competitiveness. Efficient development and implementation make space for new projects. The implementation went well. It took a while to find the right professionals for projects, but it was worth it. Hanna Makowska, always advised Endress+Hauser very well - transparent and customer-oriented.

The projects are not yet completed, but it’s already clear that the additional orders and projects could only have been carried in collaboration with Etteplan. “Etteplan frees up capacity on our side by supporting the creation of animated product features and updating technical documentation” adds Udo Keul, Task Manager at Endress+Hauser.