One of the most valuable assets inside a control panel isn’t the PLC.
It’s not the power supply.
It’s not even the wire.
It’s the space along the DIN rail.
And that space is for sale.
Every millimeter you consume has a cost.
Yet many panel designs waste valuable DIN rail space by using components that are larger than necessary.
Consider a few examples:
⚡ Using a 17mm circuit breaker when a 13mm breaker will do the same job.
⚡ Using a 35mm relay module when a 6mm interface relay provides the required functionality.
⚡ Using oversized terminal blocks when a more compact design is within specification.
A few millimeters may not seem significant.
But multiply those millimeters across dozens or hundreds of components and the savings become substantial.
The best panel designers think beyond component cost.
They think about:
✔ Panel footprint ✔ Installation labor ✔ Wire routing ✔ Future expansion ✔ Overall system cost
A component that costs a few cents more may actually reduce the total cost of the panel by allowing a smaller enclosure and a more efficient layout.
That’s why we’re seeing more manufacturers and panel builders pay closer attention to component density and DIN rail utilization.
In today’s market, efficient use of space isn’t just good engineering. It’s good business.
Because every millimeter of DIN rail space has value.
