From project to success – Inside the work of electrical engineers at Sii Poland 

Precise electrical documentation is a key element in the world of advanced automation. Thanks to this precision and expertise, Sii Poland engineers ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of the systems that power modern production. Find out what the daily work of the electrical design department at Sii looks like, what tools they use, and why their role is crucial at every stage of a project.  

 The electrical design department at Sii Poland consists of 20 Electrical Design Engineers located in various cities across Poland, including Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław, and Kraków. The Team works on projects for various industries, such as: 

• Automotive (assembly lines for electric motors and automatic transmissions, including transport systems and robotic stations, paint installations, welding stations), 
• Intralogistics (pallet and box conveyors for internal transport, high-bay warehouses, waste sorting), 
• Railway (designing electrical installations and wiring), 
• Food industry (installation projects, control cabinets, and electrical documentation for devices). 

The team includes individuals with varying levels of experience: juniors, regulars, and seniors. This diversity of competencies allows Sii to effectively respond to a wide range of inquiries – from simple operational tasks to strategic projects requiring advanced planning, specialized knowledge, and collaboration with the assembly department. Additionally, all engineers’ competencies are confirmed by relevant certificates and attestations. Sii Poland regularly invests in the development of employees, because it believes that a competent team is the foundation of a company’s strength and credibility. 

Sii Engineering Team has already delivered over 100 different projects to clients from Poland and abroad. We are open to cooperation with everyone and strive to ensure that the only barrier between us and the client is the computer screen. Engineers at Sii Poland can work in various modes: on-site, hybrid, or remotely, which allows them to flexibly execute projects regardless of the client’s location or team structure. 

What does Sii Poland’s team work look like? 

The types of projects and forms of cooperation with clients can be divided into two groups: 

• Long-term cooperation 
• FIX / TurnKey projects 

In long-term cooperation, Sii’s engineers work directly with the client’s team, indistinguishably from the client’s permanent employees. They may be part of the client’s team, involved in various tasks or assigned to a specific project. 

In FIX/TurnKey projects, the process looks slightly different. From the very beginning, a dedicated engineer is assigned to analyze the client’s documentation to fully understand the project scope and provide technical support to the person preparing the offer. The engineer estimates the time required to complete the project and, if included in the scope, prepares a bill of materials for components such as control cabinets. 

Once the design phase begins, the same engineer continues to be responsible for the project — from technical arrangements to drawing schematics and preparing calculations. If the project involves other departments, such as mechanical or PLC, our designers consult with other engineers to better understand the aspects that influence the electrical design. 

At the end of each project, a thorough and reliable review is conducted. During this phase, the team also shares internal insights and observations that may be useful in future projects. After successfully passing the final stages, the project is sent to the client for approval. 

What tools do the Sii engineers use? 

The software tools that the Sii Team uses can be divided into three groups. 

Group 1: 

• EPLAN Electric P8 i EPLAN Fluid 
• ZUKEN E3.series​ 
• SEE Electrical​ 
• WSCAD Electrical​ 

These are the most common tools for designing electrical schematics for installations, machines, and control cabinets. Our engineers have hands-on experience and certified training in each of these environments, making us a valuable support for our clients. We offer flexibility and a deep understanding of complex project requirements. 

EPLAN Fluid is also used to design pneumatic installations for automated stations, valve islands, and sensors mounted on pneumatic actuators. 

Group 2: 

• SISTEMA​ 
• RiTherm 
• Other tools 

SISTEMA software is used to assess and verify the safety requirements of machine control systems, which is extremely important for the safety of end users. RiTherm, on the other hand, evaluates the thermal safety of control cabinets. The team of Sii engineers also frequently works with software from other manufacturers, such as Phoenix Contact or Weidmüller, supporting our assembly teams on-site by preparing cable labels exported from EPLAN for printing. 

Group 3: 

In the last group, there is only one software tool, AutoCAD 3D, used by Sii’s engineers to design structures and cable tray routes in industrial installations. Sii Specialists, in close cooperation with assembly leaders, design tray paths directly on 3D models provided by the client. This approach allows them to account for technical constraints of the facility, potential collisions, and optimal material usage already at the design stage. It helps reduce errors during execution, shorten project delivery time, and minimize the cost of potential corrections. The client receives a visualization that facilitates concept approval and improves communication between all parties involved in the project. 

Experience in operating multiple systems and equipment 

Engineers at Sii Poland have experience in designing installations and control systems using equipment from a wide range of manufacturers, including: 

• Drives: SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems, Siemens, Bosch Rexroth, Lenze 
• Robots: ABB, KUKA, FANUC 
• Control cabinets: Rittal 
• Control cabinet components: Siemens, Weidmüller, Phoenix Contact, ABB, Omron, Schneider Electric, Allen-Bradley 
• Programmable controllers and I/O modules: Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric, Beckhoff, Murrelektronik, Bihl+Wiedemann 
• Cables: Lapp, Helukabel, IGUS, Molex 
• Sensors: SICK, Pepperl+Fuchs, IFM Electronic, Balluff, Turck, Keyence, Leuze 
• Pneumatics: SMC, Festo, Metal Work 

Sii’s engineers are also familiar with and have worked with many other suppliers of advanced automation solutions — both global leaders and specialized niche manufacturers. In their work, they have designed and implemented systems based on components from various brands, tailoring them to the specific needs of each application — from PLCs and vision systems, through servo drives and inverters, to complex safety systems, industrial communication networks, sensors, and solutions dedicated to harsh environmental conditions. This enables them to flexibly select technologies and integrate components from different manufacturers into cohesive and reliable control systems. 

Design standards at Sii 

To ensure the highest quality of the projects, Sii have implemented internal design standards that apply at every stage of our work. A key element of the process is the control procedure — a final verification of the completeness and correctness of the documentation before it is passed on to production, assembly, or the client. This function in the EPLAN software allows checking all elements of the schematic, structures, functions, etc., and alerts about any inconsistencies or errors. This helps the team minimize the risk of mistakes, ambiguities, and escalations. 

Equally important is self-checking using a checklist, which each engineer performs before handing the project to the next stage. Every project is verified based on a general universal checklist prepared by engineers, or — if required by the scale, repeatability, or complexity — a checklist tailored to that project. According to such a checklist, the team member must review the project and its documentation again and ensure, for example, that all devices and sensors are included in the schematic and that necessary calculations have been performed. This simple yet effective step helps catch the most critical oversights and increases accountability for one’s work. 

The next verification level is the so-called crosscheck — an independent documentation review by another team member. This mutual control improves quality and facilitates the sharing of best practices and knowledge, helping to standardize the design approach across the entire team. 

In addition to standardizing our work in terms of quality, we also pay attention to other aspects — including purchasing documentation. We use a standardized Excel template to create Bills of Materials (BOMs) directly linked to the ordering process. No matter which engineer or project the list comes from, the person responsible for procurement always receives the same format. This ensures smooth cooperation with the purchasing department and makes the material collection process faster, more consistent, and less prone to errors. 

A Team that learns and shares knowledge 

Sii strongly believes that employee development is an investment that directly translates into project quality. That’s why their engineers regularly participate in industry training, both internal and external, such as courses offered by iAutomatyka, EMT-Systems, or directly by software manufacturers. 

To maintain workflow and information exchange within the team, they organize weekly status meetings — usually held online. During these meetings, the team discusses project progress, shares challenges, and seeks joint solutions. It’s a great opportunity to synchronize efforts, share best practices, and identify areas for improvement or further development. 

Mutual support and collaboration in daily work is just as important as theoretical knowledge. A culture of sharing experience is the foundation of project teams at Sii. Regardless of position — junior or senior, everyone can count on the support of their colleagues. This approach streamlines work, accelerates learning and fosters a positive team atmosphere. 

This collaboration doesn’t end within a single department. Electrical engineers and automation specialists work closely with mechanical design teams, PLC experts, and assembly technicians. This interdisciplinary cooperation allows Sii Poland teams to better understand the entire design process and carry out electrical design tasks more effectively, incorporating insights, advice, and best practices within a single project. 

What makes Sii Poland stand out  

Sii Engineering Team can take on even the most demanding projects. Thanks to their experience gained across various industries — from the food sector, through automotive, to the railway industry — engineers can quickly adapt to new technical environments and meet client requirements. Every project is a new challenge, and an opportunity to apply the knowledge accumulated over the years in practice. The flexible approach and broad perspective allow the Sii experts’ team to tackle even unusual and complex design tasks. 

Sii Poland engineers have many years of experience working with EPLAN, which enables them to create clear schematics that comply with applicable standards and are tailored to the real users’ needs. However, the team doesn’t handle design alone, but ensures that all documentation is consistent and standardized. This gives the clients confidence that maintaining standards and working with documentation in the future will be quick and trouble-free. 

Moreover, Sii uses automation in EPLAN, leveraging existing macros and creating new ones, significantly speeding up the design process and shortening project delivery times. 

What further sets Sii Poland apart from the competition is the combination of design tool expertise with a practical understanding of technological processes and production realities. As a result, handled projects are formally correct and genuinely support daily operations, streamline process organization, and deliver tangible benefits to the entire company.