The New Head of Siemens’ PLM Nordics: Blazing the Trail for PLM &...
"A Combination That Provide UNBEATABLE Added Value." It will be a woman who takes over the job as top manager of Siemens' Nordic PLM division, Zandra Nilsson. This should not be remarkable in any way, but as it looks in the male-dominated PLM industry, it stands out: The number of female executive top managers is few. But don't think for a moment that Zandra Nilsson was quota-ed into the management of one of the big players in PLM, Siemens Digital Industries Software Nordics, just because she is a woman. She has been given the job because she has all the qualifications required to lead the region into the future.
After a double degree as a civil engineer and economist from Linköping University of Technology and more than a decade at IBM, she was recruited to Siemens Digital Industries Software in 2017 by the person she now succeeds, VP and Nordic head, Mats Friberg; the man who built the company to its current position as one of the market leaders in the regional PLM world, with a turnover of around SEK 2.5 billion.
When Zandra Nilsson steps onto the leadership stool on April 1, she does so after having successfully led the company's GEO Sales Team for all industries except Automotive and Aerospace & Defense. In doing so, she has laid the foundation for making the region a pioneer in the company's ongoing transformation process into a SaaS company.
This is a tough job: You not only have to be deeply tech-savvy, have exciting visions of how and where to expand, but also overcome the ever-present cold-hammered demands from top management to deliver results. Every quarter, in a continuous process where perseverance and the ability to cope with pressure are the cornerstones of professional life. That's exactly where Zandra Nilsson finds herself:
"Nobody cares what gender you are, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, it's about showing results. Competence is more important; not just sales figures for the top management of the company, but even more so technically well-functioning and affordable solutions for customers. They must be able to trust that what they get not only keeps what we promised, but perhaps even better, provides new, unexpected profits. It is of course challenging, but we have a good organization, a number of sharp employees, specialists and an incredibly rich set of PLM and automation software in the Xcelerator portfolio, which makes life as a sales manager much easier," says Nilsson.
PLM&ERP News did an in-depth interview with her as recently as the last quarter of 2024 and in today's article we summarize what was said during this because it is highly relevant to what Zandra Nilsson stands for and what she wants to do with the Nordic movement. So how does she see the future of PLM? Why is the cloud and the SaaS model a focus? And what is Siemens' role in this?
Click on the link to read the full interview with Zandra Nilsson on PLM&ERP News.
After a double degree as a civil engineer and economist from Linköping University of Technology and more than a decade at IBM, she was recruited to Siemens Digital Industries Software in 2017 by the person she now succeeds, VP and Nordic head, Mats Friberg; the man who built the company to its current position as one of the market leaders in the regional PLM world, with a turnover of around SEK 2.5 billion.
When Zandra Nilsson steps onto the leadership stool on April 1, she does so after having successfully led the company's GEO Sales Team for all industries except Automotive and Aerospace & Defense. In doing so, she has laid the foundation for making the region a pioneer in the company's ongoing transformation process into a SaaS company.
This is a tough job: You not only have to be deeply tech-savvy, have exciting visions of how and where to expand, but also overcome the ever-present cold-hammered demands from top management to deliver results. Every quarter, in a continuous process where perseverance and the ability to cope with pressure are the cornerstones of professional life. That's exactly where Zandra Nilsson finds herself:
"Nobody cares what gender you are, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, it's about showing results. Competence is more important; not just sales figures for the top management of the company, but even more so technically well-functioning and affordable solutions for customers. They must be able to trust that what they get not only keeps what we promised, but perhaps even better, provides new, unexpected profits. It is of course challenging, but we have a good organization, a number of sharp employees, specialists and an incredibly rich set of PLM and automation software in the Xcelerator portfolio, which makes life as a sales manager much easier," says Nilsson.
PLM&ERP News did an in-depth interview with her as recently as the last quarter of 2024 and in today's article we summarize what was said during this because it is highly relevant to what Zandra Nilsson stands for and what she wants to do with the Nordic movement. So how does she see the future of PLM? Why is the cloud and the SaaS model a focus? And what is Siemens' role in this?
Click on the link to read the full interview with Zandra Nilsson on PLM&ERP News.
Change in the Executive Top in SIEMENS Digital Industries Software Nordics – ZANDRA NILSSON...
At the turn of the coming quarter, there will be a change in the top management position in Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Nordic operation. After nearly 30 years in the company, of which the last 17 years at the helm, Mats Friberg will step down from his job on March 31 and retire.
Mats Friberg began his career at SDRC in 1996 and has held positions in sales and organizational management throughout his career, before being appointed Country Manager for the Nordics 17 years ago. During this time, he has played a crucial role in the major advances that have characterized the PLM industry from the time when, technically, it was mainly about CAD and PDM, to today's comprehensive industrial IT portfolios that tie together the entire product development process, from idea and basic specifications to 3D digital twins and a fully digitalized chain around product development and production, where i-nets provide the technical platform, where SaaS rules, and where AI dominate the path forward. As well as PLM solutions and software even provide the management and control of various functions with the products in the hands of end users. In Siemens' case, we are talking about the Xcelerator portfolio.
During Mats Friberg's time at the helm, the company's turnover has risen, according to PLM&ERP News calculation, from just over SEK15 million (around $1.5 million) in 1997 to today's SEK 2.5 billion ($250 million) turnover. This growth says something about the industrial importance that today lies within PLM and connected automation pieces.
In a comment, Siemens Edwin Severijn, Senior VP and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, said:
“Mats Friberg has delivered continuous growth in the Nordics and will remain in the Nordics until the end of fiscal year 2025 to support onboarding and a controlled transition to his successor.”
Friberg will be succeeded in the position by Zandra Nilsson from April 1. She joined Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Nordics business in November 2017 from IBM. Nilsson has successfully led the company’s GEO Sales Team (all industries except Automotive and Aerospace & Defense) and laid the foundation for making the region a forerunner in the company’s ongoing transformation process into a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company. PLM&ERP News conducted an in-depth interview with her as recently as October six months ago. We will publish relevant parts of this article in a separate article.A longer interview with Mats Friberg, where he summarizes the experiences from his time as executive Nordic chief for the PLM division and how he sees the future development, will be published shortly.
This news was first published on PLM&ERP News.
Mats Friberg began his career at SDRC in 1996 and has held positions in sales and organizational management throughout his career, before being appointed Country Manager for the Nordics 17 years ago. During this time, he has played a crucial role in the major advances that have characterized the PLM industry from the time when, technically, it was mainly about CAD and PDM, to today's comprehensive industrial IT portfolios that tie together the entire product development process, from idea and basic specifications to 3D digital twins and a fully digitalized chain around product development and production, where i-nets provide the technical platform, where SaaS rules, and where AI dominate the path forward. As well as PLM solutions and software even provide the management and control of various functions with the products in the hands of end users. In Siemens' case, we are talking about the Xcelerator portfolio.
During Mats Friberg's time at the helm, the company's turnover has risen, according to PLM&ERP News calculation, from just over SEK15 million (around $1.5 million) in 1997 to today's SEK 2.5 billion ($250 million) turnover. This growth says something about the industrial importance that today lies within PLM and connected automation pieces.
In a comment, Siemens Edwin Severijn, Senior VP and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, said:
“Mats Friberg has delivered continuous growth in the Nordics and will remain in the Nordics until the end of fiscal year 2025 to support onboarding and a controlled transition to his successor.”
Friberg will be succeeded in the position by Zandra Nilsson from April 1. She joined Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Nordics business in November 2017 from IBM. Nilsson has successfully led the company’s GEO Sales Team (all industries except Automotive and Aerospace & Defense) and laid the foundation for making the region a forerunner in the company’s ongoing transformation process into a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company. PLM&ERP News conducted an in-depth interview with her as recently as October six months ago. We will publish relevant parts of this article in a separate article.
This news was first published on PLM&ERP News.
Byte på topposten i Siemens nordiska PLM-division när Mats Friberg går i pension
ERSÄTTS som Nordenbas av ZANDRA NILSSON. Vid det kommande kvartalsskiftet blir det ett byte på topposten i Nordenstyret för Siemens Digital Industries Software. Efter nära 30 år i bolaget, varav de senaste 17 åren som högste chef för Norden-rörelsen kliver Mats Friberg från den 31 mars av jobbet som bolagets Norden-chef och går i pension.
Mats Friberg började sin karriär på SDRC 1996 och har under hela sin karriär haft befattningar inom försäljning och organisationsstyrning, innan han utsågs till landschef för Nordics för 17 år sedan. Under denna tid har han spelat en avgörande roll i de stora framsteg som präglat PLM-branschen från den tid då det tekniskt sett i huvudsak mest handlade om CAD och PDM, till dagens omfattande industriella IT-portföljer som knyter ihop hela produktframtagnings-processen, från idé och grundspecifikationer till en totadigitaliserad kedja kring produktutveckling och produktion, där nätet och idag också AI täcks in. Liksom till och med hantering och styrning av olika funktioner med produkterna i slutanvändarnas händer. I Siemens fall talar vi om Xcelerator-portföljen.
Under Mats Fribergs tid vid rodret har omsättningen inom bolaget, enligt PLM&ERP News beräkningar, stigit från drygt 15 miljoner 1997 till dagens 2,5 miljarders-omsättning. Denna tillväxt säger en del om den industriella betydelsen som idag ligger inom PLM- och kopplade automationsbitar.
I en kommentar säger Siemens Edwin Severijn, senior VP och chef för Europa, Mellersta Östern och Afrika:
”Mats Friberg har levererat kontinuerlig tillväxt i Norden och kommer att vara kvar i den nordiska verksamheten fram till slutet av räkenskapsåret 2025 för att stödja onboarding och en kontrollerad övergång till sin efterträdare.”
Friberg efterträds på posten av Zandra Nilsson från den 1 april. Hon kom till Siemens Digital Industries Softwares Norden-rörelse i november 2017 från IBM. Nilsson har framgångsrikt lett bolagets GEO Sales Team (alla branscher utom Automotive och Aerospace & Defence) och lagt grunden till att göra regionen till en föregångare i bolagets pågående omvandlingsprocess till ett SaaS-företag (Software-as-a-Service). PLM&ERP News gjorde en djupintervju med henne så sent som i oktober för ett halvår sedan. Vi publicerar i en separat artikel relevanta delar av denna artikel här intill.
En längre intervju med Mats Friberg, där han summerar erfarenheterna från sin tid som exekutiv Norden-bas för PLM-divisionen och hur han ser på den framtida utvecklingen, kommer att publiceras inom kort.
Denna nyhet först publicerad på PLM&ERP News.
Mats Friberg började sin karriär på SDRC 1996 och har under hela sin karriär haft befattningar inom försäljning och organisationsstyrning, innan han utsågs till landschef för Nordics för 17 år sedan. Under denna tid har han spelat en avgörande roll i de stora framsteg som präglat PLM-branschen från den tid då det tekniskt sett i huvudsak mest handlade om CAD och PDM, till dagens omfattande industriella IT-portföljer som knyter ihop hela produktframtagnings-processen, från idé och grundspecifikationer till en totadigitaliserad kedja kring produktutveckling och produktion, där nätet och idag också AI täcks in. Liksom till och med hantering och styrning av olika funktioner med produkterna i slutanvändarnas händer. I Siemens fall talar vi om Xcelerator-portföljen.
Under Mats Fribergs tid vid rodret har omsättningen inom bolaget, enligt PLM&ERP News beräkningar, stigit från drygt 15 miljoner 1997 till dagens 2,5 miljarders-omsättning. Denna tillväxt säger en del om den industriella betydelsen som idag ligger inom PLM- och kopplade automationsbitar.
I en kommentar säger Siemens Edwin Severijn, senior VP och chef för Europa, Mellersta Östern och Afrika:
”Mats Friberg har levererat kontinuerlig tillväxt i Norden och kommer att vara kvar i den nordiska verksamheten fram till slutet av räkenskapsåret 2025 för att stödja onboarding och en kontrollerad övergång till sin efterträdare.”
Friberg efterträds på posten av Zandra Nilsson från den 1 april. Hon kom till Siemens Digital Industries Softwares Norden-rörelse i november 2017 från IBM. Nilsson har framgångsrikt lett bolagets GEO Sales Team (alla branscher utom Automotive och Aerospace & Defence) och lagt grunden till att göra regionen till en föregångare i bolagets pågående omvandlingsprocess till ett SaaS-företag (Software-as-a-Service). PLM&ERP News gjorde en djupintervju med henne så sent som i oktober för ett halvår sedan. Vi publicerar i en separat artikel relevanta delar av denna artikel här intill.
En längre intervju med Mats Friberg, där han summerar erfarenheterna från sin tid som exekutiv Norden-bas för PLM-divisionen och hur han ser på den framtida utvecklingen, kommer att publiceras inom kort.
Denna nyhet först publicerad på PLM&ERP News.
Why Siemens’ MES Solution Opcenter Tops Analyst IDC’s Ranking for 2024-2025
"INNOVATIONS such as CLOUD COMPUTING, EDGE ANALYTICS, IIOT and AI are today leaving MAJOR TRACES in the development of MES." IDC's annual evaluation of the players in the MES area (Manufacturing Execution Systems) is always an interesting read when it comes to industrial production technology. When the analyst recently presented its MarketScape 2024-2025 Worldwide Manufacturing Execution System, with the most important systems on the market, Siemens tops the Leaders “wave” ahead of Critical Manufacturing and AVEVA. While Rockwell, Dassault Systemes, Infor and SAP, among others, fall a bit behind, even though they are still positioned within the leadership area.
That Siemens Digital Industries Software's Opcenter platform ends up as a clear leader is not surprising. Certainly, many players feel called, but few are selected for the absolute MES top in IDC's evaluation. An outstanding Siemens strength is about the combination of capabilities that spans the entire product realization field; including the product development (PLM) and manufacturing automation areas with the market's broadest, most functionally rich and well-integrated software set in the Xcelerator portfolio.
The seamless connection and integration with PLM and the product development side can be seen as a key. Of course, MES solutions themselves are a fundamental aspect of a successful manufacturing setup. Not least because the primary purpose of the domain is to track and document the transformation of raw materials into finished products in real time. A capable MES system should be able to capture data from various sources, such as machines, sensors and operators, to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the status of production activities. But MES is not alone in this; the increasing impact of digitalization and AI solutions in product realization is strengthening the ties to PLM and product development. This means that to effectively coordinate against changing value chains, seamless integrations with transparent, well-connected applications are needed. In short, innovations such as cloud computing, edge analytics, IIoT and AI are today leaving major traces in the development of MES.
Siemens is on this train. Today, there is a shift to cloud solutions for greater flexibility and scalability, along with an emphasis on user-friendly features such as low code/no code and plug-and-play. In addition, MES is increasingly being used to support energy management and sustainability work as companies focus on these priorities. Siemens X solutions; cloud-dedicated, SaaS-based, and with scalability and a ready-made infrastructure at the forefront are excellent reflections of this.
"With a wide range of solutions available, it is important to choose an MES that addresses the specific characteristics of production processes and industries, can be quickly deployed for immediate benefits, and is designed to remain relevant in the future," comments IDC's Lorenzo Veronesi, Associate Research Director for Manufacturing Insights.
"The recognition of Siemens as a MES leader highlights our rapid pace of innovation to provide our customers with world-class integrated technology," says Tobias Lange, senior VP at Siemens for Manufacturing Operations Management, Digital Manufacturing.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.
That Siemens Digital Industries Software's Opcenter platform ends up as a clear leader is not surprising. Certainly, many players feel called, but few are selected for the absolute MES top in IDC's evaluation. An outstanding Siemens strength is about the combination of capabilities that spans the entire product realization field; including the product development (PLM) and manufacturing automation areas with the market's broadest, most functionally rich and well-integrated software set in the Xcelerator portfolio.
The seamless connection and integration with PLM and the product development side can be seen as a key. Of course, MES solutions themselves are a fundamental aspect of a successful manufacturing setup. Not least because the primary purpose of the domain is to track and document the transformation of raw materials into finished products in real time. A capable MES system should be able to capture data from various sources, such as machines, sensors and operators, to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the status of production activities. But MES is not alone in this; the increasing impact of digitalization and AI solutions in product realization is strengthening the ties to PLM and product development. This means that to effectively coordinate against changing value chains, seamless integrations with transparent, well-connected applications are needed. In short, innovations such as cloud computing, edge analytics, IIoT and AI are today leaving major traces in the development of MES.
Siemens is on this train. Today, there is a shift to cloud solutions for greater flexibility and scalability, along with an emphasis on user-friendly features such as low code/no code and plug-and-play. In addition, MES is increasingly being used to support energy management and sustainability work as companies focus on these priorities. Siemens X solutions; cloud-dedicated, SaaS-based, and with scalability and a ready-made infrastructure at the forefront are excellent reflections of this.
"With a wide range of solutions available, it is important to choose an MES that addresses the specific characteristics of production processes and industries, can be quickly deployed for immediate benefits, and is designed to remain relevant in the future," comments IDC's Lorenzo Veronesi, Associate Research Director for Manufacturing Insights.
"The recognition of Siemens as a MES leader highlights our rapid pace of innovation to provide our customers with world-class integrated technology," says Tobias Lange, senior VP at Siemens for Manufacturing Operations Management, Digital Manufacturing.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.
Tough Challenges for HEXAGON’s New CEO, Anders Svensson – But the Group is Standing...
UNEXPECTED CHOICE OF OLA ROLLÉN, BUT HEXAGON's SO HAS SURPRISED BEFORE… Last week's most interesting news on the leadership front in digital industrial technology, automation, PLM, and EAM was undoubtedly Hexagon's recruitment of Konecranes CEO, Anders Svensson, to the role of President and CEO. Svensson, who has been leading the material handling group Konecrane for about two years, will take the helm on July 20 and replace acting CEO, Norbert Hanke. The latter had to step in as a temporary leader when Paolo Guglielmini who, in November 2024, after barely two years in the post, had to leave the job.
A general observation is that it isn’t entirely easy to find a replacement who can live up to and match Ola Rollén's exceptionally dynamic and entrepreneurial leadership. During his 20-year tenure as CEO, which ended 2022, Hexagon developed from a disparate industrial conglomerate with questionable growth prospects into a successful international technology group with revenues of approximately $5.5 billion.
Above all, the growth was built on advanced metrology equipment, sensors, software and digital industrial production technology with a portfolio consisting of both hardware and software. Through the acquisition of a large number of companies and brands, the group grew into a world player in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. Among the acquisitions are Brown & Sharpe (Metrology) and Leica Geosystems (Geomatics). In the PLM and EAM areas, the purchases of Intergraph (3D CAD, Advanced Process Engineering), MSC Software (Simulation & Analysis/CAE), Vero Software (CAM, including EdgeCAM), DP Technology (CAM, Esprit) and Infor (EAM, Enterprise Asset Management) stand out. Hexagon actually bought more than 150 companies during Rollén's years as executive manager.
The man who has now taken on the challenges that come with the leadership position at Hexagon, Anders Svensson, comes from Finnish Konecranes, where he has been President and CEO since October 2022. Before his current role, Svensson has held senior positions within Sandvik since 2008. Most recently as CEO of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions and member of Sandvik's Group Management. Incidentally, a group where Ola Rollén himself worked when he became CEO of Sandvik Stål (today Sandvik Materials Technology) in 1999.
"Anders Svensson has a strong track record of leadership experience, improved corporate culture, customer focus and delivery of strong growth and improved profitability. Under his leadership, Hexagon will be well positioned to capture the significant opportunities ahead," says Ola Rollén, now Hexagon's Chairman of the Board.
Svensson himself comments on his new job by saying that he joins the company at an exciting time:
"With market-leading positions in both sensors and software, a history of innovation and a strong industrial culture, Hexagon is uniquely positioned to capture disruptive growth opportunities in areas such as autonomy, robotics, digital twins and the application of AI," he says.
Among the challenges are targets for very aggressive growth and, not least, driving forward Hexagon's plans to spin off the Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) division.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.
A general observation is that it isn’t entirely easy to find a replacement who can live up to and match Ola Rollén's exceptionally dynamic and entrepreneurial leadership. During his 20-year tenure as CEO, which ended 2022, Hexagon developed from a disparate industrial conglomerate with questionable growth prospects into a successful international technology group with revenues of approximately $5.5 billion.
Above all, the growth was built on advanced metrology equipment, sensors, software and digital industrial production technology with a portfolio consisting of both hardware and software. Through the acquisition of a large number of companies and brands, the group grew into a world player in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. Among the acquisitions are Brown & Sharpe (Metrology) and Leica Geosystems (Geomatics). In the PLM and EAM areas, the purchases of Intergraph (3D CAD, Advanced Process Engineering), MSC Software (Simulation & Analysis/CAE), Vero Software (CAM, including EdgeCAM), DP Technology (CAM, Esprit) and Infor (EAM, Enterprise Asset Management) stand out. Hexagon actually bought more than 150 companies during Rollén's years as executive manager.
The man who has now taken on the challenges that come with the leadership position at Hexagon, Anders Svensson, comes from Finnish Konecranes, where he has been President and CEO since October 2022. Before his current role, Svensson has held senior positions within Sandvik since 2008. Most recently as CEO of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions and member of Sandvik's Group Management. Incidentally, a group where Ola Rollén himself worked when he became CEO of Sandvik Stål (today Sandvik Materials Technology) in 1999.
"Anders Svensson has a strong track record of leadership experience, improved corporate culture, customer focus and delivery of strong growth and improved profitability. Under his leadership, Hexagon will be well positioned to capture the significant opportunities ahead," says Ola Rollén, now Hexagon's Chairman of the Board.
Svensson himself comments on his new job by saying that he joins the company at an exciting time:
"With market-leading positions in both sensors and software, a history of innovation and a strong industrial culture, Hexagon is uniquely positioned to capture disruptive growth opportunities in areas such as autonomy, robotics, digital twins and the application of AI," he says.
Among the challenges are targets for very aggressive growth and, not least, driving forward Hexagon's plans to spin off the Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) division.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.
Tuffa utmaningar för HEXAGONs nye CEO, Anders Svensson: ”Aggressiv tillväxt och ökade vinster inom...
OVÄNTAT VAL AV OLA ROLLÉN, MEN HEXAGONS SO HAR ÖVERRASKAT FÖRR. Förra veckans mest intressanta nyhet på ledarfronten inom digital industriteknik, PLM, EAM och automation var tveklöst Hexagons värvning av Konecranes koncernchef, Anders Svensson, till rollen som ny President och CEO för bolaget. Svensson, som suttit runt två på chefsstolen på Konecranes, tillträder jobbet den 20 juli och ersätter då tillförordnade chefen, Norbert Hanke, som i sin tur fick hoppa in som ersättare för på jobbet för Paolo Guglielmini som i november 2024, efter knappt två år på posten, fick gå på dagen.
Indikationen är att det inte tycks ha varit helt lätt att hitta en ersättare som kan leva upp till och matcha Ola Rolléns synnerligen dynamiska och entreprenöriella ledarskap. Under hans 20-åriga chefstid utvecklades Hexagon från ett disparat industrikonglomerat med tveksamma tillväxtutsikter till en framgångsrik internationell teknologikoncern med intäkter på ca 5,5 miljarder dollar, med dagens kurs motsvarande drygt tio gånger så mycket i kronor.
Framför allt byggde tillväxten på avancerad mätutrustning, sensorer och digital industriell produktionsteknik med en portfölj bestående av både hård- och mjukvaror. Genom uppköp av ett stort antal företag och varumärken växte bolaget till en världsspelare inom digital industriproduktion. Bland förvärven märks bl a Brown & Sharpe (Metrologi) och Leica Geosystems (Geomatik). På PLM- och EAM-områdena står köpen av Intergraph (3D CAD, Advanced Process Engineering), MSC Software (Simulering & Analys/CAE), Vero Software (CAM, bl a EdgeCAM), DP Technology (CAM, Esprit) och Infor (EAM, Enterprise Asset Management) ut. Hexagon köpte faktiskt fler än 150 bolag under Rolléns 20-åriga exekutiva chefssejour.
Mannen som nu antagit utmaningarna som följer med ledartaburetten på Hexagon, Anders Svensson, kommer alltså från finska Konecranes, en global ledare inom materialhanteringslösningar, där han har varit VD och koncernchef sedan oktober 2022. Före sin nuvarande roll har Svensson haft ledande befattningar inom Sandvik sedan 2008. Senast som. CEO för Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions och medlem av Sandviks koncernledning. För övrigt en koncern där Ola Rollén själv jobbat då han1999 blev han CEO på Sandvik Stål (numera Sandvik Materials Technology).
"Anders Svensson har en stark meritlista när det gäller ledarskapserfarenhet, förbättrad företagskultur, kundcentrering och leverans av stark tillväxt och förbättrad lönsamhet. Under hans ledning kommer Hexagon att ha goda förutsättningar att fånga de stora möjligheter som ligger framför oss,” säger Ola Rollén, numera Hexagons styrelseordförande.
Svensson själv säger i en kommentar att han kommer till bolaget i en spännande tid:
”Med marknadsledande positioner inom både sensorer och mjukvara, historia av innovation och stark industrikultur är Hexagon unikt placerat för att fånga disruptiva tillväxtmöjligheter inom sånt som autonomi, robotlösningar, digitala tvillingar och tillämpningen av AI,” säger han.
Bland utmaningarna finns målsättningar om en mycket aggressiv tillväxt och inte minst att driva vidare Hexagons planer på att knoppa av Asset Lifecycle Intelligence-divisionen (ALI).
Klicka på rubriken för att läsa mer på PLM&ERP News.
Indikationen är att det inte tycks ha varit helt lätt att hitta en ersättare som kan leva upp till och matcha Ola Rolléns synnerligen dynamiska och entreprenöriella ledarskap. Under hans 20-åriga chefstid utvecklades Hexagon från ett disparat industrikonglomerat med tveksamma tillväxtutsikter till en framgångsrik internationell teknologikoncern med intäkter på ca 5,5 miljarder dollar, med dagens kurs motsvarande drygt tio gånger så mycket i kronor.
Framför allt byggde tillväxten på avancerad mätutrustning, sensorer och digital industriell produktionsteknik med en portfölj bestående av både hård- och mjukvaror. Genom uppköp av ett stort antal företag och varumärken växte bolaget till en världsspelare inom digital industriproduktion. Bland förvärven märks bl a Brown & Sharpe (Metrologi) och Leica Geosystems (Geomatik). På PLM- och EAM-områdena står köpen av Intergraph (3D CAD, Advanced Process Engineering), MSC Software (Simulering & Analys/CAE), Vero Software (CAM, bl a EdgeCAM), DP Technology (CAM, Esprit) och Infor (EAM, Enterprise Asset Management) ut. Hexagon köpte faktiskt fler än 150 bolag under Rolléns 20-åriga exekutiva chefssejour.
Mannen som nu antagit utmaningarna som följer med ledartaburetten på Hexagon, Anders Svensson, kommer alltså från finska Konecranes, en global ledare inom materialhanteringslösningar, där han har varit VD och koncernchef sedan oktober 2022. Före sin nuvarande roll har Svensson haft ledande befattningar inom Sandvik sedan 2008. Senast som. CEO för Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions och medlem av Sandviks koncernledning. För övrigt en koncern där Ola Rollén själv jobbat då han1999 blev han CEO på Sandvik Stål (numera Sandvik Materials Technology).
"Anders Svensson har en stark meritlista när det gäller ledarskapserfarenhet, förbättrad företagskultur, kundcentrering och leverans av stark tillväxt och förbättrad lönsamhet. Under hans ledning kommer Hexagon att ha goda förutsättningar att fånga de stora möjligheter som ligger framför oss,” säger Ola Rollén, numera Hexagons styrelseordförande.
Svensson själv säger i en kommentar att han kommer till bolaget i en spännande tid:
”Med marknadsledande positioner inom både sensorer och mjukvara, historia av innovation och stark industrikultur är Hexagon unikt placerat för att fånga disruptiva tillväxtmöjligheter inom sånt som autonomi, robotlösningar, digitala tvillingar och tillämpningen av AI,” säger han.
Bland utmaningarna finns målsättningar om en mycket aggressiv tillväxt och inte minst att driva vidare Hexagons planer på att knoppa av Asset Lifecycle Intelligence-divisionen (ALI).
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X-mas & New Year’s Greetings From PLM&ERP News Team
To all the great people in the PLM, Automation and ERP Businesses – few can do so much to PROVIDE a BETTER WORLD than you. Technology and innovation mean a lot for human progress and all efforts and contributions are important. Thanks a lot for 2024 and let’s join forces for new exiting advancements during 2025.
All the best from Verdi Ogewell and PLM&ERP News' Editorial Team!
All the best from Verdi Ogewell and PLM&ERP News' Editorial Team!
CAM: Hexagon’s AI-powered Automation Slashes Machine Tool Programming Time by 75%
"Although many machines are automated, programming them is still time-consuming and laborious." AI development is taking an increasingly firm grip on all companies and organizations that develop IT support for product development and realization. The CAM area is no exception. In one of yesterday's articles, PLM&ERP News reported on Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division's new AI assistant, HxGN Alix. But there is more of interest happening within the framework of the company's AI bet.
Last week, Chuck Mathews, GM of Manufacturing Software at Hexagon, revealed that it is releasing an automated programming tool for the CAM side, called ProPlanAI. This is said to reduce the time it takes to program machine tools by a remarkable 75 percent. The solution is operated within the framework of Hexagon's Microsoft Azure services built into the company's cloud-based Nexus connectivity and collaboration platform for discrete manufacturers.
ProPlanAI was presented at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago recently. The two industrial IT players have a strategic partnership to redefine manufacturing with cloud technology, announced in April 2024. Hexagon's AI application applies Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB and Azure Databricks to help manufacturing companies apply their institutional knowledge, ensuring machines can be quickly and efficiently programmed to their quality standards whilst freeing up expert staff. This by applying AI to automate time-consuming process planning.
What makes ProPlanAI particularly interesting is how it can leverage human capital to achieve increased machine utilization. In addition to streamlining part programming, the technology can potentially help companies identify latent standard practice methodology, provide notification of deviations from company programming standards, and better utilize product manufacturing information (PMI) embedded in design files to achieve even more automated CNC programing.
Chuck Mathews claims that the new AI technology is the next step in the evolution of CAM programming:
"In a highly competitive market, productivity on the factory floor is critical. Although many machines are now automated, programming them is often long and laborious and requires highly skilled professionals who are thinly spread. We have partnered with Microsoft to leverage their powerful AI capabilities through Nexus, so manufacturers can increase productivity by allowing their programmers to focus on complex tasks where their knowledge has the greatest impact.”
ProPlanAI will be available to customers using Hexagon's ESPRIT EDGE CAM software from the first quarter of 2025. Customers can add the use of ProPlanAI to their package via an add-on subscription.
Click on the headline to read more on PLM&ERP News.
Last week, Chuck Mathews, GM of Manufacturing Software at Hexagon, revealed that it is releasing an automated programming tool for the CAM side, called ProPlanAI. This is said to reduce the time it takes to program machine tools by a remarkable 75 percent. The solution is operated within the framework of Hexagon's Microsoft Azure services built into the company's cloud-based Nexus connectivity and collaboration platform for discrete manufacturers.
ProPlanAI was presented at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago recently. The two industrial IT players have a strategic partnership to redefine manufacturing with cloud technology, announced in April 2024. Hexagon's AI application applies Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB and Azure Databricks to help manufacturing companies apply their institutional knowledge, ensuring machines can be quickly and efficiently programmed to their quality standards whilst freeing up expert staff. This by applying AI to automate time-consuming process planning.
What makes ProPlanAI particularly interesting is how it can leverage human capital to achieve increased machine utilization. In addition to streamlining part programming, the technology can potentially help companies identify latent standard practice methodology, provide notification of deviations from company programming standards, and better utilize product manufacturing information (PMI) embedded in design files to achieve even more automated CNC programing.
Chuck Mathews claims that the new AI technology is the next step in the evolution of CAM programming:
"In a highly competitive market, productivity on the factory floor is critical. Although many machines are now automated, programming them is often long and laborious and requires highly skilled professionals who are thinly spread. We have partnered with Microsoft to leverage their powerful AI capabilities through Nexus, so manufacturers can increase productivity by allowing their programmers to focus on complex tasks where their knowledge has the greatest impact.”
ProPlanAI will be available to customers using Hexagon's ESPRIT EDGE CAM software from the first quarter of 2025. Customers can add the use of ProPlanAI to their package via an add-on subscription.
Click on the headline to read more on PLM&ERP News.
Artificiell Intelligens inom CAM: Hexagons nya AI-drivna lösning kan minska programmeringstid med upp till...
”Även om många maskiner är automatiserade, är programmeringen av dem ännu ofta tidskrävande och mödosam.” AI-utvecklingen tar ett allt fastare grepp om alla företag och organisationer som utvecklar IT-stöd för produktframtagning. CAM-sidan är inget undantag. I en av gårdagens artiklar rapporterade PLM&ERP News om Hexagons Manufacturing Intelligence-divisions nya AI-assistent, HxGN Alix. Men det händer mer av intresse inom ramen för bolagets AI-satsning.
Nyligen avslöjade Chuck Mathews, GM för produktionsprogramvara i Hexagon, att man släpper ett automatiserat programmeringsverktyg för CAM-sidan, kallat ProPlanAI. Detta uppges kunna minska tiden det tar att programmera bearbetningsmaskiner med anmärkningsvärda 75 procent. Lösningen drivs inom ramen för Hexagons Microsoft Azure-tjänster inbyggda i bolagets molnbaserade Nexus-kopplings- och samarbetsplattform för diskreta tillverkare.
ProPlanAI presenterades vid Microsoft Ignite-konferensen i Chicago nyligen och kopplingarna till Microsoft är att Hexagons AI-applikation tillämpar Microsofts Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB och Azure Databricks för att hjälpa tillverkningsföretag i alla storlekar att tillämpa sin upparbetade kunskap snabbare, enklare och mer grundligt. Detta genom att tillämpa AI för att automatisera tidskrävande processplanering.
Det som gör ProPlanAI särskilt intressant är hur man kan utnyttja sitt humankapital för att uppnå ökat maskinutnyttjande. Utöver att effektivisera delprogrammering kan tekniken potentiellt hjälpa företag att identifiera latent standardpraxis-metodik, ge meddelanden om avvikelser från företagets programmeringsstandarder och bättre utnyttja tillverknings-information (PMI, Product manufacturing information) som är inbäddad i designfiler för att uppnå ännu mer automatiserad CNC-programmering.
Chuck Mathews hävdar att den nya AI-teknologin är nästa steg i utvecklingen av CAM-programmering:
"På en mycket konkurrensutsatt marknad är produktivitet på fabriksgolvet avgörande. Även om många maskiner nu är automatiserade, är programmeringen av dem ofta lång och mödosam och kräver högutbildade yrkesmän som är tunna spridda. Vi har samarbetat med Microsoft för att utnyttja deras kraftfulla AI-kapacitet genom Nexus, så att tillverkare kan öka produktiviteten genom att låta sina programmerare fokusera på komplicerade uppgifter där deras kunskap har störst effekt.”
ProPlanAI kommer att vara tillgänglig för kunder som använder Hexagons ESPRIT EDGE CAM-mjukvara från första kvartalet 2025. Kunder kan lägga till användningen av ProPlanAI till sitt paket via en tilläggsprenumeration.
Klicka på rubriken för att läsa mer på PLM&ERP News.
Nyligen avslöjade Chuck Mathews, GM för produktionsprogramvara i Hexagon, att man släpper ett automatiserat programmeringsverktyg för CAM-sidan, kallat ProPlanAI. Detta uppges kunna minska tiden det tar att programmera bearbetningsmaskiner med anmärkningsvärda 75 procent. Lösningen drivs inom ramen för Hexagons Microsoft Azure-tjänster inbyggda i bolagets molnbaserade Nexus-kopplings- och samarbetsplattform för diskreta tillverkare.
ProPlanAI presenterades vid Microsoft Ignite-konferensen i Chicago nyligen och kopplingarna till Microsoft är att Hexagons AI-applikation tillämpar Microsofts Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB och Azure Databricks för att hjälpa tillverkningsföretag i alla storlekar att tillämpa sin upparbetade kunskap snabbare, enklare och mer grundligt. Detta genom att tillämpa AI för att automatisera tidskrävande processplanering.
Det som gör ProPlanAI särskilt intressant är hur man kan utnyttja sitt humankapital för att uppnå ökat maskinutnyttjande. Utöver att effektivisera delprogrammering kan tekniken potentiellt hjälpa företag att identifiera latent standardpraxis-metodik, ge meddelanden om avvikelser från företagets programmeringsstandarder och bättre utnyttja tillverknings-information (PMI, Product manufacturing information) som är inbäddad i designfiler för att uppnå ännu mer automatiserad CNC-programmering.
Chuck Mathews hävdar att den nya AI-teknologin är nästa steg i utvecklingen av CAM-programmering:
"På en mycket konkurrensutsatt marknad är produktivitet på fabriksgolvet avgörande. Även om många maskiner nu är automatiserade, är programmeringen av dem ofta lång och mödosam och kräver högutbildade yrkesmän som är tunna spridda. Vi har samarbetat med Microsoft för att utnyttja deras kraftfulla AI-kapacitet genom Nexus, så att tillverkare kan öka produktiviteten genom att låta sina programmerare fokusera på komplicerade uppgifter där deras kunskap har störst effekt.”
ProPlanAI kommer att vara tillgänglig för kunder som använder Hexagons ESPRIT EDGE CAM-mjukvara från första kvartalet 2025. Kunder kan lägga till användningen av ProPlanAI till sitt paket via en tilläggsprenumeration.
Klicka på rubriken för att läsa mer på PLM&ERP News.
”CAD’s Best-Kept Secret”: Solid Edge 2025 Has a Powerful Technological Level, But Would Benefit...
...and now the software also comes as a SaaS and CLOUD SOLUTION. Siemens Digital Industries Software's mainstream 3D CAD program, Solid Edge (SE), is not without good reason called "the industry's best kept secret". It was developed around the same time as SOLIDWORKS (SW) in the early 1990s, had the same kind of capabilities and introduced 3D CAD into mainstream desktop environments. But it did not take off in the same way as Jon Hirschtick's SW software, despite the fact that it had similar, or sharper, technical capabilities and despite that during the course of development, before the competitors, PDM was integrated into the solution and in addition formed a "PLM light- suite” by integrating excellent simulation and CAM solutions.
This does not prevent SE from continuing to develop its capabilities to match well with competitors in the mid-range segment. In some areas, the solution has also been leading, such as the ability to work both parametrically and with direct modeling. In any case, with the 2025 edition, Solid Edge can be hard-hitting with several heavy initiatives and feature news; which is garnished with a SaaS and cloud variant – like all Siemens programs on SaaS, IaaS and the cloud platform with the suffix X (Solid Edge X).
That is all good, but one problem remains: Solid Edge is priced clearly higher than competing software. One way to increase the global volumes could be to lower the price to be in better parity with, for example, SW.
That said, John Miller, senior VP for Mainstream Engineering at Siemens Digital Industries Software, believes that with the Solid Edge X version and the SaaS concept, significant steps have been taken towards deliveries that are in line with Siemens' strategic goals: "To bring our industry-leading software to customers as a SaaS service,” he says.
Miller further claims that, "Solid Edge delivers transformative technologies that bring together the innate collaboration capabilities of the cloud in combination with cutting-edge AI-based tools, enabling our customers to innovate at the accelerated pace that today's manufacturing industry demands."
Solid Edge has its bulk of users in the US. In the Nordics examples of customers are everything from global players like De Laval to SMB users like Ålö (manufactures e.g. buckets for excavators) and PIAB.
Generally, Solid Edge 2025 includes a number of improvements to increase modeling speed, etching and bend features for sheet metal design, and simplified solutions for model-based definition (MBD). It is also updated on the PDM and collaboration side, as well as it has sharpened solutions in integrated mechanical and electrical design. Moreover, both simulation and CAM has received improved capabilities.
But the most interesting move is the ambitions of the new Solid Edge X that takes the program to the cloud; a new service that provides simplified IT admin, better collaboration, secure and reliable data management and AI-powered productivity support.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.
This does not prevent SE from continuing to develop its capabilities to match well with competitors in the mid-range segment. In some areas, the solution has also been leading, such as the ability to work both parametrically and with direct modeling. In any case, with the 2025 edition, Solid Edge can be hard-hitting with several heavy initiatives and feature news; which is garnished with a SaaS and cloud variant – like all Siemens programs on SaaS, IaaS and the cloud platform with the suffix X (Solid Edge X).
That is all good, but one problem remains: Solid Edge is priced clearly higher than competing software. One way to increase the global volumes could be to lower the price to be in better parity with, for example, SW.
That said, John Miller, senior VP for Mainstream Engineering at Siemens Digital Industries Software, believes that with the Solid Edge X version and the SaaS concept, significant steps have been taken towards deliveries that are in line with Siemens' strategic goals: "To bring our industry-leading software to customers as a SaaS service,” he says.
Miller further claims that, "Solid Edge delivers transformative technologies that bring together the innate collaboration capabilities of the cloud in combination with cutting-edge AI-based tools, enabling our customers to innovate at the accelerated pace that today's manufacturing industry demands."
Solid Edge has its bulk of users in the US. In the Nordics examples of customers are everything from global players like De Laval to SMB users like Ålö (manufactures e.g. buckets for excavators) and PIAB.
Generally, Solid Edge 2025 includes a number of improvements to increase modeling speed, etching and bend features for sheet metal design, and simplified solutions for model-based definition (MBD). It is also updated on the PDM and collaboration side, as well as it has sharpened solutions in integrated mechanical and electrical design. Moreover, both simulation and CAM has received improved capabilities.
But the most interesting move is the ambitions of the new Solid Edge X that takes the program to the cloud; a new service that provides simplified IT admin, better collaboration, secure and reliable data management and AI-powered productivity support.
Click on the headline to read the full article on PLM&ERP News.