Software-defined automation moves control logic from dedicated PLCs onto industrial PCs and standard server hardware, while the physical equipment, inputs/outputs, drives, and motors, stays on the shop floor. Engineering changes too, from predefined toolchains with fixed workflows to an open system where teams connect Siemens, third-party, and OEM tools through APIs and a package management […]
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Most manufacturers face the same starting point: brownfield operations with equipment from multiple vendors and departments that work toward different objectives. The scope of what needs connecting creates enough resistance that many companies never take the first step. At Hannover Messe 2026, Thomas Roehrl of Siemens described this as the biggest mistake in platform deployment: […]
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A Gatorade bottling line at a FIFA World Cup stadium, producing on site instead of shipping from a central plant, with flavors adjusted by region and Doctor Pepper for the Texas crowd. In this IIoT World article based on a video interview recorded at Hannover Messe 2026, Ujjwal Kumar (CEO, Siemens Industrial Automation) explains how […]
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The definition of autonomy in manufacturing is shifting from a conceptual goal to a practical requirement. According to Axel Lorenz, CEO of Process Automation at Siemens AG, autonomous production allows facilities to maintain consistent output despite volatile inputs. This capability is becoming critical as manufacturers face fluctuating feedstock quality and variable energy supplies from renewable […]
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IIoT World examines why most industrial AI initiatives stall at roughly 40% of their potential, and what manufacturers who push past that wall do differently with contextual intelligence on the shop floor.Why Many Projects Stall and What Moves Them ForwardEndurance athletes talk about the “40% wall.” It is the point where the body feels spent, […]
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Shown publicly for the first time at CES, the eXplore Tour is a mobile industrial environment built to answer a question most leaders ask before approving change: “Can I see this work before it touches my operation?”IIoT World spoke with Chris Stevens, President, US Automation at Siemens Digital Industries, about what the experience is designed to […]
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CES has always been a mirror of what’s next. Not just shiny tech, but signals — early indications of how industries will actually change. And at CES 2026, Siemens isn’t just showing technology. They’re showing outcomes. That’s why the Siemens booths are high on my must-see list this year.Across three distinct experiences — Siemens Intelligence Experience […]
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In April 2020, half of the world’s population was in lockdown — yet critical infrastructure still had to run. Chemical plants, glass facilities, refineries, and energy systems couldn’t pause. Equipment still failed. Processes, drifted, and operators needed expert support. But the experts were home.This single moment, according to Tony White — who leads the U.S. […]
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At the Siemens Electronics Factory in Erlangen, Artificial Intelligence is not an experiment—it’s part of everyday production. The facility shows how industrial AI can improve how machines sense, analyze, and act, helping teams turn factory data into measurable results. From assembly to inspection, every dataset contributes to higher process quality, shorter cycles, and smarter energy use.From Connected Data […]
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The semiconductor industry is moving faster than its tools can keep up. The pace of change, the explosion of data, and the pressure to build fabs in record time are colliding — and the result is a growing gap between design intent and operational reality.Digital twins are emerging as the bridge between those two worlds. […]
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In semiconductor fabs, progress has long been measured in nanometers. But the next great leap isn’t happening on the wafer — it’s happening in how factories see, think, and respond. Artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping inspection, maintenance, and operational decision-making, marking a shift from human reaction to digital foresight.From Human Vision to Machine IntelligenceFor decades, […]
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At Hannover Messe 2025, I sat down with Mathias Oppelt, Vice President and Head of Customer-Driven Innovation at Siemens Digital Industries, to explore what manufacturers really want from digital transformation—and what’s still holding many of them back. The conversation moved well beyond buzzwords like AI and digital twins, touching on deep structural shifts, mindset changes, and the […]
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