by Gary Mintchell | May 9, 2025 | News
Purchase In-Person Tickets for ICC 2025. I plan to attend once again. As much as I like Folsom, I’m happy they will be in Sacramento this year. Reduces my expenses 😉
Join us in Sacramento, CA for a three-day event of learning and networking with colleagues and industry leaders. You’ll also get thought leadership and information that’s sure to elevate your knowledge and lift your operations to new heights. In-person tickets provide access to all sessions, networking events, and meals at ICC, as well as an ICC Livestream pass to watch session recordings on-demand.
by Gary Mintchell | May 1, 2025 | News
Acquisitions power large companies when that becomes easier than innovating on their own. Company founders find it the way to cash out. This news exemplifies large automation companies seeing software as a means of growth—and serving customers.
Last night I thought on this news and several other items I’ve received over the past year, and I arrived at a question—what do all these companies mean by digital transformation (aka DX). Perhaps I led the trend in 1978 when I took our paper-based complex bill of materials to the computer? The idea was to make it easier to trace the BOM, easier to cost the products, more helpful for procurement to assure parts arriving to the assembly line.
Well, just a thought. This news comes from Yokogawa.
Yokogawa Electric Corp. announces that it has finalized an agreement to acquire Singapore-based Web Synergies, a leading provider of IT and integrated IT and operational technology (OT) solutions. For more than a decade, the two companies have successfully collaborated in the provision of solutions and services for internal and external digital transformation (DX), with Yokogawa investing in Web Synergies in October, 2021. This acquisition will enable Yokogawa to strengthen its DX-related business for the delivery of cloud services, enterprise data management and integration services, and IT/OT security solutions to its customers. The purchase process is expected to be completed by early May 2025.
Established in 1998, Web Synergies delivers tailored business solutions, consulting, and other services that transform its clients’ businesses by driving sales, improving productivity, and enhancing operational and marketing efficiency. As experienced business software providers, their unique need-based, consultative approach helps clients build and run more innovative and sustainable businesses. From its headquarters in Singapore, Web Synergies oversees its operations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tokyo, Dubai, Houston, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Gideon Lim, CEO of Web Synergies, said, “We are proud to now be part of the Yokogawa family. Our leadership team is committed to continuing to leverage our expertise to surpass the expectations set forth by our key stakeholders. With a shared vision for success, we look forward to achieving growth by developing DX business opportunities in the manufacturing industry and the emerging sectors that Yokogawa is targeting.”
Hiroaki Kanokogi, a vice president, executive officer, and head of the Digital Strategy Headquarters at Yokogawa Electric, said, “With Web Synergies now part of the Yokogawa Group, we are poised to further accelerate our efforts to deliver a comprehensive suite of DX services to both existing and emerging markets. By integrating the IT, OT, and engineering technology expertise of both companies, we will support our customers’ DX journeys on a global scale.”
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 30, 2025 | News
These financial results from Beckhoff Automation reflect what I’ve long suspected—the market for automation and manufacturing has been weak not only in Germany but also globally. The company has announced 2024 fiscal year revenues of €1.17 billion, a sharp decline of 33% compared to the 2023 annual result of €1.75 billion.
The company’s explanation:
However, this decline in revenue had been expected due to the huge boom trend observed over previous years. Cumulative growth of over 80% was achieved in just three years, from 2021 to 2023. This exaggerated trend was followed by a significant market correction in 2024. The economic bubble that had developed burst, as predicted.
“This is my sixth crisis in 45 years of business and almost all of them have followed a very similar pattern,” explains Hans Beckhoff, owner and managing director. “You can be sure that there will be a recovery, but you have to tackle the crisis head-on and see it as an opportunity for further innovation and optimization!”
The company believes that this downward trend has already bottomed out. The Verl-based, family-run technology company will continue to focus on continuous innovation and high-tech engineering in order to lay the foundation for future growth.
The company plans to continue investments in research and development.
Numerous new product launches are planned in all areas of software and PC-based control technology. “We are intent on further expanding our position as a global automation technology company. We remain dedicated to our mission of evolving our portfolio with strong developments every year and introducing revolutionary new technology every five to seven years,” explains Hans Beckhoff. To this end, the company consistently invests €80 million a year in research and development.
Future outlook.
The uncertain global political situation also presents the company with challenges for the coming year. However, incoming orders are currently showing signs of recovery despite these conditions. “Our customers’ warehouses are slowly emptying, and we expect them to have used up their excess stocks by the first quarter of 2025, at the latest,” predicts Hans Beckhoff.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 28, 2025 | News
The second Siemens news release describes an investment in Canada to boost the electric vehicle ecosystem.
- Investment of CAD$150 million (ca. €97 million) over five years
- Center supports Canada’s strategy to advance national battery and EV ecosystem
Siemens will invest CAD$150 million (ca. €97 million) over five years to establish a Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development (R&D) Center for Battery Production in Canada. The new R&D center, located initially at Siemens Canada’s head office in Oakville, as well as in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, will focus on developing cutting-edge AI manufacturing technologies with an initial emphasis on battery and electric vehicle (EV) production. It will leverage Siemens’ expertise in AI, edge computing, machine vision, digital twins, and cybersecurity to drive innovation and efficiency in battery production, while fostering collaboration with higher education institutions and battery manufacturers.
Expected outcomes of the work to be conducted at the R&D center include higher, consistent quality in battery production, increased workforce productivity and capacity, reduction of battery scrap, and improved recycling and circularity. With the Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development Center for Battery Production, Siemens will contribute to the Canadian government’s strategy to become a global leader in battery manufacturing.
“The decision to choose Canada as home for our Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center was driven by Canada’s highly qualified talent and strong collaborations with world-leading universities,” says Rainer Brehm, CEO Factory Automation, Siemens Digital Industries. “The new R&D Center for Battery Production will position Siemens as a key player in the global battery sector, developing the critical technology advancements for the industry to meet the increasing demand for these products.”
The €97 million investment by Siemens over five years includes investments in labor, equipment, software, and ecosystem support. This initiative will further solidify Canada’s position as a leader in the green battery manufacturing sector and aligns with the Canadian government’s objectives to advance the national battery and EV ecosystem. This investment is made possible through the support of both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 28, 2025 | Business, News
I have a couple of releases from Siemens. This company seems more active than its rivals this year. This one relates to a software acquisition. This brings to mind a couple of conversations I had with a Siemens executive many years ago. I told him my observation that Siemens had a terrible track record with acquisitions. He told me they had learned and would improve. Beginning with the UGS acquisition, they have integrated acquisitions much better. This should be good for them. And PLM seems to be a hot area currently.
In short:
- Acquisition of Dotmatics, a leader in Life Sciences R&D software for $5.1 billion
- Expands Siemens’ market-leading position in industrial software by extending AI-powered Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) portfolio into Life Sciences to seamlessly connect R&D through manufacturing
- Increases Siemens’ industrial software total addressable market by $11 billion; aligns with strategic goal to accelerate customer innovation across industries
- Acquisition is another milestone of Siemens’ ONE Tech Company program expanding the Siemens Xcelerator platform into Life Sciences software with stronger customers focus, faster innovations and higher growth
Siemens AG announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire Dotmatics, a leading provider of Life Sciences R&D software based in Boston, for $5.1 billion from Insight Partners. This acquisition represents a strategic milestone for Siemens, expanding its comprehensive Digital Twin technology and AI-powered software into this rapidly growing complementary market. The US company offers a market leading platform with a highly profitable portfolio of scientific applications and multi-modal data management for Life Sciences R&D. The company’s offering accelerates customers’ innovation, delivering next generation collaboration and contextualized data to enable AI-powered multi-modal drug development.
“By acquiring Dotmatics, we’re strategically strengthening our position in Life Sciences and creating a world-leading AI-powered PLM software portfolio as part of Siemens Xcelerator. Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force across various industries, and its application in Life Sciences is becoming increasingly important”, said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG. “The Dotmatics acquisition is part of our ONE Tech Company growth program, enhancing our leading position in industrial software and helping our customers to innovate even faster.”
Life Sciences presents an attractive complementary software market opportunity and expands Siemens’ industrial software total addressable market by $11 billion. This market is driven by structural shifts, such as increased medication need driven by aging societies and improved access to medicine, new treatment options from advancing science and the necessity for increased collaboration and visibility across complex value chains. These trends underscore the need for digital transformation, with software spending expected to double over the next five years.
Siemens’ expansion within Life Sciences aligns with its strategic goal to accelerate customer innovation across the top industries with the highest R&D spend. The acquisition is part of the investment track of Siemens’ ONE Tech Company program and following last week’s closing of Altair’s acquisition, yet another milestone. This growth program enables Siemens to further expand its market position and reach the next level of performance and value creation. Through acquisitions like this, as well as R&D investments into areas including software, AI-enabled products, connected hardware and sustainability, Siemens is clearly prioritizing capital allocation to strategic growth fields. The acquisition of Dotmatics enables Siemens to scale its technologies into Life Sciences and to fully address growth opportunities in this market. It will allow Siemens to combine its comprehensive manufacturing expertise, industrial simulation and AI capabilities with Dotmatics’ leading complementary applications, creating a first-of-its-kind end-to-end digital thread that connects data from research through to production in Life Sciences.
by Gary Mintchell | Mar 31, 2025 | Networking, News, Organizations, Process Control
The first news from Hannover this morning concerns additions to EtherNet/IP device profiles. Delegates discussed continued updates for process devices at the annual meeting a couple of weeks ago.
ODVA announced that level sensors are the latest option for process device profiles to be added to The EtherNet/IP Specification. Process device profiles help users to reduce complexity and to more quickly install new devices in the event of an unplanned replacement. Standardized semantics and scaling for process variables and diagnostics that are made possible by process device profiles for EtherNet/IP significantly improve vendor interoperability and prepare process data for use with edge and cloud analytics. Device profiles are now available for level measurement along with Coriolis flow, electromagnetic flow, vortex flow, standard pressure, scaled pressure, Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) and thermocouple temperature sensors. Standardized data including process variables, diagnostics, and totals enable easier access to critical data to help optimize operations. The addition of level sensors to the suite of process device profiles further increases the value of the EtherNet/IP ecosystem.
The goal of process device profiles is to enable a device replacement experience that is as seamless as possible. Plug and play type capabilities for process field devices reduce the need for maintenance workers to be electronic device or Ethernet experts, and they make it possible to increase the efficiency of planned turnarounds while lowering the amount of unplanned downtime. The EtherNet/IP process device profile for level transmitters can be applied to devices that rely on free wave, guided wave, capacitive, magnetostrictive, radiometry, and buoyancy measuring technologies. Additionally, NAMUR NE 107 diagnostics are available for level transmitters that use free wave, guided wave, and radiometry sensor technology approaches. The introduction of level measurement process device profiles, in addition to temperature, flow and pressure, supports end users in being able to integrate EtherNet/IP capable devices in critical environments, to replace sensors regardless of vendor, and to support a harmonized data structure.
“The addition of level sensor support to the suite of EtherNet/IP process device profiles further promotes device interchangeability between vendors and supports easier integration with additional device types,” said Dr. Al Beydoun, President and Executive Director of ODVA. “New level measurement process device profiles for EtherNet/IP network-capable level sensors support NE 107 diagnostics and are aligned with the Process Automation – Device Information Model (PA-DIM). Process device profiles for EtherNet/IP reduce the commissioning and maintenance burden of adopting Ethernet-capable devices and provide a standardized information model foundation to enable usage of advanced edge and cloud analytics approaches, including AI.”
Standardized access to process variables with semantics and scaling that align with PA-DIM and critical diagnostics such as NAMUR NE 107 status signals are the foundation to the future of advanced analytics and optimization within process automation. Process device profiles for EtherNet/IP provide valuable standardization and a growing ecosystem of supported sensors to allow for quicker device installation and replacement, improved asset status, and easier integration into higher level data management systems. ODVA continues to invest in adapting EtherNet/IP to the full requirements of the process industries through support of technologies including Ethernet-APL, PA-DIM, NAMUR, FDI, and process device profiles.
Obtain the latest version of The EtherNet/IP Specification including level measurement process devices profiles for EtherNet/IP.
