Editorial

PROSTEP sets the course for the future

By Bernd Pätzold

The future of PLM is characterized by smart networked products and new, data-driven business models that extend the product life cycle into the operating phase. For us, this future has already begun with important decisions such as our acquisition of Bartscher & Hasenäcker Consulting and our planned participation in groundbreaking research projects for the validation of autonomous driving functions

The topic of integration is becoming ever more important for PROSTEP

An Interview with Karsten Theis

With the appointment of Dr. Karsten Theis as a new member of the board, PROSTEP has brought about a change of generation in its leadership at just the right time to coincide with its 25th anniversary. In an interview for the PROSTEP newsletter, Mr. Theis, explained how the PLM consulting and software house will go about equipping itself to meet the challenges of the digital future. “We Integrate the Future” continues to be the philosophy that drives the company.

PROSTEP sponsors the Formula Student DART Racing Team

By Peter Pfalzgraf

For the first time, PROSTEP is sponsoring the DART Racing Team at TU Darmstadt, which is developing an electric racing car for the international Formula Student university design competition. We are donating a powerful computer to the students so that the team can optimize the properties of aerodynamic components and maximize their strength and resistance to deformation.

Blockchain and additive manufacturing: can the two be combined?

By Martin Holland

Yes, they can. And we have demonstrated this within the framework of the SAMPL project. For almost three years PROSTEP, together with seven partners, has been developing an end-to-end solution for the forgery-proof exchange of 3D print data. The key to this is the use of blockchain, or distributed ledger, technology. On 10 October 2019, we will be presenting the project results at a user conference being held at the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL) in Hamburg.

PDF Generator 3D as the motor driving the product configurator

By Harald Blümel

At Siemens Large Drives Applications, variance is a competitive advantage. The Siemens company manufactures heavy-duty electric motors and converters for industrial and special drives in batch sizes that tend toward one. With the help of PROSTEP's PDF Generators 3D, the company is able to automatically provides its customers with the offer documents for their product configurations, including the 3D models, from the cloud.

PROSTEP develops OpenPDM connector to PTC Integrity for Schaeffler

By Mirko Theiß

The automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has decided to use PROSTEP's OpenPDM integration platform to connect its existing PLM and ERP system landscape to the new Engineering Cockpit in Aras Innovator. We are also developing a new connector for Schaeffler that will connect the application lifecycle management (ALM) system PTC Integrity Lifecycle Management (ILM).

Peter Pfalzgraf named president of the 3D PDF Consortium

By Joachim Christ

Peter Pfalzgraf, head of the Products business unit at PROSTEP AG, has been named president of the 3D PDF Consortium. The global initiative is committed to establishing and further developing 3D PDF, and the PDF format in general, as an open standard for visualization, data communication and long-term archiving. The appointment of Pfalzgraf underscores PROSTEP's long-standing commitment to the dissemination of 3D PDF technology.

Companies in Germany rely on smart products

By Michael Wendenburg

Smart products are on the advance: 87 percent of companies in Germany already offer such products or are in the process of developing them, according to a study conducted by the Fraunhofer IPK in cooperation with CONTACT Software and VDI. However, only 30 percent of those surveyed can imagine completely changing their business models and only selling the products as a service.

PROSTEP outlines the benefits of the digital vessel twin

Von Lars Wagner

At this year's Schiff&Hafen Maritim 4.0 conference, PROSTEP's shipbuilding experts outlined the challenges faced when it comes to end-to-end digitalization in the maritime supply chain and the benefits of a digital vessel twin. The choice of topic for their presentation was a good one, as the event is primarily attended by shipping experts who are interested in optimizing their working fleet.

OpenPDM connects Arena PLM directly to SAP

By Peter Pfalzgraf

PROSTEP continues to expand the world's leading PLM integration platform OpenPDM by adding standard connectors that allow a wide range of different PLM, ERP and other backend systems to be connected "as-is" and the data to be synchronized or migrated. The company recently created a seamless integration between the cloud PLM solution from Arena Solutions and SAP's ERP system, which is already in productive use at customer sites in the USA.

PROSTEP strengthens development with Scrum teams in Poland

By Norbert Lotter

PROSTEP AG founds a new branch in Wroclaw, Poland (formerly Breslau). At the beginning of April, PROSTEP sp.z.o.o. started its business activities to support and strengthen the development team of the Berlin-based PROSTEP branch. It is planned to set up two Scrum teams that will develop specific solutions for major automotive customers.

Save the date

By Joachim Christ

Our members will be happy to provide you with information personally at the following events. We look forward to seeing you there.

CONTACT Open World, Munich, Germany	26.-27. June 2019
5. Serviceforum, Fellbach, Germany	03. July 2019
Realize Live (Siemens), Detroit, USA	04.- 07.July 2019
Daimler EDM CAE Forum, Stuttgart, Germany	17.-18. July 2019
Go-3D 2019, Rostock, Germany	05. September 2019
ICCAS 2019, Rotterdam, Holland	24.-26. September 2019
ShipConstructor EMEA Conference, Lissabon, Portugal	30. September - 02. October 2019
Siemens PLM Europe, Berlin, Germany	07.-10. October 2019
tekom Jahrestagung 2019, Stuttgart, Germany	12.-14. November 2019