Editorial

Quo Vadis PLM or what platform should it be?

By Bernd Pätzold

The PLM world is in the midst of upheaval. The signs that were emerging last year have now become an undisputed reality. But what is unclear is where this process of change will take us. Just how disruptive the force of creative destruction (Schumpeter) proves to be can only ever be said with hindsight, when the New has become a part of the world. Otherwise Sony and Nokia would not have been so easily overtaken by Apple. In the future, will we even speak about PLM at all? Will we still be able to study it at university?

Multi-CAD is the key to shaping our future CAD/PLM environment

An interview with Jan Meyer

The Meyer Group, one of the world's leading builders of cruise ships, has adopted the platform concept to develop and build ships whose appearances differ, but which share a common technical basis. PROSTEP's native CAD conversion was a decisive factor in the reuse of design data from the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg at MEYER TURKU's shipyard in Finland. Managing Director Dr. Jan Meyer explains the challenges that accompany this innovative approach to shipbuilding.

Blockchain technology is also the source of new application scenarios for PLM

By Norbert Lotter

Recently, the specialist media have been constantly repeating the claim that blockchain technology is capable of revolutionizing the Internet as well as every conceivable area of application. This raises the question of what impact this will have on PLM technology. There are indeed many interesting possible applications in the PLM environment, provided that certain serious technical limitations can be overcome.

Higher level of Industry 4.0 maturity at German companies

By Michael Wendenburg

Industry 4.0 has reached the next level in Germany. Over the past 12 months, a large number of companies have stepped up their Industry 4.0-related activities and rolled out concrete initiatives. This is the conclusion reached in an IDC White Paper sponsored by the PLM vendor Dassault Systèmes. The paper also states that there is growing acceptance of cloud-based PLM among German companies.

Spare parts catalogs from a 3D PDF container

By Frank Timmermann

PROSTEP's 3D PDF technology supports the digitalization of a wide range of business processes. For example, Atotech Deutschland uses our 3D PDF-based service content publishing solution to generate electronic spare parts catalogs for its specialist electroplating systems. This has dramatically reduced the time required to produce the documentation compared to the previously used catalog creation system.

Launch of OpenDXM GlobalX 8.3 in the new year

By Daniel Wiegand

PROSTEP will releasing the new version 8.3 of its web-based data exchange solution OpenDXM GlobalX at the beginning of new year. The development team at PROSTEP has implemented more than 50 new functions in the software. One of the key new features is the introduction of Java Web Start technology as an alternative to Java applets.

Technical data packages with the 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP

By Peter Pfalzgraf

Initiatives to establish drawingless processes in accordance with the VDA guideline 4953-2 or the US military standard MIL-STD-31000 are underway in many companies. In order to provide the best possible support for these initiatives, Adobe and PROSTEP have expanded their long-standing cooperation in the field of 3D PDF technology. PROSTEP may now also offer its customers the option of creating PDF-based technical data packages (TDP) containing any kind of 3D representations.

New OpenPDM connectors

By Udo Hering

PROSTEP has expanded the options it offers for integrating systems in heterogeneous PLM landscapes. In addition to the tried-and-tested standard connectors for 3D EXPERIENCE, ARAS Innovator, AutoDesk Vault, EKM, SAP, SIM Manager, Teamcenter and PTC Windchill, the PLM integration and migration solution OpenPDM now also offers connectors to SharePoint, HELiOS and CIM Database PLM. They were developed as part of customer projects.

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.

Car Symposium, Bochum, Germany	08.-09. February 2018
Forum 3D, Cologne, Germany	13. March 2018
prostep ivip Symposium, Munich, Germany	18.-19. April 2018
HMI 2018, Hannover, Germany	23.-27. April 2018
SEAL Systems, Fulda, Germany	14.-15. May 2018
Siemens PLM Connection, Seeheim, Germany	19.-20. June 2018
PROSTEP TECHDAY, Darmstadt, Germany	21. June 2018