Cloud capabilities in Solid Edge ST9 provide faster, flexible deployment options: John Fox

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2016-09-01 13:25:00

Siemens PLM’s latest version of Solid Edge® software (Solid Edge ST9) for computer-aided design (CAD) provides flexible and easy access to the full capabilities of Solid Edge with cloud-based licensing, user preferences, and collaboration tools. In addition, the new built-in data management capabilities, with zero IT support requirements, enable users to easily index their CAD models, while the new migration tools enable rapid conversion of legacy design data from virtually any CAD system.

New cloud capabilities provide faster and more flexible deployment options, improved user access and collaboration across remote designs teams. Licenses and user preferences can be stored on the cloud enabling users to access their personal environment anytime and anywhere.
New built-in data management capabilities enable users to take control of ever increasing volumes of CAD data, with instant searches for files and properties, as well as impact analysis. There is no database software to install or database tables to maintain. The new design manager utility provides for fast and simple revision and release management, and as a whole the new capabilities will significantly improve data organization and consistency, and faster completion of everyday data management tasks for Solid Edge users.

Explaining the finer points and advantages of Solid Edge ST9, Mr. John Fox, Vice President of Marketing, Mainstream Engineering, Siemens PLM Software, told CNCTimes.com, “With Solid Edge ST9 you have the freedom to choose how you purchase and deploy the software. Your license can be cloud based, node locked or floating. Where available, you can purchase a Solid Edge monthly or annual subscription, but that’s optional. You can run on the desktop or a tablet device, thanks to how we’ve optimized Solid Edge to run on the Microsoft Surface. All this flexibility provides a lot of value. ”

Mr. Fox, who was on a whirlwind tour of India recently, visited Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Coimbatore and other cities before winding up in Pune. Apart from promoting Solid Edge ST9, Mr. Fox also met some of the existing customers of Siemens PLM software.

Asked about the response he received from across the country, Mr. Fox said, “We have been receiving an overwhelming response from Indian manufacturers. They recognize that Solid Edge ST9 is a powerful and flexible CAD solution. Solid Edge ST9 adds simple data storage options via cloud-enabled vaulting so users can store and share design data in a controlled manner with external suppliers and customers, using popular software like Dropbox, OneDrive®, Google Drive™ online storage service and Box. While this allows users to efficiently work online, the option to work locally, i.e. offline, is always available.”

When asked about the advantages of Solid Edge ST9 and whether Indians are sensitive towards pricing, he said the product is strategically placed as far as pricing is concerned. “In any country, the vast majority of manufacturing businesses are small scale, and keeping that in mind we have positioned the product so that small to medium-sized manufacturers can benefit. These companies need powerful, capable engineering software, but it needs to be affordable, easy to use, and easy to deploy. That’s our sweet spot with Solid Edge,” Mr. Fox added.

Mr. Fox continued, “We have had very strong reception and attendance at all our launch events in India. Many people that we’ve spoken with are migrating from 2D to 3D design, or want to move from other systems to Solid Edge, and new tools in Solid Edge ST9 make that easier.” SolidWorks® software models and drawings can now be migrated to Solid Edge while maintaining their associativity. Additionally, a robust Solid Edge 2D to AutoCAD® software export tool ensures seamless mapping of Solid Edge drafting elements to AutoCAD. Solid Edge ST9 also provides easy access to the 2D designs created in Siemens’ newly announced Catchbook™ software, to rapidly create 3D models and professional engineering drawings from sketches.

For more comprehensive data management capabilities, Solid Edge ST9 facilitates an easy upgrade to Siemens’ Teamcenter® portfolio, the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management software. Solid Edge ST9 also offers significantly enhanced integration with Teamcenter to help ensure fast and consistent completion of critical data management tasks.

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