CNCTimes in conversation with Mr. John Fox, Vice President, Marketing, Mainstream Engineering, Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.

Interview excerpts:

Please tell us something about the Solid Edge for Start-ups programme?

Solid Edge for Start-ups programme was launched on 7^th August and we are very happy to announce it for the Indian market. This programme makes it very easy for new businesses to get access to the best tools and technologies. The eligibility criteria for the free programme is that the company should have a turnover of less than a million dollar and should not be more than 3 years old. One can also apply and check their eligibility for the same.

Getting a start-up off the ground is no easy endeavor. Office space, supplies, employee salaries and overhead are all vying for a piece of a lean budget. We believe your CAD software should be a solution, not a problem. If you're an early stage start-up in business for less than three years, you can now apply to get Solid Edge for free. With no application fee!

Our requirements are simple:

Open to design firms & manufacturers

Open to incorporated legal entities in business for less than three years

Less than $1MM in funding

Less than $1MM in annual revenue

Based in an eligible country

If you meet these requirements, apply today for free to get the full Solid Edge experience for all your engineers.

Solid Edge is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use portfolio of software tools that address all aspects of the product development process – CAD design and rendering, simulation, manufacturing, data management and more. We provide learning resources, a fantastic community, and unique technology that allows you to design the way you want.

Solid Edge Start-up Program Includes:

No application fee

One year of Solid Edge Premium

One seat for each engineer

Access to Solid Edge training resources

Guidance from a community of product experts

Co-marketing opportunities

Start-ups may reapply

As a start-up, we understand you need to get your products and services to market as quickly as possible. With Solid Edge, you can make your ideas a reality. And with our Solid Edge program for start-ups, you can get started for free.

What’s new in Solid edge 2019?

Solid Edge® software is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools that advance all aspects of the product development process, including mechanical and electrical design, simulation, manufacturing, technical documentation, and data management. Solid Edge 2019 adds best-in-class electrical and printed circuit board (PCB) design technologies, new requirements management capabilities, fully integrated simulation analysis, the latest tools for subtractive and additive manufacturing, and free secure cloud-based project collaboration. The expanded portfolio makes it even easier for customers of all business sizes to realize innovation by taking advantage of the end-to-end digital twin.

The latest release of Solid Edge provides new modular plant design capabilities, with Solid Edge P&ID Design and Solid Edge Piping Design. Providing 2D flow diagram and symbol support for P&ID creation. The latest features in Solid Edge Piping Design can help reduce design errors and ensure efficient piping design in industries such as Oil & Gas.

The new design for additive manufacturing capabilities enables manufacturers to produce low production lots very quickly and inexpensively. Also new in Solid Edge 2019 is Solid Edge CAM Pro, a comprehensive, highly flexible system that uses the latest machining technology to efficiently program CNC machine tools helping confirm parts are manufactured as designed.

“The global market requirement to develop and deliver increasingly complex products in shrinking timeframes has created many new challenges for our customers, as well as new opportunities to differentiate,” said John Miller, senior vice president, Mainstream Engineering, Siemens PLM Software. “I’m confident that the integration of leading technologies from Mentor and the next-generation design capabilities delivered in the Solid Edge 2019 portfolio will empower our customers to innovate in the new era of digitalization.”

Can you please tell us about the Subscription model for Solid Edge?

“We started subscription model in 2013 for certain countries and in November 2017 for India. Our plan is to roll it out country by country”, said Mr. John Fox.

“If you see the used cases of the subscription model globally, it naturally fits. We don’t see any overlap, rather what we see is an overall expansion. Since we have launched this model, our reach is increasing in the market. The overall reactions in the market have been favorable. In India, we still have to promote it more as we have done in other countries, said Mr. Fox”.

What is the Solid Edge Portal?

Solid edge portal is an online free, cloud-based CAD file management Portal for viewing and collaboration.

Online CAD file viewing from any device, features:

Upload and manage your files in cloud-based project folders

Free access to 5GB of file storage

Manage multiple projects

Store almost any file type

Browser-based access for viewing CAD files on your phone, tablet, Chromebook, Mac, PC and more

Share files with your shop floor, customers or partners

Explore models with viewing tools: rotate and pan, section, and automatic assembly explode

Capture feedback with mark-up Secure sharing and collaboration

Secure password-based access

Encryption on upload and download

Access control allows you to define download or view-only

“India is a very crucial market for us. We are witnessing a huge digital transformation not only in the large-scale companies but also in the SME sector. After looking at their interest for digital transformation like industry 4.0, we want to deliver the best solutions for the Indian market. We are also doing a lot of R&D in terms of demands from SME’s & start-ups, to provide them the best-customized solutions,” concluded Mr. Fox.

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