Introducing Solid Edge Design1 - the First Easy-to-Afford Professional CAD Software for Design and Engineering Enthusiasts

New Offering will be Available through Local Motors to Its Global Design Community for $19.95 per Month.

Siemens PLM Software today announced a new offering based on its Solid Edge® software that makes professional-level computer-aided design (CAD) available to the design enthusiast at an unprecedented value. Solid Edge Design1 will be introduced through Local Motors, a Siemens PLM Software partner, exclusively to the Local Motors global design community for a monthly subscription price of $19.95.

In conjunction with today’s announcement, Local Motors and Siemens PLM Software are making available, for a limited time, a downloadable trial of Solid Edge Design1. The trial is being made available now through the end of the year to select Local Motors community members. The entire global community will then be able to purchase Solid Edge Design1 software subscriptions starting Jan 1, 2012. Also, available immediately, Local Motors and Siemens PLM Software are providing a new, free 3D viewing experience to the Local Motors community based on Siemens PLM Software’s widely used JT™ data format. Siemens PLM Software announced its partnership last month with Local Motors, a next generation American car company that employs a unique approach to vehicle design called co-creation.

By offering professional CAD at an affordable price, Solid Edge Design1 establishes a new category of CAD software for design and engineering enthusiasts that fills the gap between free or low-cost solutions with limited functionality, and higher priced full-function commercial solutions. Solid Edge Design1 is based on the same technology found in the full function version of Solid Edge and includes capabilities such as core assembly and 3D part modeling with synchronous technology, a unique capability which combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension driven design.

“Solid Edge Design1 is a unique and ideal CAD solution for enthusiasts around the world who participate in the Local Motors collaborative design community,” said Karsten Newbury, senior vice president and general manager, Mainstream Engineering Software Business Segment, Siemens PLM Software. “Solid Edge was selected by Local Motors for its functionality and the benefit synchronous technology brings to their collaborative product development model, which harnesses the creativity of automotive design and engineering enthusiasts working in a variety of environments and possessing a diverse set of skills and experience. These designers want robust and very specific CAD functionality that is affordable and available on their personal computer whether on or off-line. With today’s announcement we’re investing in this promising new frontier of product design, and making it even easier for the design community to get involved by empowering them with the tools to define and improve the products they love.”
New 3D viewing experience based on proven, professional data standard

Local Motors has also adopted the JT data format as the 3D standard for viewing all uploaded CAD models throughout its design community, and is providing a no charge, browser-based, 3D viewing experience based on this popular standard. Using either a PC or Mac® computer and the most common web browsers, the Local Motors community will be able to easily view, analyze and comment on other designers’ 3D models, all from within one browser window. All CAD formats will be accepted and downloadable from the Local Motors website in their native format. Most major CAD formats will be converted into the standard IGES format and the Solid Edge format for download. Additionally, Local Motors will convert CAD models in future design projects to the JT format and display them on the Local Motors website. And since JT is one of the global manufacturing industry’s most widely used lightweight 3D data formats for visualization, collaboration and data sharing, the Local Motors community will be sharing design ideas using a proven, professional 3D format.

“The automotive design and engineering enthusiasts participating in the Local Motors community are creating game changing products and dealing with real-world challenges requiring a level of sophistication that goes beyond the limited capabilities available in free or low-cost CAD offerings,” said Jay Rogers, president, CEO and Co-Founder, Local Motors. “That is why we selected Solid Edge as the CAD tool of choice for our recently launched Open Electric Vehicle (EV) project and are recommending Solid Edge Design1 as one of the ground-breaking tools available to our worldwide community. Solid Edge Design1 has the right level of functionality at an affordable price that our community of enthusiasts has been asking for to meet the design challenges of producing a fully functional vehicle. By making it easy for them to collaborate with tools like Solid Edge Design1 and our exciting 3D viewing experience, we are changing the game for the co-creation model and revolutionizing how products are designed.”

"I'm excited about the availability of professional-grade technology like Solid Edge Design1 and JT which will have a huge impact on the Local Motors design community,” said Richard Mansell, an active member of the Local Motors community. “With Solid Edge Design1 we will be able to not only design parts and assemblies with professional accuracy in an affordable manner, but also to share and discuss these designs with others in the community in a way that was impossible before. The fact that we can now view and interact with 3D models right in our standard web browser will greatly enhance and speed up our collaboration with Local Motors and the other vehicle designers in the community."

Local Motors will offer the monthly subscription version of Solid Edge Design1 starting on January 1, 2012. In the mean time, an invitation only trial will be available to participants in the Local Motors community. Community members can contact Local Motors immediately to request a trial of Solid Edge Design1 from the Local Motors web site. For more information on Solid Edge Design1 and to request the trial, please visit www.local-motors.com/solidedgedesign1.

New Solid Edge Web Portal Speeds Design by Providing Millions of Supplier Parts

Powered by CADENAS' Strategic Parts Management System, New Portal Enables Rapid Configuration of Precisely Modeled Commercial Products in Native 3D Solid Edge Format.

Siemens PLM Software today announced a new supplier parts catalog web portal for Solid Edge® software – including the latest release, Solid Edge ST4 – that provides access to a massive number of commercially available and purchasable components and assemblies, in 3D native Solid Edge format. Eliminating the time needed to manually model purchased, supplier or catalog parts, the new on-line catalog – enabled through a new partnership with CADENAS GmbH – helps Solid Edge customers significantly improve product design productivity, quality and time-to-market.

“With today’s announcement, our Solid Edge customers now have access to millions of commercial, purchasable components they can drop right into their product designs without the need for additional modeling or the time consuming effort of understanding supplier product configurations or looking up part numbers,” said John Fox, vice president of Velocity Series Marketing, Siemens PLM Software. “In addition to this clear boost in productivity and design integrity, our customers will also benefit from knowing that the supplier parts they are incorporating into their products are orderable, available and certified by the manufacturers. The result is a reduction of potential production delays, enhancing Solid Edge users’ ability to get their products to market ahead of the competition.”

Proven strategic parts management

The new web portal announced today provides individuals with access to a Solid Edge specific version of the PARTsolutions 3D catalog management system from CADENAS, a leading software manufacturer in strategic parts management and electronic product catalogs. The system enables Solid Edge users to quickly find, reuse and control commercial parts, providing several methods of searching the data base, checking if configured parts have been previously downloaded, and controlling or restricting catalog access with project specific login.

The web portal contains no actual solid models because each native 3D Solid Edge model is built to order in real time. As a result, users have access to a massive number of parts – such as valves, actuators, bearings, etc. – and the system will automatically configure only the possible product sizes, options and features that are orderable and available from the manufacturers. Over 300 catalogs are available, with any one catalog having the ability to configure millions of components. By charging a fee to the companies represented on solidedge.partcommunity.com, CADENAS is able to provide models at no charge to Solid Edge users without infringing copyrights. End users can search for catalog parts based on a unique vendor or part number, and the ability to search for parts based on geometric size – which is useful when the shape is known but not the vendor – is expected to be available before the end of the year.

After a part or assembly has been selected, a complete package of information and geometry is available for instant access via e-mail, or via download to a directory on the user’s computer or directly into Solid Edge. In addition to the accurate 3D Solid Edge model – complete with a full feature tree and all defined interfaces necessary to easily model connecting parts – the user can also chose to receive detailed electronic product sheets and 2D views of the standard parts to be used in engineering drawings. Standard components are certified by each manufacturer to be accurate in geometric configurations and part numbers, ensuring proper form, fit and function within the final Solid Edge product design. The end result is significantly reduced assembly design time along with the ability to create more realistic assemblies and accurate parts lists with no additional work.

To ensure investment protection for users working with earlier versions of Solid Edge, Siemens PLM Software and CADENAS have made sure the models created through the new web portal are accessible to customers using versions as far back as Solid Edge 17. In addition, customers upgrading to Solid Edge ST4 will benefit from having a link to the portal from the main Solid Edge startup screen.

Student Edition of Solid Edge Now Available Free of Charge to All Students Worldwide

Siemens PLM Software today announced as part of its ongoing investment in education, a Student Edition of its Solid Edge® software for 3D CAD that is now available free of charge to all full or part time students throughout the world at any academic level. This no-charge 12-month license is available only to students through an easy, instant download.

It contains not only the latest Solid Edge functionality necessary to create detailed product designs, but also Siemens PLM Software’s market leading synchronous technology, which represents the next generation of design software.

To register for and download the Student Edition of Solid Edge, students can visit www.siemens.com/plm/solid-edge-student. The license can be renewed each year provided the user remains a qualified student.

“The global manufacturing community – including all of our customers – has an insatiable appetite for new engineering graduates with the ability to add instant value to their product design and development process,” said Karsten Newbury, senior vice president and general manager of Solid Edge and Velocity Series, Siemens PLM Software. “With today’s announcement, we are helping to educate a new generation of students with the skills, experience and confidence needed to immediately leverage the industry’s most advanced CAD design methods using Solid Edge with its revolutionary synchronous technology. Through this long-term commitment to education we are enabling the individuals who will invent and produce the innovative products required to address the world’s future needs and challenges.”

Robust functionality with comprehensive training and support.

The Student Edition of Solid Edge contains all of the functionality necessary to create complete designs using some of the industry’s most sophisticated and modern techniques. In addition to Siemens PLM Software’s unique synchronous technology, which combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension driven design, students will have access to the full function modules of Solid Edge drafting, sheet metal, surfacing and advanced assembly design.

In order to ensure students have the ability to effectively use all of the Solid Edge functionality provided, registrants are provided with links to tutorials and other on-line media, and granted access to a dedicated Internet forum that will allow collaboration with other students using Solid Edge. Users of the Student Edition of Solid Edge will also gain access to technical productivity tips to help further increase their proficiency.

"In my experience as both a student and as an intern, I've used the other leading CAD programs in the industry. None of them provide me with anything close to the comprehensive user interface or surfacing capabilities of Solid Edge," said Elle Mileti, a dual major student in Mechanical Engineering and Product Design & Innovation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Class of 2013. "And with access to its synchronous technology, I can easily and efficiently create geometry that's almost impossible to accomplish with the other software. Nothing is more frustrating than sifting through drop down menus when you know what needs to be done; with Solid Edge I can focus on design."

Solid Edge reduces development time for packaging machines by 70 percent at Uflex

Uflex Engineering Division, a unit of Uflex Limited, designs and manufactures printing, packaging and converting machines (for cutting and packaging large production materials, usually roll stock, into smaller, more usable sizes and shapes). Founded in 1984, Uflex has 415 employees working at facilities spread over 11 acres near the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Uflex’s machines are used around the world to package everything from shampoos and cosmetics to pillows and mattresses. The company has introduced breakthroughs in packaging technology, such as the use of holograms. It has also received numerous international awards, including the WorldStar Award for Packaging Excellence and another for Design Innovation of the Year from Unilever.

Uflex’s goal is to be a one-stop packaging solution, providing cost-effective and innovative equipment that ensures the safe delivery of products to consumers. The company is also working to become a world leader in the field of packaging machinery. “The way to being a world-class player is paved with state-of-the-art facilities blended with world-class practices, and it shall be our endeavor to soon be placed among the top ten international players,” says Ravi Sharma, senior vice president at Uflex.

Leveraging 3D

To meet these goals, Uflex needed to accelerate the development of its machines, while maintaining high levels of product quality. A key part of this was an upgrade from a 2D computer-aided design (CAD) system to an advanced 3D solution, specifically Solid Edge® software from Siemens PLM Software.

Results
70 percent reduction of development time for new machines
Fewer design errors
Less rework
More accurate cost estimates
Lower prices for new machines

Solid Edge was chosen over other 3D CAD solutions for a number of reasons. “Solid Edge has better technology, and we could see that it would be easy to learn and easy to deploy,” says Sharma. “In addition, the support from Siemens PLM Software’s channel partner, Avantha Technologies Limited, was better than what we would have received if we had gone with other programs.” Uflex implemented Solid Edge in its design and research and development (R&D) departments. The company received training in Solid Edge from Avantha Technologies Limited and also has on-site support from Avantha when necessary.

Faster machine design, fewer errors

Since implementing Solid Edge, Uflex has seen significant gains in efficiency and productivity. “We are now able to manufacture and deliver more machines,” says Sharma. One of the ways Solid Edge does this is by greatly reducing the number of design errors, which has reduced rework on parts and assemblies.

Sharma credits the superior visualization capabilities of Solid Edge. “When we create a digital assembly of a machine in Solid Edge, we can find problems, such as interferences, that we would have missed when we were using 2D drawings,” notes Sharma. This improved level of visualization is having a positive effect on sales and marketing too. He explains, “We show virtual machines created in Solid Edge at demonstrations for customers and at trade shows. Solid Edge helps us get the order.”

In addition, using Solid Edge, Uflex quickly generates bills of materials (BOMs) from the information in the 3D assembly models.

70 percent faster product development, significant financial benefits

Uflex has reduced the development cycle for new machines by 70 percent since the upgrade to Solid Edge. This not only helps ensure on-time delivery of its machines, it also allows the company to differentiate itself from the competition, an important part of its strategy for becoming a world leader in its industry.

The effect of Solid Edge on the company’s bottom line has been a reduction in costs enabled by a dramatic drop-off in rework. Solid Edge has a financial benefit for Uflex’s customers as well. Since installing Solid Edge, Uflex has been able to lower the prices of new machines. Other important benefits of Solid Edge include more accurate cost estimates, increased product quality and higher levels of innovation. With Solid Edge, Uflex is delivering packaging equipment that preserves, protects and displays products, as well as packaging lines that operate at among the highest production rates compared to its worldwide competition.

Striker Systems Introduces PARTshare Nesting Interface for Solid Edge

WHITE HOUSE, Tennessee – Striker Systems, an industry leader in the development of sheet metal CAD/CAM and nesting software, has announced the release of PARTshare for Solid Edge.

PARTshare is a Solid Edge add-in that allows Solid Edge to share sheet metal manufacturing data with the Striker Systems nesting software. The PARTshare process is very straightforward. From the Solid Edge environment an individual part or entire assembly is extracted. Sheet Metal parts are automatically unfolded as necessary and placed into the Striker Systems PARTshare nesting library.

Critical manufacturing data including part number, revision level, routing information, and material properties are transferred with each part. Bend information is maintained to facilitate bend line marking during CNC punching or cutting operations. Production nests can then be created interactively or automatically from any networked computer running STRIKER nesting software. The PARTshare process minimizes data handling and reduces the risk of manufacturing error.

PARTshare has previously been available only for SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor. “Our decision to expand PARTshare to include support for Solid Edge was based primarily on market demand,” states Michael Boggs, Striker Systems Sales Manager. “We’ve seen a steady increase of Solid Edge users in our customer base, and we felt obligated to provide them with this advanced level of capability.”

Kunming Shipbuilding Equipment Co. selects Siemens PLM Software's Teamcenter and Solid Edge

Siemens PLM Software’s Solutions Enable Chinese Industrial Leader to Design Innovative Products and Efficiently Manage its Product Lifecycle.

BEIJING – Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced that Kunming Shipbuilding Equipment Co. (KSEC) selected Solid Edge® software and Teamcenter® software to upgrade its digital design and product data management solutions, respectively.

KSEC, a major machinery and automated logistic systems manufacturer and exporter, expects end-to-end PLM solutions to add value to its business by automating the design, engineering and customization of its innovative products. KSEC also expects to reduce its product time to market cycle and enhance its competitive strength in today’s challenging economic conditions.

“The user-friendly synchronous technology in Solid Edge goes beyond our expectations for flexibility and for significantly speeding up design with powerful capabilities such as 3D design and instantaneous modeling which allows us to design, make modifications and fulfill customer change requests much faster,” said Liu Linhai, director of IT department, Kunming Shipbuilding Equipment Co. “Teamcenter enables our engineers to optimize the power of Solid Edge through better information and resource management, enhancing teamwork, control, logistics support and yielding greater productivity and product and service innovation.”

KSEC’s quest for a PLM solution was driven by the company’s need to enhance efficiency while boosting its capability to design leading-edge machinery. Solid Edge allows KSEC to migrate from 2D to a more robust 3D design platform, and Teamcenter helps simplify and accelerate implementations, enhance productivity, streamline collaboration and expand control of the entire product lifecycle process.

“Siemens PLM Software’s fully integrated end- to-end PLM solutions create real value for Chinese manufacturers, helping turn more ideas into successful products and bringing better products to market faster,” said Chuck Yuan, senior vice president and general manager, Greater China, Siemens PLM Software. “Solid Edge allows KSEC to work much more efficiently, determining in the design phase that all components will fit. Teamcenter provides an integrated consistent solution across the enterprise and the ability to collaborate more effectively with customers and partners. The solution boosts innovation through easy migration from 2D to 3D design and an interactive design paradigm, providing a powerful workflow engine to automate and orchestrate processes across the enterprise and with partners.”

“Siemens PLM Software’s technology combined with the professional local implementation and training of our designers and our solid working relationship made this an ideal solution for KSEC,” said Liu Linhai.

Solid Edge with synchronous technology is the core CAD component of the Velocity Series™ portfolio and incorporates Siemens PLM Software’s new breakthrough history-free, feature-based design technology.

Teamcenter is a collaborative product data management solution and the world’s most widely used PLM portfolio and it provides greater manageability, productivity, teamwork and control for the manufacturing industry.

About Kunming Shipbuilding Equipment Co. Ltd. (KSEC)

KSEC is the leading designer and supplier of tobacco machinery and automatic logistics system in China. In 1970, KSEC was established as a stated-owned enterprise group combing optics, mechanics, electronics and information technology. The service that KSEC can provide covers whole engineering procedure of tobacco processing line like process design, equipment manufacturing, installation and commission, technical training, and after-sale service, etc. With years of successful application experience in complex tobacco industry logistics system, KSEC has expanded its automatic logistics system into other industries such as electrical appliance, food, pharmacy, banking, power industry, post, airline, book sales and other commercial distributing business. KSEC has a state of the art industry park with an area over 70 hectares, over 3,000 sets of advanced machining equipment and over 5,000 employees.

Siemens PLM Software Announces Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology 2

New Features and Tools Address Part and Assembly Modeling, Sheet Metal, CAE and PDM

PLANO, Texas – Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announces Solid Edge® software with Synchronous Technology 2.

This release is the second version of Solid Edge to incorporate Siemens PLM Software’s breakthrough synchronous technology, the first history-free, feature-based modeling capability that serves as a fundamental tool in helping customers react to the market faster.

“We were looking for something very flexible…but also something with the full power of 3D feature modeling for modifying machine components,” said Ben Fune, process engineering manager, American Renolit Corp. “We found the best of both worlds in Solid Edge with synchronous technology.”

Solid Edge is a core component of the Velocity Series™ portfolio and combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension-driven design. The latest release extends synchronous technology deeper in the product with improved part and assembly modeling as well as a new sheet metal application. With this release, Siemens PLM Software also announces a new built-in FEA tool and PDM integration leveraging the latest Microsoft SharePoint platforms.

“The Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology 2 release showcases the expansion of Siemens PLM Software’s groundbreaking synchronous technology into additional part and assembly modeling areas, including intelligent sheet metal design," said Dr. Ken Versprille, PLM Research Director, CPDA. "In our in-depth review done last year, we positioned synchronous technology as a major advance in solids modeling and predicted its positive impact on the industry. This latest release proves us correct based on the strength and robustness it demonstrates as a modeling approach. End user interviews attest to the benefits they have achieved in reducing their design cycle times. The modeling advancements found in Solid Edge, matched with the introduction of a new mid-range FEA application, Solid Edge Simulation, and continued implementation of Solid Edge’s Insight data management tool atop the latest in Microsoft’s SharePoint, offers a win-win scenario for both Solid Edge and its users.”
Synchronized Part and Assembly Modeling

The new release of Solid Edge extends synchronous technology within core part and assembly modeling for complex feature creation and advanced sketch editing tools that reduce overall design time. To improve 2D to 3D data migration, Solid Edge turns 2D dimensions from imported drawings into 3D driving dimensions during model creation, so users can edit 3D designs based on the intent from 2D. In addition, Live Sections can be used to simplify 3D model changes by letting users edit 2D cross sections cut through any part of a 3D model, and update the 3D model in real-time.
New Sheet Metal Design Application

Solid Edge now applies synchronous technology to sheet metal design, creating a feature-based, history-free 3D design application for modeling straight brake sheet metal parts.

Sheet metal is the second application to leverage the power of synchronous technology (CAM Express leveraging synchronous technology was first announced last December) and further validates its extensibility. Synchronous technology brings new levels of productivity to the sheet metal environment so users can create models with less pre-planning, make changes with unbounded flexibility, and reuse and edit supplier data more effectively.

“A process-specific application such as sheet metal is a good example of a design discipline that requires a specialized skill set and unique features in the software,” said Dan Staples, director of Solid Edge product development, Siemens PLM Software. “Now our sheet metal customers can achieve the tremendous design time savings made possible by synchronous technology. And now that synchronous technology has been incorporated into sheet metal, you can see just how extensible this technology really is."
New Solid Edge Simulation for FEA

Solid Edge Simulation is a new optional analysis tool embedded into the CAD system that allows design validation of parts and assemblies earlier in the product development process for quicker time to market and reduced physical prototyping costs. It is based on proven Femap® software finite element modeling and NX™ Nastran® solver technology built into the Solid Edge user interface. It is easy for designers and engineers to use and promotes increased use of simulation within Solid Edge, fostering design innovation. Solid Edge Simulation also leverages synchronous technology to ease simulation model preparation and speed design refinements.

“These economic times force engineers to do more by themselves than ever before," said Bill McClure, vice president of product development for Velocity Series, Siemens PLM Software. “By embedding FEA into Solid Edge, more designs can be simulated in less time with minimal need to outsource analysis. This allows companies to respond to their customers faster with improved quality and lower costs."
Solid Edge with Insight for Design Data Management with Microsoft SharePoint

Solid Edge now provides key enhancements to improve the embedded Insight™ design data management application, a key element of the Velocity Series strategy for scalable PDM, which also includes the Teamcenter® Express platform.

“Solid Edge Insight running on SharePoint Server adds design data management to enterprise collaboration for small and mid-sized businesses,” said Don Richardson, director, Global Innovation and PLM Industry Strategy, Microsoft. “Siemens PLM Software, a long-time valued partner of Microsoft, has been utilizing SharePoint services since 2001, and continues to leverage the latest Microsoft technologies in its PLM applications to meet the business needs of customers.”

Solid Edge with Insight leverages the latest Microsoft SharePoint® platform for improved collaboration, faster release workflows and enhanced security capabilities offered by Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS). Solid Edge with Insight using the first version of SharePoint was introduced to the market in 2001 and today has more than 1000 customers. Moving Insight to the latest platform helps users reduce PDM deployment and ongoing support costs. Microsoft SharePoint is especially popular with small to medium size businesses (SMB’s) and now totals over 100 million seats worldwide.
Availability

Solid Edge with synchronous technology 2 is scheduled to ship this summer.

JETCAM releases SolidEdge importer

JETCAM International s.a.r.l. today announced the release of a free plugin for its Expert CADCAM and nesting software to allow users of SolidEdge to directly unfold and import 3D files.

JETCAM Solidedge

The plugin, available free to all users of v16 of JETCAM with a current maintenance contract, also extends the reach of JETCAM's automation to SolidEdge users by allowing SolidEdge files to be automatically processed using features such as Single Component Automatic Processing (SCAP) or Remote Control Processing (RCP).

Companies using SCAP can set JETCAM to 'listen' for files to arrive into a predetermined folder. When files arrive they can be automatically imported, tooling or profiling applied (depending on whether the part is to be punched or profiled) and a nest of each part can be created, with NC code being produced automatically. RCP takes this further by allowing tight integration into legacy data systems such as MRP. JETCAM's order list can be externally populated. Once done, JETCAM can automatically unfold and import the CAD file and construct highly efficient dissimilar part nests – all without any user intervention.

Mike Weber, Managing Director for JETCAM International s.a.r.l. commented; "We are continuing our philosophy of automation, so extending to systems such as SolidEdge is a natural progression. Any stage of production that requires manual intervention creates an overhead, and with current market conditions anything that can streamline that process will deliver savings. The fact that this is available free to all V16 customers under maintenance is further justification to our commitment of demonstrable return on investment."

Siemens PLM Software Announces New Release of Solid Edge 2D Drafting

Free Download Program Continues to Support Customers Transitioning from 2D to 3D

PLANO, Texas, October 16, 2008 – Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced the latest release of its free Solid Edge® 2D Drafting software. The latest release is immediately available for download in 10 languages.

Siemens PLM Software began offering its 2D Drafting product at no cost two years ago as a strategic move to ease the 2D to 3D transition for SMB customers. To date 180,000 users have downloaded the software, 21 percent of which say they have immediate plans to upgrade to 3D.

“We began using Solid Edge 2D Drafting for designing custom exhaust systems for the boating industry,” said Dan Buckley, president, K & B Performance. “Also, the product was free and promised a pathway into 3D. We moved into 3D and have found that claim to be true. Our 2D designs are being used directly in 3D and learning 3D was much faster because the 2D product taught us sketching and how to navigate the user interface. We have been able to cut our design time from four months to two days and refine our processes.”

Solid Edge 2D Drafting is the standalone 2D CAD component of the Velocity Series™ portfolio. It provides a production-proven set of capabilities for creating 2D documentation, including drawing layout, diagramming, annotation and dimensioning controls that automatically comply with drafting standards, such as ISO, ANSI, BSI, DIN, JIS and UNI. Solid Edge 2D drafting is fully compatible with Solid Edge, the industry’s first 3D history-free, feature-based CAD system.

The latest product enhancements ease the transition into 3D by providing:

* Parametric 2D sketching concepts, which allow smart profile development that can be reused later to directly develop 3D models.
* 2D designs that can be refined with Goal Seek in Solid Edge, a tool to optimize and determine unknown parameters.
* A new and consistent user interface that leverages the look and feel of Microsoft Office™ 2007 suite of products.

“The success of this program continues to prove to us that there are thousands of 2D users who need 3D software to enhance their productivity,” said Bruce Boes, vice president, Velocity Series Global Marketing, Siemens PLM Software.

There is no cost to download or license the software; optional support and automatic upgrades for the product are available for a nominal cost. For more information or to download, visit www.solidedge.com/free2d.
About Siemens PLM Software

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 5.5 million licensed seats and 51,000 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software’s open enterprise solutions enable a world where organizations and their partners collaborate through Global Innovation Networks to deliver world-class products and services. For more information on Siemens PLM Software products and services, visit www.siemens.com/plm.
About Siemens Industry Automation Division

The Siemens Industry Automation Division (Nuremberg), a division of the Siemens Industry Sector, is a worldwide leader in the fields of automation systems, low-voltage switchgear and industrial software. Its portfolio ranges from standard products for the manufacturing and process industry to solutions for whole industries and systems that encompass the automation of entire automobile production facilities and chemical plants. As a leading software supplier, Industry Automation optimizes the entire value added chain of manufacturers – from product design and development to production, sales and a wide range of maintenance services.

Note: Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG. Solid Edge and Velocity Series are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Microsoft Office™ is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders.

3Dconnexion 3D Mice Streamline Design Process in New Siemens Solid Edge® with Synchronous Technology

Fremont, Calif — 3Dconnexion’s award-winning line of 3D mice is now supported by the recently released Siemens Solid Edge® with synchronous technology, bringing advanced navigation features in Solid Edge Part, SheetMetal, Weldment, Assembly, and Draft documents.

Unlike mice confined to motion on one flat plane, 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice enable design engineers to move in all three dimensions simultaneously with six degrees of freedom to navigate advanced functions in the Solid Edge application environment more intuitively. Designed to integrate seamlessly into the 3D design workflow, 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice offer Solid Edge users a range of advanced navigation features and design benefits, including:

* Seamless transition between Object and Camera modes for a streamlined design experience
* Accessibility to essential 3D functions and tasks with one-touch access using the programmable buttons on the SpacePilot™ and SpaceExplorer™ for critical functions and speed keys
* Precise control of a rotation point or rotation axis, by selecting a Reference Plane, Face, Edge or Vertex/Point for the rotation point, and a Reference Plane, Linear segment or Vertex/Point for the rotation axis
* Quickly zoom into specific sections of the model with Zoom-to-Cursor by positioning the cursor on an area of the design

Additional highlights regarding availability and support include:

* Siemens Solid Edge with synchronous technology on Windows® XP (32-bit and 64-bit) and Vista® (32-bit and 64-bit).
* SpaceNavigator Personal Edition (MSRP $59), SpaceNavigator Standard Edition (MSRP $99), SpaceNavigator for Notebooks (MSRP $129), SpaceExplorer™ (MSRP $299), and SpacePilot™ (MSRP $399) are available from major online resellers, including Amazon, Buy.com, CDW, Dell, and PC Mall, as well as directly at www.3dconnexion.com.
* 3Dconnexion provides advanced and affordable 3D mice that are supported by more than 130 of today's leading and powerful 3D applications, including Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended and Acrobat® 9, Autodesk 3ds Max® and Maya®, CATIA, Google Earth™ and SketchUp®, Microsoft® Virtual Earth™, NX™, Pro/ENGINEER®, Second Life Grid® Platform, SolidWorks®, and all of the top-tier 3D CAD applications. For a complete list of applications supported by 3Dconnexion, visit: www.3dconnexion.com/solutions/cad/all_sup_app.php.

About 3Dconnexion, a Logitech Company
3Dconnexion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI), is the leading provider of 3D mice for 3D design and visualization. 3Dconnexion devices support today's most popular and powerful 3D applications by offering users a more intuitive and natural way to interact with computer-generated 3D content. 3Dconnexion's award-winning 3D mice serve a wide variety of industries and are used by 3D designers, animators and artists worldwide. 3Dconnexion is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with European headquarters in Seefeld, Germany and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.3Dconnexion.com.