Tag Archives: Industry News

Vestas Use of Enterprise PLM from PTC

PLM mindshare leader PTC has published a new profile on how the European wind energy giant Vestas employs enterprise PLM to manage the digital thread across the product lifecycle.

PTC writes “To meet the unique needs of each customer and accelerate deployment, Vestas embraced digital transformation as they design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe….Vestas has taken a digital-first approach to manufacturing that encompasses all activities from defining products to planning for how parts will be produced (at their own factories with OEM manufacturing partners or on-site).”

The customer example profiles 11 critical use cases in engineering, manufacturing, and service that include:

Engineering:

  • Requirements Management
  • Sustainability Integrations
  • Model-Based Enterprise
  • Configuration Management
  • Product Architecture

Manufacturing:

  • Quality Validation
  • AI-Enabled Inspection
  • Digital Assembly
  • Manufacturing Engineering

Service:

  • Service Info Delivery

To learn more about Vestas digital thread journey visit PTC’s Innovator Customer Spotlight HERE.

(Header image copyright and courtesy of Vestas.)

Makersite and Siemens to Deliver Integrated Sustainability Intelligence in PLM

Stuttgart, Germany –15th July 2025 – Makersite, a cloud-based platform for product lifecycle intelligence, today announced a cooperation with Siemens Digital Industries Software to integrate Makersite’s environmental, cost, and supply chain risk data directly into Siemens’ Teamcenter® software for product lifecycle management (PLM).

This collaboration aims to enable design, compliance, and engineering teams to access actionable sustainability insights throughout the product lifecycle, directly from Teamcenter. By leveraging Makersite’s advanced AI engine and comprehensive supply chain and environmental databases, Teamcenter customers will be able to analyze their entire product portfolio at scale.

The collaboration further solidifies Siemens’ Sustainable Industries initiatives, which empowers customers to embed sustainability across the entire product lifecycle. Siemens Digital Industries Software plays a leading role in this effort, providing tools that support design, simulation, and lifecycle management across mechanical, electrical, electronics and software domains.

“This collaboration continues Makersite’s mission to help manufacturers create better, safer, greener products—faster,” said Neil D’Souza, CEO of Makersite. “By embedding our data into Teamcenter, we will enable smarter decision-making where and when it matters most, with product teams and engineers.”

Sonya Sauvé, Director Sustainability Solutions, Siemens Digital Industries, said:
“Our collaboration with Makersite marks a significant step forward in how industries approach sustainability. This solution will embed environmental intelligence directly into Teamcenter product lifecycle management, enabling manufacturers to make informed design decisions that benefit both their bottom line and the planet. It’s about making sustainability actionable at every step of product development.”

With mounting regulatory pressures and growing market demand for robust sustainability data, the Makersite-Siemens collaboration will equip manufacturers to stay ahead – ensuring compliance, accelerating innovation, and enabling verifiable environmental performance.

(The above news release is courtesy of Makersite, first published on 15 July 2025  HERE..)

Siemens Develops Digital Twins to Help Customer Become Carbon Neutral

A new post from Siemens published in LinkedIn Technology & Innovation News profiles how experts from bremenports and Siemens have developed a digital twin to help envision the international port of Bremerhaven achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. As one of the world’s most ambitious port decarbonization projects, the findings highlight that renewable energy and smart energy management are critical to its success.

Read on HERE to learn how this is to be possible by actually cutting carbon emissions, not through certificates and emissions trading.

(Header feature image courtesy and copyright of bremenports GmbH.)

PTC and Makersite to Accelerate Sustainable Product Development

PTC has announced its latest step in the journey toward enabling smarter, more sustainable product development: the integration between PTC’s enterprise PLM product, Windchill, and Makersite, the leading AI-powered platform for product lifecycle intelligence.

Dave Duncan, VP of Sustainability at PTC, comments: “This integration helps manufacturers who are looking to balance product performance, environmental impact, and compliance demands. By bringing together fragmented supplier data and allowing teams to analyze product footprints for parts and bill of materials (BOMs) directly within Windchill, this integration empowers product development teams to make informed decisions faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

Learn why this is important and what makes it now possible by reading the full announcement HERE.

Sustainability in PLM – A Path Forward

In a recent episode of the podcast Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering from Razorleaf, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by renowned PLM thought leader and sustainability advocate, Jos Voskuil, co-founder of the PLM Green Global Alliance.

Together, they unpack the evolving role of sustainability within the world of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and digital engineering. From the European Green Deal to the growing importance of lifecycle assessment (LCA), this episode explores how environmental impact is shaping how products are designed, manufactured, and maintained.”

Topics Covered:

  • What sustainability really means in the context of PLM
  • Regulatory drivers like RoHS, REACH, and the EU Digital Product Passport
  • The shift from hazardous material tracking to full carbon reporting
  • Why “right to repair” and circular economy models are gaining traction
  • How the product-as-a-service model transforms business sustainability
  • Practical steps for manufacturers to begin measuring environmental impact
  • Real-world examples of data-driven PLM and the use of digital twins
  • Tools and databases supporting sustainability analysis (e.g., EcoInvent, LCA, AI-driven platforms)
  • The importance of model-based systems engineering and connected data

Learn more about why sustainability is becoming a central factor in product innovation and compliance by listening to the podcast now HERE.

The above announcement and images were provided courtesy and copyright of Razorleaf, a global, vendor-agnostic consulting and systems integration firm specializing in digital transformation for forward-thinking manufacturers worldwide.

Embedding Product Sustainability within PLM from CIMdata

PLM Green contributor Mark Reisig from CIMdata has authored a new commentary on “Embedding Product Sustainability within PLM.”

In the paper Mark features the work of CONTACT Software to aggregate and manage product data across the lifecycle to provide a complete Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) solution. Key takeaways include:

  • Embedding sustainability in PLM enables the integration of environmental factors into lifecycle activities, including Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), along with sustainability-related material and supplier data, supporting informed decision-making and ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • CONTACT Software enables the aggregation of CO₂-equivalent (CO₂eq) emissions using PLM data across development phases while supporting variant management and PCF calculations. It integrates sustainability-related materials data to provide a transparent view of cost and environmental impact.
  • CONTACT Software enables strategic procurement, resulting in better decision-making by seamlessly integrating supplier data with environmental declarations via PCF data.
  • CONTACT Software provides a comprehensive energy management solution that helps reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency by monitoring and optimizing energy consumption throughout production processes.

Learn more by reading on at https://www.cimdata.com/en/resources/complimentary-reports-research/commentaries/item/27677-embedding-product-sustainability-within-plm-commentary.

(Image and some text copyright and courtesy of CIMdata.)

PLM Helps Global Battery Companies

A new article from PTC Arena Solutions profiles an example of how PLM software helps global battery companies navigate growth and challenges. The author Joseph Prock writes:

“Product lifecycle management is playing a pivotal role in supporting the battery industry. PLM systems provide a centralized location to manage all product-related information, ensuring that information is consistent, current, and accessible to all stakeholders. This centralized product record facilitates better collaboration among teams, from research and development to manufacturing and quality assurance, leading to more efficient and streamlined processes.

PLM is significantly transforming the battery industry by helping streamline product development processes, enhance innovation, sustain compliance with industry regulations, and helping the industry to meet the growing demand for efficient, high-quality, and sustainable battery solutions.”

Learn more about the the importance of PLM in battery development by reading the entire article HERE.

(Feature image courtesy of and credit of PTC Arena Solutions.)

New e-book on Product Sustainability for Dummies

Dave Duncan, Head of Sustainability for PLM solution provider PTC, has announced the publication of his new e-book “Product Sustainability for Dummies.”

In a recent LinkedIn post Dave introduced the book by writing:

“Sustainability in manufacturing is complex, and there’s no single playbook to follow. After working with hundreds of customers and partners over the past two years, one thing was clear: manufacturers can take action today in ways that are both practical and profitable.

So I set out to create a comprehensive guide for manufacturers, and now it’s here! Inside, I break down key focus areas, including:

    • How to profitably incorporate sustainability in product design and execution
    • Strategies for decarbonization, hazardous materials control, and circularity
    • How to stay ahead of evolving regulations and compliance challenges
    • The business value of sustainability beyond just meeting requirements

The biggest takeaway? Sustainability isn’t just about reducing footprints—it’s about driving better product outcomes, reducing risk, and staying competitive in a changing market.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining your strategy, Product Sustainability For Dummies can help you take the next step. Give it a read, would love to hear your thoughts on it!”

Upon reading the book, PLM Green cofounder Jos Voskuil commented:

“I just had the chance to read this eBook, and I absolutely loved it! Dave Duncan masterfully brings together all aspects of sustainability — highlighting the key principles and connections without overwhelming readers with excessive details.

He breaks down the essentials — the need, regulations, digital thread, and business impact — in a clear and accessible way, making sustainability feel both achievable and essential.

And while Dave Duncan is Head of Sustainability PTC, this book remains completely vendor-neutral. It’s a compelling call to action for leveraging modern PLM infrastructure to seamlessly embed sustainability into your processes.

A must-read for anyone in community – even if you are not a dummy!”

Congratulations, Dave, and thanks for reminding all professionals, at any stage of their career, of the value in learning with the attitude of a “Beginner’s Mind.”

The book can be downloaded for free at https://www.ptc.com/en/resources/corporate/ebook/product-sustainability-for-dummies-beyond-the-book.

(Image Credit PTC)

A Practical Guide to the Digital Product Passport from PTC Arena

The new whitepaper “A Practical Guide to the Digital Product Passport” from PTC Arena Solutions is one of the most comprehensive introductions to the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for PLM professionals.

The paper covers the following topics:

  • The Concept Behind the Digital Product Passport (DPP)
  • Understanding DPP Laws, Regulations, and Business Requirements
  • Industries Affected by the DPP Mandate
  • What Type of Information Is Stored Inside a DPP?
  • Blockchain Technology: The Foundation for Building a DPP
  • Getting Started With DPP
  • Companies Are Using PLM to Manage DPP Information
  • PLM Capabilities Used to Manage DPP Compliance
  • PLM Helps Companies Meet DPP Regulations, Design for Sustainability, and Strategically Transition to a Circular Economy

From the paper we learn about the importance of DPP:

“Within the EU, passport technology is becoming mandatory across a diverse range of product categories, starting with batteries, chemicals, construction, electronics, furniture, luxury goods, plastics, textiles, and toys.”

“Full DPP implementation is currently expected by 2030. This mandate requires companies to digitally document detailed product information across their entire lifecycle. The goal is to promote sustainability and transparency for consumers, businesses, and governments.”

Read the complete paper by downloading it now from PTC HERE.

(Header image courtesy of PTC.)

Tokamak Energy Selects Aras Innovator to Accelerate Fusion Energy Development

(The following is extracted from an Aras press release on Feb. 11, 2025.)

“Aras, a leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) and digital thread solutions, announced today that Tokamak Energy, a pioneering fusion energy company, has chosen Aras Innovator® SaaS as its enterprise PLM solution. Following an extensive evaluation, the company selected Aras for its flexible architecture, cost-effective licensing model, and comprehensive functionality available from day one.

The selection marks Tokamak Energy’s first enterprise-wide PLM implementation beyond computer-aided design (CAD) data management and will be delivered under a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) agreement. “We are proud to partner with Tokamak Energy in their groundbreaking work,” said Roque Martin, CEO of Aras. “Our flexible platform and unique business model eliminate the traditional barriers to PLM adoption, empowering innovative companies like Tokamak Energy to focus on their core mission – developing commercial fusion energy solutions.”

Learn why Aras was selected and what PLM functions will be implemented by reading the full press release from Aras HERE.

Learn more about the development of green fusion energy at Tokamak Energy HERE.

How to Become a Leader in Sustainability from PLM Group

The E.U.-based PLM Group has published a new e-book on “How to Become a Leader in Sustainability.”

The authors write that their e-report will guide readers through six steps towards a greener future and how they can implement digital technology into sustainable design and manufacturing practices.

The publication is available for download from the PLM Group HERE.

According to the PLM Group’s website, their mission is to empower people and manufacturing companies to innovate. They do that by digitally transforming your entire value chain, integrating every stage of the product lifecycle from design to aftermarket. Additional information on the PLM Group can be found HERE.

CIMdata on Addressing the Cost of Sustainability During Early Product Development

Mark Reisig, CIMdata’s Sustainability & Green Energy Practice Director and PLM Green contributor, has authored a new commentary on “Addressing the Cost of Sustainability During Early Product Development.”

In his opening Mark summarizes key takeaways of the paper:

“Effectively addressing sustainability factors throughout the product lifecycle is becoming a critical business imperative. Customers increasingly expect products—and the processes behind their development, delivery, and operation—to align with ever more stringent sustainability standards.

Companies that embed sustainability evaluations early in their development process and across their supply chain will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace, improve their efficiency and resiliency, and meet sustainability goals, which leads to long-term profitability

Manufacturers across all industries need to adopt an integrated approach to calculating both cost and carbon footprint earlier in their design and development processes.”

Other topics covered in the commentary include:

  • The Current State of Addressing the Sustainability Challenge
  • Solving the Sustainability Challenge
  • Carbon Footprint Calculators
  • Teamcenter Solutions from Siemens Industrial Software
  • Integration for Comprehensive Digital Twins
  • Applying an Integrated Strategy for Sustainability and Efficiency

The full commentary along with useful references may be downloaded HERE.

The Sustainability Thread Whitepaper

PLM Green contributor Klaus Brettschneider, who is Director of Sustainability Products at Linx-AS LLC, has authored a new thought-leadership whitepaper on “The Sustainability Thread: Rethinking the digital thread to drive sustainability performance and green R&D.”

In the executive summary, Klaus writes:

“The digital twin and digital thread concepts are now mainstream best practices for product lifecycle management (PLM) practitioners and innovation-minded organizations. The interconnectivity of product data models provides superior agility for manufacturers as the digital thread breaks through to once-siloed stakeholders with real-time, accurate information from R&D to commercialization to the customer and back.

Enter sustainability. With regulatory, consumer, and investor pressures on the rise, many manufacturers are running into stakeholders in new silos in the rush to deliver products to market—all the while, leadership wrestles with scattered data, multiple reporting frameworks, and aspirations of a more proactive green R&D posture.

In this white paper, the author posits the creation of a digital thread for sustainability data, simply stated herein as the sustainability thread. The paper explains how integrating sustainability requirements in an organization’s digital thread strategy can transform both sustainability performance and product development. It also explores through real-world use cases how the digitalization of sustainability-related processes can greatly improve operational efficiency and reporting accuracy.”

Continue exploring these topics covered in the whitepaper by downloading it HERE.

Circular Aviation in the EU: SUSTAINair Final Conference

SUSTAINair, a project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program, is at the forefront of revolutionizing aviation through its groundbreaking technologies and impactful solutions. SUSTAINair’s aim is to substantially increase the sustainability of the airframe value chain achieving a paradigm shift in aircraft manufacturing. The project’s solutions will bring significant benefits during production, operations, maintenance and EoL (end of life) aspects.

The final conference for the SUSTAINair project will be held on the11th and 12th of June, 2024, in Vienna, Austria. The conference will discuss advanced topics crucihttps://www.sustainair.eu/al to the future of aviation sustainability. Key themes include:

  • Circular Economy: Highlight the importance of the circular economy for essential aircraft materials, emphasizing sustainable practices in the aviation industry.
  • Life Cycle of Materials: Understanding the life cycle of materials, recycling processes, and waste reduction is key to fostering a circular approach that aligns with global environmental goals.
  • Smart Materials for Aircraft: Innovations in materials with unique properties aim to improve aircraft performance, durability, and environmental impact.
  • Innovative Aircraft Composition: Explore different methods that challenge traditional design and construction paradigms.
  • Digital Tools for Predictive Maintenance: As technology advances, digital tools enable more effective measures to be taken to combat wear and tear.
  • Structural Health Monitoring (SHM): New digital solutions for SHM, ensuring the longevity and safety of aircraft components.

Read more about the upcoming conference, including agenda of speakers and panels sessions, at Circular Aviation in the EU: SUSTAINair Final Conference Takes Flight in Vienna | SUSTAINair.

Green PLM Conference 2024

A European Green PLM Conference to be held in Berlin, Germany, on 14 November, 2024, has been announced by InMediasP GmbH.

The Green PLM Conference will focus on developers of a wide range of products who are increasingly facing the complex demands of ESG regulations. These include the Green Claim, the CSRD, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the Circular Economy Action Plan. These regulations require in-depth information and decision-making across the entire product lifecycle, from the earliest stages of development.

Green PLM solutions can help meet these challenges. These are methods, processes and IT solutions that enable comprehensive data management and continuous data analysis for a sustainable product lifecycle.

Read more about the upcoming conference at https://greenplm.de/.

We Can’t Achieve Net Zero Without the Circular Economy

This article from the SAP News Center written by Darren West emphasizes the role of the circular economy in achieving net-zero emissions. It states that energy efficiency and renewable energy can only address 55% of greenhouse gas emissions. The remaining 45% are tied to products, materials, and food.

Currently, the linear economy dominates, as only 7.2% of the world’s resources are reused or recycled. Thus, adopting Circular Economy requires significant short-term capital investment, more data, and a collaborative approach.

Learn more by reading further at https://news.sap.com/2024/03/we-cant-achieve-net-zero-without-the-circular-economy/.

PLM and Circular Economy: a framework for sustainable product development

This article from PTC Arena Solutions discusses the growing role of PLM in sustainable product development and the circular economy. Here are the key points:

  • PLM has become increasingly important for manufacturers in new product development and introduction, especially in markets with complex products where quality management and compliance regulations are stringent.
  • The Circular Economy is based on three principles driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.
  • PLM is starting to play a critical role in manufacturing companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.
  • A survey found that many companies are using more sustainable materials, increasing the efficiency of energy use, and using energy-efficient or climate-friendly machinery.

Image Courtesy of Arena Solutions

Learn more by reading PLM and Circular Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Product Development | Arena (arenasolutions.com).

European SUSTAINair initiative

The European SUSTAINair initiative is to provide the aviation sector with a transition runway to a low-carbon circular economy while tackling the increase in resource consumption, waste, and emissions along the entire aviation component value chain.

The recent project report deliverable “New Recyclate Materials with LifeCycle Impact Assessment” defines Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy, and then explores a LCA-CE model for the aviation industry to bring the principles together for assessing the environmental impact of new materials.

The report may be downloaded HERE.

PLM & Sustainability News March 2024

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The PLM Green Global Alliance (PGGA) mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate across the boundaries of technical disciplines, industries, and international borders to advance the use of Product Lifecycle Management strategies and technologies in the transition to a more sustainable decarbonized circular economy.

In our latest quarterly PLM & Sustainability News Digest we hope to provide not only timely information but also inspiration to the thousands of professionals around the world who work in PLM-related fields and care not only about delivering products and profits but also protecting people and the planet. We believe these objectives do not have to be in conflict, but in fact are absolutely synergistic when it comes to sustaining the long-term wealth of our economies and health of our communities and ecosystems.

Our recap of news and resources from a busy 1Q2024 is easy to scan for what interests you or might have been missed in your own feeds about the following topics: Continue reading →

PLM Green Reports on PTC LiveWorx 2023

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This post was written and first published in May 2023 by PLM Green co-founder Jos Voskuil in his European Virtual Dutchman blog about PLM.

Last week I enjoyed visiting LiveWorx 2023 on behalf of the PLM Global Green Alliance. PTC had invited us to understand their sustainability ambitions and meet with the relevant people from PTC, partners, customers and several of my analyst friends. It felt like a reunion.

Continue reading →