Autodesk has been making significant investments to enhance its portfolio of visualization and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software, primarily by acquiring niche software vendors. In an effort to achieve more depth in its visualization portfolio, Autodesk has acquired PI-VR, a privately held German software vendor that focuses on 3D visualization technology. This acquisition is in line with Autodesk’s Digital Prototyping approach that combines design, visualization, and simulation of products in a cost-effective manner. Read the rest of this entry »

Siemens’s Industry Automation division, which includes Siemens PLM Software, continues with its strategy of offering manufacturing organizations virtually anything they might need—from product ideation and design to actual manufacturing execution and plant automation (including even the actual hardware products from sister divisions at Siemens). Still, the giant knows that hardly any large manufacturing company will procure everything from a single vendor, and thus it is more than happy to provide customers (and even competitors) with its best-of-breed (BoB) software components. Either way, Siemens is happy to help customers make smarter product development decisions, at various lifecycle stages, leading to better products. Read the rest of this entry »