Siemens Industry, Inc. has bought California smart meter software maker EMeter Corporation, as it continues expansion plans in the smart grid space announced two years ago.

EMeter is a 13-year-old company that makes meter data management or MDM systems, a type of software that utilities can’t do without if they want to set up smart grid networks. It acts as the smart grid’s nervous system – collecting data from two-way meters, and then sending them to utilities.

While the companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, Siemens is expected to acquire all of EMeter’s stocks and close the transaction later this month.
Siemens said back in 2009 that it wanted to win 6 billion euros’ worth of smart grid projects in over five years. The goal is ambitious, considering its 1 billion euro in estimated smart grid-related revenues for the fiscal year ending September 2009.

Since then, the conglomerate has been partnering with, investing in and buying smaller smart grid companies.

GTM said the MDM market will grow from $54 million in 2009 to as much as $221 million by 2014 as more utilities install smart maters that depend on the software.
EMeter was ranked as the top MDM provider in the United States by GTM research in August last year, citing the company’s plans to manage 6.5 million meters by 2014 with its EnergyIP software.

Data such as customer power use is collected every 15 minutes, providing utilities a way to understand peaks in demand and make better decisions on how to manage them. The same information can also be accessed by consumers through a dashboard or dedicated device to find ways on how to lower utility bills.
Known utilities such as Jacksonville Electric Authority, Vattenfall, Toronto Hydro Electric System and Bluebonnet are currently using EMeter software in their smart grid networks.

The company has raised a total of $68.8 million in over six funding rounds according to crunbase.com. Aside from Siemens, investors include Sequoia Capital, Foundation Capital, Northgate Capital and DBL Investors.

It will now be part of the smart grid division of Siemens’ Infrastructure & Cities Sector under Siemens Industry, Inc., the American unit of the German conglomerate.
It will continue to operate from its San Mateo, California headquarters.
Smart choices

Siemens was initially an investor and project partner of EMeter. It led a $12.5 million investment in EMeter in 2008 and has partnered with several meter data management projects with utilities in the United States and Europe.

In the same way, Siemens acquired a 60 percent stake in Energy4U, a company similar to EMeter, back in August 2009 followed by the acquisition of Site Controls in October 2010 for an undisclosed sum. Texas-based Site Controls makes software that can optimize air-conditioning.

Instead of buying companies Siemens has often opted for partnerships or investments like what it did with Viridity Energy and Tendril. EMeter can be considered a solid acquisition, considering the number of utility deals it has made and the length of time it has remained in an unpredictable market.

By combining portfolios, Gary Bloom, chief executive of EMeter, believes that having Siemens at their side will give its business an edge in the smart grid market.
“Siemens’ global reach and innovative products and services coupled with EMeter’s renowned EnergyIP platform, supports an aggressive growth strategy and further penetration into the Smart Grid market,” said Mr. Bloom. “I am confident Siemens will provide EMeter with the level of investment required in people, technology and operations to significantly strengthen our position in the market.”

EMeter is also developing separate applications to turn data gathered by EnergyIP into graphs for business reports, customizable web-portals and advanced billing systems for utility customers. The company this year also introduced a cloud version of its EnergyIP software with Verizon.

Source:http://www.ecoseed.org/business-article-list/article/1-business/12018-siemens-continues-smart-grid-expansion-buys-software-maker-emeter

Siemens AG said Tuesday it extended a software licensing contract with consumer products conglomerate Procter & Gamble Co.

Siemens did not disclose financial terms of the contract extension. The company said Procter & Gamble has used Siemens’ software since the 1980s.

The programs under the contract are used for plant engineering and product development management.

Source:http://www.cnbc.com/id/45575224

Siemens Energy today announced that it has acquired San Mateo, Calif.-based eMeter and that its meter data software will be integrated into Siemens product line. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal is expected to close later this month.

eMeter’s software is designed to collect data from two-way meters and feed it into utilities’ back-end business systems. The venture capital-backed company is headed by former Oracle executive and Veritas CEO Gary Bloom.

By collecting data such as customer power consumption every 15 minutes, utilities can automatically read meters and get a better understanding of demand trends. Energy usage information can also be presented to consumers through a dashboard or dedicated device to help consumers lower utility bills.

One of the challenges for utilities is that water, gas, and electricity meters create masses of data that has to be collected over different networks and then integrated into systems. Tying meter data into billing applications, for example, helps utilities streamline their operations.
eMeter is also building analysis software that processes reams of data two-way meters and other grid equipment for business reports and analytical applications. The company this year introduced a cloud version of its EnergyIP meter data management software with Verizon.

Siemens Energy, which was an investor in eMeter, said that eMeter’s software will be an integral piece to its product line aimed at utilities. “Ever-increasing demand for solutions to improve the effectiveness of the smart grid for cities and utilities makes this acquisition even more important. eMeter is renowned for its superior software and services capabilities that enable electric, gas and water utilities to realize the full benefits of the smart grid,” Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Smart Grid division of the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector said in a statement.

Analysts predict that the increase in data from networked meter will create strong demand for back-end software in the next few years. eMeter’s meter data management software competes with analytical software from Oracle and SAP.

Source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-57336647-54/siemens-buys-emeters-smart-grid-big-data-software/

Siemens (Munich, Germany) reports that it has acquired VISTAGY Inc. (Waltham, Mass., USA), a supplier of specialized engineering software and services with emphasis on designing and manufacturing structures made of advanced composite materials. An agreement to this effect was signed in early November. VISTAGY will become a part of Siemens’ Industry Automation business group., a division of the Siemens Industry Sector. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms of the acquisition. The transaction is subject to customary approvals, and is expected to close before the end of 2011.

Siemens says the acquisition is part of its effort to add industry-specific engineering software to its industrial software portfolio for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). With the acquisition of VISTAGY, Siemens says it will become the only company worldwide to support the whole value creation for carbon fiber components with its software tools – from product definition and development to manufacturing and service.

“Advanced software solutions tailored to specific industry requirements are vital for companies to achieve the next level of performance in their products. This type of industry focus will be the differentiating factor for success in the industry software market,” said Anton S. Huber, CEO of the Siemens Industry Automation Division. “The planned integration of our PLM Software business with VISTAGY’s universally acknowledged expertise in industry-specific software, such as composites, will make us the partner of choice in this market today and well into the future.”

About 300 customers worldwide are applying VISTAGY’s software products for a variety of applications, ranging from composites engineering and design and manufacture of complex assemblies and large aerostructures to design and manufacture of transportation seat systems and interior components. Siemens PLM Software is a global supplier of software and services with the capability to optimize the entire lifecycle of products and radically reduce their time-to-market.

“Vistagy has spent the last 20 years supporting the engineering and production work of its customers by providing robust solutions and excellent service,” said Steve Luby, VISTAGY’s president and CEO. “We have been working successfully in partnership with Siemens PLM Software for a long time. And now we are looking forward to becoming a part of Siemens’ comprehensive offerings and to significantly expand our current customer base.”

Source:http://www.compositesworld.com/news/siemens-acquires-composites-software-firm-vistagy

Siemens has announced an in-kind software grant with a commercial value of US$71 million to the Higher Education Engineering Alliance Program (HEEAP). The in-kind software grant, provided by 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, will help universities develop the next generation of Vietnamese engineers.

HEEAP, developed in collaboration with the government of Vietnam, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Arizona State University Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering (ASU), Siemens, and Intel Corporation will collaborate with top technical universities in Vietnam to advance their Electrical and Mechanical Engineering curricula. The goal is to develop a highly skilled technical workforce that will attract and sustain a healthy high-tech manufacturing industry, thus positioning Vietnam to compete among high-tech centers of excellence.

HEEAP focuses on developing and advancing interdisciplinary and applied engineering and vocational curriculum through instructional innovation and university level transformation. Working with the Ministry of Education and Training, partner university leadership, and industry leaders, the project focuses on faculty instructional innovation and university level transformation needed to succeed in the emerging Vietnamese high-tech sector.

The in-kind software grant made through Siemens PLM Software’s GO PLM™ initiative, will provide its NX™ software, a comprehensive digital product development solution; and Tecnomatix® software, a best-in-class digital manufacturing solution, to Ha Noi University of Technology, Da Nang University of Technology, Can Tho University, Ho Chi Minh University of Technical Education, and the Ho Chi Minh University of Technology.

“Advanced technology like the PLM software is critical to preparing our students for the challenges of a global economy. We are pleased to partner with Siemens PLM Software to give students in Vietnam access to state-of-the-art tools that provide the knowledge and experience that will help them be successful in a highly competitive marketplace,” Jeffrey S. Goss, Director, Vietnam Higher Engineering Education Alliance Program and Assistant Dean, Global Outreach and Extended Education for ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

“Siemens is pleased to support the universities with the state-of-art Siemens PLM Software technology in their education program,” said Erdal Elver, President and CEO, Siemens Vietnam. “This is our commitment to Vietnam as part of our corporate social responsibility. I sincerely wish the program a very successful start and bring down-to-earth benefits to the participants for their career development.”

“Siemens PLM Software provides universities with access to PLM technology, which otherwise would be out of reach for the academic community, giving students a distinct advantage by being able to use the same PLM technology widely-used by leading multi-national manufacturing companies around the globe,” said Rajiv Ghatikar, General Manager, APAC and Australasia, Siemens PLM Software. “The experience gained in the use of these tools better prepares students for today’s highly-competitive manufacturing jobs requiring full knowledge of modern technologies.”

Source:http://www.cadcamnews.in/2011/04/siemens-announces-us71-million-in-kind.html

During its press conference at Hannover Fair, Siemens explained that the near-term focus for the company’s Industry Sector would be on industrial software, vertical expertise and its services business.

As with most large industrial suppliers, stronger vertical industry positioning and growth of services/consulting have been major factors for the past two or three years. Services, consulting and maintenance programs in particular, have become increasingly major sources of business for large industry suppliers, such as Siemens, given the reduction in the full-time engineering workforce required to operate most industrial facilities today.

Therefore, Siemens announcement around its increasing focus on software is of greatest interest.

“We see the future as concurrent engineering occurring on a common platform, allowing production planning and design optimization to occur in parallel,” said Prof. Dr. Siegfried Russwurm , CEO of Siemens’ Industry Sector.

With the industrial software market expected to grow at a rate of 8 percent a year between now and 2015 (especially when compared to the projected 5 percent growth per year expected for vertical industry sectors and related services), the company’s heightened focus on this area makes a lot of sense. It also speaks to changes the company clearly sees from machine designers and system builders, as software increasingly becomes a major player in the design process — both in the design stages and as part of the delivered product.

Siemens software focus will largely revolve around expansion of its TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal (you can read more about TIA Portal here) and PLM (product lifecycle management ) software, as well as its MES and HMI software. The company’s vision is to enable a combined product and production lifecycle using a joint data model, allowing all software applications to access the same database for concurrency.

This vision of Siemens is still a work in progress and requires integration of its own software with that of its acquisitions over the last few years, such as UGS, Innotec, and Elan Software.

When asked during the press conference whether Siemens growth strategy in software involved further acquisitions or if growth would be organic from existing resources, Russwurm responded that the company is “open to both” options.

Personally, I think some major announcements will be forthcoming in this area — likely before the year is out.

Source:http://www.designnews.com/article/517683-Siemens_Targets_Joint_Product_Development_Production_Process_Software.php