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Siemens Launches Xcelerator Portfolio as a Cloud Service
As part of its transition to a new SaaS business model, Siemens Digital Software Industries launches its entire Xcelerator portfolio of engineering software as a cloud offering.
October 24, 2021
In a nod to engineering organizations’ readiness for cloud, Siemens Digital Software Industries is launching its entire Xcelerator portfolio of engineering software as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering, kicking off a transition to an entirely new business model.
Citing its acquisitions of cloud-based platforms like MindSphere, Mendix, and Supplyframe, Siemens said the groundwork was laid for a cloud-native foundation upon which to deliver Xcelerator as a Service (XaaS). Offering XaaS in this fashion will provide a mechanism for Siemens to deliver flexible and personalized solutions for users, allowing them to compose and configure a design and engineering software environment that meets their needs. By doing so, individual engineers can create their own workspace that will ensure maximum productivity.
“Traditional software delivery and licensing models can be difficult to access or scale—and it’s clear that if our customers are going to achieve their potential and thrive among the challenges they face, they need to be able to access and use their software differently,” notes Brenda Discher, senior vice president, strategy & marketing, for Siemens Digital Industries Software. “An As-a-Service model enables our customers to access innovation in a more agile and integrated fashion across our entire portfolio.”
While as-a-Service delivery models have gained significant traction in the enterprise software space, engineering organizations have been more reticent to commit to cloud, concerned about the security of their design intellectual property (IP) as well as performance given the compute- and graphics-intensive nature of CAD and simulation programs. Now, companies are more comfortable with cloud, and the technologies have made significant strides in computing, networking, graphics, and security, Discher says.
The core tenets of the XaaS offering are to make the Siemens engineering and design software toolset more accessible, available to customers where and when they need them; to deliver more flexibility in terms of personalizing capabilities for specific roles and needs; and to address scalability, so the toolset can be expanded with new features and to accommodate new usage patterns as needs and requirements change. “Xcelerator and our value-based licensing has revolutionized how our customers license our existing set of technologies,” Discher says. “They have access to on-going value delivered through new and updated capabilities. It makes access to these tools instantaneous and the data they create and interactions more readily available when they are needed.”
Siemens plans to build on Xaas in a number of ways. The company will introduce more XaaS-specific toolsets that leverage the benefits of a cloud-native approach, whether that’s data collaboration with Xcelerator Share or future offerings that take advantage of the cloud’s greater compute and connected capabilities, she says. In addition, the SaaS model enables Siemens to deliver targeted capabilities, allowing for the addition of cloud-based Digital Thread solutions that are purpose-built for specific industries. By enabling access to the broader portfolio, customers will also be able to develop more robust digital twins and threads.
“It makes the physical-virtual connection of the digital twin stronger through deeper integration of IoT capabilities,” Discher explains. “It also makes customizing digital threads to a customer’s specific needs easier due to our integrated low-code platform.”
For a deeper dive on the Xcelerator platform, check out this video.
More Siemens Digital Industries Software Coverage
About the Author
Beth Stackpole is a contributing editor to Digital Engineering. Send e-mail about this article to [email protected].Follow DE


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Gigi Hadid Wears Amazing $159 Boots To Kick Off Fashion Week
Considering models have carefully mastered the art of effortless-looking style, it comes as no surprise that one of New York Fashion Week's busiest models kicked off the week in the perfect fall shoes. You're going to want to copy Gigi Hadid's red boots, which the 23-year-old wore to brunch with Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski in Manhattan on Monday. And although much of Hadid's wardrobe is on my fall wish list, I'm now convinced the only boots I'll wear this season will be red.
While Hadid is known for wearing much pricier brand names while she's out and about (think: Balenciaga and Fendi), there's good news about her latest look: Her red booties will only set you back $159.
The boots are designed by Senso, an Australian label that hasn't shied away from the spotlight in recent months. Fellow fashion icon, Kendall Jenner, has been spotted wearing the brand, as well as celebrity hair maven, Jen Atkin, and Eva Chen, the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram.
While red booties may not seem like a typical summer-to-fall transitional shoe, they're the easy statement piece that's been missing from your collection. Hadid paired the pointed sock booties with her signature look: a pair of light-wash, slouchy jeans by Tommy Hilfiger and a vintage-looking t-shirt (tucked in for a touch of sophistication). Much like her sister Bella, Hadid continues to embrace the tiny sunglasses trend and threw a pair of white frames over her messy ponytail.
To make the shoes really pop, Hadid topped off the look with a Versace top-handle bag in the same fire-engine red. Suffice it to say, the model's outfit makes the case for swapping in bright red as your new neutral.
In addition to her bright-red boots, Hadid has been photographed in an array of enviable shoes, including Stuart Weitzman heeled booties (paired with biker shorts, no less) and leopard-print boots (a pattern you can anticipate seeing a lot of in the coming months).
Shop The Look
Hadid undoubtedly has a busy schedule ahead of her, as New York Fashion Week will begin in just a few short days. Last year, she commanded the runway while walking in shows for notable designers such as Anna Sui, Brandon Maxwell, and Tom Ford. The month is shaping up to be big for her, which began with a cover shoot for Vogue Brasil's September issue.
If she clicks the heels of those red boots together, who knows what more good fortune could head her way.

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Verizon Wireless has discretely cut ten handsets from its list of devices subject to a $350 Early Termination Fee (ETF). No official annoucement has been made on the change, but the carrier’s list of so-called “Advanced Devices” subject to the fee now appears to include only smartphones and netbooks.
The Advanced Device List filed with the FCC in mid-December contained a number of multimedia phones, including the Motorola Krave, the Samsung Rogue and five LG devices. Verizon’s current list is stripped of those devices.
Verizon’s ETF fee for devices on the Advanced Device List is $350, twice that of the fee for devices not on the list.
In its December filing with the FCC on the matter, Verizon Wireless said “Advanced Devices generally have more complex chip sets, microprocessors and licensed software that perform more functions than regular phones.”
More specifically, the advanced category includes those devices which feature dual processor chipsets, Wi-Fi and HTML browsers. It is unclear whether Verizon has changed its official criteria for the list. A Verizon spokesman was unable to answer queries about the change.
Verizon Wireless came under FCC scrutiny in early December after it doubled its ETF for netbooks, smartphones and some feature phones. No official action has been taken on the matter.


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DyeMansion is a leader in post-processing solutions for industrial polymer 3-D printing.
Felix Reinshagen and Peter Nietzer join as new board members.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) are investing €11 million and €4 million, respectively, into innovative startup DyeMansion. With this EU funding, DyeMansion will secure its long-term development as a company providing post-processing solutions for industrial polymer 3-D printing. Its founders aim to improve digital manufacturing for an era in which 3-D-printed products will become part of everyday life. At the same time, the global leader in this highly specialised post-production technology is introducing two new board members — Felix Reinshagen and Peter Nietzer. The two experienced entrepreneurs, board members and investors in the business-to-business industrial tech sector will support DyeMansion in the next phase of its growth.
The EIC Fund is Europe’s flagship innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough and game-changing technologies. Following the successful market launch of DyeMansion’s VaporFuse technology and its Powerfuse S hardware, the EIC Fund is now adding additional funding. Back in 2020, the EIC had selected DyeMansion to be part of the first Green Deal call within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
The additional funding from the EIB is backed by European Guarantee Fund (EGF) venture debt. EGF venture debt enables the Bank to provide growth capital to European small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) affected by the COVID-19 crisis. EGF venture debt is based on 100% risk coverage from the 22 participating EU Member States.
The EU funding brings the company’s total financing to $43 million. Recognising sustainability as one of DyeMansion’s core values driving each innovation from the fast-growing company, the EIB is providing particular support for research and development expenses.
DyeMansion is now able to bring even more new products to the market — and to do so faster — as it did with the Powershot Performance Series in 2021. DyeMansion’s innovations put it right at home in the factory of the future, using state-of-the-art automation technology to set up the industry 4.0-ready production lines of tomorrow.
DyeMansion has also announced that Felix Reinshagen and Peter Nietzer have joined its board. As an experienced entrepreneur, board member and investor, Nietzer will actively support the development of DyeMansion as Chairman of the Board. In addition to various active roles in the management of private and public sector companies, he currently supports firms as an investor and board member. Nietzer brings industry experience not least from his role as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Voxeljet, which he has held since 2013.
Felix Reinshagen is founder and CEO of NavVis, a high-tech startup in the field of indoor digitalisation, indoor navigation, and location-based services. His experience in building a fast-growing high-tech company in the business-to-business industry environment will not only be available as a board member but also as a partner for DyeMansion’s founders and management.
The company’s existing investors — AM Ventures, btov Partners, UVC Partners, KGAL and Nordic Alpha Partners — continue to support DyeMansion’s expansion.
Arno Held, Managing Partner of AM Ventures, said: “I got to know Felix and Philipp before the incorporation of DyeMansion in 2015 and I am more than happy to have had the chance to support them ever since. I continue to be very impressed with what this strong team has achieved so far. Their technology has been a key driver in developing the additive manufacturing market further and in enabling high-volume applications. Their outstanding results last quarter and a strong pipeline for 2022 show the great potential of DyeMansion. And the best is yet to come.”
Felix Ewald, CEO and Co-Founder of DyeMansion, said: “The financial support of the European institutions as well as the additional expertise on the board will help DyeMansion continue to lead the transformation of the 3-D printing industry from the forefront. Combined with the momentum in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the continued support of our existing investors, we are now well positioned to continue to energetically develop relevant, highly industrial technologies that help our customers produce 3-D-printed products with superior quality.”
Nicklas Bergman, EIC Fund Investment Committee member, added: “We are proud to announce the EIC Fund support for DyeMansion. Through this investment, the EIC Fund is backing the additive manufacturing post-processing company’s growth and helping it to implement a more sustainable supply chain.”
Fabrizio Morgera, Senior Investment Officer at the EIB, said: “We are happy to support research and development activities at this innovative startup company. We believe in the 3-D printing market, and post processing is likely to be a winner following the COVID crisis, in terms of global supply chains and sustainability.”
The European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund), established in June 2020, is a breakthrough initiative of the European Commission for direct equity and quasi-equity investments (between €500 000 and €15 million) into European high impact and deep tech startups and scale-ups. With a long-term perspective, the EIC Fund invests in companies from any sector, across all EU Member States as well as in associated countries. The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies. This is achieved by crowding-in market players and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding. The fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.
DyeMansion is the global leader in post-processing solutions for industrial polymer 3-D printing that turn 3-D-printed raw parts into high-value products. From perfect fit eyewear to personalised car interiors, their technology enables the era of digital manufacturing where 3-D-printed products will become part of our everyday life. Starting in 2015 with the first industrial colouring solution for powder bed fusion parts, the Munich-based company extended its portfolio with advanced part cleaning and surfacing solutions for a wider range of 3-D printing technologies in the field of plastics. Today, DyeMansion’s Print-to-Product workflow combines industry-leading hardware with the widest range of colour and surfacing options on the market. Their systems are applicable for industry 4.0 and can be integrated seamlessly into various production processes. The ability to provide a flexible solution for both small batches and high volumes makes DyeMansion a trusted partner for future factories. Through close collaboration with customers across all industries, the 3-D-finishing technology and expertise are growing continuously with the market. Reduced costs per part, unmatched quality, and high sustainability are core values that drive each innovation from the fast-growing company. In addition to these principles, finding the right finish for every application is what drives them.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted OVHcloud, the European leader in cloud computing, a €200 million credit facility devoted to investments in Europe. This funding demonstrates the EIB's desire to actively support European digital players, and is in line with the European Union’s priority of strategic autonomy in new technologies.
The new loan signed between the European Investment Bank (EIB), backed by the Investment Plan for Europe, and pharmaceutical company MedinCell is intended to support the development of the company’s portfolio of innovative treatments of the company. MedinCell’s portfolio is already composed of several Long-Active injectable products at preclinical and clinical stage. A first product using MedinCell’s BEPO® technology is expected to reach the U.S. market in the first half of 2023.