Siemens has acquired Swedish service and software company Vizendo, maker of augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) training solutions for automotive manufacturing. The deal sees it deepen its Industry 4.0 contracts with the likes of BMW, Daimler, and Ford, which it already serves with digital twin solutions.
Vizendo has contracts with various car makers, inclyding BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler, Volkswagen, and Volvo. It also works with aerospace manufacturers. Its AR and VR training solutions are used for training staff on production, maintenance, and repairs, as well for staff induction and qualifications.
The firm uses customers’ own CAD/PLM data to generate digital twins as the basis for its AR and VR-based virtual operator training (VOT) solutions. More than 70 percent of its customers are already using Siemens’ Teamcenter solution for their CAD/PLM data.
Vizendo was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Gothenburg. It claims its virtual training solutions reduce training from eight weeks to one week, and manual mistakes by over 50 percent.
Siemens’ local business in Sweden has handled the purchase, which closed on June 1. It assumes charge of the new division, which will be integrated into the German firm’s local digital industries division in Sweden. In total, 23 software designers and service engineers have joined.
Karen Florschütz, chief executive at Siemens’ customer services business unit, commented: “Virtual training has huge growth potential. Vizendo’s service and software range ideally complements our digital services and thus our digital enterprise portfolio.
“This is how we will effectively support our customers – from preparations to the start of production to continuous optimisation. Being able to train their employees virtually in each of these phases and at any place significantly enhances our customers’ flexibility while reducing both the effort and cost.”
Erik Gustafsson, chief executive at Vizendo, said: “Together we can explore the full potential of Vizendo’s innovative technology and virtual training expertise. Siemens’ global presence and extensive industrial knowledge will ensure that our current and future customers benefit from innovative, seamlessly integrated solutions.”
