Software Highlights at Hannover Messe 2024 What Providers Are Bringing to the Forefront

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At the software providers Altair, Ansys, Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes, and PTC, much at the Hannover Messe revolves around the use of AI in engineering and the advancing digitization.

Altair will demonstrate the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of engineering at Hannover Messe 2024. According to Altair itself, "AI-Powered Engineering" stands out for its unique technology that makes AI accessible throughout the entire product lifecycle, offering users and companies of various industries and sizes the opportunity to drive simulation-driven innovations.

At the booth, Altair shows how companies can successfully manage their digital transformation through the use of simulation, data analysis, AI, and high-performance computing (HPC). Altair will focus particularly on four areas: AI-Powered Engineering, simulation-driven design, AI in the factory hall, and digital twin.

• AI-Powered Engineering: Visitors experience how lightweight construction, functional requirements, and manufacturability can be harmonized thanks to generative design. Using the example of a mega-casting e-vehicle rear structure, it is shown how AI-supported engineering reconciles lightweight construction, functional requirements, and manufacturability.

• Simulation-driven design: Although FEM has been commercially available for half a century, transitioning a CAD design into a simulation model still represents the biggest bottleneck in virtual development. Altair's solution aims to enable designers and engineers to integrate simulation into the process, speed up, automate or even completely overcome model creation, and thus achieve performance goals quickly.

• AI in the factory hall: Even though most companies are now investing in data analysis and AI or planning to do so, current data shows that only 13 percent of companies successfully implement their data strategy. In Hannover, Altair will present data solutions that scale AI initiatives without requiring a large team of data scientists or expensive services. Visitors will learn how the Rapid Miner data analysis platform optimizes supply chains, aids in maintenance planning, improves warranty processes, and much more.

• Digital Twin: Altair will also showcase its technology for the digital twin area and welcomes LTTS at the booth. Representatives of the company will give interested parties the opportunity to see the digital twin solutions in action for two hours a day. In addition, visitors are invited to sample the, as it is called, most sustainable coffee at the Hannover Messe, which is prepared by Altair using Gruppo Cimbali's innovative coffee machine optimised with Digital Twin technology.

Altair: Hall 17, Stand D25

Ansys focuses on sustainability, AI, and energy

The trade fair appearance of the simulation provider Ansys focuses on the topics of sustainability, AI, and energy. In addition, two experts from the company are speaking on the Energy 4.0 Academy Stage:

• Benedikt Dürbeck, Senior Application Engineer: "Design of Sustainable Products with Material Intelligence" - on Monday, April 22nd from 3:20 to 3:40 pm: To support a company on the way to net zero, careful material selection is crucial. With the help of reference data and assessment tools, engineers can identify environmentally friendly materials early on and avoid costs and delays.

• Scott Parent, VP, Field CTO Energy, Aerospace & Industrials: "Using Simulation and Digital Engineering to Solve the Energy Trilemma" - on Tuesday, 23rd April from 12:20 to 12:35 pm: According to Ansys, digital engineering already makes a significant contribution to energy efficiency and sustainability today and will accelerate the development and scaling of net-zero solutions through the integration of simulation and digital transformation of the energy sector.

Ansys: Hall 17, Stand D16

Autodesk shows AI, networking, and the cloud

At the Autodesk booth, customers and partners demonstrate how artificial intelligence, connected data and cloud platforms can achieve greater efficiency and sustainability in the industry.

The highlights at the booth:

• The student project "mu-zero Hyperloop" uses the generative design functions of Autodesk Fusion, the cloud and machine learning to quickly generate CAD-capable geometry options and thus redesign the mobility of the future.

• The AI co-pilot "Amaize", as an add-in for Autodesk Fusion, is designed to help customers print metal parts with ease by using automated modeling and generative design.

• The company One Click Metal demonstrates that 3D printing of metal parts can also be affordable for smaller companies. An example of this is the 3D-printed pre-separator made of metal - designed with Autodesk Fusion 360.

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  Date: 08.12.2025

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• Coral Maker uses AI-powered robotics and the Design and Make Platform to automate the restoration of corals.

• Using Fusion and its associated extensions, a Formula 1 Sim Racing Steering Wheel illustrates the entire product development process. The exhibit demonstrates the model's journey from concept to finished product.

Autodesk: Hall 17, Stand D26

Dassault Systèmes presents virtual twin technology

Dassault Systèmes underlines at the Hannover Trade Fair the relevance of virtual twin technology and robot-based automation for the global competitiveness of industrial companies - especially against the background of shortages of skilled workers. Together with its exhibition partner Omron, Dassault shows the benefits of end-to-end digitization on the 3D Experience platform, including the integration of autonomous mobile robots (AMR).

Also part of the showcase at the Hannover Messe is the so-called Asset Administration Shell (AAS). Its interaction with the 3D Experience platform is demonstrated using the example of a flexible manufacturing plant. This is supposed to optimize value chains and generate new business models. As a result, it actively promotes the standardization of the digital industrial landscape.

Dassault Systèmes' and Omron's showcase shows a shop floor with autonomous mobile robots at four stations from the production process and demonstrates how the virtual twin technology simplifies the process of factory planning to operation, increases efficiency, and increases flexibility:

• Plant planning in the pre-sales phase: Production lines can be planned in advance in 3D on the 3D Experience platform. This ensures that new machines and mobile robots fit into the layout and are optimally placed, e.g. in terms of power supply and travel routes. The use of a virtual twin also increases flexibility and efficiency through robot simulations and the design of new workflows.

• Virtual commissioning: To ensure smooth integration, workflows can be simulated virtually in advance and different scenarios can be tested before physical commissioning. This allows errors in the control process and bottlenecks to be identified early on. Companies benefit from shorter installation times and efficient processes.

• Management: The larger the fleet of mobile robots, the more complex the monitoring and management of operations become. The virtual twin on the 3D Experience platform serves as a control center. It combines operational data such as performance indicators and material information in real time, providing a comprehensive overview.

• After-sales service: A specific virtual twin, tailored to customer requirements, enables data-based, sustainable and predictive maintenance. Sensor data is analyzed using artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and rectify potential failures early on. Proactively planned maintenance is possible to minimize downtime. In addition, augmented reality technology can be integrated. Here, the real environment is perceived fully and without restrictions and virtual additional information - like an extended view window - is overlaid on the camera image of a tablet PC or smartphone. This is intended to facilitate precise diagnoses and shortened repair times.

Dassault Systèmes: Hall 17, Stand E16

PTC with continuous "Digital Thread"

At the fair, PTC presents its solutions with which manufacturing companies can develop, manufacture, and maintain their products in new ways. As a top partner and Manufacturing Partner of the Year from Microsoft, PTC is allowed to present its solutions at the Microsoft stand in Hall 17.

A demonstration shows how Vestas has implemented an immersive, end-to-end "Digital Thread" with PTC tools. The provider of wind energy plants links product data across the entire value chain, thus connecting its design, manufacturing, and service. According to PTC, the Digital Thread enables customers to develop, build, and maintain highly configurable products more efficiently and sustainably, as well as increase customer satisfaction.

In PTC's Digital Thread software portfolio, CAD, PLM, ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), SLM (Service Lifecycle Management), as well as AR and IIoT seamlessly interlink. The software is available in the cloud on Microsoft Azure and, according to the announcement, enables an agile approach to the development, production, and service of physical products, and accelerates innovations.

PTC: Hall 17, Stand G06 (Microsoft's stand)

Sustainability

Hannover Fair focuses on All Electric Society