In this episode of Automate 2025, we welcome Bernd Raithel from Siemens back to the show to discuss the evolution of industrial control systems and the future of manufacturing. As the Head of R&D for Siemens Factory Automation in the US, Bernd shares his unique perspective on bridging legacy PLCs with modern IT infrastructure, enabling software-defined automation, and empowering manufacturers with flexible and scalable digital tools. With deep insights into products like the S7-1200, S7-1500, TIA Portal, Sematic X, and Siemens Industrial Edge, Bernd explores how Siemens is supporting everything from small-scale modernization to large-scale transformation.

We cover critical trends shaping the next generation of manufacturing, including the rise of virtual PLCs (vPLCs), integration of AI into control systems, the shift from hardware to software-defined automation, and the challenges of IT and OT convergence. Bernd also highlights the importance of version control, DevOps pipelines, and open edge development in making industrial systems more agile.

We wrap up by looking at Siemens' global R&D structure, freemium software models for engineers, and how manufacturers can take their first steps into digital transformation—without boiling the ocean.

This is a must-watch conversation for engineers, IT leaders, and decision-makers in the automation space looking to understand what the future of control and connectivity looks like.

🔗 Mentioned Tools and Technologies:

Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500
Siemens TIA Portal
Siemens Sematic X
Siemens Industrial Edge & Edge Developer Kit
Siemens Unified
vPLC (Virtual PLC)
Codesys
Git-style source control for automation
AI Copilots for engineering and operations

📍 Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and intro to Bernd Raithel’s new role
02:00 Siemens legacy in Johnson City and product milestones
04:00 Why software-defined automation is gaining traction
06:00 Edge computing, vPLCs, and building flexible architectures
08:00 The real-world challenges of IT and OT integration
10:30 Sematic X, version control, and agile OT tools
13:00 How Siemens runs global R&D across multiple continents
15:00 The future of manufacturing and PLC longevity
17:00 Balancing modern tools with 30-year lifecycle expectations
19:00 Starting points for digital transformation with Industrial Edge
20:00 Siemens freemium strategy and access to tools for engineers

📚 Learn More:

Siemens Industrial Edge: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/industrial-edge.html
TIA Portal: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/tia-portal.html
Sematic X: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/sematic-x.html
Siemens Unified: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/topic-areas/unified.html
Siemens vPLC: https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/automation/industry-software/virtual-plc.html
Siemens Developer Trials: https://plcnext-community.net/

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