Ep. 232 - Future of Automation with Siemens: Industrial AI, Virtual PLCs, and Digital Twin Factories

Oct 23, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

At Automate 2025, Vlad and Dave take Manufacturing Hub inside the Siemens booth to explore how one of the world’s largest industrial technology companies is shaping the future of manufacturing. From the latest S7-1200 G2 PLC to industrial copilots powered by AI, digital twins that simulate entire factories, and virtual PLCs redefining automation, this episode is packed with insights from Siemens leaders and engineers.

In this conversation series, we uncover the evolution of hardware, software, and data-driven manufacturing with experts including Chris Stevens and Anna-Marie Breu on customer experience and digital twins, Bernd Raithel on software-defined automation and IT/OT convergence, Louis Narvaez on the next-generation S7-1200 G2 PLC, Kristen Sanderson on Industrial Copilot and AI agents, Sarah McGee on Sematic AX and modern PLC programming, Kevin Wu on Pick AI Pro, Ivan Hernandez on the G220 drives, and cybersecurity specialists Tilo and Gaurav on securing industrial networks.

Throughout the episode, Vlad and Dave discuss how Siemens is transforming plant operations through tools that connect the physical and digital worlds. Topics include co-pilots for engineering and operations, lifecycle management, virtual commissioning, edge computing, harmonics and clean power, and the convergence of IT and OT teams.

This conversation is a must-watch for engineers, integrators, plant managers, and decision-makers looking to understand how software-defined automation, AI, and digital twin technologies are merging to create resilient, data-driven factories.

Timestamps:
00:00 Siemens at Automate 2025 introduction
02:45 Defining manufacturing resilience and digital twins
09:32 Virtual commissioning and collaborative engineering environments
15:10 Adoption of digital twins in small and medium manufacturers
22:35 Co-pilots and natural language interaction in industrial systems
30:28 Automation lifecycle management and version control for PLCs
36:55 Virtual PLCs, software-defined automation, and IT/OT collaboration
46:40 The new Siemens S7-1200 G2 PLC and migration from G1
57:20 AI copilots, agents, and secure Siemens cloud infrastructure
1:08:05 Somatic AX and modern PLC programming for new engineers
1:17:25 Pick AI Pro and real-world robotic vision applications
1:29:10 G220 drives and clean power innovations
1:35:45 Industrial cybersecurity and vulnerability management
1:43:00 Cinemeric Run My Robot and CNC-robot collaboration
1:50:20 Final reflections on Siemens innovation and future trends

References Mentioned:

About the Hosts:
Vlad Romanov is an electrical engineer and manufacturing systems consultant with over a decade of experience modernizing plants and integrating SCADA, MES, and automation systems. He is the founder of Joltek and co-founder of SolisPLC, creating content that educates professionals in industrial automation.

Dave Griffith is a manufacturing consultant and co-host of the Manufacturing Hub podcast, helping manufacturers navigate digital transformation, technology adoption, and operational excellence.