Dassault Systèmes has acquired the Ascon Qube technology from Ascon Systems Holding GmbH, giving it SaaS-ready technology that leverages AI to plan, build and control production through a model-based software platform.
Part of its solutions to model, simulate and optimise virtual twins of an entire factory, Dassault Systèmes will integrate Ascon Qube technology into its Delmia portfolio, deployed via the 3DExperience platform.
A Dassault spokesperson said that the acquisition will accelerate the delivery of its next-generation ‘3D Univ+rses environment’, that looks to combine virtual twins, training AI engines and customer IP protection.
The technology will materialise in new Experiences as a Service (XaaS) to model, simulate, optimise and execute manufacturing with software-defined automation at the machine level, which Dassault sees as replacing traditional PLCs. Users should be able to benefit from faster decision-making, reduced downtime, long-term efficiency gains, and operational resiliency.
The complexities of adapting and modifying production line automation to meet fast-changing demand and introduce new products means that in a factory with hundreds of machines, software programming and reconfiguration can delay production quality, changeovers, and product delivery. This software-defined automation should allow companies to mitigate these challenges by accelerating their ability to change production, improve quality, and maximise asset use.
The Ascon Qube technology has been developed to date by Ascon Holding GmbH, with experience in software-defined automation and providing new ways to optimise and manage factory floor automation systems and machinery. With a focus on eliminating the inefficiencies of hard-coded PLCs and rigid, heterogeneous production systems, it claims Ascon Qube provides unparalleled interoperability and flexibility across industrial automation processes.
