logo
Broadcom Teams with Audi to Deliver Next-Generation IT-Based Factory Automation Powered by VMware Cloud Software

Broadcom Teams with Audi to Deliver Next-Generation IT-Based Factory Automation Powered by VMware Cloud Software

Yahoo27-03-2025
VMware Cloud Foundation helps Audi Modernize IT on the factory floor while reducing cost, complexity and environmental impact
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) today announced that Audi's Edge Cloud 4 Production (EC4P) initiative, powered by VMware Cloud software, is now live with the first virtual programmable logic controller (vPLC) at the Boellinger Hoefe plant in Germany where Audi manufactures the electric Audi e-tron GT car. As part of the EC4P initiative, the VMware Cloud Foundation® (VCF) private cloud platform helps Audi centralize the management and maintenance of dedicated industrial PC devices located on the factory floor, simplify security patching and risk management, and reduce environmental impact through the use of less hardware and fewer manual operations.
With EC4P, Audi is delivering smart manufacturing by bringing software-defined factory automation to the shop floor and bridging the gap between IT and OT. The initiative includes close partnership between key technology partners including Broadcom, Cisco and Siemens. ​​
'The use of virtual programmable logic controllers in the body shop is an important productivity leap in our 360factory strategy for efficient and data-driven manufacturing,' said Audi Board Member for Production Gerd Walker. 'We want to bring the local cloud for production to all plants and leverage advances in digital control systems in the process.'
'The collaboration between Audi and Broadcom is core to building a manufacturing future that is more efficient, cost-effective and secure,' said Sven Müller, project lead for EC4P at Audi. 'Through our work together, we're setting new standards for precision, customization, and environmental sustainability. EC4P will reduce our hardware footprint, replacing thousands of decentralized industrial PCs with a more efficient, scalable and flexible architecture of local edge servers that unites the cloud and the edge on the shop floor.'
Transforming IT-based Factory Automation with a Private Cloud Platform
Audi deployed VMware Cloud Foundation to create a private cloud environment outside of the Boellinger Hoefe manufacturing plant where critical shop floor workloads are hosted and managed centrally. Some examples include:
Virtual Worker Stations (Virtual Desktops): Instead of maintaining physical industrial PCs for running thousands of 'worker stations' across the factory, these can now be run as virtual machines (VM) on VMware Cloud Foundation outside of the actual plant. Software and operating system updates can be done as a parallel operation instead of forcing them into the short shift changeover times. If a worker station VM has issues, it can quickly be replaced remotely.
Virtual Programmable Logic Controllers (vPLCs): Virtual Programmable Logic Controllers (vPLCs) are used to control robots that manufacture different parts of the cars. A vPLC workload can be installed as a VM or even container and be managed similarly to IT-based cloud infrastructure. Configuration updates, security patches and feature updates can be made from Audi's private cloud.
Building on EC4P, upcoming use cases may include AI-driven production, data analytics and computer vision applications for Audi. With VMware Cloud Foundation, Audi aims to achieve the following benefits at Boellinger Hoefe:
Infrastructure standardization through one private cloud platform for all applications on the shop floor.
Faster updates and deployments through improved efficiency with faster application deployment, automated updates and maintenance.
Better agility and scalability through cloud infrastructure that makes it easier and faster to reconfigure a production line to accommodate a product mix change, and scale compute and storage infrastructure easily and independently.
Reduced costs through a smaller hardware footprint, less hardware maintenance, and centralized software and operating system updates.
Lower environmental impact through a smaller hardware footprint that generates less heat, consumes less power, and results in less e-waste.
Enhanced security and resilience through automated and centralized patching at scale and use of immutable snapshots in the event of an attack or breach enable fast roll back to the last known good state, minimizing interruption to the production line.
Less downtime through intelligent workload and network telemetry can proactively flag, diagnose and remediate issues and automated updates during planned maintenance windows.
'As Audi seeks to take factory automation to the next level and benefit from a scalable infrastructure at its factories worldwide, VMware Cloud Foundation will enable the replacement of industrial PCs and specialty hardware on the shop floor with general purpose servers running consistent VMware cloud infrastructure software,' said Paul Turner, vice president of products, VMware Cloud Foundation Division at Broadcom. 'VCF provides a consistent and scalable way for Audi to operate a distributed edge infrastructure, manage resources more efficiently, and lower operations costs. Ultimately, VCF will help Audi increase factory uptime, agility, and the speed of rolling out new applications and tools across the production line.'
About Broadcom
Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO) is a global technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies a broad range of semiconductor, enterprise software and security solutions. Broadcom's category-leading product portfolio serves critical markets including cloud, data center, networking, broadband, wireless, storage, industrial, and enterprise software. Our solutions include service provider and enterprise networking and storage, mobile device and broadband connectivity, mainframe, cybersecurity, and private and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. For more information, go to broadcom.com.
Media ContactsRoger T. FortierVCF Division, Broadcomroger.fortier@broadcom.com
Pauline ChayEMEA Communications, Broadcompauline.chay@broadcom.com
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Broadcom scraps microchip plant investment in Spain, report says
Broadcom scraps microchip plant investment in Spain, report says

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Broadcom scraps microchip plant investment in Spain, report says

MADRID (Reuters) -U.S. chipmaker Broadcom has pulled out of plans to invest in a microchip plant in Spain as talks with the government have broken down, news agency Europa Press reported on Sunday citing unidentified sources. Spain's Digital Transformation Ministry and Broadcom did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Europa Press report did not say why the talks had broken down. The decision will be a blow for Spain's ambition to become a relevant player in the microchip industry in Europe. The government has previously said it would allocate some 12 billion euros ($14 billion) for the semiconductor and microchip industry, using some of the European Union's pandemic relief funds. Broadcom announced the investment two years ago but did not say how much it would invest. The government said at the time the project could be worth $1 billion and include the construction of "large-scale back-end semiconductors facilities unique in Europe". ($1 = 0.8559 euros)

Vintage '60 Minutes' Episode Shows How Unhinged Lamborghini Testing Used To Be
Vintage '60 Minutes' Episode Shows How Unhinged Lamborghini Testing Used To Be

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Vintage '60 Minutes' Episode Shows How Unhinged Lamborghini Testing Used To Be

Modern Lamborghinis are marvelous pieces of precision engineering. Once Audi purchased the then-struggling Italian supercar maker in 1998, purists were afraid of how the notoriously sensible and serious German owners would change the imperfect yet exhilarating brand. As someone who was three-years-old when the purchase occurred, I've only heard fables about the old Lamborghini. Pre-Audi Lamborghinis like the bullish LM002 that Jalopnik's own Andy reviewed were described as hairy-chested, uncomfortable, and unreasonable, but I never quite understood just how unhinged the old Lamborghini was until I watched this vintage "60 Minutes" episode. The presenter rides alongside Valentino Balboni, one of the most legendary test drivers in automotive history who drove about 80% of all Lamborghinis ever built between 1973 and 2009, as he tested a red Countach at speeds up to 180 mph on public Italian roads. Lamborghini didn't have a test track until it was purchased by Audi in 1998, so all of its cars were pushed to their limits and test driven on public roads. Watching Balboni weave around trucks and compact cars, even driving three abreast on a two-lane road with blind curves, certainly qualifies as unhinged in my book. Read more: These Movies And TV Shows Have The Best Car Casting In an interview with Daniele Audetto, who was a former rally car driver in the role of marketing director for the Lamborghini Countach, the attitude and image that the company wanted to portray becomes clear. In classic Italian fashion, he equates a white Countach to "a beautiful virgin," a red one to "a mature woman," and a black one to "an intriguing woman." Watching this as someone raised in the world of political correctness, this style of conversation is simply wild to see televised, let alone someone holding the position of marketing director for a well-known carmaker. These were very different times. These folks really enjoyed sexualizing the Countach, with one article cited in the "60 Minutes" broadcast likening driving the Countach to losing your virginity. I'm certain that driving a Countach in the '80s was an exhilarating experience, but this is no place for that sort of diction. We live in a much different world now than in 1987, a world with much stricter emissions and safety regulations that would never allow for a car as maniacal as the Countach. And honestly, with overzealous and underexperienced social media influencers totaling their new McLarens and Ferraris, can you imagine if they were driving something as unadulterated as a Countach? Not even the modern Countach LPI 800-4 quite lives up to its ancestor's insanity. Thankfully despite being owned by the sensible Germans, Lamborghinis are still ostentatious, loud, exhilarating, and evocative, but the days of the unalloyed and raw cars like the Countach are gone. One take that I appreciate though comes from the magnificently mustachioed editor and publisher of Automobile Magazine David E. Davis, who says "I firmly believe that anyone who's worth anything at all should own a 12-cylinder car before they die, because there's nothing like it." I think the world would be a better place if that were the case. In the meantime, we'll have to do with listening to the naturally aspirated Lamborghini V12 roar in the POV footage in this documentary. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.

Prediction: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Is the Safest AI Chip Bet
Prediction: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Is the Safest AI Chip Bet

Yahoo

time17 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Prediction: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Is the Safest AI Chip Bet

TSMC has become the undisputed foundry leader. This essentially makes it the arms dealer in the AI chip battle, making it a winner no matter who comes out on top. The company could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of autonomous driving as well. 10 stocks we like better than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing › Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) may not design artificial intelligence (AI) chips, but it's a company that every AI chipmaker relies on. The AI giants rely on TSMC to manufacture their number-crunching chip designs. That's why TSMC is the safest long-term play in the AI infrastructure space. Let's look at what makes the company so special. TSMC is the world's most advanced semiconductor foundry, and it counts the world's leading chip designers among its top customers, including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, and Apple. It has the scale and technological leadership that rivals can't match. Intel has been burning cash trying to establish its foundry business, while Samsung's yield issues continue to be an issue. That has given TSMC a huge market share lead in the advanced node market, and it's not particularly close. Nodes refer to the size of the transistors used on a chip, measured in nanometers. The smaller the node, the more transistors can be packed onto the chip, which boosts performance and power efficiency. Smaller nodes are becoming a bigger part of TSMC's mix. Chips made on 7nm and smaller nodes made up 73% of its revenue in the first quarter, up from 65% a year ago. Its 3nm node accounted for 22% of revenue, and Apple has booked much of its 2nm supply for future products. Even Intel has been using TSMC's 3nm tech for some of its most advanced chips. That says a lot. TSMC's clear leadership in the space has also given the company strong pricing power. Between increasing demand and higher prices, this is driving both strong revenue growth and improved gross margins. Last quarter, its revenue jumped 35% to $25.5 billion, led by growth in high-performance computing (HPC). That continued in Q2, with the company reporting preliminary revenue growth of 39% to $31.9 billion, as estimated by Reuters. Margins remain strong despite new fabs ramping. Gross margin rose 190 basis points to 58.8% in Q1 despite its Arizona and Japan fabs still ramping up and weighing on profitability. TSMC expects these newer facilities to dilute margins by 2 to 3 percentage points this year, but the company is already raising prices to offset the pressure. According to reports, TSMC will increase AI chip prices this year, with Arizona-made chips potentially commanding a 30% premium. TSMC is not entirely without risks. Geopolitical tensions around Taiwan will always be part of the story, and it's not immune to tariffs and policy shifts in the U.S. However, TSMC is already addressing both by expanding its footprint globally. The company has been building new fabs in the U.S., Japan, and Europe in partnership with its largest customers. However, what makes TSMC the safest AI semiconductor stock is its position in the semiconductor value chain. It ultimately doesn't matter which company wins the AI chip race. TSMC's success is tied to overall AI chip demand, not any one company's products. AI chip demand isn't slowing down, either. TSMC previously projected AI-related revenue to grow at a mid-40% compounded average growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years, starting in 2024. It's also working closely with customers to time its capacity expansion accordingly. With its top customers booking future supply, it has solid visibility into future growth. Meanwhile, it could see a tailwind beyond AI with autonomous driving. Robotaxis are beginning to take off and gain traction, and all of those vehicles will need to be fitted with advanced chips. It's still early, but if robotaxis and autonomous driving become commonplace, TSMC will be a big beneficiary. In the AI chip battle, TSMC is essentially the AI arms dealer. It doesn't need to bet on who will dominate the chip market, because it sells manufacturing services to all of them. For investors who want exposure to AI semiconductors without betting on a single chipmaker, TSMC is the safest way to play it. The stock is also attractively valued, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24 times based on analysts' 2025 estimates and a price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG) of less than 0.7. Stocks with PEG ratios below 1 are typically considered undervalued. Taken all together, TSMC is one of the best and safest stocks to buy in the semiconductor space right now. Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $671,477!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,010,880!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,047% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2025 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: short August 2025 $24 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Prediction: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Is the Safest AI Chip Bet was originally published by The Motley Fool Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store