Solution Architect - ECAD

Lightium chooses Aras to streamline photonic chip development. Its light-based chips cut energy use by over 30% and aim to push data speeds beyond 6 Tbit/s in the coming years. Aras announced that Lightium, a Switzerland-based startup specializing in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), has selected Aras Innovator to establish a connected foundation for managing the complexity of its photonic chip development. Operating in one of today's most technically demanding domains, Lightium is addressing the growing challenge of data transfer in modern computing environments. Its photonic integrated circuits transmit data using light instead of electrical signals, delivering significant advantages in speed and energy efficiency for data centers. Aras Innovator provides the digital thread to connect data, processes, and disciplines across the organization. As technological ambition increases, so does the complexity of development processes. This drives the need for structured, end-to-end data and full traceability, both critical for scaling and managing yield in photonic production. Lightium selected Aras Innovator for its ability to support evolving requirements and bring structure to its development processes. The platform enables the company to integrate development data, simulations, and design processes on a robust foundation for managing part structures and projects. It also provides the flexibility to develop custom front-end applications tailored to photonics-specific workflows and day-to-day use. Lightium is implementing the platform while leveraging AI-driven approaches to further optimize development workflows. Lightium was founded in September 2023 and builds on more than six years of prior research and development. The fast-growing startup offers foundry services for photonic chips based on 200 mm manufacturing processes, enabling scalable industrial production. Lightium reports that its technology reduces energy consumption by more than 30% compared to conventional solutions. Current systems support transmission rates of up to 800 Gbit/s, with the next generation targeting 1.6 Tbit/s. Lightium is working to enable speeds exceeding 6 Tbit/s in the coming years.

Aras will showcase its AI-powered Variant BOM Agent at Hannover Messe 2026 in the Microsoft booth, in a joint demonstration with SICK. The solution helps manage complex product structures by analyzing dependencies, identifying conflicts, and creating visibility across configurations. Built on Aras Innovator Edge AI and powered by Microsoft Foundry, the agent ingests existing bills of materials, identifies modular components, and proposes standardized variants optimized for reuse. Engineers can interact using natural language and refine variant structures without disrupting existing PLM or ERP systems. The demonstration takes place 20-24 April in Hannover, Germany, at Hall 17, Booth G06. Hannover Messe expects approximately 3,500 exhibitors and over 120,000 visitors.

Aras to showcase ai-powered Variant BOM Agent in Microsoft booth at Hannover Messe. Joint demonstration with SICK AG highlights analysis of complex product structures to identify modular components and optimize reuse at industrial scale. Andover, MA - April 16, 2026. Aras, a leading provider of digital thread solutions for product lifecycle management (PLM) and engineering AI, today announced it will feature its AI-powered Variant BOM Agent in the Microsoft booth at Hannover Messe 2026. The joint demonstration with SICK, one of the world's leading solutions providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector, will show how generative and agentic AI complement human judgment to manage complex product structures and boost industrial efficiency. The Variant BOM Agent is built on Aras InnovatorEdge AI, a governed, enterprise-grade AI services layer that allows manufacturers to design, deploy, and manage agentic workflows across their digital thread. Powered by Microsoft Foundry, it provides a scalable foundation for applying generative and agentic AI in complex engineering environments, turning fragmented data into an AI-native product backbone. The Variant BOM Agent ingests existing BOMs, identifies modular components, and proposes standardized variants optimized for reuse across product families and markets. Engineers can interact with the system using natural language, inspect AI-generated dependency rules, and iteratively refine variant structures. This enables configure-to-order personalization without disrupting existing PLM or ERP systems. Additional agents featured in the demonstration further highlight the extensibility of InnovatorEdge AI, enabling customers, partners, and third parties to build and deploy new agents on the same infrastructure. "As product variety grows, so does the complexity and cost of variant management," said Marcellus Menges, Vice President Global R&D, SICK AG. "Aras' AI-powered solution helps us analyze dependencies, identify conflicts earlier, and create visibility across configurations. It allows us to process large volumes of data faster and make more confident decisions - reducing risk, accelerating time to market, and strengthening our competitiveness." "What we're demonstrating at Hannover Messe is a practical, real-world application of AI across the digital thread," said Rob McAveney, CTO of Aras. "By combining InnovatorEdge AI with Microsoft Foundry, backed by Azure, manufacturers can move beyond isolated AI experiments to scalable transformation - accelerating innovation, reducing lifecycle costs, and delivering higher-quality product variants." Hannover Messe 2026 takes place April 20-24, 2026 in Hannover, Germany. With approximately 3,500 exhibitors and more than 120,000 expected visitors, it is the world's leading trade fair for industrial transformation. Aras will participate in the "Redefine Product Lifecycle Intelligence Neighborhood," located in Hall 17, Booth G06. About Aras Aras provides a digital thread platform for product lifecycle management and engineering AI. Built on an AI-native, low-code foundation, it enables the rapid delivery of flexible solutions. Aras connects teams across disciplines and functions to critical product data and agentic AI throughout the product lifecycle and extended value chain. Visit aras.com to learn more and follow Aras on LinkedIn, YouTube, X, and Facebook. Aras press contact. Jeff Drew Guyer Group for Aras P: 617.233.5109 E: [email protected] Unlock innovation.