ALPHARETTA, GA, Aug 3, 2026 – Siemens has released SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements, extending its SIMATIC AX engineering platform beyond PLC programming and into visualization for the first time. The US-exclusive release brings code-based workflows — build, version control, and deploy — to the plant floor, running alongside the existing drag-and-drop editor in SIMATIC WinCC Unified system.
Automation engineers now work with a single environment that covers both control logic and its visual interfaces, using the development practices common in IT software engineering.
Key innovations for development include:
- Full project generation from YAML files – The application builds automation projects from YAML files by combining AI-generated code, configurations, scripts and reusable library packages into a deployable build.
- Hybrid workflows – Embedded workflows support simultaneous work in graphical development environments and direct code editors, with changes synchronized in real time.
- Open architecture – Users can run custom web controls within the same environment without external APIs.
- Git and extension support – Native Git integration provides project history, branching and merge-request workflows for real-time collaboration among distributed visualization teams. The extension-based IDE uses the Open VSX marketplace for development environment configuration. Background updates add features without mandatory upgrades or additional license fees.
“We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in industrial automation, where the speed of innovation is no longer limited by engineering tools but enabled by them,” says Adrien Amar, global business development manager, Software Defined Automation and SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements at Siemens Digital Industries. “For decades, we’ve helped manufacturers automate their production lines; now we’re automating the automation itself. With SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements, engineers can generate, validate, and deploy automation projects at software speed – using AI generation, CI/CD pipelines, and the version control that IT teams have relied on for years.”
“The US release of SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements marks an important step forward in modernizing industrial engineering workflows, bringing visualization and control engineering together in a unified development environment,” adds Cory Rinaldi, portfolio sales enablement manager, SCADA & Edge, North America, Siemens. “By combining visual and text-based engineering, native Git integration, and AI-ready workflows, we’re helping customers accelerate development, improve collaboration, and adopt IT-driven engineering practices without compromising the reliability expected in industrial automation. Initially supporting WinCC Unified PC Runtime applications, WinCC Unified Elements provides customers with a modern engineering approach, while expanding the flexibility and choices available within the Siemens automation portfolio.”
Source: Siemens
About Siemens Digital Industries
Siemens Digital Industries (DI), a division of Siemens AG, focuses on industrial automation and digitalization. Based in Nuremberg, Germany, the division provides software, automation systems, and digital services that support the full product and production lifecycle—from design and engineering to manufacturing and maintenance. With a history extending over six decades, Siemens DI serves key sectors including automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, energy, and electronics. Its technologies, such as the Xcelerator platform and SIMATIC automation systems, are designed to integrate physical and digital processes, enabling data-driven manufacturing and operational efficiency. The division reports annual revenues exceeding €18 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people globally. Its portfolio supports manufacturers in implementing Industry 4.0 strategies by linking simulation, automation, and real-time data in scalable systems.
