From Paper to Digital Product File: How ZIEHL-ABEGG and Neoception Are Making Industry 4.0 a Reality
Company Profile
Customer: ZIEHL-ABEGG SE
Industry: Air, control, and drive technology
Project partner:
Kai Aschenbach, Technical Master Data Governance
Uwe Richter, Head of the Innovation Factory InPro
Project Goal
Implementation of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) for future-proof digital documentation
A Pioneer in Air Technology in Transformation
ZIEHL-ABEGG SE is one of the world’s leading manufacturers in air, drive, and control technology. The company stands for quality, innovative strength, and high vertical integration, and has always operated at the forefront of technological development. But even for an established global player like ZIEHL-ABEGG, transformation is essential to meet the challenges of an increasingly networked, regulated, and data-driven industry.
With a growing variety of products, markets, and regulatory requirements, the company reached the limits of traditional documentation methods. Paper-based product records increasingly became a bottleneck – both in production and after-sales service. The need to optimize internal processes, comply with new legal requirements (such as the new Machinery Directive or Ecodesign Regulation 2024/1834), and establish digital customer services led to a clear decision:
the transition to digital product files had to be tackled consistently.
The Challenge: Complexity, Regulation, Lack of Customer Access
The starting situation was complex. In addition to technical challenges – such as a grown IT landscape with inconsistent data sources – the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements played a key role. Many customers requested digital delivery of manuals, test documentation, and certificates, but this could only be implemented with great effort.
Moreover, there was no direct digital access point for end customers. Information on maintenance, spare parts, or product updates was difficult to access. The consequences: growing efforts in service and sales, and untapped potential in after-sales.
Challenges:
- Complex, manual processes for multilingual documentation
- High effort in maintenance, retrofits, and after-sales
- No direct digital customer contact point
- Increasing requirements from EU directives (e.g., Machinery Directive, Ecodesign 2024/1834)
The Solution: Digital Product File with AAS
Together with Neoception, ZIEHL-ABEGG introduced the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) as the foundation for the digital twin of their products. In iterative steps, the project evolved from an innovation idea to a scalable solution.
Key Features of the Solution:
Digital product file
with a modular AAS structure
Product- and application
-independent scalability
Easy configuration
for different product families
Integration
into existing system landscapes
Legally compliant
digital provision of manuals and certificates
Customer-centric services
via digital touchpoints (e.g., retrofit information, maintenance instructions)
Results That Make an Impact
The scalability of the solution and its simple configuration enable fast adaptation to different product groups – without complex custom development. A particular focus was placed on data quality and structure.
Another important aspect: according to the project management, optimized processes and digital documentation result in CO₂ savings equivalent to five circumnavigations of the globe by car – a prime example of sustainability through digitalization.
Results & Added Value:
- Enhanced data focus: clean, structured data as a key asset
- Scalability & future viability through a modular AAS solution
- Competitive advantage through technology leadership
- Strengthened customer relationships through digital services & transparency
- CO₂ savings equivalent to five cars driving around the world
More Than a Technology Project: A Look into the Future
Today, the administration shell is much more than a technical concept for ZIEHL-ABEGG – it is the key to future-proof product and customer communication. Under the banner of the “Digital Product File,” the company is developing a new form of interaction between manufacturer, product, and customer.
ZIEHL-ABEGG is thereby positioning itself not only as a technology pioneer but also as an active shaper of Industry 4.0. Digital transformation is not an end in itself – it is purposefully used to combine regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Why Neoception as a Partner?
For ZIEHL-ABEGG, it was clear from the start: transforming their product data landscape digitally needed more than just a solution provider – it required a true partner. Neoception convinced them not only through technical expertise in IT, security, and Asset Administration Shell (AAS) but also through enthusiasm, innovative spirit, and practical orientation. Neoception doesn’t act as a supplier but as a sparring partner.
Their affiliation with the Pepperl+Fuchs Group provides additional stability and security. At the same time, Neoception contributes valuable industry knowledge and direct access to the latest developments through their active involvement in key organizations like IDTA and ECLASS – an advantage from which ZIEHL-ABEGG benefits directly, without having to dedicate additional internal resources.
With a strong partner network and a clear understanding of industrial challenges, Neoception addresses exactly what matters: connecting technology, strategy, and operational feasibility.
Why IT Relies on Neoception – A Partner with Technological Vision
From the perspective of ZIEHL-ABEGG’s IT, Neoception was not just the right choice but a strategically meaningful one. Working with the Asset Administration Shell requires deep specialized knowledge. As an open, technically sophisticated standard, AAS offers enormous potential but is time-consuming and error-prone to develop in-house. The clear advantage: with Neoception, this was acquired as a proven, market-ready product – with all the benefits of a managed solution.
Neoception not only fulfills central IT requirements such as future viability through standard conformity and certifiable compatibility but also excels with active product management: security vulnerabilities are minimized through continuous monitoring (CVE) and regular penetration tests – a strong argument for productive use in industrial environments. Moreover, customer feedback from a wide range of industries flows into further development as “swarm intelligence” – an advantage for bug fixing and feature optimization.
Operationally, the benefits are also clear: the administration shell is used at ZIEHL-ABEGG as a digital product file, delivering significant efficiency gains internally. Another benefit is the simple access for service teams and end customers: no app required – a QR code is all it takes to retrieve data, documents, and maintenance information. This creates a direct digital touchpoint to the product – intuitive, secure, and low-maintenance.
ZIEHL-ABEGG chose Neoception as a strategic partner:
“Neoception brings not only technological expertise – they understand our world and speak our language. Always honest, always solution-focused, always committed.”
“AAS needs to be strategically prioritized – it can’t just run alongside,” emphasizes Kai Aschenbach. “Those who set clear monetary goals and work interdisciplinarily will not only succeed faster but can also create real unique selling points.”
Through close and innovative teamwork within the mixed project team, an exceptionally flexible and cyber-secure overall architecture was created for implementing the Asset Administration Shell. Together with Neoception, we are very proud to be among the first companies worldwide to have a productive administration shell solution.”
Want to Learn More?
Discover how your company can also benefit from the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) and the digital twin – and how to get started with a focused use case:
