Charlotte lands new headquarters, as European software firm sets up in SouthPark
As the CEO of a German software company called WSCAD, one of Axel Zein’s primary missions is to leverage artificial intelligence to simplify the lives of electrical engineers.
“We had horse carriages, and then the train came. The truth is, coachmen are not around anymore,” Zein said, reflecting on technological shifts like AI. “But the flip side of the coin is that on every single train, we have created more jobs than there were on one coach — and we have a lot more trains than coaches.”
Charlotte is playing a central role in this vision.
The company recently opened its first U.S. office in the SouthPark area, which will serve as its U.S. headquarters. WSCAD employs several people with plans to bring on about three to five more workers. The total relocation cost was not provided by the company.
WSCAD, which produces software for manufacturers, panel builders and engineering firms, chose Charlotte after evaluating several cities . The decision was driven by the city’s affordable cost of living and a desire to be near a growing hub of machine builders and potential customers across the Carolinas.
The ‘nervous system’ of industry
WSCAD focuses on electrical engineering — a field Zein describes as the “nervous system” for machines, production lines, data centers, and energy facilities.
To address the complexities of this field, the company launched Electrix AI, the world’s first electrical design software driven by artificial intelligence.
Unlike other tools that rely on general models like GPT, Electrix AI was built by WSCAD to meet the specific needs of industrial design. The software allows users to complete complex tasks in seconds through straightforward, chat-based commands.
Engineers can instantly generate a full bill of materials — the complete list of parts manufacturers need to assemble a product — with a single command. The software also automatically transforms digital electrical diagrams into ready-to-build designs for control cabinets, which are metal enclosures that house and organize the electrical components controlling machines and industrial equipment.
Electrix AI also quickly detects design flaws and provides immediate answers to technical questions, saving time and reducing errors throughout the design process.
AI helps reduce design work from six hours to two minutes
Most electrical design is done manually in separate, time-consuming steps. AI-based automation can cut that workload down from weeks to hours.
For example, designing control panels — a task that typically takes an engineer six hours — can now be completed in two minutes.
This efficiency is a vital solution for companies struggling with the global shortage of skilled workers. By using AI, less-experienced staff or even interns can handle tasks that once required a small group of experts, such as checking projects for errors.
But Zein emphasizes that technology does not replace the need for human oversight.
“Now we’re at a level where I would say the accuracy is way above 90%,” he said. “But as an engineer, you shouldn’t check out your brain. At the end of the day, you are responsible.”
WSCAD considers additional growth after Charlotte
While Charlotte serves as the initial hub, WSCAD is already eyeing growth in Michigan to tap into the automotive and heavy machinery industries. The company is hiring for sales and technical consulting positions to support its American expansion.
Zein believes AI will lead to more fulfilling careers rather than fewer jobs.
“Nobody became an engineer to spend hours clicking through menus,” he said. “AI takes over the tedious work, leaving engineers free to focus on more interesting, intellectually rewarding tasks.”
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 5:36 AM with the headline "Charlotte lands new headquarters, as European software firm sets up in SouthPark."
