Blake Moret, CEO of Rockwell Automation, reported at TechED 2018, "This isn't about being big, so you can do things like buy copper for a lower price, but about being flexible, customizing and partnering effectively.”
To fulfill his firm's Connected Enterprise mission with even greater digitalization and network connectivity, Blake Moret, CEO and chairman of Rockwell Automation, reported June 11 that it's formed a new partnership with PTC and made a $1 billion equity investment in the software and services provider.Moret, who will join PTC's board, announced the partnership during his keynote address on the opening day of Rockwell Automation's sold-out TechED 2018 conference in San Diego—and was joined onstage by PTC CEO Jim Heppelmann. Overall, TechED 2018 was attended by about 2,300 visitors from 40 countries.
“Subscriptions, products and software as a service—a significant portion of our sales are now in subscriptions and essentially leases,” says Moret. "This isn't about being big, so you can do things like buy copper for a lower price, but about being flexible, customizing and partnering effectively.”
The two CEOs reported that their companies will align their smart-factory technologies and combine PTC’s ThingWorx IoT, Kepware industrial connectivity and Vuforia augmented reality (AR) platforms with Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk MES, FactoryTalk Analytics and Integrated Architecture control systems. They added that this combination will produce an integrated information solution that will enable customers to increase productivity, heighten plant efficiency, reduce operational risk and improve system interoperability.
“This strategic alliance will provide the broadest integrated suite of best-in-class technology,” says Heppelmann. “Leveraging Rockwell Automation’s industry-leading industrial control and software technology, strong brand and domain expertise with PTC’s award-winning technology will enable industrial enterprises to capitalize on the promise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).”
Find our full TechEd 2018 coverage here.
