Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients
ARC analysts attended PTC’s LiveWorx 2017 and came away with some interesting takeaways. At LiveWorx a year ago, PTC was focusing on designing the smart connected product, while introducing the use of augmented reality (Vuforia) to create a digital thread between the physical product and the virtual design (CREO). Thingworx was presented as a platform that would enable the user to create IoT connected ecosystems for everything from transportation fleets to agricultural equipment in the field. At this year’s LiveWorx, PTC showed that they have a clear roadmap and a lot of new apps (over 600 in the ThingWorx market place) for affecting the entire business process via Thingworx. Additionally, the focus was clearly on manufacturing and production systems in terms of connecting automation systems on the factory floor and exploiting this data with manufacturing apps. Last year’s Keynote showed a step by step process of how an asset is connected, monitored, then repaired using IoT and augmented reality technology. In contrast this year expanded way beyond the “how does it work” showcase, and looked at how the Thingworx platform can foster innovation across a company’s functional structure, specifically in the engineering department, digital organization, sales and marketing, and, of course field operation.
Jim Heppelmann’s keynote theme again was the digital enterprise, where the physical and digital worlds were merging together, however, this time he had some very specific examples on the stage to validate this. On hand was a Bosch-Rexroth (one of PTC's partners) Cytro-Pac, which by all accounts is a complex edge device used to monitor and collect production automation data for performance monitoring and analytics. Heppelmann and his technicians were able use an augmented reality (AR) projected Cytro-Pac side by side with production equipment to collect real-time data and provide analysis with a ThingWorx app. Heppelmann pointed out that PTC is combining AR, digital twin, machine learning analytics, and even additive manufacturing to improve both product design and production processes.
With the focus on the manufacturing process, PTC’s message was how ThingWorx could be used to continuously improve operational performance and production flexibility through digital manufacturing, real-time edge intelligence, and predictive analytics. ThingWorx 8.0 was introduced with a look at what’s new with some specific applications for manufacturing. This included ThingWorx Controls Advisor, which provides a link to factory automation equipment like PLCs, smart sensors, and factory gateways, and ThingWorx Production Advisor which provides real-time production line performance visibility. PTC’s Kepware OPC connectivity solutions are a significant part of these type of applications, and Kepware will be an important component going forward in PTC’s manufacturing solutions to connect factory automation equipment to ThingWorx Studio and Composer.
PTC has a very strong partnership with GE Digital. When GE sells its MES products in the Predix environment, ThingWorx is included with each instance. GE doesn’t sell Thingworx separately, and the Thingworx brand doesn't appear anywhere in the GE software UI. However, GE clearly acknowledges ThingWorx is a part of the Predix platform. GE has several hundred instances of ThingWorx throughout its manufacturing facilities. ThingWorx rapid design capabilities are a plus for GE, so it is preferred for building visualizations even compared to its own HMI. PTC is currently building a tighter link between ThingWorx and Predix to take advantage of Predix's storage (big data) and more powerful analytics.
PTC has clearly made significant progress with ThingWorx, especially in the manufacturing space. I think it is fair to say that PTC, along with their competitors Siemens and Dassault Systemes in the PLM market, has recognized that manufacturing is where the real business opportunities lie for IIoT.
Jim Heppelmann’s keynote theme again was the digital enterprise, where the physical and digital worlds were merging together, however, this time he had some very specific examples on the stage to validate this. On hand was a Bosch-Rexroth (one of PTC's partners) Cytro-Pac, which by all accounts is a complex edge device used to monitor and collect production automation data for performance monitoring and analytics. Heppelmann and his technicians were able use an augmented reality (AR) projected Cytro-Pac side by side with production equipment to collect real-time data and provide analysis with a ThingWorx app. Heppelmann pointed out that PTC is combining AR, digital twin, machine learning analytics, and even additive manufacturing to improve both product design and production processes.
With the focus on the manufacturing process, PTC’s message was how ThingWorx could be used to continuously improve operational performance and production flexibility through digital manufacturing, real-time edge intelligence, and predictive analytics. ThingWorx 8.0 was introduced with a look at what’s new with some specific applications for manufacturing. This included ThingWorx Controls Advisor, which provides a link to factory automation equipment like PLCs, smart sensors, and factory gateways, and ThingWorx Production Advisor which provides real-time production line performance visibility. PTC’s Kepware OPC connectivity solutions are a significant part of these type of applications, and Kepware will be an important component going forward in PTC’s manufacturing solutions to connect factory automation equipment to ThingWorx Studio and Composer.
PTC has a very strong partnership with GE Digital. When GE sells its MES products in the Predix environment, ThingWorx is included with each instance. GE doesn’t sell Thingworx separately, and the Thingworx brand doesn't appear anywhere in the GE software UI. However, GE clearly acknowledges ThingWorx is a part of the Predix platform. GE has several hundred instances of ThingWorx throughout its manufacturing facilities. ThingWorx rapid design capabilities are a plus for GE, so it is preferred for building visualizations even compared to its own HMI. PTC is currently building a tighter link between ThingWorx and Predix to take advantage of Predix's storage (big data) and more powerful analytics.
PTC has clearly made significant progress with ThingWorx, especially in the manufacturing space. I think it is fair to say that PTC, along with their competitors Siemens and Dassault Systemes in the PLM market, has recognized that manufacturing is where the real business opportunities lie for IIoT.