Rockwell Automation Invests $1B in PTC to Power Smart Factory Integration

Rockwell Automation announced a $1 billion equity investment in PTC, cementing a partnership that will fuse Rockwell’s FactoryTalk MES, FactoryTalk Analytics, and Industrial Automation platforms with PTC’s ThingWorx IoT, Kepware connectivity, and Vuforia AR solutions. The collaboration aims to deliver end‑to‑end smart factory offerings that combine real‑time analytics, edge computing, and immersive AR training.

Strategic Impact
According to Reuters analysis by JP Morgan’s Sterling Auty, the deal unlocks new markets for PTC beyond its traditional CAD focus, opening doors for thousands of companies that previously did not adopt PTC’s core software.

PTC will detail the partnership at its upcoming LiveWorx conference in Boston next week.

AT&T to Deploy Nokia WING for Enterprise IoT
AT&T is partnering with Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) to deliver provisioning, device management, operations, security, customer care, and billing for enterprise IoT applications across sectors such as transportation, health, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, utilities, and consumer electronics, as reported by SDxCentral.

Microsoft Extends Support for Windows 10 IoT Core
Microsoft announced Windows 10 IoT Core Services, offering 10 years of support and managed device updates. The paid service targets smart edge devices built on the Windows 10 IoT Core edition.

Maritime Industry Eyes IoT Investment
A new Inmarsat‑commissioned report, “Industrial IoT: Maritime,” surveyed 125 maritime owners and revealed that businesses plan to spend an average of $2.5 million on IoT solutions over the next three years, making it a top priority in their IT budgets.

Siemens Acquires Enlightened for Smart Building
Siemens will acquire Silicon Valley‑based smart‑building platform Enlightened, integrating it with existing tools to boost HVAC efficiency. The acquisition follows Siemens’ recent purchase of J2 Innovations, a building automation and IoT software framework provider.