Reflections on Rockwell Automation and the Industrial Software Market
I attended Automation Fair in November and published a few posts. Notably this one. These thoughts plus more can be found on my latest podcast on Libsyn or on YouTube.
Media and analyst day included presentations by executives of several areas of the company they wished to highlight. Upon reflection, I find it interesting that software—as in HMI/SCADA, CMMS, and MES were not mentioned. Rockwell Automation has dropped its long-time sponsorship of the MESA organization. No major automation supplier now supports the organization—Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider Electric (AVEVA, Invensys), GE (which split to Vernova, which divested this software to TPG), Microsoft were all major supporters of the reinvigoration of the organization some 20 years ago. Nor was process automation discussed.
What Rockwell did highlight was indicative of its renewed focus and strengthening of its core presence on the factory floor.
Rockwell is a manufacturer, as well as, a supplier to manufacturers. They’ve instituted a program for updating their manufacturing process using their own products and services. The Silicon Valley phrase is eating your own dogfood, or dogfooding. Here, the initiative is called Rock on Rock.
Following the acquisition of an autonomous mobile robot supplier, they have a VP in that area who explained how the variety of robotic technologies will enhance Rockwell’s presence on the factory floor.
Software defined automation--software distinct from the target controller--can target any Rockwell control. Question about IEC 61131 and targeting anyone's control fell on deaf ears.
Rockwell has a VP of AI who explained their use of AI, fitting trend of AI as automation tool, trained on the company's data.
Two months earlier, I had been in California at the Ignition Community Conference of Inductive Automation. The energy of the conference plus the list of innovations to the core product was a telling contrast to the lack of conversation about Rockwell’s software. I had some time to explore the trade show floor where I found little additional information. Given the GE Vernova spin off of its industrial software at that level and no news from Schneider Electric in that market area, I’m wondering whether Inductive has succeeded in capturing that market niche.
Gary