Rockwell adds partners for transformation
Raw data insights key for industrial survival
CHICAGO: Rockwell Automation, a USbased provider of industrial automation, is gearing up for partnerships and acquisitions to expand solution services and facilitate digital transformation.
“Industrial transformation holds the key to business survival in the next 10 years because it leads to productivity,” Blake Moret, chief executive and chairman of Rockwell Automation, said at a pre-event for Automation Fair 2019 in Chicago, held between Nov 20-21 with the theme “Expanding Human Possibility”.
“Seamlessly connecting all levels of a business and turning raw data into insights happens when devices are integrated and data is standardised,” said Mr Moret.
Rockwell is working with IT and Internet of Things (IoT) analysts to assist customers in integrating operation technology (OT) into their IT system to accelerate industrial transformation, he said.
Rockwell has signed a partnership agreement with tech consulting firm Accenture. Under the deal, Rockwell will provide industrial automation technology and domain experts, while Accenture will provide enterprise business and technical capabilities, including consulting support, said Mr Moret.
Rockwell also acquired Mestech, a system integrator in India, and formed the Sensia joint venture, the first integrated digital oilfield automation solutions provider, with Schlumberger, the world’s leading oilfield service provider.
Microsoft, an existing partner, will help businesses access high-quality data through cloud services, he said.
Software maker PTC, which partners with Rockwell, can help connect devices and systems through IoT and use augmented reality technology to see systems and solve problems in new ways.
Joe Sousa, president of Asia-Pacific for Rockwell Automation, said the company is expected to thrive in the region in 2020, driven by industrial segments that require expertise from the company.
The company expects growth in life science and mining industries as well as food and beverage, healthcare and beauty, chemicals, automotive and tyres, and oil and gas.
“By creating a differentiated value, we focus not only on growth but also bringing our new technologies to life,” said
Mr Sousa.
“We are very bullish about fiscal 2020 regardless of what happens around the world.”
The firm still sees a significant opportunity in Asia, particularly China, despite the trade war and flat growth for the region.
Rockwell recently launched Connected Services Experience Centre in Singapore, which can demonstrate the integration of technology platforms for IT and OT convergence.
Customers visiting the facility can see the benefits of connected enterprises and the positive effect that could happen with their business, he said.
The company has been running a similar centre in Thailand, said Mr Sousa.
John Watts, regional marketing director for Asia-Pacific of Rockwell Automation, said the digital transformation in Asean is happening step by step.
He said the digitisation and automation process transformation are not aimed at driving down labour cost, but rather coping with the speed of innovation, change and response to customer needs.
Pierre Teszner, regional director of Rockwell Automation Southeast Asia Pte, said the manufacturing sector in Thailand is starting to adopt more automation as they are gear up for digital transformation.
The early adopters are multinational firms, particularly those in life science and pharmaceutical industries as well as consumer products. Other adopters are factories from China that relocate their plants to Thailand.
Thailand is one of Rockwell’s strategic countries in Asean as the government is pushing the Industry 4.0 scheme, Mr Teszner said. The company plans to collaborate with the prime minister’s office to provide tech skill training.