PROSTEP has developed three preconfigured OpenPDM CONNECT solutions for connecting PTC's IoT platform ThingWorx to the PLM systems 3D EXPERIENCE, Teamcenter and SAP PLM on the basis of its OpenPDM technology. The solutions enable digital product information to be linked with the operating data of the real product, which converge on the IoT platform. PROSTEP will also support the new ThingWorx Orchestration integration framework, which is slated for launch at the end of the year together with ThingWorx Release 8.4.
OpenPDM provides the technological basis for all of PROSTEP's integration solutions. The software offers basic data mapping and workflow definition functions that can be used to manage the entire process involved in synchronizing data between the connected systems. OpenPDM not only provides standardized connectors to commercial PLM solutions but also to applications like application lifecycle management (ALM) and requirements management, as well as connectors for IoT integration.
ThingWorx is one of the leading platforms for linking the digital and real product worlds in production and service. PROSTEP and PTC have expanded their long-standing partnership with the aim of ensuring that the IoT platform can not only be linked to PTC Windchill but also to third-party PLM solutions. PROSTEP currently offers OpenPDM ThingWorx CONNECT solutions for 3DEXPERIENCE, Teamcenter and SAP PLM via the PTC Marketplace. The standard configurations support read access to the PLM data from ThingWorx and visualization of the data in PTC Navigate. Depending on customer requirements, they can also be configured for data export.
PROSTEP has also agreed to support the new ThingWorx Orchestration integration framework when developing future PLM integrations. ThingWorx Orchestration is an integration framework that boasts a comprehensive library of preconfigured connectors. The framework enables different IT systems and devices to be integrated using simple drag-and-drop operations, thus allowing cross-system and cross-domain business processes to be set up and supported quickly.
Working closely with PTC, PROSTEP's integration specialists used the new middleware to implement a demonstrator for connecting Teamcenter to PTC ThingWorx, which was first showcased at PTC LiveWorx in Boston. It not only enables PLM data to be visualized in the context of IoT but also allows complete PLM data packages to be compiled and made available to external partners in a secure environment via ThingWorx.
"We are proud that we were one of the first PTC partners to have the opportunity to test the new integration framework," said Peter Pfalzgraf, head of the Products business unit at PROSTEP. "The presentation of the demonstrator underscores our expertise in the field of PLM integration and also enables us position ourselves as a competent integration partner when it comes to IoT."
