Tom Gaudet is the Director of Product Management at Kepware, a PTC technology. With a decade of experience in industrial connectivity, Tom plays a pivotal role in advancing Kepware's product strategies and solutions. He is passionate about driving innovation and ensuring the seamless integration of protocols across industry. He also enjoys volunteering as a judge at FIRST robotics competitions.
New industrial communications platform will modernize connectivity
Today, we’re announcing upcoming availability of Kepware Edge, a new Linux-based industrial communications platform, to accelerate deployment of industrial connectivity in manufacturing. The addition of Kepware Edge to the Kepware suite of products addresses manufacturers’ need to modernize legacy architectures to enable data-driven operations with AI and automation while improving scalability, agility, and security of their industrial connectivity.
Key takeaways:
- New Linux-based industrial communications platform will be deployed via container, accelerating time to value while simplifying maintenance and patches
- Initial offering will include connectivity for select, major PLC and device brands, and IT/OT integrations via OPC UA and MQTT to ensure interoperability
- Kepware Edge beta testing is planned for Summer 2025. To learn more or sign up to stay in the know, visit www.ptc.com/kepware-edge.
Need to modernize legacy architectures
Manufacturers continue to accelerate investments in smart manufacturing initiatives, seeking to leverage AI, machine learning, and automation to drive improvements in cost, quality, and sustainability. Every initiative relies on robust, reliable data from manufacturing devices to be seamlessly and securely accessed and shared from devices to applications across the enterprise.
To meet the growing demand for this data, manufacturers are modernizing their architectures and embracing containers and Linux-based solutions to accelerate deployment while improving reliability, security, and total cost of ownership.
Introducing Kepware Edge
Kepware’s new industrial communications platform, Kepware Edge, will be compatible with Linux-based operating systems and deployed via containers. Kepware Edge will enable manufacturers to rapidly deploy industrial connectivity across lines, sites, , and the enterprise – creating seamless integrations between industrial devices and on-prem or cloud-based applications – while simplifying ongoing maintenance, lowering total cost of ownership, and reducing cybersecurity risks. The initial offering of Kepware Edge will include device connectivity for top name device brands and will enable integrations to most applications via MQTT & OPC UA.
Key features of Kepware Edge:
- Device Connectivity for Major Device Brands: Access data from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, and Modbus-enabled devices with drivers tailored to containerized deployment
- IT & OT Integrations via MQTT & OPC UA: Easily and securely share data across OT and IT applications—including SCADA, MES, and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure—using MQTT and OPC UA.
- Linux Container Support: Deploy Kepware in a container on Linux, providing a flexible and scalable solution for modern industrial environments
- Enhanced Performance and Security: Benefit from a robust, 64-bit solution with enhanced security and portability features inherent to containerized applications
- Scalability and Maintainability: Simplify deployment and management processes with containerization, reducing operational overhead and improving efficiency
"Our customers are embracing Linux, and we are excited to provide the tools they need to build scalable, futureproof architectures," said Tucker Emerson, Head of Sales, PTC Kepware. "With this new offering, manufacturers will be able to deploy Kepware industrial connectivity for top brand PLCs and devices in more environments unlocking greater efficiency and innovation."
The foundation for future Kepware innovation
This launch underscores Kepware’s continued investment in helping manufacturers standardize their connectivity, building an interoperable foundation that integrates devices and applications for smart manufacturing initiatives.
"Kepware Edge marks a significant milestone in our mission to deliver powerful, reliable connectivity that our customers trust on Windows—now in a flexible, Linux-based environment," said Abby Eon, SVP and General Manager of Kepware. "This initial offering is just the first step in expanding our industrial connectivity solutions to support the growing demand for open, scalable architectures, empowering manufacturers to seamlessly integrate data across their operations."
Kepware Edge beta testing is planned for Summer 2025. To be the first to know, sign up here. To learn more about Kepware Edge or join our mailing list to stay in the know, visit www.ptc.com/kepware-edge.