US software giant Autodesk bought MaintainX, a company that develops software for maintenance operations and industrial asset management, founded by Romanian Chris Ţurlică, in an all-cash transaction worth USD 3.6 billion.  The deal announced last week is the largest acquisition ever made by Autodesk and marks the company's expansion beyond design and manufacturing software into the operational area, namely the management and maintenance of assets after they are built. MaintainX was launched less than a decade ago in San Francisco as a mobile platform intended for industrial maintenance teams. The software enables the management of work orders, inspections, repairs, and assets, providing companies with a real-time view of equipment condition.