2009 Emerson Global Users Exchange - Engaging Minds. Amazing Results.

 

By Bill Lydon - Contributing Editor

 

 

Steve Sonnenberg, Executive Vice President of Emerson Process Management, opened the conference by emphasizing the biggest challenge of attendees will be to “translate this knowledge (gained) into amazing results when you bring these ideas back home.”

 

Sonnenberg noted that fiscal year 2008 ended last September with sales of $6.7 billion and in the first three quarters of this fiscal year sales are down about 5%. “We feel our business is starting to bottom out and the prediction for 2010 will be recovery, albeit a slow recovery.”  Sonnenberg assured that group, “we continue to manage our overall cost to enable us to continue to invest heavily in technology, to make acquisitions, and make sure we spend the money to support our customers.”  An example of this is the new 100,000 square foot Fisher flow lab and control valve development facility being completed in Marshalltown, IA that will accommodate line sizes up to 36 inches and pressures up to 3,500 psi. Also, the acquisition of Roxar a leader in multiphase flow metering is another example.

 

Sonnenberg highlighted new products including wireless position monitors, wireless conductivity transmitters, Fisher 4320 wireless position monitor, and wireless HART THUM™ Adapter. Adding a Smart Wireless THUM™ Adapter makes any HART device a wireless node.

 

Sonnenberg introduced the new Delta V that includes the new S Series I/O, device dashboards, and Electronic Marshalling that simplifies operations, project management, installation, and efficiency.

 

Emerson is using a new process to design products based on Human Centered Design (HCD) and have established the Emerson Human Centered Design Institute. The goal is to make products that are reliable, compatible and cost-effective, and bring about a significant improvement in ease-of-use and workforce productivity.

 

Sonnenberg thanked John Berra for his support, insights, and contributions to the industry and noted that many of the new products and technologies were inspired by Berra.

 

Attendance was lower at this year's Emerson Global User Exchange but considering the severity of the economic downturn the over 1,600 attendees from 43 countries was good. Attendees' intensity was high as people are focused on improving business and looking beyond the recent downturn. The conference showcased many user applications, illustrating how Emerson products and good application engineering solved problems and improved operations. Attendees networked with other users and learned about new products and techniques by taking advantage of over 300 workshops, short courses, industry forums, and a 46,000-square-foot exhibit area featuring Emerson and partner products.