December 2012
By Bill Lydon, Editor
The 2012 Emerson Global User Exchange conference held October 8-12, 2012 in Anaheim, California attracted more than 3,000 attendees from 54 countries. Attendees were offered an update on Emerson Process developments, 350 learning sessions, 70,000 square feet of technology exhibits, and professional networking opportunities.
Steve Sonnenberg, Executive Vice President and Business Leader of Emerson Process Management, opened with a keynote address stressing Emerson’s commitment to “become your trusted advisor.” He explained that a fundamental belief is that Emerson needs people to support this goal. The company retained their people during the business downturn and added 4,300 new employees in 2011 and 3,400 in 2012, reaching a total of more than 37,000 employees today. Sonnenberg emphasized, “We want to be number one in service and products…” He also discussed Emerson’s expanding role of providing lifecycle services and achieving the “trusted advisor” status with customers.
Financially, Sonnenberg discussed that business growth has been excellent over the last 10 years and the current year is looking to be record “double digit” sales and profits. Growth has come from every area of the world with the highest growth now coming from North America.
Emerson extended the CHARMS concept with the introduction of a new Logic Solver architecture incorporating Electronic Marshalling and CHARM technology for SIS (Safety Instrumented System). The benefit of the CHARMS architecture is it simplifies design, installation, wiring and commissioning of SIS projects while reducing the footprint of hardware. The new DeltaV SIS architecture includes the CHARM Smart Logic Solver (CSLS) that runs safety logic, new CHARM signal conditioners, Local Safety Network (LSN), and SZ controller that communicates between the LSN and the basic process control system (BPCS) control network. The system can be implemented as a standalone SIS solution, natively integrated as part of a DeltaV installation, or connected to any DCS using Modbus TCP/IP.
More on CHARMS:
- Electronic Marshalling Concept Attacks Installed Costs
- Emerson adds Electronic Marshalling to DeltaV SIS
The new IEC62591-compliant WirelessHART Interface for use with its Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) directly integrates Smart Wireless networks with Emerson’s family of remote terminal units and flow computers, including ROC800, FloBoss, and ControlWave RTUs.
Emerson introduced the Smart Wireless Gateway for application of Emerson Smart Wireless devices with systems that support the ODVA EtherNet/IP industrial network standard.
Emerson partnered with AudiSoft to deliver a hands-free, high-definition voice and video solution that plant personnel can wear into remote field locations anywhere in the world. Field engineers can securely visually and verbally communicate live via a Wi-Fi access point, cellular, or satellite wireless connection with remote experts to collaborate in the diagnosis of problems and issues. The Mobile Worker kit includes a video camera and noise-cancelling microphone that attach to a hardhat, a small touch-screen interface that straps to the chest, and an additional video camera that can be hand-held to zoom into areas too small for the headset camera to access. From any area where a wireless signal can be reached, HD, VGA or QVGA video (depending on available signal strength and bandwidth) can reach either a PC loaded with the Frontline Expert software, or a dedicated server or host subscriber via a web browser. Secure, encrypted communication allows real-time conferencing over the plant network or the Internet to solve remote problems much faster and more cost-effectively than transporting an expert to the site. The Mobile Worker kit is rated for ATEX Zone 2 use, with Class 1 Division 2 certification available in the near future.
Emerson’s commitment to maintain staff and add more people is a significant management commitment and rare in the industry.
Emerson continues to expand both products and services to better serve process customers.