March 24, 2014 - The HART Communication Foundation will host a unique multi-vendor exhibit in the Field Communications Lounge (Hall 9, Stand D68) at Hannover Messe 2014 (7-11 April, Hannover, Germany) that introduces the newest HART technology capability, HART-IP. The exhibit includes two interactive displays — HARTconnects and WirelessHART — to educate users on the benefits of using HART-enabled devices to facilitate a shift from a reactive to a proactive maintenance strategy, thereby lowering operating and maintenance costs and improving plant reliability. HART-IP allows the HART Protocol to run over an IP-based connection, delivering valuable HART data at the speed of Ethernet. HART-IP significantly simplifies the connection configuration and the information integration.
“HART-IP delivers yet another HART communication option to provide access to intelligent device and process information, 24/7,” says Ted Masters, Foundation President and CEO. “Using their existing network infrastructure users can now integrate intelligent device measurement and diagnostic information with their productivity, planning, historian or other applications anywhere in the world.” The HARTconnects display demonstrates the many different cost-effective solutions that allow users to “connect” to information in HART-enabled devices including smart multiplexers, remote I/O, converters, WirelessHART and HART-IP.
The WirelessHART display demonstrates the interoperability and wide selection of devices, adapters and gateways that create a wireless mesh network that delivers the lowest cost solution for adding additional measurements to a new or existing plant. “Suppliers tell us that there are now an estimated 17,000-plus WirelessHART networks installed around the world with more than 2.8 billion operating hours,” Masters adds. “The HART display includes applications and solutions for the integration of HART information with control and asset management systems.”
HARTconnects also shows device configuration from a centralized or remote location with real time access to HART information in HART-enabled devices, and predictive maintenance using complex intelligent devices, such as valve signatures in a valve positioner and level echo curves using radar or ultrasonic technology. The HART exhibit also includes wired and wireless HART products and solutions from leading suppliers including ABB, AwiaTech, Badger Meter, Beamex, Cooper-Bussmann, Dust Networks, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Fieldbus International, Fluke, ifak system, MACTek, Meriam, MESCO, Moore Industries-International, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, ProComSol, Riken Keiki, R.Stahl, Rosemount Tank Radar, Siemens, and Yokogawa.
The HART Communication Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit membership organization that provides global support for the application of HART technology. The Foundation is the technology owner, standards setting body and central authority on the HART Communication Protocol, establishing and controlling new technology developments and enhancements that support the needs of the process automation industry. Founded in 1993, Foundation membership includes more than 300 companies worldwide. The HART Protocol is the leading communication technology for smart process instruments with more than 40 million devices installed worldwide.