Yokogawa Launches Vigilant Integration Partners (VIP) Initiative

February 22, 2006
Yokogawa Corporation of America
News

Summary

Yokogawa Electric Corporation and its group companies have launched the Vigilant Integration Partners (VIP) Initiative, an open, non-exclusive, standard-based, and interoperability-driven partnership that enables Yokogawa customers to integrate best-in-class field devices supplied by VIP member companies with the industry-leading CENTUM series production control system and the PRM asset management system.Yokogawa is also pleased to announce that Dresser Masoneilan, Flowserve, Metso Automation, and Samson AG – all leading suppliers of control valves – are joining the VIP Initiative to develop and deliver open and interoperable plant asset management solutions. Customer BenefitsThe new VIP Initiative assures smooth integration and full interoperability between the field devices supplied by VIP member companies and Yokogawa’s CENTUM series production control and PRM asset management systems. The interoperability is guaranteed by full support of both Field Device Tool (FDT) and Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL), which are supplier independent and complementary industry standards.This guarantee of open standard-based interoperability enables Yokogawa customers to implement state-of-the-art plant asset management solutions flexibly and efficiently, avoiding compatibility concerns and supplier-enforced limitation of choice.Yokogawa and the VIP member companies are further joining forces for the ongoing development of innovative plant asset management solutions such as predictive diagnostics and process performance diagnostics that can be deployed by customers using open standard-based production control systems and plant asset management systems.Member Company BenefitsYokogawa and the VIP member companies can jointly promote the field devices supplied by the VIP member companies to the rapidly expanding list of customers using Yokogawa’s CENTUM and PRM systems. Furthermore, the technical collaboration framework is fully open and standard-based, enabling VIP member companies to avoid proprietary R&D costs associated with supplier-specific non-standard frameworks. The plant asset management solutions developed under the VIP Initiative are fully compatible with any plant asset management systems that support the open FDT and EDDL standards.Membership Criteria for Field Device SuppliersA VIP member company must be a supplier of best-in-class field devices and must support both FDT and EDDL. Suppliers supporting both of these standards are true proponents of customer-centric openness and interoperability.In addition to the control valve suppliers, Yokogawa will expand the VIP membership to collaborate with other field device suppliers that complement Yokogawa’s field device portfolio.Member CompaniesAs of February 2006, the following industry-leading suppliers of control valves (listed in alphabetical order) are official members of the Yokogawa VIP Initiative:Dresser Masoneilan is a global leader in providing innovative best fit control valve solutions for the process industries. With over 120 years of experience, Masoneilan supplies the industry’s widest range of general and severe service control valves, actuators, instrumentation, accessories, software and field service support. Masoneilan has a significant presence in virtually all corners of electrical power generation, hydrocarbon exploration & production, oil & gas processing and refining, as well as the petrochemical, chemical, food & beverage, pulp & paper, and mining industries.Flowserve Corp. (NYSE:FLS) is one of the world's leading providers of fluid motion and control products and services. Operating in 56 countries, the company is a recognized leader in the Chemical, Power and Oil & Gas industries. Flowserve’s valve business offers highly respected brands of control valves and digital products including Valtek, Kammer, NAF, Schmidt, and PMV. For more than a century, Flowserve engineers have been applying their knowledge and creativity to provide solutions for some of the world’s toughest applications.Metso Automation's Neles product line's smart positioners, partial stroke testing solutions, control, on-off and ESD valves, accessories and software products offer innovative, yet fundamentally simple construction, operation, and maintenance features to optimize process performance at the lowest cost in oil and gas, petrochemical, refining, pulp and paper and other process industry. Metso Automation operates worldwide and has sales and customer support units in 34 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia, and Africa.SAMSON AG is recognized worldwide as a synonym for high-quality work, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative strength. Founded in 1907, SAMSON has become a worldwide leading manufacturer of expertly engineered control valves, positioners and accessories for all industrial processes. Modular design of its products offers quick local supply. A worldwide network of 44 subsidiaries and 91 associated engineering and service centers guarantee global expertise and service support.About Yokogawa Europe BVThe European headquarters were founded in Amersfoort, the Netherlands in 1982. Throughout Europe Yokogawa has its own sales, service and engineering operations.This dedicated network has been extended to Central and East Europe and Southern Africa to further enhance the coverage and support associated with serving the process control and automation market place. We develop and produce flowmeters at Rota Yokogawa in Germany, liquid analyzers and industrial safety systems in the Netherlands. In addition to this dedicated network of Yokogawa subsidiaries is a select organization of Test & Measurement (T&M) subsidiaries and distributors established in certain areas to support the specific customer needs of this continuously developing and specific market of T&M instrumentation. Learn More

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