Emerson leads wireless plant transformation 25 October 2011

Industrial process plant controls giant Emerson Process Management has surpassed 580 million hours of wireless operation across 6,100 networks, as industrial wireless moves slowly from extreme to mainstream.

Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management, explains that the company's Emerson Smart Wireless technologies have enabled industrial plants to monitor processes in places where wired connections are impractical or where humans shouldn't go.

"We've focused on wireless innovation to enable industrial efficiency in the toughest environments," says Sonnenberg. Hew cites situations as ranging from monitoring oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska, where wind chill temperatures are -56 C, to the desert, where temperatures rise to more than 40 C, with sandstorms and camels damaging wired connections.

"We're seeing tremendous growth in our Smart Wireless solutions, as thousands of industrial customers realise the benefits and potential of wireless communications to improve operations, enhance safety and reduce environmental risks," he adds.

Emerson is the largest provider of wireless solutions based on the internationally recognised IEC 62591 WirelessHART standard, which is aimed at process automation, emissions controls, maintenance and worker safety.

Sonnenberg says that future wireless products will extend customers' capabilities from monitoring to control functions, enabling plants not only to gather critical information but also to act on it remotely.

Emerson, he says, will also extend wireless to new applications that historically have relied only on manual observation and periodic reporting, giving industrial customers real-time, constant visibility to new and better data for improved control systems, safety systems, asset management, machinery health and overall plant performance.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Emerson Process Management

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.