Emerson supports process industry’s first global wireless fieldbus standard 20 April 2010

Following the IEC's (International Electrotechnical Commission) unanimous vote to certify WirelessHART, the process industry now has its first global standard for wireless plant measurement and control communications.

The new standard was developed by major process automation suppliers, including Emerson, working within the not-for-profit HART Communication Foundation.

The IEC is the world's leading organisation that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

Now known as IEC 62591, the WirelessHART standard makes it easier for refineries, chemical plants, energy producers, and other process businesses to add wireless technologies to their fieldbus operations, at substantially lower cost than traditional wired technology.

It also provides plant operators with multi-vendor interoperability, so protecting their technology investments.

"The commission's endorsement of this standard confirms what Emerson and many others have known. This technology is a reliable, versatile and economical tool for improving process operations and enabling a significant return on investment," comments Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management.

"IEC 62591-compliant technology will have as great an impact in process plants as Wi-Fi has in offices," he predicts.

Emerson was the first to offer WirelessHART products and provides the process industries with a broad portfolio of devices using the technology. Likewise, many other suppliers are building broad support for IEC 62591 by developing products based on the standard.

"The adoption rate has been incredible," says Sonnenberg. "Emerson customers are already using our WirelessHART products in more than 1,200 installations around the world.

"Having an international standard should accelerate this growth by assuring them of future compatibility, allowing them to begin gaining the benefits of this exciting new technology."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Emerson Process Management

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