Wireless solutions, technology the focus at Emerson event

The word of the week was 'wireless' at the Emerson Global Users Exchange hosted by Emerson Process Management Oct. 2–6 at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville. John Berra, president of Emerson Process Management; Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson's Rosemount Division; and Bob Karschnia, director of technology for Rosemount shared in making the announcement of Em...

By Jack Smith November 1, 2006

The word of the week was ‘wireless’ at the Emerson Global Users Exchange hosted by Emerson Process Management Oct. 2—6 at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville. John Berra, president of Emerson Process Management; Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson’s Rosemount Division; and Bob Karschnia, director of technology for Rosemount shared in making the announcement of Emerson’s In-Plant Smart Wireless Solutions.

According to Sonnenberg, Smart Wireless extends Emerson’s PlantWeb digital plant architecture to deliver actionable information from assets previously out of physical or economic reach, expanding predictive process and asset management in existing and new facilities. The wireless offering combines self-organizing wireless technology and gateways with wireless-enabled Rosemount measurement transmitters and wireless AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager predictive maintenance software, seamlessly integrated with DeltaV and Ovation automation systems, or legacy hosts.

“Manufacturers hate surprises in their facilities, and have long wanted to have eyes and ears on every asset to know what is really going on in their operation,” Berra said. “Until now, there was no easy, reliable and economical way to reach all of the assets that needed monitoring. Smart Wireless technology for in-plant mainstream applications changes that paradigm. Inspired by customer input, we began research and development of this new technology in 1998, and have completed three years of customer field trials. In those trials, we’ve seen customers quickly discover and remedy problems that would have gone undetected.”

In addition to this announcement, 28 papers on wireless topics were presented by experts from Emerson, Encana, Apprion, PPG, BP and Fluor. Some of the titles included “Wireless Enabled HART Field Transmitter in an Integrated Wireless Infrastructure” by Peter Fuhr of Apprion; “A Strictly Technical View of Wireless Technology and Standards” by Emerson’s Bob Karschnia and Dan Carlson; and “Security on Wireless Self Organizing Networks for Process Instrumentation” by Emerson’s Jeff Potter and Eric Rotvod.

Along with the wireless announcement, Emerson introduced the Wireless SmartPack Starter Kit, which is a configurable suite of wireless technologies and services that gives users a way to get started using wireless in their facilities. It comes pre-configured out of the box to immediately form a secure, robust self-organizing wireless network that users can apply to gain experience with wireless without committing their infrastructure.


Author Bio: Content manager, CFE Media