Emerson launches in-plant Smart Wireless solutions for breakthrough performance in mainstream manufacturing

Personnel can now access previously unreachable data for improved availability and operational performance

Emerson Global Users Exchange: Nashville, Tennessee. (October 2, 2006) — Emerson Process Management today announced the launch of in-plant Smart Wireless solutions that enable manufacturers to boost mainstream applications to the next level of reliability and operational performance. Extending Emerson's PlantWeb^® digital plant architecture, the field-proven Smart Wireless solutions deliver actionable information from assets previously out of physical or economic reach, expanding predictive process and asset management in existing and new facilities.

Emerson's Smart Wireless solutions combine innovative self-organizing wireless network technology and gateways with wireless-enabled industry leading Rosemount^® measurement transmitters and wireless AMS™ Suite: Intelligent Device Manager predictive maintenance software, seamlessly integrated with DeltaV™ and Ovation^® automation systems, or legacy hosts.

The Emerson Smart Wireless solutions are designed based on customer inputs received throughout the development cycle, and have been field proven through extensive user trials.

Emerson's global SmartStart™ wireless service experts help customers realize the full potential benefits of Smart Wireless solutions. They help with first startup, including full network health assessment to ensure robust communications plus verification of device functionality through the chosen output (Modbus, OPC, Ethernet, etc).

Incremental information gained from use of Smart Wireless solutions can enhance customer understanding of their process, and identify opportunities for improvement. It can improve response time to safety incidents, minimize emissions, and help protect the environment. It can help expand proactive maintenance, and extend the life of assets.

"Wireless measurement technology will help users see and control more of what happens in their plants. Besides huge savings in installation costs, this will drive fundamental process and automation improvements that are not possible with wired measurements. That is what makes this the most fundamental improvement in process automation in decades," commented industry analyst Harry Forbes of ARC Advisory Group. "ARC believes there is pent-up demand for wireless in both new and existing applications. That demand will be realized quickly once end users are confident that new products meet their application requirements. Emerson has collaborated extensively with end users during their development process and has engaged end users for extensive field trials. Emerson's strong brand and leading market position validates that the era of wireless measurement has arrived."

"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," commented John Berra, president of Emerson Process Management. "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."

Overall, Emerson wireless trial customers have experienced 99.9 percent network reliability, extremely easy deployment, industrial strength security, long battery life, and as much as 90 percent less installed cost.

Emerson is united with its customers on the need for standards that support mainstream user needs. Emerson is actively collaborating in the standards development process and is bringing the company's field trial experience and use case learning's to the standards bodies. Emerson is guaranteeing complete support and investment in industrial wireless standards, plus an easy upgrade path for compliance to the industry standard when it is completed.

To make it even easier for customers to reach the next level of business improvement, Emerson is introducing the Wireless SmartPack™ Starter Kit, consisting of SmartStart™ services; from 5 to 100 wireless Rosemount flow, pressure, level, or temperature transmitters; wireless gateway; and a 25-tag AMS Intelligent Device Manager software application for predictive information access with a native wireless gateway. Completely pre-engineered, checked out and configured, the network will form right out of the box, with no additional user input or setup.

"It has been exciting to see how in-plant Emerson Smart Wireless functionality has captured the imagination of managers, engineers, and operations personnel during trials," added Berra. "Once they started using the technology, they were able to envision additional applications. They wanted more wireless products! We are thrilled to respond to our customers by launching Emerson Smart Wireless solutions, and to join them in ushering in the age of wireless and the new level of performance it promises."

A complete set of technical documentation, online tools and information about the newest additions to the Smart Wireless portfolio is available at www.emersonprocess.com/SmartWireless. In November, Emerson's unique on-line PlantWeb University will add more than twenty-five 15-minute courses that present a practical introduction to the technology and applications of in-plant wireless for operators, engineers and management.

Also within the next few months, Emerson will start an in-plant Smart Wireless design contest aimed at inspiring process engineers to unleash their imaginations and creative engineering spirit by submitting innovative applications they have found where wireless technology delivered new insight and business benefits. Their experiences, insights, and tips will form a foundation to speed wireless usage and benefits in the new age of wireless.

The in-plant Smart Wireless™ solutions for 900 MHz applications can be ordered now in North America, and will be available in Latin America in early 2007. The 2.4 GHz solutions will launch in Europe and Asia in early 2007, and will also be available then in Latin America.

About Emerson's Smart Wireless Solutions

In-plant solutions from Emerson are part of the company's Smart Wireless portfolio that includes Smart Remote Automation solutions for monitoring and control of distributed facilities such as well-heads, pipeline stations, and production platforms, and its global/remote Smart Wireless inventory management solutions and Smart Wireless Mobile Worker family of applications. These solutions increase access to information that was previously inaccessible or too costly to reach.

Smart Wireless solutions allow users to engineer new applications and practices in, near, and remote from their plant. They can identify opportunities for process improvement as well as extend the life of plant assets. Smart Wireless solutions can also improve response time to safety incidents and enhance environmental compliance by helping users better understand emissions within their plant.

By capturing information that was previously inaccessible, Smart Wireless products extend the benefits of the PlantWeb digital plant architecture, which improves plant efficiency by 2% and more through delivering asset optimization, process automation, and management execution.

About Emerson Process Management

Emerson Process Management (www.EmersonProcess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb®, Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Mobrey®, Daniel®, Bristol®, DeltaV™, Ovation®, and AMS™ Suite.

About Emerson

Emerson is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2005 were $17.3 billion. For more information, visit www.GoToEmerson.com.

SmartWireless, SmartPack, SmartPower, PlantWeb, Rosemount, Micro Motion, Fisher, Daniel, Bristol, DeltaV, Mobrey, Ovation, and AMS are marks of Emerson Process Management. All other marks are the property of their respective holders.

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Last Updated 04/21/08

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