Emerson Global Users Exchange 2010 Gets the User Community Fully Involved

Related Vendors

DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

TURCK GmbH

Italvacuum, Srl

Emerson Automation Solutions

The user-centric approach

In addition, nearly every Emerson product segment is represented in the technology exhibits which have been set up in one of the large halls at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. In one area, visitors can gain a deeper insight into batch processing. They can then move on to a Modernization Pavilion which focuses on migration. A few meters away, they can see the lights flashing in a Smart Wireless Area.

As you walk around the hall, you also begin to realize that even a large corporation like Emerson needs partners to stage an event likes this. Booths manned by partner companies are located along the walls. Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, R. Stahl and Turck are among the nearly 90 exhibitors who are showcasing their solutions for the process industry.

Steven Sonnenberg, who has been in charge of the six billion dollar Emerson Process Management business since October 2008, expressed his appreciation to these partners in his welcoming address. It is of course virtually impossible for a CEO to avoid mentioning the economic situation at a major event like this. Sonnenberg said that the company had to make some tough decisions in 2009 but that things are now moving in the right direction again.

The number of people attending the conference appears to be in sync with the turnover curve. Both were down last year following a long period of sustained growth. Sonnenberg jokingly remarked that the company is considering using the number of registrations at the conference as a forecast for business planning purposes. On a more serious note, he then mentioned some major investments. Emerson has spent $30 million on construction of a “flow lab” in Marshalltown, Iowa. Very big components can be tested at the center to meet increasing demand for larger capacity equipment.

After citing a few more examples from recent product development/enhancement activities such as the Delta V-Series, Electronic Marshalling and Device Dashboards, Sonnenberg deviated from the script and highlighted the achievements of his predecessor John Berra. He said that what John had accomplished over a period of 40 years is truly exceptional. Under John’s stewardship, the business expanded from $2 billion to $6 billion. Sonnenberg went on to say that John is an unbelievably good mentor and a genuine role model. Berra, who recently retired but did not want to miss the opportunity to attend the user meeting, received a big round of applause.

Franck Jouault, Systems Department Manager at Solvay in Tavaux, France, shared information about a feasibility study on modernization of a control system using DeltaV Release 11. Two tests focused on the suitability of the new Emerson Charms (Characterization Modules) Electronic Marshalling System. Jouault reported that Charms I/O works well with devices from different manufacturers, which was an important outcome of the tests. Charms provides electronic connectivity between the devices and the control system over point-to-point cabling using an Ethernet backbone.

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