Emerson and Cisco Collaborate to Offer Open-Standard Wireless Solutions for Process Industries
Process automation and IT leaders work together to advance the use of wireless technology for manufacturing improvement
AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 11, 2007) - Emerson Process Management, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), today announced that it is collaborating with Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) to offer open-standard solutions for wireless process and plant management applications that install easily and operate reliably in the challenging process manufacturing environment.
Emerson, a global leader in process automation, and Cisco, a global leader in IT networking for industrial and business management applications, are combining their expertise and technology to deliver a complete solution that improves productivity, safety, and operational efficiency for manufacturing customers.
Emerson's wireless process applications use self-organizing field networks for increased monitoring of plant data for control and asset optimization; they also offer mobile operator and maintenance worker applications. Cisco wireless plant networks offer applications including those for worker mobility, voice over IP communications, tracking of personnel and assets, and video applications.
"Since introducing Smart Wireless field networks a year ago, we've been excited at the high customer interest and their quickly realized business results," said John Berra, president of Emerson Process Management. "We are pleased to be working with Cisco to extend our offering to include wireless plant network solutions with the security and reliability required in the process environment. The combined field and plant communications platform supports current and future applications that help enable faster and more effective business management over the life of the plant. Additionally, Cisco's commitment to open standards makes it an ideal partner for Emerson and our customers."
"Networks and mobility are dramatically transforming our customers businesses and in-plant processes," said Maciej Kranz, vice president of product marketing for Wireless Business Unit for Cisco. "By delivering a combined wireless architecture from Emerson and Cisco, we are enabling our manufacturing process customers to deploy flexible, scalable and safe wireless solutions and mobility applications in rugged plant environments."
Emerson will project-manage and deliver the wireless solution to customers by working with Cisco and taking advantage of their joint expertise. Emerson and Cisco have developed a services plan to design, specify, install and support wireless solutions for customers worldwide. These customized solutions will provide end users with a competitive edge through open-standards wireless technology and a complete network platform that ensures they can start with any application and easily expand as the technology evolves.
Many Emerson customers use Cisco's wired plant network applications today and will realize an advantage by extending their relationships to include wireless applications.
Emerson's wireless platform will extend the Smart Wireless capabilities of PlantWeb® digital plant architecture to include wireless plant networks. The networks use the Cisco Unified Wireless Architecture, offering including industrial-class wireless access points, controllers and network management software, and plant applications such as communication, tracking and worker mobility tools.
Emerson will use the Cisco Unified Wireless Architecture to provide ubiquitous, highly secure wireless LAN coverage and integration within the plant's existing IT infrastructure; this integration eliminates the need for a complex wireless overlay network. Cisco's Wireless Control System will centralize the configuration and management of the plant's Wi-Fi network, reducing overall cost of ownership.
"We envision that the open-standard wireless infrastructure and applications jointly architected with Cisco will simplify the implementation of value-added wireless automation projects and reduce risk," summarized Berra. "The age of wireless will be advanced as process and IT improvements are smoothly integrated, and the canyons of steel and limits of wiring are removed as obstacles to the imagination of customers."
About Emerson and Cisco Wireless
Emerson's Smart Wireless solutions are an extension of its PlantWeb® digital architecture and engineering, project management, and asset optimization skills that are delivering efficiency and uptime advantages in thousands of installations globally and across the process industries. The company's self-organizing mesh wireless field networks and wireless services help enable reliable, highly secure connection to process data that was physically out of reach or too expensive for wiring. Installed costs of wireless points are reduced by up to 90 percent over wired approaches.
The wireless field networks are based on IEEE 802.15.4 and designed to be compliant with WirelessHART. They provide connectivity for Emerson's broad portfolio of wireless sensing, condition monitoring and diagnostics devices that are embedded within the process to deliver process data for control and asset management.
Emerson is expanding its Smart Wireless program by collaborating with Cisco to deliver an open wireless plant network and expand the wireless solutions portfolio. This is accomplished via Cisco's Unified Wireless solutions, which comprise Cisco industrial-class 1500 Series wireless mesh access points, Cisco Wireless Control System for wireless network management, supported by Cisco Secure Services for network security. Additionally, Emerson, working with Cisco, offers of a number of applications including voice, mobile communication, asset and location tracking, mobile worker, and video applications.
Emerson Services and Solutions will team with Cisco Advanced Services to deliver integrated, customized wireless solutions, establishing highly secure and scalable infrastructure with optimized, reliable messaging for coexisting communications.
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®, DeltaV(TM), Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Mobrey®, Bristol®, Daniel®, Ovation®, and AMS(TM) Suite.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, 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 2006 were $20.1 billion. For more information, visit www.emerson.com.
CONTACTS:
Jerry Moon, Emerson Process Management
1 (512) 832-3089, Jerry.Moon@EmersonProcess.com
Peter Dossing, Emerson Process Management
1 (512) 832-3162, Pete.Dossing@EmersonProcess.com
