Emerson Announces Winners and Recognizes all Finalists of 2009 Smart Wireless Innovators Contest
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Panel of end-user judges selects CalPortland's rotating cement kiln monitoring as "Most Innovative" and CHS Inc. and Severstal Wheeling as co-winners for "Best Business Results"
AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 30, 2009) - Emerson Process Management has announced the distinguished winners and finalists in its 2009 Smart Wireless Innovators Application Contest. Designed to recognize creativity and business value from applications of the company's Smart Wireless solutions, entries in this second annual contest were from various production, manufacturing, and distribution industries around the world.
A cross-industry panel of end user judges reviewed the anonymous entries to understand the application, challenges addressed, benefits obtained, and reason for use of wireless. They evaluated all entries to select "most innovative" and "best business results" winners.
The "Innovation" criteria included the extent to which use of wireless was novel; the identification of previously unknown process issues; the degree to which wired technology wouldn't have been possible; and the extent of real operations improvement.
The winning score went to CalPortland, a manufacturer and distributor of cement and concrete in the southwestern United States, for its application to monitor a rotating 540-foot-long, 13-foot-diameter kiln cement kiln at its plant in Glendora, California. The devices rotate with the cement kiln at almost twice a minute and help the company meet NOx emissions regulations. The rotation, extreme temperature and cement dust, and the location of the kiln (at 20 to 40 feet above grade), made using a wired solution impossible.
The "Business Results" criteria included demonstrated dollar savings in operations; installation savings compared to a wired approach; time savings for implementing with wireless; and the extent to which safety or environmental impacts were improved.
There was a tie in the Business Results category, and the co-winners were CHS Inc. refining and Severstal Wheeling steel. CHS is using wireless to improve monitoring of several tanks. The installation cost savings was $500,000 compared to a wired solution. A previous tank over fill cost the refinery $1.5 million in tank repairs and $50,000 in soil remediation. This solution will prevent similar incidents and the resulting repair/remediation efforts. Severstal's extensive wireless installation included applications to protect assets, prevent production loss, and improve safety. Smart Wireless applications enabled Severstal to gain $300,000 by preventing production loss. Valuable assets which cost $200,000 to replace are protected from damage. Severstal was also able to update their fire safety system to meet insurance requirements at 60% savings compared to a wired solution which was estimated at $60K - $100K.
"As illustrated by the Innovators Contest winners and other exceptional entries, the wide range of wireless applications has shown how easy the technology is to install and operate, and how flexible it is for enabling safety, environmental, and efficiency improvements that have until now been out of reach," commented Bob Karschnia, vice president Wireless, Emerson Process Management.
"Not only are more customers experiencing the ease of use and benefits of wireless for specific applications, but early adopters are growing and expanding their wireless networks for even greater results." Karschnia continues, "We're impressed with the innovation our customers continue to show in exploiting wireless technology for real business value."
Emerson offers a wide range of wireless field instrumentation and plant operations equipment, including Fisher® position monitors, Rosemount® transmitters, Rosemount Analytical and Machinery Health(TM) Management devices, and native wireless interfaces to AMS® Suite predictive maintenance software, DeltaV(TM) digital automation systems, and wireless SmartStart(TM) Services. SmartWireless is an extension of Emerson's PlantWeb® digital plant architecture.
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, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb®, Syncade(TM), DeltaV(TM), Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Daniel®, Ovation®, and AMS® Suite.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), 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 2008 were $24.8 billion and Emerson is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.
For more information about Smart Wireless, visit www.EmersonProcess.com/SmartWireless, and for videos go to http://www.EmersonSmartWireless.com/Videos.
CONTACTS:
Lisa Eisenbrey,
Emerson Process Management
1 (512) 834-7106,
Lisa.Eisenbrey@Emerson.com
Kim Polk,
Emerson Process Management
1 (512) 834-7043,
Kim.Polk@Emerson.com
Emerson Process Management, 12301 Research Blvd, Bldg III, Austin, TX 78759 United States
