Vendor News

Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation partner

At the 11th annual ARC Forum in Orlando, Rockwell Automation and Endress+Hauser demonstrated progress in their strategic alliance designed to deliver world class process manufacturing solutions and develop next-generation process control technologies. Formed in December 2004, the alliance was established to provide comprehensive solutions for plant engineering, operations and management to customers with a mix of process and discrete automation tasks, using Endress+Hauser's market-leading measurement devices and the Rockwell's integrated control and information architecture. Since then, the collaboration of the two suppliers has focused on three key strategic initiatives—technology innovations, integrated asset management and coordinated engineering services.

With preferred integration between the Endress+ Hauser spectrum of process instruments (including level, flow, pressure, temperature and analytical) and the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture, process manufacturers are able to reduce risk and integration costs while protecting their investment with assured interoperability. In addition, a seamless flow of information between key components of the manufacturing process—from the field device through enterprise business systems—improves decision-making and overall equipment optimisation. "The strong alliance between Rockwell and Endress+Hauser goes beyond simply offering field instrumentation in conjunction with integrated architecture automation systems," stated Larry O'Brien, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group. "It involves joint research and development between the two companies, as well as field bus interoperability testing, and even encompasses the integration of Rockwell's own devices, such as drives, into a complete plant asset management solution."

The alliance initiatives have helped manufacturers more tightly coordinate the process and discrete portions of their plants, and also increased understanding of the importance of open standards such as field device tool (FDT) in industrial automation. Through the alliance, Rockwell and Endress+Hauser have been promoting field device tool/device type manager (FDT/DTM) technology that provides a single interface to devices residing on multiple field and control networks. The two companies also support a range of standard bus technologies and have several board level positions, including the HART Communication Foundation, Fieldbus Foundation, FDT Group and ODVA.

In another development, Rockwell Automation has announced that IBM's Global Business Services has joined its Factory Talk Information Solution Provider programme. As a partner in the programme, IBM will extend its existing relationship with Rockwell by helping manufacturers build plant-wide information applications and manufacturing execution systems (MES) using the FactoryTalk suite of integrated production and performance software. The two companies have been actively collaborating on plant-to-enterprise solutions within several industries, including automotive and life sciences. Rockwell launched the Information Solution Provider programme in October 2006 to provide manufacturers with an extended network of information systems professionals to help them integrate their control and information environments for better manufacturing performance. Rockwell trains and certifies participants on implementing applications within the FactoryTalk suite to facilitate better interaction between the plant floor and higher-level business systems. Through the creation of the program, Rockwell adds to its own services organisation's solutions and delivery capabilities around the FactoryTalk suite.

"Timely, accurate information on production can help drive supply chain performance to new levels and recent advances in technology like service-oriented architectures are making this a reality," said Bruce Anderson, Vice-President, IBM. "We are working together to show companies the value manufacturing brings to the supply chain and how we can help them achieve ROI more quickly than they have in the past." The Factory Talk Information Solution Provider Programme is part of the Rockwell Automation Partner Net-work, which includes business enterprise, sales and solutions, product and technology partners.