ELPRO Technologies, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Pepperl+Fuchs and MACTek will showcase various Dust Networks-enabled field devices designed to answer increasing demand from the industrial market to minimize installation costs while expanding the reach of field devices to monitor equipment previously inaccessible to wired sensors. All five companies are employing Dust Networks' WirelessHART SmartMesh IA-510 wireless sensor networking technology to combine the reliability of wires with the cost advantages of wire-free operation. These interoperable devices seamlessly integrate into existing HART-based plant environments.
Dramatic reductions in deployment costs are a main driver in the fast-growing wireless sensor industry as businesses look to cut costs in today's challenging economic climate. But the benefits of wireless extend well beyond the initial installation savings by providing added visibility into critical operations, with tangible bottom-line results for businesses that include productivity gains in a steel mill, improvements to product quality in a bulk chemical processing plant, and enhanced operator safety.
"Despite the economic downturn, we see wireless as one of the technologies that will fuel new growth opportunities. Now that we have WirelessHART standard-based wireless solutions such as Dust Networks SmartMesh IA-510, we have a platform to deliver wirelessly-enabled process optimization, asset management and preventative maintenance solutions to improve the overall efficiency of process plants at significantly reduced installation cost," said Harry Courtice, Engineering Director, ELPRO Technologies, part of the MTL Instrument group, a division of Cooper Crouse Hinds Inc.
Since first launching its WirelessHART-based Smart Wireless product line in September of 2008, Emerson continues to expand its SmartWireless product offerings. "We are pleased to see so many companies introducing new WirelessHART-based products," said Bob Karschnia, Vice President of Wireless Business for Emerson Process Management. "We appreciate that Dust Networks' is providing technology for suppliers all over the world to easily and quickly bring new WirelessHART products to market," Karschnia added.
"The availability of our WirelessHART-based solutions will enable our customers to access important process and diagnostic information from their HART devices," said Andreas Rampe, Product Manager, Wireless at Endress+Hauser. "Dust Networks' self-organizing wireless network technology together with their knowledge and support was very instrumental to our development and has been a key enabler for this market," Rampe added.
"Previously, industrial wireless communications were not widely accepted in process automation applications due to a lack of standards and availability of integrated solutions," said Gerrit Lohmann, Product Group Interface, Product Manager, Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. "However, the WirelessHART standard is changing industrial wireless communications for the better and we are pleased that Dust Networks provides the technology which enables this advancement," Lohmann added.
"We are proud that SmartMesh IA-510 has been selected as the WSN technology of choice for the industry leaders in this market. It is very exciting to witness first-hand the profound business impact that 'Networked by Dust' WirelessHART products are enabling," said Steve Toteda, Vice President of Marketing at Dust Networks.
About Dust Networks
Dust Networks, the leader in standards-based intelligent wireless sensor networking (WSN), provides ultra low-power, highly reliable embedded systems to OEMs in a wide range of markets. Dust Networks enables OEMs to offer monitoring and control solutions that provide unprecedented access to information from the physical world, resulting in improved operations, safer work environments, and increased competitive advantage. Dust Networks partners with industry and standards groups, such as the HART Communication Foundation, to ensure the broad adoption of interoperable wireless sensor networking products.