LONDON, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --

Wireless technology has assumed rapid significance for industrial automation over the last couple of years thanks to numerous benefits for industrial applications. The future chances and challenges for this industry have been the subject of the Future of Wireless Solutions in Industrial Automation Workshop organized by Frost Sullivan on February 5th, 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

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Iain Jawad, Practice Director of the Automation Electronics Practice at Frost Sullivan, opened the Workshop introducing the preliminary findings of Frost Sullivan's latest research on the Automation and Control Systems Market put into the current economic context. He presented the key findings of the latest end-users analysis, focusing on how to increase the adoption of wireless technologies for end-users, what the driving technical and business reasons for adopting the wireless technology are and what end-users see as the critical purchasing criteria.

Mike Ferris, European Wireless Expert with Emerson Process Management pointed out the advantages of wireless systems for the customers, such as lower infrastructure costs, technical reliability, low risks and easy and flexible installations. Wireless technologies specifically designed for the process industry are offering a sea change in the way plants are instrumented and operated. From wirelessly connected process measurements to asset tracking and mobile worker technologies, end-users can drive increased plant performance and productivity across all levels of the plant. The International WirelessHART standard coupled with a rapidly increasing installed base across numerous different industries allows process operators to specify high reliability systems with confidence, said Ferris.

Emerson's presentation was followed by Kevin Zamzow, Strategic Product Marketing Manager, with Prosoft Technology. Mr. Zamzow focused in his presentation on the wireless reliability, illustrated by various case studies. When choosing a wireless technology, Factory Automation users have to focus on meeting their application requirements, including fit with industrial protocol, throughput, latency, distances, security, co-existence with other wireless networks, and other factors. In fact, in many cases, industrial wireless provides more reliable communications than alternatives including festoon cables, slip rings, and conductor rails. Costs reductions coming from engineering, installation and maintenance are also contributing to the success of industrial wireless, said Zamzow.

Wireless Vibration Monitoring Inside a Metal Box was the topic of the presentation by Chris James, Product Manager, SKF Reliability Systems. The potential benefits of wireless monitoring are clear in rotating equipment health applications. A cornerstone of machine condition monitoring is vibration measurement, which is a bandwidth hungry and complex technology that presents some challenges to wireless systems. Nevertheless wireless can be, and has been, deployed in vibration applications - even inside a gigantic 'metal box' like a crude oil carrier, said James.

Johannes Bleuel, Head of Sales Marketing, E-Senza Technologies, showcased selected wireless applications highlighting key success factors for creating customer value through wireless solutions. Examples included energy optimization of industrial operations, high-speed data-collection at rotating machinery and enabling new service-business models in process industry by wireless applications. Almost always, industrial wireless solutions have to be integrated into existing automation infrastructures. Therefore, wireless systems must be designed to seamlessly interwork with existing field devices and automation systems while maintaining their scalability, flexibility and cost advantages, said Bleuel.

Other participants of the workshop included Dr. Guntram Scheible, Wireless Product Manager, ABB Stotz Kontakt GmbH, Rolf Nilsson, President CEO, Connectblue, Anders Royroy, Project Manager StatoilHydro, Frank Fengler, Head of Fieldbus Tools Lead Center, ABB, Jochen Koch Marketing Manager- Siemens AG, Industrial Communication, Graham Martin, Chairman CEO EnOcean Alliance, Siegfried Gronbach, Managing Director, NemaSystems Automation, Thomas Schildknecht , Managing Director Schildknecht AG.

The future trend of the adoption of wireless industrial automation solutions will be dependant on the seamless integration into the existing plant infrastructure and other control systems. The key assumption for growth is that wireless devices from multiple suppliers need to be compatible and a uniform standard be applied wherever possible. This is what end users are clearly looking for in their solutions, summarized Mr. Jawad the key findings of the workshop.

The following speakers have kindly made themselves available to be interviewed if detailed practical stories of applications and technology issues are of interest to your readers:

Mike Ferris - Emerson Process Management Kevin Zamzow - Prosoft Technology Chris James - SKF Relaibility Systems Johannes Bleuel - E-Senza Technologies

About Frost Sullivan

Frost Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 31 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

GIL 2009: Europe

Frost Sullivan has expanded its flagship Global Congress on Corporate Growth - GIL Global - into several major cities around the world including London. For the first time ever in Europe, Frost Sullivan will be hosting the Growth, Innovation and Leadership Congress 'GIL 2009: Europe' on 19-20 May, at the Sofitel St James in London. GIL Global is the industry's only event designed to support senior executives in their efforts to achieve sustainable, top-line growth. To register, obtain a programme agenda, explore sponsorship opportunities, or attend as a member of the media for GIL 2009: Europe, please contact Anna Anlauft, Corporate Communications for Frost Sullivan in Europe, at anna.anlauft@frost.com. One-on-One interviews with Frost Sullivan senior growth consultants are also being scheduled. For more information you can also visit www.frost.com/giluk

Contact: Anna Anlauft European Corporate Communications Automotive Transportation P: +49-69-770-33-12 F: +49-69-23-45-66 E: anna.anlauft@frost.com http://www.frost.com

Anna Anlauft of Frost Sullivan European Corporate Communications, Automotive Transportation, +49-69-770-33-12, fax, +49-69-23-45-66, anna.anlauft@frost.com / Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO