#EMrex We heard it on the Grapevine!

Combining the Elements of Success

“Looking forward to a great week. #EMRex or Bust!”
This was one of the tweets the last weekend of September which reminded us that the annual #EMrex Fest was about to be launched this time in a place called Grapevine. (Hence our crazy headline!). Last year’s EMREX was in Anaheim California and it’s

The Emrex Board!

Emerson Global Users Exchange, said the Chairman the Emerson’s User Group, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions’ Tracy Waller, presents an “opportunity for “Combining the Elements” of success to impact your company’s bottom line.” He did add that “the value you gain from Exchange is limited only by the amount of knowledge you can absorb while attending.” And that is true without a shadow of doubt. That tweet about a great week reminded us poor twitter watchers that an avalanche of tweets was about to descend bearing the hashtag #EMRex.

America is a big and far-away place and Grapevine, Texas is about six or seven hours behind Europe so the #EMrex tweets usually start coming in at about 11.00 Irish time. However on the first day it looked as if some of the afficianados didn’t go to bed at all as tweets were waiting to be read as we opened our laptops on this side of the mighty Atlantic. As one tweet said “Should be interesting to watch Emerson Exchange through Social this week!”

Tracy Waller opened @EmersonExchange welcoming attendees from 50+ countries. We learned that there were 2834 in for the opening of which 500 were from countries outside of the US. As we are using tweets to compile this report one statistic given was EmersonExchange 365 (the Emerson User Community!) has grown to over 9000 members! “What a great way to connect to other like minded professionals!” Another stat reported “350 workshops and exhibits this week,” and another confirmed Waller’s comment above, “Over 350 workshops, forums, keynotes- more content than any single person can attend.”

Let’s go!

So what happened? Steve Sonnenberg, Emerson Process Management leader, welcomed attendees noting that a third of attendees were first-timers. It is primarily “an unmatched opportunity to learn what others are doing,” he said. “You invest your trust in us…I want Emerson to be a listening organisation!” Another tweet reported “Emerson Process grows, expects inflection in last half of 2014. Emerson continues to invest in the business..” The term “inflection” in this context is new to this writer however we assume that it means that the speaker foresees a measurable upswing towards the end of that year. Perhaps one of the reasons is the feasibility of pervasive sensing as it becomes cheaper and easier to deploy due to wireless technology and this will neccessatate the implementation of a policy that ensures that they can serve. The message strongly coming through was “When you run into obstacles or need a hand or just some advice, you’ll trust us to be part of your team.”

Shiny stuff time!

Peter Zornio in full flow!

“Nice to get the biz update – But show me the technology!” is a nice introduction to the presentation of the irrepressible Peter Zornio, Emerson Process Management’s Chief Technical Officer. “Peter Zornio warned us to fasten our seat belts, before he goes through the shiny new things.” He highlighted “12 products going through human centered design process” at Emerson. Our tweeters were hard put to keep up with this roller-coaster ride. “New technologies in Coriolis, DP level, DP flow, Vortex flow, Temperature, Analyzers… lots!” were unveiled. We have taken some tweets at random! Make sure you have a reviving cup of coffee at hand!

Shopping for diamonds!:

“Worlds first total wireless radar now available!”

“Emerson extends lighter weight and technology of Micro Motion Coriolis meters to its density and viscosity meters as well!”

“D-RTU Distributed RTU automatically join to RTU network!”

“Incus ultrasonic gas leak detector senses gas leaks by listening, therefore not affected by weather or dilution!”

“DeltaV SIS with Electronic Marshalling is a modern safety system. Can be used integrated or standalone!”

“New functionality introduced for shift change automation and documentation in Syncade; Operator logbooks!”

“CSI 2140 4-channel machinery health analyzer w/ Bluetooth and wireless communications is up to 50% faster than CSI 2130!”

“Look for the official retirement party here this week for Provox and RS3 systems.”

“Pervasive sensing will more than double the number of sensors in a process facility!” and “Site safety, reliability and energy efficiency will benefit from pervasive sensing!”

“New combined WirelessHART and WiFi gateway!”

“iOPs is where it all comes together to connect the business to the process loop!”

“We are building the future of operations.”

“I feel like I’m shopping for diamonds!”

And finally “Hard to keep up with P. Zornio #EMRex #ToMuchShinyStuff!”

Under promise and over deliver

Mark Thompson co-founder of Virgin Unite Mentors, Sir Richard Branson’s network for executive coaching and entrepreneurial innovation delivered a keynote. He spoke about how to inspire building leadership skills to inspire 10x performance, learn more. Risk is a very hard thing to take on, and we need to support our teams to take on that risk.The importance of trust, “Trust– exceed expectations… Under promise and over deliver.”

It was interesting how all three opening speakers reflected this philosophy, each in his own way.

Associated exhibition area

Always at these meetings there is an exhibition area where delegates may get their hands on product or learn in more detail about actual applications. There are exhibits from Emerson companies and from supportive companies and this is usually a very busy networking area.

ISA Bookstore up and running. Stop on by & see #PAuto titles.

On twitter this usually translates to “Come see us at booth XYZ!” or “Our awsome display at #EMrex, with a picture of an empty stand (or booth as they are called in the US), with 3 or four eager company representatives or (if they are lucky) a set scrummage of backs heaving to get at the goodies! Maybe not too exciting but twitterati at the event are sometimes made aware of something that they might miss otherwise. However those who post short videos on what they are doing can be enlightening. For those actually attending of course the experience is…well here’s a tweet, “Two hours into the exhibits at #EmrEx and it is still humming..” Nuff said!

Talking about videos, the collection of videos being published about the show are another way of getting the atmosphere and sometimes information. Look at Emerson Daily Exchange where there is a series of short videos to whet virtual appetites! Another useful resource during the week was Live at the Exchange, a review of happenings on a day by day basis with photos shared on-line, some of which we are using in this report. (tweet: “The Control Global team is here & publishing to Emerson Exchange365!“)

Break-outs
When attending this event it is always difficult to select which room to go to in which thread of automation. Following on twitter sometimes one is assailed by tweets from the various talks or presentations which can be confusing but also instructive as it can lead to exploration elsewhere for more information on the topic. This is especially fruitful where the presenter provides his power point presentation and/or notes on-line. We will just give a few tweet examples here.
“Great discussion and thanks to our industry panelist’s – Monetization of #NatGas – O&G Industry Forum”
“Life Science team at the ready for Continuos Process Verification solutions!”
“Fort Worth 2: workshop by Madhav on how Emerson delivered Containerized DCS and OTS on time for fast track Project!”
“Dallas3: Mr Nishimaki from KNGPG explains how #EMR #wireless solution benefited to achive high reliability”
“Bob Huba highlights the importance of people and processes in #PAuto cybersecurity.”
“Marlin Midstream changing the game – controlling valves wirelessly on a natural gas cryo plant!”
“Killer talk on SynTQ PAT application by BMS on a Fluidized Bed Drying process and a Blending process!”
“Cool! I just saw my safety dashboard video from the iOps Center at Emerson Exchange 2012.” (this from Mike Boudreaux!)
“Kaleb Pergande provides a look at enhancements of the Fisher GX control valve over its 10-year lifespan.”
“Aaron Crews outlines dashboards for risk mitigation to increase safety in our process facilities.”
“Wow ! Come and see Australia’s biggest iPad @ #emrex in workshop -SANTOS Brisbane Collabrative Control Center by Mike and Patrick!”
“Be sure to get to the DeltaV roadmap sessions: Come and Meet Claudio the new DeltaV marketing Dir..”
“This is cool: Session ID 8-5039- High Fidelity Modeling with MiMiC Simulation Software…”
“Bring your laptop to the fire and gas workshop at #emrex we’re going to be working…”
“Just watched @LouHeavner making APC theory look easy. Very impressive!”
“Great presentation of how integrated operations powers you business potential at exchange by Mike Boudreaux and Suchit Rout.”
“I saw a real LouLou of a presentation on VRU’s, 8-4939. Last chance tomorrow at 3:15!” (not sure what a LouLou presentation is but we assume it’s a compliment!)
“Got out to see the Fisher Regulator Technologies HQ in McKinney this afternoon. Shiny and new, indeed!”
“Three attributes of Pervasive Sensing, Jonas Berge tells me: wireless; non-intrusive installation; good enough measurement accuracy!”
“So did you take Steve’s advice and meet 5 new people every day? Well, check out the Networking session today – 2.15, Dallas 6.”
“yes , in fact meeting more than 5 people #emrex from different countries , having fun !”
“Nice synergies presented at #EmrEx; Wireless leak detection on pipe-lines and tank gauging in refinery tank farm. #WiHART is the enabler.”
“Cindy Scott presents the new DeltaV Executive Portal – view process graphics and create dashboards in IE for use in your enterprise!”
“Want to be a rocket scientist too? http://ow.ly/24qdDU!”
“Emerson research leader exits each meeting wondering, “How can a 58 year old have so much fun at work?” Easy: Fun problems/great people.”
…and so on! Can you feel the enthusiasm?

More fun
Can you take any more well of course there is the evening time when the sessions are over and what we in Ireland call “seissiúns” begin. This is party time and no Emerson Exchange is complete with out this kind of fun – or the real craic! And our tweeters are not idle here. “Knock Knock Knocking on Heaven ‘s Door #EmrEx. Emerson , LBP’s, and Exhibitors jammin’ it tonight on stage!..” “Dancing with @Merry120 and @DeannaDaisy. It’s an #EMRex tradition! As always, the band was awesome tonight!!” Maybe we should draw a veil over the rest of the evening.

“Best exchange ever this year. Truly lives up to expectations. Real connections and great interaction with and between customers!”
“We had another good exhibition at #EMRex. Thanks for the great conversations! The Final Control booth is all packed up until next year!”

A great quiet has now descended on our tweet-feed as the participants return to their homes and mull and digest over the information they have received! And to a well earned rest!

And so to Stuttgart!
The last word I’ll leave with Nick Taylor: “Germany is beautiful in the Spring. Join us for #EMRex Stuttgart, April 20014!” And it looks like it will be as outstanding as the previous time this was held in Europe with a Record number of abstracts from users. Click here for more information on Emerson Users Exchange EMEA. Last year this was in Duesseldorf (D) and you can see what we thought in our article, Automation returns to Düsseldorf! (Oct 2012)

BTW The Americans will do it all over again in Orlando, (Fl USA) next October: 6-10 October 2014.

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Reports
As we come accross other reports in other locations we’ll link here!

Emrex Video Daily! {}Day 1{}Day 2{}Day 3{}Day 4{}Day 5{}

Day One {}Day Two {}Day Three {}Day Four (ControlGlobal)
• Control Global also have a page which they alarmingly call “Emerson Exchange News all in one place!” We didn’t think that was possible but this team are remarkable!

Emerson: A Problem Solver (Gregory Hale, ISS Source, 1/10/2013)

Emerson: Pervasive Sensing for Safety (Gregory Hale, ISS Source, 1/10/2010)

Process Systems User Group Sees Large Crowd (Gary Mintchell, Manufacturing Connection, 1/10/2013)

“Pervasive Sensing” Is the Future (ARC Advisory Group, 11/10/2013)

Emerson dishes a feast at Dallas Exchange (South African I&C, November 2013)

Pervasive or Persuasive Sensing? (Kiran Patel, IMS Research, 4/11/2013)

Pervasive sensing highlighted ar Emerson Exchange 2013 (Bill Lydon, Automation.com, 25/11/2013)

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• Anything we’ve missed is sure to appear on Jim Cahill’s (Watch how you pronounce that name folks), Emerson Process Experts. He was there in the flesh with his eyes wide open!