HIGH-LEVEL COUNCIL IDENTIFIES FOUNDATION FIELDBUS MARKETING INITIATIVES IN EUROPE
12 April 2005 - Fieldbus Foundation

The EMEA EAC, comprised of senior executives from Europe's leading control and instrumentation companies, was established in response to growing demand for FOUNDATION fieldbus in the European industrial market. The advisory council is dedicated to promoting the adoption of FOUNDATION technology by automation equipment suppliers and end users. It will ensure the funding and availability of human resources to support local fieldbus marketing activities across Europe.

Working together with the EMEA EAC, the EMEA steering committee, which replaces the former FF European Marketing Committee, will implement the advisory council's directives and develop regional marketing materials. EMEA steering committee members have pre-determined roles in supporting local marketing committees in each country with activities such as trade shows, advertising, press relations and general promotion of FOUNDATION technology.

At the Vienna meeting, Fieldbus Foundation President and CEO Richard Timoney thanked attendees for their participation in the European marketing effort. 'I am pleased that the EMEA automation industry has made a strong commitment to the future of FOUNDATION fieldbus,' said Timoney. 'This technology offers so many benefits to industrial manufacturers in EMEA and around the world. Fieldbus end users realise economic advantages such as lower plant operating costs and decreased capital equipment expenses.'

He added, 'It is important that we communicate this message to the EMEA user community and help enable the adoption of fieldbus-based control strategies.'

EMEA EAC members elected Dr. Gunther Kegel, president of Pepperl+Fuchs, as council chairman. Other council participants include: Juergen Fuchs, ABB; Jim Nyquist, Emerson Process Management; Dr. Raimund Sommer, Endress+Hauser; Christopher Dartnell, Honeywell; Alain Ginguene, Invensys, Graeme Philp, MTL; Mick Grange, Rockwell Automation; Wolfgang Trier, Softing; and Harry Hauptmeijer, Yokogawa.

EMEA steering committee members include: Frank Fengler, ABB; Richard Willems, Emerson Process Management; Klaus Korsten, Endress+Hauser; Chris Allen, Fieldbus Foundation; Sue Fielder, Fieldbus Foundation; Wim Van Robbroeck, Honeywell; Alain Ginguene, Invensys; Roger Highton, MTL; Thomas Kasten, Pepperl+Fuchs; Paul Brooks, Rockwell Automation; Heiko Meyer, Softing; Bareld Bruining, STC Brielle; Jorge Garcia, Turck; Juan Garcia, Vega; Matthias Mueller, Weimueller; and Henk Van der Bent, Yokogawa.

Dr. Kegel called on the EMEA EAC to enlist the necessary resources for educating European industry about FOUNDATION fieldbus. 'As an organisation, our task is to promote the technology across a vast and diverse marketplace,' he said. 'Our efforts can have a tremendous impact on the growth of the FOUNDATION protocol in process plants, factories and other automated operations.'

The first initiative of the EMEA EAC and steering committee, together with the newly founded German marketing committee, was the coordination of the Fieldbus Foundation's exhibit at Interkama 2005. Based on the theme 'Freedom to Choose. Power to Integrate,' the exhibit will feature a large 'FOUNDATION fieldbus Territory' consisting of a central FF stand with member company satellite booths in the immediate surrounding area, giving a marketplace atmosphere where the many flavours of FOUNDATION technology applications can be sampled.

Recognising the importance of high-level training to support engineering contractors in greenfield and retrofit projects, the EMEA steering committee will work with local foundation marketing committees to coordinate EPC seminars in 2005. Additionally, the Fieldbus Foundation will present a series of fieldbus workshops in Europe during the coming year, and participate in numerous automation industry events.

The next EMEA EAC meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, as part of the Fieldbus Foundation's Interkama 2005 activities.

http://fieldbus.org/

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