PlantWeb provides solutions tailored to improvements needed on-site.
Emerson has been at the forefront of communication standardization that underpins Industrial IoT.

As inter-instrument communication became smarter, the digital communication protocol HART was launched. Compatible with existing systems and capable of collision-free communication over 4-20 milliamperes, this protocol was internationally standardized and is still in use today. The same applies to the Ovation Foundation Fieldbus, which enhances diagnostics and predictive maintenance through proprietary I/O modules. This is the story of Emerson Automation Solutions (hereinafter Emerson), which has long been at the forefront of standardization that forms the foundation of Industrial IoT.

Emerson underwent significant changes last year. It acquired Pentair Valves and Controls, adding safety valve automation solutions to its portfolio. It reorganized five affiliates into two: Automation Solutions and Commercial and Residential Solutions. Process automation technology, including Emerson Electric and parts of Industrial Automation Solutions, was named Automation Solutions.

At the center of the change was industrial IoT.

Emerson’s Director Hwang Sun-ju stated, “The connectivity of industrial IoT has broken down boundaries between industries. We are also considering businesses in previously unexplored areas.” "He said, 'Beyond PLC, DCS, and processes, convergence into any field—such as food and beverage or pharmaceutical companies—has become possible if one possesses high levels of business, technology, sales, and operational skills.'"
Emerson's plant solutions consist of a total of five stages under the Plantweb Digital Ecosystem (hereinafter Plantweb).

1) Pervasive sensing, such as pressure gauges, gas monitors, radar levels, and electrical monitoring, which use wireless information to install units
2) Secure First Mile, a gateway stage equipped with hardware security by embedding diodes that allow data to flow in only one direction
3) Plantweb Insight, which connects process and equipment data to the cloud to intuitively monitor equipment operational health
4) Plantweb Advisor, where experts can provide feedback
5) Always Mobile: Exploring Insights via Mobile Phone

Pervasive sensing, the data collection stage, is an area where Emerson demonstrates its strengths. For example, the method of sensing fluid temperature by inserting a sensor was changed to using ultrasonic sensors to measure externally without insertion. When collecting field data across various fields, costs can be reduced and gains exceeding the investment value can be obtained depending on 'what data is collected and by what method.'


“When we first launched the smart plant initiative, there was a company that, driven by a strong interest in IIoT, focused on ‘how to store data’ and built a higher-level system. However, this approach encounters barriers when considering how to utilize the data. Since Emerson was originally a supplier of control equipment and controllers, we have been researching improvements needed in the field. We propose solutions by first researching these on-site improvements and then supplying them to our customers.”

In chemical plants, steam is money. Management methods are critical because high steam trap pressure must be released prematurely, and malfunctions can lead to explosions. At one plant in Singapore, inspections were previously conducted by tapping on the traps with a hammer about once every two months. In response, Emerson installed sensors and changed the system to one where experts provide reports on steam conditions.

In addition to this, Emerson provides solutions tailored to on-site conditions. While it is commercialized after the initial introduction, customers also share data internally and build additional portfolios to utilize it in a secondary or tertiary manner.

PlantWeb, trends in the industrial IoT market
As PlantWeb is still in the pilot phase, we focused on identifying practical starting points for customers. The approach involves introducing a single unit, finding a platform capable of generating big data from the generated data, and consulting on the interface. By refining unit solutions, the higher-level infrastructure can also be effective. Initially, we focused on wireless sensing, and now we are considering areas that were previously unsensable and more convenient sensing methods.

Perception has changed significantly in just one year. Customers have shifted from ignoring IIoT to recognizing its importance. It has been 7 to 8 years since we started wireless technology. Even when we first launched wireless solutions, people didn't even look at them for the first 3 to 4 years. As people encounter use cases, perceptions change, more applications emerge, and they come to regard it as a necessary solution, growth will accelerate. Providers such as SI companies or vendors need to set the right direction.

Just as customers have changed, Emerson is also changing by collaborating with Microsoft and Cisco for cloud and communications. We plan to build a foundation that users can conveniently utilize through applications.

In the plant sector, there are specialized companies providing solutions in that field. The solutions are also different. If one area develops, this area will develop as well. If necessary, we can work together. It is not a competitive relationship, but a relationship of mutual growth.