HCF announces new HART User Associate Membership program

11/15/2004

The HART Communication Foundation (HCF) has announced a new and extended membership program for users of HART technology. The HART User Associate Membership Program will provide an array of support services and benefits for users of HART-enabled instrumentation products, including vendor-neutral technical support resources and the HCF Library of registered device descriptions.

According to the Foundation, companies that join as a HART User Associate now through 31 March 2005 will become a HART User Associate Charter Member. They will receive a 20% discount on their first year’s membership fee and a special membership certificate designating them as a HART User Charter Member.

“Our objective is to facilitate and help users maximize their return on investment and use the full potential of their smart instrumentation,” says Ron Helson, HCF Executive Director. “As an HCF member, users have access to all Foundation resources, technical information, and programs to help them better understand and utilize the Power of HART to optimize assets, increase plant availability and lower costs.”

HART User Associate Membership is applicable for businesses that use (but do not develop or manufacture) products based on the HART Communication Protocol. Membership benefits and programs are structured to serve the needs of end user and system integrator sites as well as non-profit government agencies, accredited universities, colleges and technical training schools.

Key benefits, programs and services include: a dedicated HART HELP-Line for vendor-neutral technical support and application assistance; web seminars and technical forums for best practices; a secure web-site with protocol specifications, application information, DD Library distributions and HART OPC Server (basic) license; expedited DD programming services; and training workshops.

An Advisory Council with direct input to the HCF Board of Directors will guide the programs and services for HART User Associate Members. Membership application forms and additional information on the HART User Associate Membership Program are available at www.hartcomm.org, or by calling 512-794-0369.