Study shows strong global growth for Fieldbus Foundation technology

RESULTS OF A RECENT research study show strong growth for Fieldbus Foundation technology in the global industrial automation market. The 2004 year-end survey indicates more than 500,000 FOUNDATION fieldbus-compliant devices and 8,000 fieldbus systems have been shipped or installed to date. The device count included 18 major industrial installations.

Foundation research, supported by public records, verified FOUNDATION fieldbus-based control systems are being adopted around the world at an expanding rate. Multiple industries and geographic regions drove the growth in FOUNDATION technology. Key markets included oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, pharmaceuticals, and other manufacturing. The study also revealed that FOUNDATION fieldbus installations embraced both greenfield and brownfield projects of various sizes.

According to Fieldbus Foundation marketing specialist Joe Conklin, FOUNDATION fieldbus has reached a level of acceptance where end users have standardized on the technology for a wide range of control and instrumentation projects. "Major industrial manufacturers are requiring that FOUNDATION fieldbus be included in the specifications for new plant construction and unit upgrades," said Conklin. "For example, Shell Global Solutions selected FOUNDATION fieldbus for 31% of re-instrumentation and 66% of new projects. FOUNDATION technology has been confirmed as a leading choice for automation projects of all types by respected industry organizations such as the ARC Advisory Group."

Conklin added that the rising FOUNDATION fieldbus adoption rate resulted from greater understanding of the Operating Expense (OpEx) and Capital Expense (CapEx) savings and quality improvements made possible by the technology. "By optimizing performance across the enterprise, FOUNDATION fieldbus enables industrial manufacturers to significantly improve their bottom line," he said. "Companies deploying fieldbus-based control strategies are able to lower capital costs, reduce installation costs, decrease operating expenses, reduce maintenance requirements, and decrease time-to-market."

The list of 2004 FOUNDATION fieldbus installations included: