For 16 years, Control magazine has produced the only unaided product poll in the process automation market. Yet again, we present the selections our readers have made.
When we say, unaided, we mean that there is no drop-down box with company names in it; there is only an empty text box, in which we ask the respondents to type the name of their selection. Next to it is a set of choice buttons for the service score, ranging from Poor to Outstanding on a 1 to 5 point scale.
The poll is web-based, with the invitation sent privately via email to a selected number of Control subscribers, carefully screened to eliminate vendors. A premium awarded in a random drawing from the first 100 respondents (this years was an iPod Nanowon by Tim Doud of Alcoa) is offered. A reminder email is sent a few days after each mailing.
Because differences of less than 3% are statistically insignificant, they are treated as tie scores.
This year, there were over 1,000 respondents providing our sample. The demographics of the sample are as follows:
Industry:
Chemicals........................................22%
Food & beverage...............................15%
Electric/gas/water/sanitary utilities.......9%
Pulp & paper......................................8%
Petroleum refining..............................8%
Primary metals...................................8%
Rubber & plastics................................8%
Stone/clay/glass/concrete.....................3%
Textile...............................................1%
Tobacco...........................................<1%
Engineering & integration firms............16%
Job function:
Engineering.......................................55%
Plant operations................................17%
Research & development......................8%
Administration....................................5%
Other...............................................15%
Editor's Note: Because differences in the results of less than ±3% are statistically insignificant, they are being treated as ties in the numerical rankings.
*Note: After images load in new window, click the image to maximize its size.
- Vendors Offering Exceptional Service
- Analyzer, Ambient Gas Detector
- Analyzer, Density/Concentration
- Analyzer, Humidity/Moisture
- Analyzer, pH/ORP/Conductivity
- Analyzer, Process Chromatograph
- Analyzer, Process Spectrometer
- Analyzer, Stack Gas/Emissions
- Annunciator
- Control Valver
- Data Acquisition System
- Enclosure
- Flowmeter, Coriolis Mass
- FLowmeter, Magnetic
- Flowmeter, Open Channel
- Flowmeter, Positive Displacement
- Flowmeter, Thermal Mass
- Flowmeter, Turbine
- Flowmeter, Variable Area
- Flowmeter, Vortex Shedding
- Flow Switch
- Industrial Computer
- Input/Output System
- Instrumentation Fitting
- Intrisic Safety Barrier
- Level Gauge, Electrical Property-Based
- Level Gauge, Float/Displacer Type
- Level Gauge, Contacting Radar
- Level Gauge, Non-Contact Radar
- Level Gauge, Inventory Grade
- Level Gauge, Laser
- Level Gauge, Nuclear
- Level Gauge, Ultrasonic
- Level Indicator, Visual
- Level Switch, Point
- Operator Interface Terminal
- Panel Displays
- Portable Calibrator
- Power Supply
- Pressure Transmitter
- Process Control/Automation System
- Process Loop Controller
- Programmable Logic Controller
- Purge System
- Remote Terminal Unit
- Recorder
- Resistance Temperature Detector
- Safety/Emergency Shutdown System
- Signal Conditioner
- Software, Advances Process Control
- Software, Alarm Management
- Software, Asset Management
- Software, Batch Control
- Software, Calibration Management
- Software, Design/Documentation
- Software, Human-Machine Interface
- Software, Loop Tuning
- Software, Neural Network
- Software, PLC Programming
- Software, Process Control
- Software, SCADA
- Software, Simulation
- Temperature Sensor, Infrared
- Temperature Transmitter
- Termina Block
- Thermal Imaging/Thermography
- Thermocouple
- Valve Actuator, Electric
- Vave Actuator, Pneumatic
- Variable Speed Drive
- Vibration Instrumentation
- Weighing System, Load Cell
- Weighing System, Inline
- Wire & Cable
