Austin, TX, January 17, 2003 -- In an unprecedented show of unity, leading process automation systems suppliers are confirming their commitment to and future support of the HART® Communication technology. ABB, Emerson, Foxboro/Invensys, Honeywell, Siemens and Yokogawa are rallying around HART Communication unlike any other process automation issue in recent history. These companies are expressing their commitment to deliver enhanced process automation solutions that fully utilize the real-time capabilities of HART technology.

"When it comes to HART, Honeywell gets it!" says Joe Serafin. "We asked our customers what was important to them and then designed it into our system. HART is important to our customers so it's now important to us."

Systems suppliers are investing heavily in digital technology to provide current and future advanced automation solutions that will benefit their customers. Not surprisingly, much of this investment is in HART Communication.

"Manufacturers are beefing up their control systems and instrumentation products to leverage the intelligence in HART-smart field devices," HART® Communication Foundation executive director Ron Helson says. "All major suppliers now offer control system interfaces, remote I/O systems and PC-based software solutions that fully use both the 4-20mA and HART digital communication channels to deliver continuous, real-time device diagnostics, multi-variable process information and much more."

"Siemens has a strong commitment to HART technology, today and in the future," says Hans Georg Kumpfmuller. "We have responded to industry demand by providing direct support for HART technology within our SIMATIC PCS 7 Process Control System. Also, 90% of our field devices and analytical equipment have HART."

"Invensys/Foxboro believes that HART offers a viable and growing opportunity in the deployment of intelligent buses for the foreseeable future for two reasons," says Dave Shepard. "First, the migration potential that exists with the huge installed base of conventional analog devices. Second, HART's inherent simplicity and the fact that it works reliably and provides out-of-the-box interoperability."

Shepard also stated that Invensys/Foxboro "probably ships 10 to 1 HART over all other combined intelligent fieldbus protocols."

ABB sees the HART technology as one of the strategic solutions that enables their customers to remain competitive. "ABB now offers a complete automation solution based on HART technology that exploits the full power of HART communication for lifecycle support of field devices," says Flavio Tolfo. "ABB has fully integrated our complete range of HART-based field devices into the Industrial IT automation architecture."

"End users want painless access to HART device diagnostic information and seamless integration into their control systems," Helson says. "System suppliers are listening . . . and introducing new HART-compatible products that make it easier than ever to benefit from the Power of HART Communication."

"Emerson Process Management provides a complete HART solution including measurement, HART valve positioners, a HART-based I/O in our Delta V control system and HART-based AMS," says Mark Schumacher. "HART is standard in all of our newest products. We are committed to further HART development and to extending HART beyond performance and commissioning to include real-time diagnostics."

"Yokogawa's recent I/O system enhancement and new software development allows us to fully integrate HART data from field devices to asset management," says Bruce Jensen. "HART technology is one of the strategic solutions that allows our customers to take advantage of improved device capability to lower lifecycle costs."

The HART Field Communications Protocol is celebrating 12 years as the world's leading process communication technology for smart instruments. The Protocol has been able to adapt to the changing nature of digital products without radical changes to the technology, allowing old and new products to work seamlessly side-by-side in an interoperable environment.

"I'm constantly being asked by people in the industry how long I think HART Communication will last," says Helson. "With commitment and support like this from the major systems suppliers, coupled with more than 12 million HART installations worldwide and our continued enhancement of the technology, I think it's clear that HART will be with us for the next 15 to 20 years. HART remains a valuable communication solution today and in the plants of tomorrow."