Confidence key to wireless adoption
30 Oct 2008
UK process operators are keen to introduce and/or expand the use of wireless at their facilities, though conditions are not yet right for them to back wholesale adoption of the technology. This is the main message from Process Engineering's Attitudes to Wireless survey (see report p29) which found 67% of respondents to have installed wireless process instrumentation in the past 18 months, and 51% planning wireless projects between now and next year.
Furthermore, 37% of the engineers surveyed expected wireless to replace between 5-10% of their wired installations over the next five years, with many others expecting to replace over 10% of wired systems.
Against this, the survey found a broad range of concerns including those relating to plant-wide compatibility of different devices from different manufacturers, international standards, range, immunity to interference and physical obstructions, and battery life. These doubts are, perhaps, reflected in the 81% of respondents, who said they had no wireless implementation strategy at their companies, with 55% saying that there were no plans to develop such a strategy.
Commenting on the survey findings, David Kent, honourary secretary of the Institute of Measurement & Control said: "This report undoubtedly confirms that wireless technology will provide the basis for the next evolution in process automation. The vast majority of users are indicating that this technology will take them in the direction they want to go."
However, noted Kent, end users appear unlikely to invest in a systematic approach to organising their entry until they can be confident of key areas of security. The survey responses, he added, echo trends during the industry's introduction of distributed process control and fieldbus communication.
"All major suppliers are active in the development of wireless products and this report provides evidence that users are also ready to get involved. The impact of this technology on new systems installed over the next five years should not be underestimated," concluded Kent.
Furthermore, 37% of the engineers surveyed expected wireless to replace between 5-10% of their wired installations over the next five years, with many others expecting to replace over 10% of wired systems.
Against this, the survey found a broad range of concerns including those relating to plant-wide compatibility of different devices from different manufacturers, international standards, range, immunity to interference and physical obstructions, and battery life. These doubts are, perhaps, reflected in the 81% of respondents, who said they had no wireless implementation strategy at their companies, with 55% saying that there were no plans to develop such a strategy.
Commenting on the survey findings, David Kent, honourary secretary of the Institute of Measurement & Control said: "This report undoubtedly confirms that wireless technology will provide the basis for the next evolution in process automation. The vast majority of users are indicating that this technology will take them in the direction they want to go."
However, noted Kent, end users appear unlikely to invest in a systematic approach to organising their entry until they can be confident of key areas of security. The survey responses, he added, echo trends during the industry's introduction of distributed process control and fieldbus communication.
"All major suppliers are active in the development of wireless products and this report provides evidence that users are also ready to get involved. The impact of this technology on new systems installed over the next five years should not be underestimated," concluded Kent.
