Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients
ARC recently attended the Schneider Electric Connect 2016 customer event in New Orleans May 23-26. This was really the first large scale, process automation focused user group meeting that presented a unified offering for Schneider Electric's complete portfolio since the acquisition of Invensys Operations Management (IOM). ARC has been continuously covering the new Schneider Electric since the acquisition, and we have reported on the progress being made with new version of Triconex and Foxboro Evo being released, as well as new releases across the Schneider Electric Industry business unit. In ARC's view, Schneider Electric represented the best possible acquisition outcome for the former Invensys Operations Management (IOM) businesses. Schneider Electric has preserved all the key brands, from Foxboro and Triconex to Wonderware and Eurotherm and SimSci. But the Schneider Industry business is a much bigger tent than the former IOM, and includes the PLC, motion control, and drives businesses. It presents great opportunities for integration of automation solutions with other Schneider Electric products such as motor control centers and electric switchgear. The electrical side of the equation is in some ways more important than the automation side, according to key end users like ExxonMobil, who want their suppliers to provide an integrated approach and drive down costs in both automation and electrical project engineering. All of this was on display at the technology showcase, which also included Schneider's CAPP alliance partners and companies like Cisco, AE Solutions,. Phoenix Contact, Metso/Expertune, Pepperl+Fuchs, and too many others to mention (so I include a graphic). Over 800 people were reported to be in attendance, and many of the sessions, like Alain Ginguene's session covering the Foxboro Evo system roadmap, were standing room only. The overall atmosphere was very upbeat. There were lots of upstream and downstream oil and gas end users in attendance as the event was on the Gulf Coast in New Orleans, but there were also many end users from a wide variety of industries, including the full Triconex and Foxboro end user steering committees. 
There were two official press events at the conference -- one for the release of the latest generation of Foxboro Evo intelligent marshalling, and the other covering new products and emerging strategies for the hybrid industries with an emphasis on PlantStruxure. Schneider Electric announced the new Intelligent Marshalling FBM248 offering, now with redundancy capabilities, designed to eliminate the costly and labor intensive marshalling process traditionally required for control systems. Schneider Electric also announced that the Triconex Tricon CX compact safety system has been enhanced with the addition of the 3902X TMR universal I/O module. At the Foxboro Evo press conference, Thad Frost, senior technology manager at Schneider Electric, also announced an alliance with Phoenix Contact to provide their VIPER product, which is a modular intelligent I/O accessory that is used in pre-designed configurations with Foxboro Evo Intelligent Marshalling. On the "hybrid" industry side of the business, Schneider Electric announced the latest version of PlantStruxure PES V4.2, integrating new hardware with capabilities from the company’s Modicon M580 ePAC family. Built for Industrial Internet of Things applications, the addition of Modicon M580 redundant controllers delivers higher availability for critical continuous process operations. PES V4.2 meets the next generation of requirements with the M580 ePAC and the ability to lock down ports within a single configuration environment. Executive keynotes were given by the new management team, including Gary Freburger, Chief Operating Officer Interim President, North America. Sandy Vasser of ExxonMobil also gave his company's updated vision for process automation systems and a new list of challenges to automation suppliers. Bridget Fitzpatrick of Wood Group/Mustang also gave a very good keynote presentation on the ISA 18.2 standard and the importance of good alarm management. One of the best sessions I attended was on the integration of Foxboro Evo with intelligent motor control centers from Schneider Electric given by Alain Ginguine. The integration of the control and electric domains is something ExxonMobil has been calling for, and many other end users see the value as well in both the project implementation and all other lifecycle phases of the plant.
There were two official press events at the conference -- one for the release of the latest generation of Foxboro Evo intelligent marshalling, and the other covering new products and emerging strategies for the hybrid industries with an emphasis on PlantStruxure. Schneider Electric announced the new Intelligent Marshalling FBM248 offering, now with redundancy capabilities, designed to eliminate the costly and labor intensive marshalling process traditionally required for control systems. Schneider Electric also announced that the Triconex Tricon CX compact safety system has been enhanced with the addition of the 3902X TMR universal I/O module. At the Foxboro Evo press conference, Thad Frost, senior technology manager at Schneider Electric, also announced an alliance with Phoenix Contact to provide their VIPER product, which is a modular intelligent I/O accessory that is used in pre-designed configurations with Foxboro Evo Intelligent Marshalling. On the "hybrid" industry side of the business, Schneider Electric announced the latest version of PlantStruxure PES V4.2, integrating new hardware with capabilities from the company’s Modicon M580 ePAC family. Built for Industrial Internet of Things applications, the addition of Modicon M580 redundant controllers delivers higher availability for critical continuous process operations. PES V4.2 meets the next generation of requirements with the M580 ePAC and the ability to lock down ports within a single configuration environment. Executive keynotes were given by the new management team, including Gary Freburger, Chief Operating Officer Interim President, North America. Sandy Vasser of ExxonMobil also gave his company's updated vision for process automation systems and a new list of challenges to automation suppliers. Bridget Fitzpatrick of Wood Group/Mustang also gave a very good keynote presentation on the ISA 18.2 standard and the importance of good alarm management. One of the best sessions I attended was on the integration of Foxboro Evo with intelligent motor control centers from Schneider Electric given by Alain Ginguine. The integration of the control and electric domains is something ExxonMobil has been calling for, and many other end users see the value as well in both the project implementation and all other lifecycle phases of the plant.