Endress+Hauser and Rockwell Automation Host Customer Training Summit

Endress+Hauser showcased its new Customer Center.

Summit attendees gained technical insight from the multiple exhibitors at the event. A variety of technical forums and hands-on labs provided event-goers real-world process application experience, while letting them earn professional development hours. Attendees also networked with peers and content experts for a better understanding of how to tackle today's production and business challenges.

Central to the event, Endress+Hauser showcased its new 80,000 square feet, $16 million Customer Center. Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group, based in Reinach, Switzerland, said the company has experienced double-digit growth in the U.S., and doubled the number of employees here. "We built the Customer Center to help facilitate collaboration among our sales staff, partners and customers. This bolsters innovation and helps ensure our continued success," he said.

Todd Lucey, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Sales Center USA, added that the company's growth in the U.S. has resulted largely from the hefty investments it has made over the years in customer training. The new Customer Center continues this focus. “Customers can send operators, maintenance personnel, engineers and other process personnel to the center to get hands-on training and real-world expertise in the state-of-the-art Process Training Unit (PTU) located inside the facility," he explained.

The PTU is a fully functional “mini process plant.” 

The PTU is a fully functional “mini process plant” that includes over 120 Endress+Hauser field instruments controlled by a Rockwell Automation PlantPAx process automation system. The PTU features full tank gauging solutions, WiFi access to the PTU network, a  separate oil/water column that demonstrates interface measurement, and flowmeters with the company's Heartbeat Technology, which provides continuous self-diagnostic, monitoring and verification.

John Schnake General Manager at Endress+Hauser added that the company also built the Customer Center with an eye to the future. "One of our goals is to help make process instrumentation cool for the new generation of controls engineers. Students love to climb all over the PTU and learn about the various technologies it showcases."