European Process Automation User Associations Meeting in Brussels

A first step towards closer cooperation of over 200 of the major end user companies.

On August 13th 2012 members of the European User Associations of process automation technology held their first joint meeting in Brussels.

Board members and managers of EI, EXERA, WIB and NAMUR took part in the meeting. The aim of the meeting was to arrive at a common understanding of the particular organisations, missions, areas of operation and membership structures. The second objective was to find out those areas where the organisations could benefit from closer cooperation.

Within the one day meeting the Associations presented themselves. In the afternoon board members and managers discussed possible areas of cooperation, obstacles that could hinder cooperation and finally how a closer cooperation could be initiated.
The Associations together represent over 200 of the major end user companies in Europe, and as such there are tremendous opportunities in sharing knowledge and bundling strengths.

Most of the member companies and equipment and system suppliers are global players nowadays. Therefore there was agreement that it is absolutely necessary for the Associations, which represent the process automation users, to work more closely together.
The Associations agreed on regular information exchange, as well as establishment of joint working groups in the field of functional safety, wireless automation, IT Security, selection of field flow devices and alarm management. Particular activities to launch the joint working groups were defined and agreed.

All members pointed out that the discussions were very open and constructive. Everybody agreed that the closer cooperation will generate additional benefit for the Associations and therefore the results of the first meeting exceeded expectations.

EEMUA (Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association), the international organisation representing significant users of engineering equipment and materials (including automation technologies), is also currently in discussions regarding extending collaboration with these user groups for process automation.


EI: Evaluation International was first established in 1962 as the Sira Instrumentation Panel (SIREP).  EI now collaborates with WIB and EXERA as the International Instrument Users' Associations which have a total of about 100 instrument user member companies across Europe. The combined EI/WIB/EXERA database contains over 1,500 reports of instrument evaluations and surveys carried out since 1982. EI itself has about 30 member companies in the UK and Sweden. Most of EI's current members have interests in the nuclear/energy industries and EI's work programme is devoted to the evaluation of instruments and safety systems to meet these members' requirements. For further information, please visit: www.evaluation-international.com

EXERA: Established in 1974, EXERA is a French-Italian association of 40 entities using automatisms and instruments. Its 20 technical committees conduct evaluations of instruments (flowmeters, analysers, automats etc.) or make studies in various fields like functional safety, MES or industrial transmissions, and yearly issue around 20 reports. EXERA also maintains a win-win dialog with the most important manufacturers and set up technical days open to any interested party. Fully private, EXERA has also fruitful relations with the French government and European commission. For further information visit: www.exera.com

NAMUR: The "International User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries" was founded in 1949 in Leverkusen and has currently 135 member companies. NAMUR contributes to the increased value of companies by pooling the competences of users of automation technology in process industries in the installation and operation in order to gain efficient, sustainable and safe processes and to further develop the use of automation technology. For further information visit: www.namur.de

WIB: The Dutch based International Process Automation end-users' Association. Started off in 1963 as a common-interest group to jointly carry-out instrument evaluations. Present focus is directed at intensifying members contacts in 9 topical working groups to share experience and information and develop study projects and reports on Automation subjects of common interest. Further reference:  www.wib.nl