20 years of the HART Communication Foundation

Benefits today and into the future. See links to collected articles.

By Ron Helson April 11, 2013

In 2013 the HART Communication Foundation celebrates 20 years serving the process automation industry. Since its founding in 1993, the focus of the Foundation has been providing global support for the application of the HART Protocol and helping users maximize the value of their smart instrumentation investments.

Today the HART Protocol is the world’s leading communication technology for intelligent process measurement and control with more than 35 million HART-enabled devices installed in process plant applications around the globe. Users recognize that the intelligent information, data, interoperability and capabilities of HART-enabled devices are valuable assets for cost-efficient and sustainable process manufacturing operations.

Industry suppliers are manufacturing HART products in record numbers with more than 70% of all process measurement and control products shipped and installed each year using HART Communication. More and more end users are thinking outside the box and discovering innovative ways to benefit from the use of HART Communication.

Regardless of the age of your plant or control system, there are many ways to connect with the HART data from your intelligent field devices. In the following articles, read how companies have discovered the benefits of connecting to their HART-enabled devices and discover how users like you are putting HART Communication to work to benefit their enterprise.

Into the Future

The development and rapid global acceptance of WirelessHART since its introduction in 2007 enhances the technology’s functionality and preserves its future viability indefinitely. In 2012, the Protocol was further enhanced to include user-requested capabilities for improved functionality—Condensed Device Status Indicators; Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for wireless networks; HART Communication over Internet Protocol standardization; Discrete “on/off” functionality for devices; and Infrared communication to a device.

These enhancements provide a basis for future innovation bringing new capabilities and value for industry users. 

If you plan to upgrade or expand an existing plant or build a new plant for sustainable and globally competitive operation…look to products and solutions based on the easy-to-use, low-risk, industry standard for smart instrument communication—HART Communication with benefits for today and into the future!

Ron Helson is executive director of the HART Communication Foundation.

Read more about HART applications:

HART benefits the bottom line at MOL refinery

Using HART with asset management systems

HART: Benefits for today and into the future

Electric utility stretches sensor coverage

WirelessHART extends your reach