More than 1,200 automation professionals, hailing from dozens of countries around the world, exchanged best practices and technical solutions during ISA Automation Week 2012 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The annual conference featured technical sessions in two Technology Excellence tracks focused on security and wireless; and four Operational Excellence tracks focused on safety and environmental performance, control performance, asset performance and human performance. The technical program was chaired by Dr. Peter Martin, Vice President of Business Value Solutions at Invensys.

In addition to more than 60 technical conference sessions, attendees enjoyed three executive keynote presentations, networking receptions, standards committee meetings, training courses and leadership meetings.

Tuesday’s keynote address was delivered by Greg Hale, Chief Safety Officer and Vice President, Worldwide Standards and Auditing at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

In addition to Disney’s incredible safety and maintenance technology, the Disney team has developed efficiency innovations with the FirstPass system, improving utilization and throughput of attractions while increasing guest satisfaction; and contributed greatly to the accessibility of Disney parks around the world with Assistive Technology Devices to enhance the experience of guests with disabilities.

Wednesday’s keynote address featured a dynamic panel of industry executives, discussing challenges and insights into the future of automation and industry issues.

Wednesday evening’s Beach Party reception, celebrating ISA’s workforce development partnership with FIRST®, was hosted by NASCAR® driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, Disney’s Greg Hale, and Calum Pearson, Vice President of Technical and Show Support at Cirque du Soleil. Cobb, one of NASCAR’s most successful female drivers, stressed the importance of technology and innovation in her sport, thanking automation professionals for their dedication.

Click to read in detail what happened at ISA Automation Week

Visiting historical sites is not the only reason you should come early to this year’s Automation Fair event in Philadelphia. On Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 5 and 6, the Rockwell Automation Process Solutions User Group (PSUG) – including representatives from more than 230 companies worldwide – will gather to exchange ideas and learn new approaches to critical challenges. Parag Patel, vice president of alliances for VMWare Inc., will address the audience and explain how you can use virtualization to transform your process automation. You will also learn firsthand from over 30 process customers who are utilizing the PlantPAx process automation system to streamline their processes, establish new best practices, and tap into fresh revenue streams.

Over 24 educational sessions will be conducted on relevant topics, such as network security, industry standards and sustainability. Insights will be shared, discoveries will be made, and the opinions of all will help drive the development priorities for the PlantPAx process automation system.

And it doesn’t end there. Once PSUG has adjourned, continue your week of process education by attending the Automation Fair event on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 7 and 8. This premier industry event is uniquely designed to help companies, OEMs and system integrators leverage their automation investments to fulfill their businesses’ potential. View the newest product and system technologies, meet with specialists, attend workshops and technical sessions specifically geared to the process industries, and participate in live demonstrations designed to give you a competitive advantage.

WHAT: Process Solutions User Group and the Automation Fair event

WHEN: Nov. 5 – 8, 2012

WHERE: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia

WHO: Plant managers, process control engineers, quality management, production operators, OEM principals, vice presidents of operations, vice presidents of engineering, directors of quality and reliability, information managers, system integrator and EPC principals.

The Emerson Global Users Exchange will be held from 8th to 12th October at the Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Convention Center in sunny Anaheim, California.

The Emerson Global Users Exchange Conference was developed to provide end users with a valuable exchange of information among process manufacturers, end-users and Emerson experts. The unique opportunity offers peers the ability to network, view and offer input about developing Emerson technologies and to take away new knowledge, ideas and techniques to help maximize assets and increase profitability.

The Conference includes:

• Workshop and Short Course Presentations
• Hands on Educational Services Courses
• Industry Forums
• Technology Forums
• Meet the Experts Sessions
• Product Roadmaps
• Exhibits
• Special Interest Group Meetings
• Social and Networking Event
• Fully functioning Demo's

The Emerson Global Users Exchange is more than an industry-leading technical conference, it is a community of manufacturing leaders committed to extracting the most from their automation investment…and sharing their learning with each other.

Who should attend?

• Control Systems Manager, Engineer, Specialist
• Instrumentation Supervisor, Engineer, Technician
• Maintenance Manager
• Plant Management, VP Manufacturing
• Production Operator, Supervisor
• Project Director, Manager
• Reliability Manager or Engineer
• VP or Director of Engineering or Operations
• EPCs and OEMs

Click for Registration

Click to see the Agenda At a Glance

Click to see the Exchange Website

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (31 July 2012) – The International Society of Automation (ISA) will present Paul J. Galeski, CEO and Founder of MAVERICK Technologies, with the Excellence in Leadership Award during its 50th Annual ISA Honors and Awards Gala, 24 September 2012, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The Excellence in Leadership Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to advance industry and the automation profession. Galeski, a licensed professional engineer and a Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®), is recognized for creating a paradigm shift in systems integration by establishing and leading two cutting-edge firms to global prominence in less than 10 years.

Galeski founded MAVERICK Technologies in 1999 with the intent of becoming a global resource dedicated to helping manufacturing businesses reach new levels of success. Over the past decade, MAVERICK has worked with hundreds of world-class clients to devise unique approaches, enhance productivity, reduce costs and improve safety through the innovative application of industrial automation, enterprise integration and operational consulting.