Companies That Successfully Landed on the 2012 Readers Choice List Showed Great Curiosity About Satisfying Customer Needs by Joe Feeley, editor in chief To say that technological achievement seems to constantly reach new heights is an appropriate description, considering what s been happening on Mars these days. The complexity involved in the dozens of carefully synchronized and coordinated events that brought Curiousity to a safe Martian landing can t be overappreciated. Granted, the machine projects you undertake don t cost $2.6 billion and take years to complete, and don t have to be supported from 160 million miles away after delivery. However, most of those machines are growing more complex in their own rights, and without dependable technology from dependable automation suppliers, the performance of those machine designs could end up way off course. We think the automation vendors that made this year s Readers Choice Awards lists must be those types of suppliers. We ve not changed the process for this event since we launched Readers Choice Awards in 2001. We sent questionnaires to more than 10,000 subscribers who tell us they have buying influence or buying authority for industrial automation and control products. Automation suppliers are never eligible, so we didn t knowingly let any supplier vote. Voting is reserved for our machinebuilder and system-integrator audience. We use an unaided ballot, which means we don t provide a list of vendors or product brands from which to choose. We list 50+ hardware and software categories and ask participants to name the companies that provide them the best technology value for products with which they have experience. This year we tallied 200+ eligible ballots. Once they choose the best providers, participants rate service and support they receive from them. Only companies that receive at least 5% of their category vote are listed. This year, 90 individual companies made the listings in one or more of 54 product categories. Eleven companies won in multiple product categories. Rockwell Automation won or tied for first place in 21 hardware and software categories. Emerson earned five category wins, while Phoenix Contact won in three categories. ABB, Advantech, Bosch Rexroth, National Instruments, Pepperl+Fuchs, Thomson, Turck and Yokogawa all won two categories. The evaluation of your automation suppliers overall service and support continues its trend of less-generous scoring. Of those 90 individual companies in the product category listings, you awarded service and support scores of 4.0 (very good) or better performance (on a scale of 1 = poor to 5 = excellent) to 48 of them, a 53% rate that compared with 73% in 2011. 32 Control Design September 2012 controldesign.com
Thomson Ball and Lead Screws Ball Screw/Lead Screw 1. Thomson 27% 2. Bosch Rexroth 14% NSK 12% 4. Parker Hannifin 6% THK 6% Controller, CNC 1. Fanuc FA America 35% 2. Siemens Industry 22% 3. Bosch Rexroth 8% Rockwell Automation 6% Fanuc FA America 30i-B Series CNC Control Yokogawa UT55A Controller Honeywell UDC Controller Controller, Loop 1. Yokogawa 19% Honeywell 18% 3. Siemens Industry 10% 4. Invensys 7% Emerson Process 6% Omega Engineering 5% The distribution of these service recognition scores dropped. In 2010, 20% of the listed service scores were at 4.3 and higher levels. Last year it dropped to 10%, and this year only 2% reached 4.3. Awards in the 4.0 to 4.1 groupings grew to represent 85% of all the listed service scores, compared with 70% last year, and 50% in 2011. National Intruments for DAQ Software, and Rockwell Automation for the Safety Relay category were the companies that received the 4.3 service mark this year. Every company earning a spot on the service and support list should be very pleased. Some 17 of those 48 companies received multiple great service marks. Voters recognized Rockwell Automation service and support in 26 product categories, followed by Siemens Industry with 14 categories, and Emerson with nine. ABB and AutomationDirect made the service rankings in six categories, while Phoenix Contact received five service accolades. Banner Engineering, Endress+Hauser, National Instruments, Pilz Automation Safety and Schneider Electric each received three product category nods; and Beckhoff Automation, Bosch Rexroth, Hoffman, Kollmorgen, Omega Engineering and Turck all made it twice. See the table on p42 for details. With product categories listed alphabetically, here are 2012 s galaxy-class companies. Allen-Bradley ControlLogix L7 Programmable Automation Controller Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 5370 Series Programmable Automation Controller Allen-Bradley Micro810 Programmable Logic Controller Controller, Motion 1. Rockwell Automation 27% 2. Siemens Industry 12% 3. Bosch Rexroth 5% Galil Motion 5% Controller, PAC 1. Rockwell Automation 40% 2. Siemens Industry 14% 3. AutomationDirect 7% Schneider Electric 6% GE Intelligent Platforms 5% National Instruments 5% Controller, PLC 1. Rockwell Automation 44% 2. Siemens Industry 19% 3. Schneider Electric 9% 4. AutomationDirect 5%
National Instruments Standalone CompactDAQ Data Acquisition System 1. National Instruments 36% 2. Invensys 11% 3. Emerson Process 8% 4. Rockwell Automation 5% Turck powerfast Connectivity Products Industrial Electrical Connector/Cordset 1. Turck 23% 2. Phoenix Contact 11% Molex 9% 4. Rockwell Automation 8% 5. Mencom 5% Yokogawa DXAdvanced Data Acquisition & Display Station Data Recorder 1. Yokogawa 19% 2. National Instruments 11% ABB 9% Honeywell 9% 5. Invensys 8% Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC Drive Industrial Electric Motor Drive 1. Rockwell Automation 26% 2. ABB 19% 3. Siemens Industry 10% 4. Emerson Industrial Automation 6% Yaskawa 5% Advantech ARK-1120 Embedded Computer System 1. Advantech 11% 2. Beckhoff Automation 6% GE Intelligent Platforms 6% Industrial Enclosure 1. Pentair/Hoffman 41% 2. Rittal 29% 3. Saginaw Control & Engineering 6% Hammond Manufacturing 5% Hoffman Watershed Enclosures Boston Gear 700 Series Reducer Baldor Dodge Ultra Kleen Worm Gear Reducer Gear Reducer 1. Boston Gear 15% ABB 14% 3. Stober 10% SEW Eurodrive 8% 5. Wittenstein 7% Shimpo 6% Pepperl+Fuchs 5000Q Purge/Pressurization System Industrial Enclosure Purge System 1. Pepperl+Fuchs/BPS 41% 2. Rittal 21% Pentair/Hoffman 20% Rexroth WE6 Directional Valve Hydraulic Component 1. Bosch Rexroth 31% 2. Parker Hannifin 24% 3. Eaton/Vickers 14% Allen-Bradley Stratix 5700 Layer 2 Managed Switch Industrial Network Components Wired 1. Rockwell Automation 29% 2. Cisco Systems 16% Siemens 15% 4. Belden/Hirschmann 8% 5. Phoenix Contact 5% Advantech UNO-2184G Embedded Automation Computer Industrial-Grade Computer 1. Advantech 20% 2. Rockwell Automation 17% 3. Dell 14% 4. B&R Automation 6% Siemens Industry 6% Beckhoff Automation 5% Phoenix Contact Trusted Wireless Siemens Scalance W788-1Pro Wireless Access Point Industrial Network Components Wireless 1. Phoenix Contact 15% Siemens 14% 3. ProSoft 11% Cisco Systems 10% 34 Control Design September 2012 controldesign.com
Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switch 2000 Industrial Network Router/Switch 1. Cisco Systems 32% 2. Rockwell Automation 14% 3. Belden/Hirschmann 9% Phoenix Contact 8% 5. N-Tron 5% BEI Hazardous Area Products Measurement, Encoder/Resolver 1. CST/BEI Sensors 17% 2. Sick/Stegmann 12% Danaher 11% Rockwell Automation 10% 5. Heidenhain 7% Encoder Products 6% Allen-Bradley 1799 Embedded I/O Input/Output System 1. Rockwell Automation 35% 2. Opto 22 8% Siemens Industry 8% Wago 8% 5. Schneider Electric 7% Beckhoff Automation 6% B&R Industrial Automation 5% Emerson Process Vortex and Coriolis Flowmeters Measurement, Flow 1. Emerson Process 41% 2. Endress+Hauser 20% 3. Krohne 7% Yokogawa 7% Allen-Bradley ArmorBlock I/O Input/Output, Machine-Mount 1. Rockwell Automation 35% 2. Siemens Industry 9% Turck 8% Wago 8% B&R Industrial Automation 7% Emerson Process 2160 and 5300 Measurement, Level 1. Emerson Process 30% 2. Endress+Hauser 25% 3. Vega 9% 4. Magnetrol 6% Siemens Industry 6% Pepperl+Fuchs K-System Intrinsic Safety Isolator Intrinsic Safety Components 1. Pepperl+Fuchs 22% 2. Cooper Crouse-Hinds/MTL 18% 3. Rockwell Automation 13% 4. R. Stahl 10% Measurement, Load Cell/Weighing 1. Mettler Toledo 35% 2. Hardy Process Solutions 6% Omega Engineering 6% Futek 5% Mettler Toledo IND780 Weighing Terminal SWC515 Pinmount Weigh Module Thomson Linear Slides Rexroth Easy Handling System Linear Actuator/Slide/Guide 1. Thomson 11% Bosch Rexroth 10% 3. Exlar 7% Parker Motion 7% Festo 6% Emerson Process Management 3051S Pressure Transmitter Measurement, Pressure 1. Emerson Process 34% 2. Endress+Hauser 13% 3. Yokogawa 8% Keyence 6% 5. Honeywell 5% Invensys 5% Wika 5% Cognex Vision Systems Family Machine Vision System 1. Cognex 52% 2. National Instruments 9% Sick 7% 4. Keyence 6% Banner Engineering 5% Emerson Process Management 3144P Temperature Transmitter Measurement, Temperature 1. Emerson Process 28% 2. Omega Engineering 11% Endress+Hauser 9% 4. Yokogawa 7% Honeywell 6% 36 Control Design September 2012 controldesign.com
Measurement, Vibration 1. GE Energy 41% Motor, Stepper 1. Kollmorgen 16% GE Energy Bently Nevada Asset Condition Monitoring 2. Emerson Process 10% 3. Wilcoxon Research 5% Kollmorgen Powermax II Series Stepper Motors 2. Oriental Motors 13% 3. Parker 8% Schneider Electric 8% ABB 7% 6. Applied Motion Products 5% Motor, Industrial Electric 1. ABB/Baldor 49% Motor Starter 1. Rockwell Automation 42% Baldor Reliance Super-E Premium Efficiency Motor 2. Siemens Industry 14% 3. Regal-Beloit 8% 4. GE 5% SEW Eurodrive 5% Allen-Bradley ArmorStart Distributed Motor Controller 2. Schneider Electric 22% 3. Siemens Industry 15% 4. Eaton 8% ABB 7% Motor, Servo 1. Rockwell Automation 25% Operator Interface Terminal 1. Rockwell Automation 38% Allen-Bradley Kinetix 350 Servo Motor 2. Kollmorgen 11% Bosch Rexroth 10% 4. Yaskawa 7% Siemens Industry 6% ABB 5% Emerson Motor 5% Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus 6 HMI 2. Siemens Industry 7% Pro-face 6% Schneider Electric 6% AutomationDirect 5% It s the little things that count. And sort. And track. And trace. The new Allen-Bradley industrial radio frequency identification (RFID) systems from Rockwell Automation improve manufacturing processes and product quality. Multi-tag read/write capabilities and premier integration with Allen- Bradley control systems enhance flexibility and deliver the information you need to optimize your processes. For a first-hand look visit AB.RockwellAutomation.com/Sensors-Switches/RFID. Copyright 2012 Rockwell Automation. All Rights Reserved. AD RS2289-R1/2P
Red Lion Controls Panel Meter Panel Meter 1. Red Lion Controls 36% 2. Omega Engineering 8% Precision Digital 8% Newport Electronics 7% Yokogawa 7% Allen-Bradley Guardmaster SC300 Safety Camera Turck Mobile Proximity Sensors Presence Sensing 1. Rockwell Automation 17% Turck 15% 3. Banner Engineering 9% Pepperl+Fuchs 7% 5. Balluff 6% Keyence 6% Festo MPA/CPX Intelligent Valve Manifold SMC SY and SQ Series Valve Manifolds Pneumatic Component 1. Festo 19% SMC 19% 3. Emerson/Numatics 13% 4. Bosch Rexroth 8% Bimba 6% Parker Hannifin 6% Allen-Bradley Compact Guard- Logix Programmable Automation Controller Programmable Safety Controller 1. Rockwell Automation 30% 2. Invensys/Triconex 9% Pilz Automation Safety 9% Siemens Industry 9% 5. HIMA 6% Emerson SolaHD SDN Series Power Supplies Phoenix Contact Quint Power Supplies Power Supply 1. Emerson/SolaHD 18% Phoenix Contact 18% 3. Siemens Industry 8% Rockwell Automation 7% 5. Puls 5% TDK-Lambda 5% Allen-Bradley E3 Plus Solid-State Overload Relay Relay 1. Rockwell Automation 19% 2. Omron 12% TE Connectivity 11% Phoenix Contact 10% 5. IDEC 7% Schneider Electric 7% Siemens Industry 6% What s Your Combination? HanModular.com Han-Modular. If you can dream it, you can build it. Connectivity needs vary, and HARTING s Han-Modular series is designed to meet the unique needs of any customer. With your tighter schedules and increased need for flexibility and space optimization, HARTING s modular solutions are a perfect fit. Hoods and Housings IP ratings up to IP69K Multiple materials: metal, plastic, stainless steel Locking mechanisms: levers, pushbuttons, internal/external Inserts Multiple termination styles: IDC, screw, crimp Limitless combinations: communication, pneumatic, signal, power, optical Your design imagination should be a realm without limits HARTING provides the building blocks. HARTING Connect to Innovation Nation. HARTING, Inc. of North America 1370 Bowes Road Elgin, IL 60123 +1 (847) 741-1500 more.info@harting.com HARTING-usa.com
Allen-Bradley Bulletin 1734 Point Guard I/O Analog Input Module Safety Network Components 1. Rockwell Automation 33% 2. Siemens Industry 14% 3. Pilz Automation Safety 8% Beckhoff Automation 7% Pepperl+Fuchs 7% Phoenix Contact 7% Allen-Bradley Motion Analyzer Version 6.00 Software, Motion Control 1. Rockwell Automation 43% 2. Siemens Industry 11% 3. Bosch Rexroth 7% B&R Automation 5% Allen-Bradley Guardmaster Safety Relay Safety Relay 1. Rockwell Automation 36% 2. Pilz Automation Safety 16% 3. Siemens Industry 10% 4. Omron STI 7% Phoenix Contact 7% Banner Engineering 5% Allen-Bradley SoftLogix Software, PC-Based Machine Control 1. Rockwell Automation 17% 2. National Instruments 12% Beckhoff Automation 10% 4. Siemens Industry 9% Bosch Rexroth 7% GE Intelligent Platforms 7% National Instruments LabView 2012 Software, Data Acquisition 1. National Instruments 41% 2. Invensys 10% Rockwell Automation 10% 4. Emerson Process 5% Rockwell Automation RSLogix 5000 Software, PLC Programming 1. Rockwell Automation 49% 2. Siemens Industry 15% 3. Schneider Electric 8% AutomationDirect 7% Software, E-CAD 1. Autodesk 53% Stack Light Tower 1. Rockwell Automation 41% Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical 2. Eplan 10% 3. Bentley 5% Allen-Bradley 855 Control Tower Stack Light 2. Schneider Electric 12% 3. Eaton 8% AutomationDirect 7% Banner Engineering 7% Software, HMI 1. Rockwell Automation 26% Terminal Block 1. Phoenix Contact 30% Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View 7.0 2. Invensys 23% 3. Siemens Industry 10% 4. GE Intelligent Platforms 5% Phoenix Contact Universal Screw Connection 2. Rockwell Automation 16% 3. Wago 12% Weidmüller 10% 5. ABB/Entrelec 5% AutomationDirect 5% Schneider Electric 5% Rockwell Automation RSLogix 5000 Design and Configuration Software Software, Integrated Development Platform 1. Rockwell Automation 32% 2. Siemens Industry 18% 3. Emerson Process 8% Invensys 7% 5. National Instruments 5% Belden Industrial Ethernet Cables Wire & Cabling 1. Belden 42% 2. Lapp USA 14% 3. Okonite 6% Alpha Wire 5% 40 Control Design September 2011 2012 controldesign.com
The 2012 Readers Choice Awards Service and SuppoRT Leaders Control Design s voters tell us these companies provide very good (4.0) to excellent (5.0) service in the noted product categories. Only those companies that received the minimum 5% vote share in the preceding pages were tallied. 4.3 National Instruments....Data Acquisition Software Rockwell Automation....Safety Relay 4.2 ABB...Gear Reducer ABB... Stepper Motor AutomationDirect...PLC Emerson Industrial Automation...Servo Motor Pepperl+Fuchs...Intrinsic Safety System Phoenix Contact.................... Power Supply Rockwell Automation....Electronic Drive Rockwell Automation....Industrial Computer Rockwell Automation.... Input/Output System Rockwell Automation....Motor Starter Rockwell Automation... Programmable Safety Controller Rockwell Automation....Terminal Block Rockwell Automation....Wired Network Component SEW Eurodrive...Gear Reducer Siemens Industry... Level Measurement Siemens Industry...Safety Relay Wago...Terminal Block 4.1 ABB...Servo Motor ABB...Terminal Block AutomationDirect... Operator Interface Terminal National Instruments....Data Acquisition System Omega Engineering...Temperature Measurement Oriental Motors.... Stepper Motor Phoenix Contact................... Terminal Block Rockwell Automation....Data Acquisition Software Rockwell Automation....I/O, Machine-Mount Rockwell Automation....Motion Control Software Rockwell Automation....Network Router/Switch Rockwell Automation.... Operator Interface Terminal Rockwell Automation...Programable Automation Controller Rockwell Automation....PLC Rockwell Automation.... PLC Programming Software Rockwell Automation....Power Supply Rockwell Automation....Relay Rockwell Automation....Safety Network Component Rockwell Automation....Servo Motor Rockwell Automation....Stack Tower Light Saginaw Control and Engineering...Industrial Enclosure Siemens Industry...CNC Controller Siemens Industry... Operator Interface Terminal Siemens Industry... PLC Programming Software Siemens Industry...Servo Motor Siemens Industry...Wireless Network Component SMC....Pneumatic Component Stober...Gear Reducer TE Connectivity....Relay Turck...Connector/Cordset Yokogawa...Data Recorder 4.0 ABB.............................Electronic Drive ABB...............................Motor Starter AutomationDirect................Stack Tower Light AutomationDirect................. Terminal Block Banner Engineering................ Machine Vision Emerson Process Management.... Data Acquisition System Emerson Process Management........Flow Measurement Emerson Process Management.....Pressure Measurement Encoder Products...Encoder/Resolver Endress+Hauser............ Pressure Measurement Endress+Hauser...... Flow Measurement Hammond..............Industrial Enclosure Hardy Process Solutions..... Load Cell/Weight Measurement Pentair/Hoffman................Enclosure Purge Honeywell........ Temperature Measurement IDEC...Relay Invensys....................... HMI Software Keyence...................Presence Sensing Kollmorgen....................... Servo Motor Kollmorgen..................... Stepper Motor Mettler Toledo...........Load Cell/Weight Measurement Molex....Connector/Cordset National Instruments... PC-Based Machine Control Software Omega Engineering......... Load Cell/Weight Measurement Opto 22................. Input/Output System Phoenix Contact............. Network Router/Switch Phoenix Contact.......................... Relay Phoenix Contact.................... Safety Relay Pilz Automation Safety..... Programmable Safety Controller Pilz Automation Safety.........Safety Network Component Pilz Automation Safety....................Safety Relay Pro-face...............Operator Interface Terminal ProSoft Technology...Wireless Network Component Red Lion Controls.................Panel Meter Rockwell Automation.......... Data Acquisition System Rockwell Automation.................. HMI Software Rockwell Automation.....Integrated Development Software Rockwell Automation......... Motion Controller Rockwell Automation...PC-Based Machine Control Software Schneider Electric....................Motor Starter Schneider Electric......... PLC Programming Software AutomationDirect...Programable Automation Controller Banner Engineering....Safety Relay Schneider Electric....Relay AutomationDirect... PLC Programming Software Banner Engineering....Stack Tower Light Bentley....E-CAD Software Emerson Industrial Automation...Electronic Drive Emerson Process............... Level Measurement Emerson Process........... Temperature Measurement Emerson/SolaHD...Power Supply Endress+Hauser... Level Measurement Festo...Pneumatic Component Pentair/Hoffman...Industrial Enclosure Beckhoff Automation........ Input/Output System Beckhoff Automation...PC-Based Machine Control Software Belden...... Wire & Cable Bosch Rexroth....... Ball Screw/Lead Screw Bosch Rexroth...... Motion Controller Boston Gear.........Gear Reducer Cisco Systems...........Network Router/Switch Cooper Crouse-Hinds/MTL......Intrinsic Safety System CST/BEI Sensors....Encoder/Resolver Emerson/Numatics............ Pneumatic Component Siemens Industry................... Electronic Drive Siemens Industry................ Input/Output System Siemens Industry...Motion Control Software Siemens Industry......................Motor Starter Siemens Industry..PC-Based Machine Control Software Siemens Industry... Programmable Safety Controller Siemens Industry...Safety Network Component Turck.........................I/O, Machine-Mount Vega.......................Level Measurement Yaskawa...Electronic Drive 42 Control Design September 2012 controldesign.com