MTL and Relcom Inc are
pleased to announce a new co-operation agreement, effective
immediately. MTL becomes the major distribution channel
for Relcom's FOUNDATION™ fieldbus H1 power supplies
and connectivity products and both companies combine their
respective strengths to build a common product development
plan.
Relcom, based in Oregon, USA, is a well-known manufacturer
of wiring components and testers for fieldbus and carrier-band
industrial networks. The new agreement gives Relcom access
to a broader customer base within the oil, gas, petrochemical,
chemical, pharmaceutical and other processing industries
where MTL is already well established.
MTL is a leader in I/O subsystems and intrinsic safety
interfaces for the process industry. The company has a
global sales and support network of 17 operating companies
world-wide and distributors in more than 50 countries,
all with specialist knowledge of instrumentation and hazardous-area
applications within process industries.Growth in the demand
for Fieldbus Foundation™ H1 components within the
process control industry has already been clearly illustrated
to both companies. To Relcom, by the popularity of its
recently introduced SpurGuard™ range which works
with pluggable versions of its fieldbus connection system
wiring blocks to protect H1 network segments from failure
due to short circuit; and to MTL, by the increasing success
of its general purpose and IS fieldbus power supplies.
As early supporters of FOUNDATION™ fieldbus, both
MTL and Relcom have been at the heart of forming the international
fieldbus standard. Both companies took part in the first
on-site installations and both have had extensive practical
experience since then. Maris Graube, Relcom's President,
is confident that “making our products available
through MTL's global distribution network will help us
expand our leadership position in providing fieldbus wiring
solutions. Our co-operative efforts in product development
will accelerate our time to market, especially for hazardous-area
products. Our aim is to help customers solve problems.
With MTL and Relcom working together, to design, build
and deliver great products, we think our ability to achieve
this aim is greatly increased."
Reflecting the sentiment, Jacques Mosselmans, MTL's Sales
and Marketing Director adds: "Recognising our customers'
needs for fieldbus interconnection products we identified
that the strength of Relcom’s wiring components
and testers was ideally suited to harsh process industry
environments. We also value highly the insight Relcom
has developed from working closely with fieldbus users.
This partnership will allow both companies to speed up
development and release of even more innovative solutions
to help our customers maximise the benefits and savings
brought by using FOUNDATION™ and other fieldbuses.
I'm sure we will soon have other important announcements
for the market." Distribution of Relcom fieldbus
and connectivity products through MTL outlets will begin
immediately. |
