Save and prosper

In an effort to cut energy costs and reduce material waste, manufacturers — from potters to food producers — are constantly seeking ways to improve control of their production processes.

Leading automation giants, such as

and US-based

, are some of the main benefactors of recent trends that have driven up profits for those selling process control systems around the world.

Manufacturing is continuing to flourish in emerging economies —especially in China. According to a report published last month by US-based advisory group

.

There are about $65bn (£36.5bn) worth of installed automation systems in the world nearing the end of their lives. So there is great potential for control systems sellers.

the increased automation demands of China is illustrated by the recent announcement of a contract between Emerson and the Huaneng Group for the use of the company's digital automation products at new coal-fired power plants at Haimen in Guangdong Province.

Emerson will supply its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with Ovation expert control system and its AMS Suite predictive maintenance software to operate at the heart of a system, including intelligent field devices such as Rosemount 848T temperature transmitters and 3051 pressure/level transmitters. It is part of a contract to build six 1,036MW plants, with more than 6,000MW of generating capacity.