Yokogawa Releases FieldMate R3.01 Versatile Device Management Wizard

Tokyo, Japan - October 10, 2014

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has greatly enhanced the FieldMate™ Versatile Device Management Wizard and will release R3.01 on October 17. FieldMate is a versatile software program for configuring, adjusting, and managing a wide variety of field devices used in factories and other production sites. Starting today, a trial version of R3.01 will be available on Yokogawa's website.

In addition to the device configuration, adjustment, and management functionality provided in earlier FieldMate releases, FieldMate R3.01 comes with new functions that facilitate the management of memos, photos, and videos as well as the automatic generation of reports, making it ideal for routine maintenance tasks.

FieldMate screen on a tablet PC

Development Background

Digital communications standards are playing an increasingly important role in communications between central control systems and field devices such as transmitters and analyzers. However, as the devices provided by different vendors rely on a variety of digital communications standards, there is a need for a versatile configuration, adjustment, and management tool that can support all the major industry-standard communications protocols. The FieldMate PC software has been developed to meet this very need.

Highly portable devices such as tablets and notebook PCs are now available that facilitate maintenance work in the field. To facilitate such routine tasks as device patrol and maintenance, this new release of the FieldMate PC-based software comes with a variety of new functions.

Enhancements

FieldMate R3.01 runs on PCs (including tablet PCs) that have either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Its key new features are as follows:

1. Centralized management of various types of device-related information
   In addition to being able to manage configuration data for a large number of plant devices, FieldMate now supports the use of photo, video, audio, and document files. Field maintenance personnel can write memos and link them to specific devices to facilitate processes such as work handover. They can also use photos, video, and audio to, for example, keep a record of installation conditions, work procedures, or any unusual sounds produced by a device. FieldMate R3.01 thus offers improved versatility for routine device patrol and maintenance work.
2. Automatic generation of device reports
   The new FieldMate can now automatically generate device configuration reports in a variety of data formats. Previously, FieldMate only had the ability to output such data as a text or HTML file, which could then be used in a general-purpose spreadsheet or word processing program to create a report. Typically, manual reporting was very time-consuming because of the large amounts of data involved, with individual devices having anywhere from a few hundred to up to one thousand settings.

Major Target Markets

Process industries such as oil, petrochemicals, chemicals, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, foods, and iron and steel

Applications

The configuration, adjustment, and troubleshooting of transmitters, analyzers, and other types of field devices in plants, and the management of information on these devices

FieldMate R3.01 trial version

FieldMate Lite, a trial version of FieldMate R3.01, is available for download as of today. The trial version can handle only seven devices, but has the full functions of FieldMate R3.01. This trial version may be downloaded at https://www.yokogawa.com/fieldmate/

FieldMate

FieldMate is a PC-based device configuration tool with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that is used to perform initial setup, routine maintenance, and device replacement. It supports all major industry-standard communication protocols such as FOUNDATION™ fieldbus, BRAIN, HART^®, and PROFIBUS^® as well as the FDT/DTM^* open software execution framework. In addition, support for the ISA100.11a field wireless communications standard enables the configuration and adjustment of any vendor's network-capable field devices, regardless of which communications protocol is used.

* Field Device Tool (FDT) is a standard communications interface that links control systems with field devices such as pressure transmitters and flowmeters. It was developed and is promoted by the FDT Group, a non-profit organization. Device Type Manager (DTM) is an FDT-based device driver that is provided by device and control system vendors.

The names of companies, products, and brands in this text are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective holders.

 

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa's global network of 86 companies spans 56 countries. Founded in 1915, the US$4 billion company conducts cutting-edge research and innovation. Yokogawa is engaged in the industrial automation and control (IA), test and measurement, and other businesses segments. The IA segment plays a vital role in a wide range of industries including oil, chemicals, natural gas, power, iron and steel, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, and food. For more information about Yokogawa, please visit the company's website www.yokogawa.com