Emerson has launched a new gas-grid monitoring device aimed at helping US utilities strengthen safety and compliance across their networks, as regulators push for more stringent oversight of natural gas distribution.
The Fisher ARMOR system, unveiled on 13th November in McKinney, Texas, is a digital field unit designed to collect and transmit operational data from natural gas district stations and other critical points on utility grids. Emerson said the device offers more sophisticated measurement and communication capabilities than the chart recorders, meter sets, and PLC-based remote terminal units commonly used today.
Utilities are under growing pressure to monitor multiple variables — including pressure readings, equipment travel, and discrete inputs — across dispersed infrastructure. Emerson said ARMOR is the only device of its type able to track all three, with up to three pressure values available for monitoring different points on a network. The company argues that such data can reduce the need for routine field visits, improve reliability, and support compliance with new regulatory expectations.
The system includes configurable dashboards, templated reports, and a mobile app intended to simplify data analysis for a digitally native workforce. It can be deployed for regulator or station monitoring, as well as end-of-line measurement.
Emerson said ARMOR also aligns with a wider industry shift towards Cloud-enabled SCADA systems. Data can be accessed remotely via a Cloud platform, and the company’s DeltaV SaaS SCADA service provides analytics tools, including predictive features not typically available in competing products.
The device is built for harsh conditions, with an intrinsically safe battery lasting up to five years, an IP66 water- and dust-resistance rating, CSA Class 1 Division 2 certification, and an operating range from –40°F to 160°F.
Emerson, headquartered in St Louis and listed on the NYSE, positions the launch as part of its broader strategy to expand its portfolio of intelligent devices and industrial software.
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