HART Communication Foundation Opens Office in Japan

In an ongoing effort to meet the growing needs of industrial network users worldwide, the  Austin, Tex. based HART Communication Foundation (www.hartcomm.org) has opened an office in Tokyo, Japan with Mr. Kaoru (Carl) Sonoda as general manager for HCF Japan operations. The Tokyo office provides users and Foundation member companies with application assistance, information and technical support on the HART Communication Protocol that includes an understanding of Japanese process industry requirements. “Our focus is always on the global perspective. Think global, act local,” says Ron Helson. foundation executive director “So, it has always been our plan to establish satellite offices in major world areas.” The HART Communication Foundation is the technology owner and standards organization for the HART Communication Protocol, a technology for process measurement and control.Sonoda, who has 30 years of field communication expertise and recently retired from Yokogawa Electric Corporation, will be the focal point for foundation activities in Japan. He will coordinate with the staff in Austin to deliver educational programs, seminars, training, trade shows, documents and website content in Japanese language.Helson says Sonoda is recognized as an expert in digital communication, instrumentation design, new product development and product management / marketing, and has been involved in foundation marketing activities and working groups for the past 11 years.For more information, contact Sonoda at [email protected].Click here for more on Hart Communications Protocol.Renee Robbins Bassett, [email protected], is managing editor of Automation World magazine.