Orlando, Fla. — Emerson Electric Co.'s Branson brand is putting the finishing touches on its new ultrasonic platform and used NPE2018 to provide a preview.
Branson President John Meek is enthusiastic about the product, Branson's growth potential and Emerson's willingness to help with technology needs and support investment requirements.
The diversified global technology and engineering firm ranks its many brands in four categories.
"Branson is a signature brand, the highest of the four categories," Meek said in an interview at NPE2018 in Orlando.
Meek characterizes the Danbury, Conn.-based Branson brand as "process neutral," with its nine technologies and a wide-enough range to be objective.
"Our competitors are 'process narrow,'" he added.
The highest profile joining processes are ultrasonic, vibration, thermal, spin, infrared, hot plate and laser welding.
"Branson understands [a customer's] pain and can recommend solutions," Meek said.
Early involvement, often through nondisclosure agreements, can allow Branson to recommend changes to design and tooling before major costs are incurred.
"More than half of our customers bring Branson in early," he said. "The better ones will give a CAD file to Branson."
Emerson insists on continuous improvement in processes and clean performance. Meek said the Emerson mantra is "perfect execution."
Branson employs fewer than 2,000, with about 400 in sales and service.
Recently, the business hired additional talent for engineering and product development positions.
Emerson has invested "millions" in the new ultrasonic platform now in the pipeline, he said, and additional millions of dollars in other projects targeting customer requirements.
The next-generation ultrasonic product was developed over several years, said David Troy, who directs marketing in the Americas for Emerson assembly technologies.
The new products use modularity to deal with smaller and thinner parts, Troy said. The platform will enable components to communicate with one another in upstream and downstream modes and, as needed, to remote locations with traceability and tracking through the process.
A user will be able to customize the platform's integrated functionality and data collection features, Troy said in an interview.
Emerson plans to display the new ultrasonic platform during a Technology Showcase event in August at its Buffalo Grove, Ill., regional technology center, among other venues.
Meek was named president of Branson in September and previously was president of three other Emerson businesses: Fusite glass-to-metal hermetic seals for refrigeration and air conditioning applications, hydrocarbon-processing Fisher valves and regulators and Asco and Numatics solenoid and pneumatic valves for the Americas.
The Branson brand reports within the automation solutions business segment of publicly traded Emerson.
St. Louis-based Emerson reported profits of $1.52 billion on sales of $15.26 billion for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, but it does not disclose brand sales.