Phoenix Contact, global market leader in components, systems and solutions in electrotechnology, electronics and automation, and Eaton, one of the world's leading manufacturers of energy distribution and UPS systems as well as components and systems for electrical automation technology, have concluded a cooperation agreement on the electronic Contactron motor starter with SmartWire-DT at the Hannover Messe 2011. On the first day of the trade fair, Roland Bent, managing director of Phoenix Contact, and Tom Gross, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Eaton's Electrical Sector, signed a contract which provides for the development and commercial exploitation of industrial electronic switchgear and communications systems. The objective of the collaboration is the development and implementation of a joint strategy on Contactron electronic motor starters and the establishment of SmartWire-DT as a new standard in the communications interface for intelligent switchgear.