Companies like IBM and Yahoo! Inc. count on Equinix's data centers to support their online business activities. And Equinix counts on Emerson to protect its data centers from power outages. Equinix's data centers provide access to 90 percent of the world's Internet routes, so a power interruption can cause significant operational disruptions and lost sales for companies, and unreliable Internet transactions for consumers.

Emerson designed a complete solution for Equinix, including uninterruptible power supplies, power distribution, and DC power systems. When much of the Northeast lost power in August, many homes and businesses were without power for several days. However, the businesses and Web platforms powered by Equinix's centers in Secaucus and Newark, N.J., continued to run without disruption.

Power failures can mean the difference between life and death if a hospital is unable to maintain life support systems, data center records, sensitive equipment, and climate control systems that protect blood banks. To continue protecting its patients from the consequences of a power failure, St. Joseph Hospital in Denver needed to centralize and upgrade its on-site emergency power system. It wanted cutting-edge technology, design flexibility to satisfy its particular site requirements, project management support, and around-the-clock local service. The hospital selected Emerson as its total solutions provider.

Emerson provided a centralized power transfer and control system that can manage up to four power sources to keep the hospital's most critical patient-support systems working. Should an extended power outage occur, the entire hospital can be switched to emergency generators to safeguard electronic patient records and to keep life support systems online. Now, St. Joseph's doctors and their patients have peace of mind.