The 2006 RSTechED Africa conference, incorporating Automation University, took place in the middle of August at Emperor's Palace, Gauteng. The conference is an opportunity for industry players to network and gain valuable insight into manufacturing automation trends and international developments. According to the organisers, this year's event was a resounding success.



"We have received extremely positive feedback from delegates which assures us that the 2007 event will be larger and even more successful," says Jeff Sandison, marketing communications manager, Rockwell Automation.

The event's increasing popularity saw an increase in attendees this year. Delegates attended from around South and sub-Saharan Africa, from all industries including water and wastewater, food and beverage, metals, mining, automotive, and oil and gas.

The event, divided into a Manufacturing Excellence Summit day for executives and two Technical User Days, was held over three days and included presentations, hands-on sessions, and practical discussions. A number of local and international guest speakers also added to the event.



Speakers included Glenn Schulz, an international Rockwell Automation authority, Nick Christelis a business strategist, Gavin Sharples, a motivational speaker, and Andre Watson, a professional rugby referee.

The event also saw the launch of Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk, an integrated production management and performance suite that bridges the critical gap between the automation and information layers of an enterprise.

"Next year the event will be branded as Automation University. Essentially the event will encompass all aspects of automation including RSTechED's focus on software. RSTechED Africa 2006 has laid a stable foundation for the continuation of the event and has ensured that we will continue to deliver a relevant, high quality automation conference," concludes Sandison.

For more information contact Jeff Sandison, marketing communications manager, Rockwell Automation, +27 (0) 11 654 9700, jksandison@ra.rockwell.com