EtherCAT Technology Group celebrates 20 years

November 2023 News

The 20-year milestones of EtherCAT and EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) are a reason to celebrate. To mark the occasion, Beckhoff invited guests to a gala dinner at the Grand Hotel Kaiserhof Victoria in Bad Kissingen. The ETG board of directors, the Beckhoff team working at the ETG headquarters in Nuremberg, EtherCAT developers from the very beginning, and members of the ETG technical and marketing committees were among those who have made a decisive contribution to the success of EtherCAT.

In his welcoming speech, Hans Beckhoff, managing director of Beckhoff Automation, highlighted the role of the original development team, which has achieved extraordinary results. He then congratulated the ETG team on their success and thanked them for their energetic work over the past 20 years.

Executive director, Martin Rostan then looked back on 20 years of EtherCAT and ETG in his tongue-in-cheek keynote speech ‘From fast lightbus to EtherCAT’. He described how the ETG started with 33 founding members, growing to the world’s largest fieldbus organisation with almost 400 member companies from 73 countries, and from zero to 60 million EtherCAT devices. Along the way there were 213 ETG trade fair booths, 175 roadshows in 51 countries, 59 plugfests, and countless working groups and standardisation meetings. The diverse work of the ETG teams contributed numerous entertaining photos, anecdotes and remarkable experiences.

Rostan also thanked the Beckhoff developers for preparing what is recognised as the best fieldbus technology; the ETG team for 20 years of dedicated collaboration; the ETG board and committee members for helping to shape the organisation and the technology; and ETG honorary member, Hans Beckhoff for opening up EtherCAT and supporting the ETG.

Further reading:

Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.

Read more...

---

From the editor's desk: A good servant and a bad master
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control) News
In our new AI-generated world it was inevitable that the Nobel Committee would have noticed. And last November two pioneers of artificial intelligence, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, won the Nobel Prize ...

Read more...

---

Festo 100th Anniversary: Celebrating a century-long legacy of innovation and commitment
Festo South Africa News
Festo has officially begun celebrating 100 years of groundbreaking technology, commitment and enduring partnerships. To kick off this historic milestone celebration, their Customer Innovation Day and ThankYou Party series brought together customers, partners and employees to reflect on their journey and look ahead to an exciting future.

Read more...

---

German Chancellor visits Beckhoff at Hannover Messe
Beckhoff Automation News
As part of the traditional Hannover Messe opening tour, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz visited German company, Beckhoff Automation. Hans Beckhoff, managing director and owner of Beckhoff Automation, presented his company and its comprehensive expertise in the field of software and AI.

Read more...

---

Iritron celebrates 25 years of excellence
Iritron News
When Iritron, a leading provider of engineering and industrial solutions was founded in 2000, it was on the principles of exceptional service and lasting part-nerships. Today, Iritron has grown from a small team of four into a company of over 120 employees, serving clients across South Africa and beyond.

Read more...

---

A racing partnership
SKF South Africa News
In one of motorsport’s most demanding arenas, a partnership forged in engineering precision and high-performance ambition has proven its worth. SKF, a global leader in bearing technology and innovation, celebrated a remarkable milestone in partnership with SVR Toyota GAZOO Racing, taking second position overall at the 2025 Dakar Rally.

Read more...

---

Question and Answer: Martin Hiller, portfolio director of AATF
News
AATF is here.

Read more...

---

Two weeks to go: AATF 2025 welcomes Africa’s industrial future
News
With less than two weeks to go, the countdown to Africa Automation Technology Fair 2025 is on - and there’s never been a better time to register.

Read more...

---

SEW-EURODRIVE grows its African footprint to become a leading force on the continent
SEW-EURODRIVE News
Momentum continues to grow behind the ambitious plans of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa to become a leading force in the continent’s industrial gearbox business, drives and automation solutions.

Read more...

---

Schneider Electric at AATF
Schneider Electric South Africa News
Schneider Electric will be participating in the 13th edition of the Africa Automation and Technology Fair

Read more...

---