Functional safety explained

August 2025 News

The SAIMC supports Pepperl+Fuchs, a National Member, in a free four-part online seminar series focused on Functional Safety (SIL), starting the week of 14 July 2025.

Led by technical experts, these seminars provide a solid grounding in IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards, offering not only theoretical insight but also practical examples to enhance understanding. The series is ideal for engineers working in process automation, instrumentation or safety-critical environments.

Each session runs from 11:00 to 12:30 and builds on the previous. While modules can be attended individually, full course attendance is strongly recommended.

The seminar schedule is as follows:

14 July 2025: Introduction to functional safety

Scope of IEC 61508/61511, key terms, differences between safety and functional safety, overview of safety equipment, and legal framework.

15 July 2025: Risk and hazard analysis, and system architecture (Part 1)

Tolerable risk, risk quantification, HAZOP, SIL levels, channel redundancy vs hardware fault tolerance.

16 July 2025: System architecture (Part 2), and equipment qualification

SIL outcomes in multi-channel structures, equipment assessment methods including ‘prior use’ and technical documentation standards.

17 July 2025: Failure calculations, plus non-electrical equipment

Probability of failure on demand (PFD), lifetime estimation, MTBF/MTTF and applying these to real-world calculations.

This free online course is open to all industry professionals.

Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion.

Register now at www.pepperl-fuchs.com/en-gb/support/reftraininglocal-training-and-seminars/functional-safety-sil-lp121373

Further reading:

SEW-EURODRIVE builds regional strength with Gqeberha expansion
News
With the Eastern Cape firmly established as a hub for key industries such as automotive manufacturing, ports, agriprocessing and renewable energy, SEW-EURODRIVE is strengthening its presence in the region through an ongoing significant expansion of its facility in Gqeberha.

Read more...

---

UKZN & Youtility to transform SA’s energy landscape
News
UKZN has signed a pioneering joint venture agreement with Youtility. This game-changing partnership will introduce cutting-edge, AI-driven technology set to transform how electricity is managed and distributed, with payments handled through an intelligent, next-generation blockchain billing platform.

Read more...

---

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...

---

Fostering a collaborative learning environment for sugar producer
SKF South Africa News
One of South Africa’s leading sugar producers made strategic use of its off-crop season, turning scheduled downtime into an opportunity for both essential maintenance and valuable skills development with the help of SKF

Read more...

---

TechAccess and Schneider Electric partnership goes from strength to strength
Schneider Electric South Africa News
Schneider Electric, together with its longstanding partner TechAccess, is poised to take the Southern African market by storm.

Read more...

---

Steinmüller Africa and Eskom uplift eMalahleni communities
News
Steinmüller Africa, in partnership with Eskom, has reaffirmed its commitment to social upliftment by donating essential goods and creating meaningful connections with two impactful community organisations in eMalahleni.

Read more...

---

The top 10 emerging technologies of 2025
News
The World Economic Forum’s top 10 emerging technologies of 2025 are expected to deliver real-world impact within three to five years and address urgent global challenges.

Read more...

---

Comtest calibration user group seminar
News
Comtest invites metrology and calibration professionals to a focused technical seminar series aimed at demystifying some of the most common hurdles in inter-laboratory comparisons.

Read more...

---

Technology leaders shaping 2025
News
In an era where agility, innovation and execution are paramount, ABI Research’s latest report, ‘26 Technology Companies Leading the Way in 2025’ identifies the top players shaping the future across key digital technology segments.

Read more...

---

Omniflex through the decades
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists News
As Omniflex celebrates 60 years of engineering excellence, we take a look back at the decade that saw us really kick in and deliver major engineering projects – the 1970s.

Read more...

---