In life, they say you are as good as the company you keep. In business, the measure is the quality of the strategic partnerships you nurture. At SA Instrumentation and Control we count ourselves fortunate to be the official publication of the SAIMC, and also the main media partner to show organisers Reed Exhibitions, for events of the calibre of Africa Automation Fair.
Partnering with organisations like these brings out the best in everyone. They are led by talented people with the vision to know that sometimes the only sensible course of action requires a calculated risk be taken. When this happens, out of the box thinking is the order of the day, the stuff of which impressionable memories are made.
Africa Automation Fair is a prime example of such a risk that paid dividends. This year it delivered in spades, as did the Connected Industries Conference which ran in parallel. In fact, Connected Industries proved to be the perfect foil. It exposed delegates to the ideas of the fourth industrial revolution in an African context, and then enabled them to experience all the new technologies first-hand in the halls at AAF. Unquestionably the highlight of the local automation calendar, it was a privilege to share a stand in the expo area with our partners from the SAIMC, who also took the opportun-ity to celebrate ‘60 Years in Control’. The cherry on the top was achieving second runners-up award in the category for medium stands, thanks largely to the enthusiasm displayed by our product manager Jane van der Spuy and ‘showgirls’ Laura and Dominique from the sales team.
Africa Automation Fair and the SAIMC 60th birthday celebrations stood out as memorable highlights this year because they are not everyday occurrences. In business-to-business publishing though, some of the most important partnerships that develop are between the publication and the authors who contribute the expert opinion. In our case, these are people like Michael Brown, Nick Denbow, Gavin Halse and the various experts of the ARC Advisory Group. SA Instrumentation and Control would not be the same without them, and as the editor, I am constantly growing from the interaction with these masters in their fields.
These are relationships that develop over years and it is only on reflection that one truly starts to appreciate their importance. During the hustle and bustle of work and deadlines it is far too easy to lose sight of all the achievements along the way, and the people that made them possible. One of the luxuries the holiday season affords us is the opportunity to take a moment for ourselves to put things into their proper perspective. So, whether you’re headed for the ski slopes or the beaches, or just spending time at home, I hope you take a moment to raise a glass to your achievements in 2017, and don’t forget the partnerships that helped to get you there.
To all of our advertisers, sincere thanks from the team for your support this year, we look forward to doing it all again for you in 2018. To our readers, remember now is the time to rest as hard as you have just worked. Stay safe and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges of a new year.
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