39VOLUME NO 3 MARCH 2023 Official publication of the SAIMC Control systems | Smart factories | Motion control Process measurement | Safety systems | IT in manufacturing Power generation
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www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 1 Safety systems Power generation IT in manufacturing VOLUME 39 NO 3 MARCH 2023 04 10 12 40 REGULARS FEATURES Smart factories Control systems Process measurement Motion control 16 22 19 27 34 38 35 News & events SAIMC news Automation professionals Product news Beckhoff Automation, Michael Brown Control Engineering CC BMG, Alba Hydraulics, SMC Corporation South Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE, Zest WEG Group Africa ifm - South Africa, VEGA Controls SA, WIKA Instruments, Ikhaya Automation Systems, Mecosa DNH Tradeserve, ABB South Africa Turck Banner, Conical Technologies Iritron Emerson Automation Solutions, Gavin Halse, Omron Electronics OUR COVER 14 39VOLUME NO 3 MARCH 2023 Official publication of the SAIMC Control systems | Smart factories | Motion control Process measurement | Safety systems | IT in manufacturing Power generation Moxa has announced the launch of its nextgeneration networking portfolio. Read our cover story on page 14 to find out how this new line-up is designed to futureproof industrial networks to accelerate digital transformation across various industrial applications, and help organisations improve operational efficiency and resilience.
2 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za welcome VOLUME 39 NO 3 MARCH 2023 Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements, inserts and company contact details are printed as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Reg No. 2005/034598/07 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor should be addressed to Jane van der Spuy at [email protected]. Sending material to this publication will be considered automatic permission to use in full or in part in our Letters column. Be sure to include your name, e-mail address, city and zip code. We reserve the right to edit all letters. CIO & DIRECTOR Graeme Bell NHD Elec. Eng., MBA [email protected] DEPUTY EDITOR Kim Roberts MSc Chem [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael Brown BSc (Eng) (Rand), CEng MIEE MSAIEE Gavin Halse BSc Chem Eng Lance Turner BSc (Hons) Information Systems ADVERTISING Sales manager Jane van der Spuy [email protected] Tel: +27 83 234 5412 Heidi Hargreaves [email protected] Tel: +27 83 504 0436 DESIGN AND LAYOUT Technews Production Department SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES For address changes, subscriptions, renewal status or missing issues, email: [email protected] or write to: Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Box 385, Pinegowrie 2123 SUBSCRIBE ONLINE www.technews.co.za PUBLISHERS Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd Wild Fig Business Park, Block B, Unit 21, 1494 Cranberry Street, Honeydew Sometimes it can be difficult to get the balance right between having your head in the sand and lying awake worrying about things you can’t control. I am enormously cheered up when I think about some of our areas of excellence in this country, and one of these is astrophysics, where South Africa is up there with the best in the world. We have a rich history of radioastronomy, ranging from the first telescope built by NASA in the 1960s out at Hartebeeshoek, to South Africa taking on Australia to host the world’s largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). We won the bid because of our radio-quiet zone in the Karoo, combined with our world class scientific expertise. The SKA telescopes will allow scientists to see galaxies that were formed billions of years ago, and answer some fundamental questions − like how galaxies form, the role of cosmic magnetism, the nature of gravity and dark matter, and whether humans are alone in the universe. Already up and running is MeerKAT, the world’s biggest and most sensitive radio telescope. This is a world-class facility in its own right and is providing new insight into unexplained activity in enormous radio galaxies in the Milky Way. MeerKAT’s control and monitoring systems are also involved in an international programme called Breakthrough Listen that is searching for extraterrestrial intelligence, and will be looking for what are called technosignatures. These are radiowave anomalies that could point to the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. In the hunt for technosignatures it will take just two years to search over a million nearby stars. There is some extraordinary science going on out there. Who hasn’t been captivated by the stunning images being beamed back from the James Webb space telescope? They include “five galaxies engaged in a brilliant cosmic dance and a nebula exploding around a pair of dying stars” as Forbes describes it. They are showing us what the universe looked like 13 billion light years ago, and the light we see left before Earth had even formed. Another remarkable milestone also attracted my attention. This one involves looking for biosignatures. NASA’s latest Mars Rover expedition has just completed its second year on Mars, surpassing all expectations. Perseverance landed on Mars in February 2021 after travelling 480 million kilometres on a six month journey, and topped this off by sending a selfie back to Earth. This was the most difficult Mars landing ever attempted. Ingenuity, a small solar powered Do you have a technosignature? autonomous drone made the journey strapped underneath Perseverance. The goal was to show that rotocraft-powered flight can work in the thin Martian atmosphere. Ingenuity has tested the limits and achieved the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another world in a series of increasingly daring flights. The Wright Brothers’ first successful flight lasted 12 seconds. I have been following in awe as these little vehicles push the boundaries of human achievement. Perseverance is looking for past life on Mars, and in a search for fossils of ancient microbes has stored soil and rock samples for a future spacecraft to bring back to Earth, probably by 2028. It has turned up carbon-bearing materials, the basis of life on Earth, in every sample. It is now investigating evidence of flood activity in the Jezero Crater, which had a large lake and river delta billions of years ago, and is looking for carbonate-bearing sedimentary rocks. From the data, scientists have already found sulphates and other minerals that require water to form. These could reveal biosignatures of ancient Martian life. Down here on Earth we are preoccupied with the latest AI chatboxes, but as far as I’m concerned this is the real science. The essence of our nature is exploration and discovery. Who knows what more we’ll find? Africa Automation Technology Fair Back home there is another exciting event coming up, the Africa Automation Technology Fair. Technews is proud to partner with Reed Exhibitions as Title Media Partner, and will again publish the official Africa Automation Technology Fair Preview and Visitors Guide in print and electronic format. The Preview will be a standalone publication and sent out with our April issue of SA Instrumentation & Control, and the Visitors Guide will be the only publication to be handed out to all visitors to the exhibition. If you have a stand booked, this will help you maximise your profile at South Africa’s largest process exhibition. For more information call Jane on 031 764 0595 or Heidi on 011 543 5818.
www.africaautomationtechnologyfair.com Contact Daleen Filbey on +27 (0)10 496 3502 | [email protected] SAVE THE DATE! Visit the most comprehensive and focused Industrial Automation Technology platform in Africa! SHOW INNOVATIONS African Hosted Buyer Programme Automation Technology Experience Business Connection Zone Visitor Guided Tours CPD Accredited Workshops Technology Demo Zone Thousands of Products to View New Product Launches Networking Opportunities Built by: Member of: SAEC EVENT REGISTERED Proudly affiliated with: #AATF2023 9 - 11 MAY 2023 GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 2023 EXPLORE | ENGAGE | EXPERIENCE REGISTER NOW
NEWS & EVENTS 4 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za Schneider Electric has been recognised in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition highlights Schneider’s ongoing efforts to increase gender equity across the company and build an inclusive and caring work environment. The 2023 Bloomberg GEI lists 484 companies across 54 industries in 45 countries, and measures their performance according to five key pillars: leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies, and external brand. Schneider Electric achieved an overall score of 81%, up from 77% the previous year and well above the index average of 73%. The company has maintained its consistently strong performance for equal pay and gender pay parity (88%). Its above average score for leadership and talent pipeline (55%) reflects progress toward its goal of improving gender Schneider Electric achieves in Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index WearCheck recently opened its newest laboratory in Kathu, the iron ore capital of the Northern Cape. This has reduced turnaround time for local samples to 24 hours or less. The company’s unique Kathu laboratory is created from three remodelled shipping containers. WearCheck’s head office in Westville is where the distinctive mobile laboratories are compiled in repurposed shipping containers, kitted out with the latest laboratory instruments. The design is fluid, to accommodate new industry developments. WearCheck managing director, Neil Robinson is addressing the infrastructure deficit in Africa by providing world-class scientific analysis services in remote areas near mining and other industries. “While establishing a brick and mortar laboratory in certain locations is often hindered by the lack of basic infrastructure, the container laboratories are relatively simple to place in areas with limited resources. Ensuring consistently accurate test results is critical, therefore each mobile laboratory is connected to the WearCheck South Africa LIMS system, which guarantees quality control,” he says. WearCheck also recently relocated its Johannesburg laboratory and its dedicated Brand new WearCheck laboratories EinDollarBrille is bringing affordable eyeglasses to the world’s most needy communities using Solid Edge software from Siemens Digital Industries Software. The company provides tools and training to enable its team and partners across 10 countries to manufacture the OneDollarGlasses eyewear without electricity, using a revolutionary machine that is now being further developed and manufactured using software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. “I wanted to create eyeglasses for less than a dollar’s worth of materials so that even the poorest could afford them,” said Martin Aufmuth, founder and CEO of EinDollarBrille. After developing his initial concepts, prototypes and sketches using manual and non-digital methods, efficient manufacturing processes needed to be set up to help achieve the required production quality of the glasses – a process that started with design, drafting and digitisation. While there were individual sketches and drawings of the bending machine, there were no 3D CAD models that could be used for the next steps – for example, data that could be transferred to CNC manufacturers. To solve this, Siemens Solid Edge software and Siemens solution partner, PBU CAD-Systeme came into play. The bending machine was developed further and perfected, while other tools and gauges required for glasses production were optimised. The glasses and their lenses were modelled in 3D using Solid Edge. For the bending machine, the existing hand sketches and technical drawings on paper with handwritten notes were used to define the dimensions and tolerances, together with the necessary forms to get the innovative bending machine professionally defined and documented. For more information contact Siemens South Africa, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za Siemens software revolutionises eyeglasses divisions − asset reliability care, transformer oil testing, and water analysis and lubricant-enabled reliability services − to a convenient, ultra-modern new location in Edenvale. “With all our services under one roof, WearCheck Johannesburg is truly a one-stop hub for customers making use of more than one of our condition monitoring programmes,” concludes Robinson. WearCheck’s growing footprint extends across nine countries in Africa and beyond, including many satellite offices and 15 world-class laboratories. For more information contact WearCheck, +27 31 700 5460, [email protected], www.wearcheck.co.za representation through increased hiring, promotion and retention of women. As of December 2022, women represent 41% of Schneider’s executive committee and the company is committed to achieving 50:40:30 gender balance (ie., women representing 50% of all new hires, 40% of all frontline managers, and 30% of senior leadership) by 2025. Schneider Electric has also been named as one of Fortune’s 2023 World’s Most Admired Companies for the sixth consecutive year, ranking third in the electronics industry. This is a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace, while reducing its environmental impact and providing sustainable solutions for its customers. For more information contact Schneider Electric South Africa, +27 11 254 6400, [email protected], www.se.com/za/en/
NEWS & EVENTS www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 5 It was an unlikely pair that came together in 1953 to create a company. On one side there was the Swiss engineer, Georg Endress who was just 29, and on the other side there was the German, Ludwig Hauser aged 58, head of a cooperative bank; but the two complemented each other perfectly. The vision and drive of one was as important for success as the prudence and experience of the other. From the back room into the world L Hauser KG opened for business on 1 February. The young company was headquartered in Hauser’s apartment in Lörrach in Germany, financed with modest start-up capital of 2000 Deutsche Marks. The company was named after Ludwig Hauser’s wife, Luise, who is listed in the commercial register as the shareholder. The young company started with the sale of innovative electronic level sensors that filled a market niche. It was not long before Endress began to develop instruments on his own. In 1955 he registered his first patent with what is now known as the Swiss Federal Institute for Intellectual Property. Production took place in rented spaces, with the employees distributed throughout several buildings that they teasingly but affectionately referred to as the ‘United Hut Works’. Opening new markets step by step In 1957 the company began trading under the name Endress+Hauser, and experienced strong growth. The company continued to carve out new niches. Endress compared his approach to ‘rolling out the dough’. He continuously expanded the portfolio by adding new measurement principles and pursued business opportunities in other countries. The first foreign subsidiary was created in 1960 in the Netherlands. Other sales centres followed virtually every year. Success in the third generation The company expanded its offerings through acquisitions and start-ups. Measurement value recording, liquid analysis and flow measurement engineering were added as new fields of activity to the mix, followed later by pressure and temperature measurement technologies. Endress+Hauser evolved into a full-range provider for the process industries. By this time, the Hauser era was already history. The Endress family became the sole shareholder in 1975. Global structures, universal culture Klaus Endress took over the reins of the group from his father in 1995. Over the following years he expanded the business beyond process instrumentation into services and automation solutions. He also tackled the challenges of doing business in a globalised world. After establishing sales centres around the world, production also went global; modern IT ensured interconnection. For 19 years Klaus Endress put his personal stamp not only on the group, but also on the corporate culture. He recognised loyalty and responsibility as core values in the relationships between customers, employees and shareholders. Not least, the future of the family business was close to his heart. He put forward a family charter in which the shareholder family stated that Endress+Hauser should remain a successful family-owned company. With the death of Georg Endress in 2008, this sentence became his legacy. Focus on digitalisation and analysis In 2014, Matthias Altendorf took over as CEO. He was not a member of the Endress family, but had been working at the company for over 25 years. Laboratory analysis specialist, Analytik Jena was already part of the group at this point. Further acquisitions strengthened the company’s abilities in process analysis and the measurement of quality parameters. In addition, Altendorf was pushing the topic of digitalisation in products, in customer interaction, and in business processes. During the coronavirus pandemic, this extensive digitalisation proved its worth. Endress+Hauser could support customers remotely and coped well with the crisis. But the challenges are not abating. The Russian attack on Ukraine resulted in harsh sanctions, and Endress+Hauser had to stop operations in Russia. In addition, the conflict clouded the economic outlook. With confidence into the anniversary year Nevertheless, Endress+Hauser is entering its anniversary year with confidence. The group supports customers in major challenges such as digitalisation and decarbonisation and contributes to the supply, nutrition and health of people. The company is on sound footing and its global footprint ensures stability. The shareholder family has everything in place to ensure a smooth handover of responsibility to the third generation. For more information contact Endress+Hauser South Africa, +27 11 262 8000, [email protected], www.endress.com
NEWS & EVENTS 6 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za Globally, businesses lose about R17 trillion to cybercrimes. Of these businesses, 219 million cybercrime-related emails emanated from South Africa in 2021 alone, with Interpol’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report stating that over 90% of businesses on the African continent are operating without the necessary cybersecurity protocols in place. To address the ongoing cyber risks facing business operations across the continent, RX Africa will in 2023 launch the inaugural Infosecurity Africa, the African edition under leading global cybersecurity and information security events group, Infosecurity. Cybercrime is an ongoing risk, making awareness and strong IT defences a vital part of any business strategy. Infosecurity Africa will showcase the latest in trends, threat, and cybercrime prevention from 9-11 May 2023 at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Co-located with the esteemed events, the 12th Africa Automation Technology Fair (AATF2023), and the inaugural Future Manufacturing Africa Trade Fair and Summit (FMA2023), all three shows will be held in one venue. Cybercrime causes pain for companies beyond their financials. Losses can extend to data theft or stolen intellectual property and personal information. There is also a great risk of brand reputational damage. “Africa is on a growth track and its rapid technological evolution, while opening many positive opportunities, has also made the region attractive to cybercriminals. Many African countries have seen a rise in digital threats and malicious cyber activities, and this is a huge risk for all companies in the region, particularly with IoT being a major component in modern manufacturing. There is certainly a need to fight cybercrime with vigour, using the latest prevention methods possible,” says Philip Woods, events director for Business and Technology at RX Africa. Infosecurity Africa will encompass everything businesses need to know about information security, backed by RX Africa’s 25 years RX Africa launches the inaugural Infosecurity Africa event in 2023 Digital Twin Consortium and OPC Foundation announce liaison agreement The Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) and OPC Foundation have announced a liaison agreement to accelerate the development and adoption of digital twin-enabling technologies. The DTC and the OPC Foundation have worked closely in several open-source reference implementation projects on GitHub and have agreed to collaborate even closer. “We are excited about working with OPC Foundation,” said Dan Isaacs, GM and CTO of DTC. “Through our collaboration, we will influence interoperability standards and processes that will advance the use of digital twins in manufacturing across many industries.” The DTC and OPC Foundation have agreed to the following activities: • Collaborating on standardisation requirements. • Realising interoperability by harmonising technology components and other elements. • Aligning work in horizontal domains for adoption in vertical domains and use cases, proof of concepts and value innovation platforms (VIP) programmes, including technology, terminology and taxonomy; security and trustworthiness; conceptual, informational, structural and behavioural models; enabling technologies such as simulation and AI, technology stack across the digital twin lifecycle; and case study development. • Developing and understanding open-source reference implementations. Stefan Hoppe, president of the OPC Foundation, said: “The OPC Foundation maintains the global standard for secure industrial interoperability for information modelling and data exchange, which, as part of this relationship with DTC, benefits all who wish to create semantically identical digital twins. Our involvement to liaise with DTC further strengthens the user’s ability to model each data aspect quickly and precisely, creating and interacting with any digital twin. Digital twins will be fully compatible with the OPC UA framework used in the run-time components within the operational domain.” “As one of the key contributors to Digital Twin Consortium’s open-source programme, Microsoft saw the rising demand for open digital twin technology and industrial interoperability standards like OPC UA. The collaboration of OPC Foundation and DTC will continue to elevate the impact of digital twin technologies. The two organisations have already started collaborating on open-source projects and these projects will expand to include emerging technologies,” said Erich Barnstedt, chief architect of standards at Microsoft. Both consortia will exchange information through regular consultations, joint contributor relations, seminars, open-source projects and other activities. For more information contact Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation, [email protected], www.opcfoundation.org of experience in facilitating top events. Included on the agenda are discussions around cybersecurity in manufacturing, dealing with IT supply chain attacks, and building awareness and education programmes for cybersecurity hygiene. For exhibitors at Infosecurity Africa, thousands of visitors can be expected from across the continent. With outstanding networking and sponsorship opportunities, exhibitors are sure to gain maximum visibility due to the overlap within automation, technology and cybersecurity. “We encourage exhibitors to sign up and come to conduct business, and for visitors to gain the knowledge they need to stay safe online. There are many exciting opportunities at InfoSecurity Africa, the dedicated hub on the continent for cyber education, quality leads for new business, a safer digital presence, and plenty of inspiration,” Woods concludes. Register for InfoSecurity, AATF and FMA at showhub.live
NEWS & EVENTS www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 7 “We are very pleased with the awards as they show that the Turck Group continues to be very attractive in Germany as an employer,” says managing director Christian Pauli, who is responsible for the areas of finance and HR management in Turck Holdings. “We are particularly pleased with the good ratings given by our employees, and the very high referral rate.” For more information contact Turck Banner, +27 11 453 2468, [email protected], www.turckbanner.co.za Michael Brown’s Practical Process Control Training Courses and Loop Optimisation Services Cell: +27 (0)82 440 7790 Email: [email protected] Website: www.controlloop.co.za MICHAEL BROWN CONTROL ENGINEERING CC Courses: These well known courses are unique and invaluable to newcomers as well as experienced practitioners and process engineers in the field of industrial regulatory control optimisation. The courses offer a new and very practical approach to this subject, which very few people really understand properly. Courses are available on demand for six or more delegates and are suitable for instrumentation and control technicians and engineers, and for plant process engineers. Many chemical and mechanical engineers have attended the courses as well as metallurgists. Even people with many years of experience in this field have found the courses a real eye opener. Optimisation Services and Consulting: Michael Brown has had 35 years of experience in control loop optimisation, and in that time has successfully optimised controls in many different types of plants, including pulp and paper, power stations, chemical and petrochemical, oil, steel, mining and metallurgical recovery, cement, brewing, glass, dairy, food, and sugar, both in South Africa and many overseas countries. His work has proved invaluable to plants and has resulted in greatly improved performance and ROI. THE PART 1 COURSE IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA SELF STUDY AND ZOOM SESSIONS Turck Banner South Africa is proud to announce that Turck Germany has once more been nominated as one of Germany’s top employers, and is once more a ‘kununu Top Company’. The Turck Group was awarded this accolade for its attractiveness as an employer. The automation specialist has thus qualified for the ‘kununu Top Company Seal 2023’, placing it among approximately 5% of the most popular employers on kununu. To be awarded the Top Company Seal, a company must achieve a score of at least 3,8 stars from its own employees in the preceding 12 months. Of the Turck nominated as top employer Werner Joubert has been appointed general manager of Hytec Fluid Technology, while remaining general manager of Hydraulic and Automation Warehouse. employees that submitted a rating in the past two years, 85% would recommend Turck as an employer. In the survey of ‘Germany’s Best Employers 2022’, Turck was again rated “very highly attractive”. With a score of 2,59, the company belongs to the 10% of the highest rated employers in the industrial sector. The nationwide survey carried out by die Welt rated 3906 companies from the service, trade and industrial sectors, involving over 700 000 citizens, in terms of their attractiveness as an employer. Christian Pauli. Appointment
NEWS & EVENTS 8 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za RS Group has launched the next phase of DesignSpark, the fast-growing online community for engineers. It offers a suite of design tools including DesignSpark Mechanical and DesignSpark PCB, plus comprehensive 2D/3D and electronics part libraries, and a host of design resources such as technology articles, projects and community forums. It has been designed to present an enhanced and increasingly personalised experience for members. The new DesignSpark will offer three subscription levels, respectively called ‘DesignSpark Explorer’, ‘DesignSpark Creator’, and ‘DesignSpark Engineer’. This will enable members to select their own level of access according to their requirements for design tools and resources. Completely free, DesignSpark Explorer suits students, makers and designers, and enables members to quickly make the leap from concept to prototype. Its award-winning rapid-prototyping tool for circuit design allows the creation of schematics, transfer to a PCB layout, and preparation for production. DesignSpark Mechanical is a direct modeller that requires no prior experience with 3D CAD software, and enables users to freely create and modify geometry. Excellent for prototyping and conveying requirements to the engineering team, DesignSpark Mechanical enables the rapid prototyping or reverse engineering of any physical object. Subscribers have access to more than 100 million 3D models and 2D symbols for circuit design, and the ability to perform searches on one billion parts, accessing data sheets and part lifecycle status information. Ideal for serious makers, pro-makers and SMEs, DesignSpark Creator includes a 3D Mirror tool and detailing tools to annotate parts and create manufacturing drawings, and enhanced part libraries that provide further intelligence on component capabilities and status. DesignSpark Engineer is ideal for professional level design engineers. It includes the use of blind and buried vias for high-density PCB design, custom pad shapes, differential pair routing for high-speed signals, a panels editor, and hierarchical schematic block capability. Online community for engineers Endress+Hauser South Africa’s Annual ONE Conference 2023 brought together more than 100 delegates, including guests from Europe, representatives from across southern Africa, and local colleagues. Bernhard Klöss, managing director, opened the conference with an inspiring keynote address, followed by various presentations aligned to the conference theme ‘Your partner for process improvement’. These were crafted to share knowledge, and empower delegates to continue to be the partner for process improvement for the company’s customers. This year’s conference, held at Bryanston Country Club, also included industry workshops designed with the customers’ journey, brand promise, and the organisation’s strategic direction for 2023 at their core. To conclude the conference, the company hosted its annual awards ceremony to recognise and honour long-serving and top-performing employees. The highlight of the night was the celebration of Leon Govender, head of department: Logistics & IT, who completed his 30th year of service at Endress+Hauser in the year 2022. At the end of the three-day conference and awards ceremony, the delegates and award recipients left feeling motivated, energised and empowered, and ready to continue serving their customers. For more information contact Endress+Hauser South Africa, +27 11 262 8000, [email protected], www.endress.com Endress+Hauser’s successful conference Bernhard Klöss with Endress+Hauser sales specialists, representatives and global guests. The full suite of capabilities available to paying subscribers would be typically worth an estimated £1000. Through the subscription model, RS is now able to offer these at an entry level price equivalent to a Netflix subscription per month. RS is introducing a free trial period to allow all DesignSpark members to try out the Creator and Engineer subscription, enabling them to assess these additional capabilities before deciding which option will best suit their needs. The free trial period will run until 31 March 2023. “Today’s launch is the next phase in the lifecycle for our award-winning suite of design tools and design engineering resources,” said vice-president, Mike Bray. “We are looking to bring the right level of resources suitable for the DesignSpark . We are offering a solution that puts DesignSpark members in control of what and when they use at a higher level of capability.” DesignSpark is available at www.rs-online.com/designspark/home For more information contact RS Components SA, +27 11 691 9300 [email protected], www.rs-online.co.za
www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 9 industry-standard, real-time image processing solution complete with integrated software and hardware full synchronization with all EtherCAT-based machine processes reduced wiring work thanks to the EtherCAT P single-cable solution cameras with 2.5 Gbit/s for rapid image transfer C-mount lenses with assembly-oriented design future-proof lenses designed with 2 µm pixel structure correction of chromatic aberration into the near-infrared range wide range of EtherCAT-compatible, precisely synchronizable, multicolor LED illumination options maximum flexibility afforded by image contrast adjustment during runtime and high pulse power Vision Unit Illuminated is a compact unit comprising of a camera, illumination, and focusable optics Scan to learn more about Beckhoff Vision Vision: Complete and system-integrated | VI11-01E |
10 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za SAIMC NEWS From the office of the CEO Johan Maartens. National Members The question on everybody’s lips is “Will automation lead to job losses?” In Europe, predictions are doing the rounds that automation will result in 12 million jobs lost. Then there are also predictions that this will not be that bad, as people will move into other roles. Europe can afford to have some roles replaced by automation since, according to Forrester Research, “the impact on the jobs market will be lessened because Europe’s biggest economies will have millions fewer people of working age”. However in South Africa the story is different. South Africa does not have fewer people of working age. We have more every year. It therefore makes sense not to automate. That would mean South Africa can no longer compete in the international market since all countries must implement automation as a cost-saving mechanism. It means that all motor vehicle and other manufacturers will have to close their doors in South Africa and move to a neighbouring country, causing more job losses. What does a country need to implement automation? A country requires the means to support the implementation of automation. To have the means, it needs a government that understands the concept. Governments must supply the strategies and policies that support the vision for the future and the will to implement them. The strategies and policies will then result in the appropriate infrastructure for the future, including power, education, etc. To have a government that understands the requirements for the future, you need a population that understands those needs to vote them into power. To have a population that understands the needs of the future, you need an education system and a media that understands and addresses them. Nobody is as clever as your teacher when you are young, and after that most people believe everything the media tells them. Does South Africa have this in place? Starting all strategies and policies by blaming others, setting goals to rectify problems created 30-odd years ago, and strengthening already failed policies, whether justified or not, does not solve Is automation costing jobs? the problem. It plays to the crowd, shows an inherent lack of understanding of the big picture, and adds more opportunity for the taxpayers’ hard earned money to be embezzled. This becomes more and more evident as the years pass. Moving people from one job to another takes two things: retraining and a willingness to change. Neither of these appears to be very high on the agenda in South Africa. The lack of self-respect and discipline makes it worse. A sense of entitlement stems from the continuous reference to “previously disadvantaged, so you now have the right to special treatment” − much like the “swart gevaar” rhetoric of the apartheid era. The problem is not the government. It is the people who put them in charge who are to blame. Governments do their best with the little knowledge they have or think they have. It is the media that drives its own agendas without understanding the cost to the country’s economy, as long as it can sell newspapers. It is your fault and it is my fault if we sit back and complain without trying to sort out those things that are within our ability. Automation is here to stay if South Africa wants to play a part in the world economy. Or maybe South Africa will be satisfied with becoming a welfare state of Russia, China or some other country, selling its assets to the highest bidder? Empowerment or welfare – that is the question. Yours in automation Johan Maartens. Details to be confirmed Watch this space! Annual gala dinner September/October 2023
www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 11 SAIMC NEWS Branches Johannesburg: Jenine Jansen van Vuuren at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 63 204 5248 Cape Town: Hein Ries at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 73 351 2875 Durban: Mark Calvert at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 83 452 3181 Gqeberha: Prof. Theo van Niekerk at [email protected], Mobile: +27 82 440 8957 Richards Bay: Mervyn Govender at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 83 299 2260 Secunda: Lezahn Meiring at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 84 440 7787 Tshwane : Mark Taylor at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 61 769 3344 Vaal: John Phala at [email protected]; Mobile: +27 71 679 5076 Zambia: Andrew Sikwese at [email protected], Tel: +26 96 963 1008 Council: Ina at [email protected], Mobile: +27 82 440 8957, Tel: 08610 72462 (08610 SAIMC) The Johannesburg SAIMC meeting was held at Bryanston Sports Club on 18 January 2023. There was a good turnout and members had the opportunity to catch up with friends and discuss the year ahead. Dean Floyd, the Johannesburg SAIMC chairman for 2022, opened the meeting and presented an overview of the year past and the year ahead. One of the exciting aspects of the 2023 calendar year for the Joburg branch will be quarterly industry focus meetings, starting with agriculture and followed by renewable energy, then food and beverage, and closing with automotive. A very interactive nomination session followed, where the new members of the committee were proposed and accepted as below. The new committee members are: • Dean Floyd. • Cheryl Hird (treasurer). • Lourens van Niekerk. • Sagadevan (Sagal) Kanniappen. • Kevin Preston. • Diogo Fidalgo. • Jenine Jansen van Vuuren (chairperson). Here are a few photos and bios of the new Joburg committee members selected at the AGM. Jenine has more than 25 years experience in the engineering industry, and has extensive engineering, design, project, fabrication, instrumentation and metrology knowledge. She Johannesburg branch has been active in the field of measurement since 1993, working with mass regulatory standards such as SABS 0259 and SANS 10378 as a certified verification officer. She was also registered as a mass metrologist in 2016. More recently, Jenine has cemented her industry knowledge with the N.Dip Process & Instrumentation qualification (2015), registration as a flow metrologist in 2018, and a B.Tech Process & Instrumentation (2020). She is currently sales account manager in the measurement industry for Comtest. When she is not working, she loves the outdoors – hiking, rock climbing, archery, and a bit of amateur astronomy on the side. Sagal has been involved in the measurement and control industry for the past eight years, serving in roles in field service, academia, research and development, product management, projects, and sales and marketing. Currently employed as a sales application specialist at WIKA, his focus is on providing technical expertise on WIKA products to customers, and to internal and external staff. He is also strongly involved in strategic business development on large-scale trophy projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, and is in the process of completing his masters degree in electrical engineering. In addition to his engineering qualifications, Sagal holds certification in project management and business management. Kevin is currently employed at Phoenix Contact as group manager IMA & IE, responsible for the interface, I/O and networks, and IMA product ranges. Kevin has gained vast experience in the fields of industrial electronics and automation over his career. He is a qualified electronics engineer and has a commercial business degree. Over the years he has held many senior positions and has also headed up his own business venture. He is often asked to participate in various discussion forums and is a consummate presenter, which stems from his passion for music, but, he adds, only as a part-time musician. His other interests include lawn bowls, which serves as a good form of exercise and getting some vitamin D. Diogo studied electrical engineering (light current) at DUT. He has a passion for engineering and problem-solving, along with extensive experience in supplying solutions for hazardous areas, both in the design and manufacturing phases, for local and international clients. He is dedicated to delivering quality and effective solutions, because let’s face it, when it comes to hazardous and classified areas, laughter isn’t always the best medicine − safety is! After hours, he loves getting stuck into a good book, binge-watching his favourite series, and also going down the rabbit hole of anything tech related. Sagadevan Kanniappen. Kevin Preston. Jenine Jansen van Vuuren (chairperson). www.saimc.co.za
12 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za AUTOMATION PROFESSIONALS Abacus Automation supplies innovative, custom-developed technical solutions using standard PLCs, drives, scada and motion control equipment and is Siemens approved for crane automation. With 23 years in the industry, this award-winning and internationally acclaimed company has highly qualified, experienced and professional staff. It operates out of offices in KwaZulu-Natal. Tel: +27 31 702 5767 [email protected] www.abacus-automation.co.za Abacus Automation Control Software Solutions - CSS Customer-centricity allows CSS to attain a high percentage of repeat business from its growing customer base. With a solid 17 years’experience in designing customised C&A solutions, CSS partners with customers in relationships thriving on information sharing and open communication enabling them to enhance customer operations. Supplier Certification provides customers with the assurance that the CSS team is completely up to date on current trends and technology as indicated by a number of prestigious awards. Tel: +27 31 914 0040 [email protected] www.cs-solutions.co.za Moore Process Controls Moore Process Controls provides process automation and optimisation solutions to realise the maximum potential of your plant and assets. Its offerings include DCS, PLC, scada, compressor control solutions, MES, production management and predictive maintenance systems, control loop optimisation, alarm and energy management systems, plant security and access management systems, Matrikon OPC, OSi Soft, dashboards and historians, wireless and data solutions including digital twin, process simulators and training simulators and cloud-based IIoT solutions. Tel: +27 11 466 1673 [email protected] www.moore.co.za Consulting engineers, system integrators & project houses EHL Consulting Engineers offers comprehensive C&I services across all industries including control system design, software development and system integration; legacy system upgrades and replacements; process automation and optimisation; and IS and SIL services. Tel: +27 11 370 7400 [email protected] [email protected] www.ehl.co.za EHL Consulting Engineers Autotronix is a recognised leader in industrial automation design and implementation having attained its ISO 9001 certification. Autotronix offers its clients turnkey control system integration services for energy management, PLC/HMI/scada/VSD, manufacture of control panels, applications for water distribution and manufacturing. The company operates from offices in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Tel: +27 31 705 0400 or +27 16 422 7644 [email protected] www.autotronix.co.za Autotronix Iritron is a new millennium technology company providing quality solutions in the fields of electrical instrumentation and control systems engineering, MES systems integration and simulations. It has a proven ability to manage projects efficiently and produce high quality results. It has an extensive track record of successfully implementing plant infrastructure reticulation, designs, and automation and information systems. Iritron, a TUV accredited ISO 9001:2015; ISO 14001:1015 and ISO 45001:2018 as well as a GAMP®5: A Risk-Based Approach to Compliant technology company, can offer its clients PLC, DCS, MES and scada software and hardware, as well as electrical and instrumentation design, engineering, project management and commissioning services. Tel: +27 12 349 2919 [email protected] www.iritron.co.za Iritron
www.instrumentation.co.za March 2023 13 AUTOMATION PROFESSIONALS Systems Automation and Management is a supplier of data acquisition systems and innovative automation solutions and is one of the leading integrators of PLC, scada and fieldbus systems in South Africa. The company’s comprehensive range of capabilities includes industrial networks, automation and control, scada, custom solutions, information delivery, data warehousing, hardware and software, BMS, MIS and MES. Tel: +27 11 803 0570 [email protected] www.sam.co.za SAM – Systems Automation and Management Process Dynamics specialises in industrial automation and process control. The company is one of Africa’s leaders in turnkey automation projects and specialises in the integration of scada (WINCC, PCS7, Wonderware, Citect and Ignition) and PLC ( Siemens, Schneider, Rockwell and Festo) as well as MCC and control panel manufacturing and installation. Process Dynamics is ISO 9001:2015 accredited as well as a registered CIDB company. Tel: +27 11 394 5412 [email protected] www.process-dynamics.co.za Process Dynamics PCS Global At PCS Global we understand that you’re ultimately in business to maximise profits. This means reduced cost of ownership, increased uptime, consistent results and ultimately a solution that not only fits your budget but lets your business work whilst you’re at home with your family. To us that means providing a hassle free, customised engineering solution that exceeds your expectations. Are you ready to take your business to the next level? We are! Level 2 BBEEE , ISO 9001:2015, CIDB. Siemens, Schneider, Wonderware and Rockwell certified. Automation Innovation, it’s the new AI. Tel: +27 11 466 4172 [email protected] www.pcsglobal.com Proconics is a locally based multi-discipline engineering company that executes projects to improve and extend the life of factories. Proconics specialises in multi-discipline, short-term turnkey projects, featuring brownfield replacement projects as well as renewable grid connections. Tel: +27 16 982 7880 [email protected] www.proconics.co.za Proconics Philco Systems Philco Systems provides turnkey industrial automation solutions that are tailored to the client’s individual application, with 30 years’ experience in industrial automation design, drafting panel building, software engineering, field construction, commissioning and legacy migration. Philco Systems integrates a vast array of PLCs, VSDs, HMI, scada and instrumentation into custom solutions, which align with industry standards. At Philco we pride ourselves on building long-lasting customer relationships and have an excellent reputation for providing service and support to the clients’ automation systems. Tel: +27 35 751 1363 [email protected] www.philco.co.za What we are offering (an anually renewable subscription): South Africa’s only dedicated process control and factory automation publication. Whether you are a consulting engineer, a system integrator or a project house, we have the perfect marketing platform to put you in touch with nearly 4500 relevant control and automation practitioners in the automotive, food & beverage, mining, petrochemical, power, pulp & paper and water & wastewater industries. Name, contact details, logo and brief description of your business solution will appear in each issue of SA Instrumentation & Control magazine. Two A4 in depth editorials OR, two half page display advertisements – content of your choice. All articles will also be hosted on our website and appear in a prominent position in one of our electronic newsbriefs. PDF copies of the articles (to be used for your own purposes) will be provided after publication. Your listing will be published in a new “Choose Your Automation Professional” section of the annual SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers’ Guide and a link to your company web page in all directory listings. Contact: [email protected]
14 March 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za Moxa, a leader in industrial communications and networking, has announced the launch of its next-generation networking portfolio. This new line-up is designed to futureproof industrial networks to accelerate digital transformation across various industrial applications, and help organisations improve operational efficiency and resilience. Running efficient business operations is becoming more difficult every day. Only when businesses futureproof their networks and embrace digital transformation can they respond quickly to changes. Besides just introducing new technologies, a key aspect of digitalisation is the ability to integrate all systems seamlessly on the network. “Industrial networks are evolving as the seamless transmission of data is becoming the key to success in this converged, digital future. At Moxa, we are dedicated to developing industrial network solutions that help businesses transform and futureproof their operations,” says Gary Chang, product manager at Moxa Networking. Moxa’s latest next-generation 10G product portfolio is designed to sustain networking connectivity in mission-critical applications, now and the future. Networks are evolving to transform business operations Digital transformation has fundamentally changed the requirements for industrial networking. For example, as net zero Futureproofing industrial networks Moxa’s latest 10G network switches sustain networking connectivity in mission-critical applications, and accelerate digital transformation. initiatives push organisations to invest heavily in renewable energy, power infrastructure needs to be able to adapt to variable and decentralised energy sources. Power grid systems need to be automated and secured to properly balance electricity supply and demand to avoid potential downtime and maximise performance. Resilient, security-hardened industrial networks are critical for enabling complex connectivity, while also keeping the network safe. A similar trend is happening in the transportation field. With the prospect of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) on the horizon, more devices will need to be connected to the road network infrastructure to allow agencies to monitor and manage transportation systems, and ensure smooth traffic operations. Industrial networks need to support high bandwidth and reliability to handle any future increase in data volume processed over the network. Following the supply disruptions in recent years, organisations also need agile and adaptive production plans to make sure they can keep up with market demand in unpredictable circumstances. The flexibility of the industrial networks is the key to success. These are just some examples to demonstrate that industrial applications are transforming, a process that requires secure, reliable industrial networks with high performance, bandwidth and flexibility to enable the transition to a digital future. Next-generation networking to futureproof digitalisation investments “However, the pace at which industrial networks are evolving is becoming a key challenge for our customers, as they attempt to balance investments made today and the expected future benefits. Moxa is launching its next-generation networking portfolio to help businesses tackle this challenge,” says Chang. Moxa’s futureproof, secure networking solutions provide a solid foundation for sustainable network infrastructure. “With the IEC 62443-4-2 certified EDS-4000/G4000 Series DIN-rail switches and RKS-G4028 Series rackmount switches, we help our customers build robust, industrial-grade network security for their critical applications from edge to core.” Besides the increasing need for higher bandwidth such as 10GbE, applications in harsh environmental conditions also need to be able to deal with physical factors that can affect performance, such as heavy shock and vibration. Moxa’s MDS-G4000-4XGS Series modular DIN-rail switches feature 10GbE ports to reliably transmit real-time surveillance feeds and other high volume data. Moreover, with multiple industrial certifications and a highly durable housing, the MDS-G4000-4XGS Series is a perfect fit for demanding environments such as mining sites, ITS, and wayside applications. Lastly, to make sure customers can take advantage of any opportunities within the industry, Moxa delivers the tools to build a robust network foundation designed for future COVER STORY MDS-G4000
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