39VOLUME NO 7 JULY 2023 Official publication of the SAIMC Power generation & distribution | Water & wastewater | Process measurement IT in manufacturing | Wireless & telemetry | Control systems Fieldbus & industrial networking | Safety systems | Motion control & drives Shaping the future: Ethernet APL
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www.instrumentation.co.za July 2023 1 Process measurement Wireless & telemetry Motion control & drives Water & wastewater Safety systems VOLUME 39 NO 7 JULY 2023 03 09 12 40 REGULARS FEATURES IT in manufacturing Control systems Fieldbus & industrial networking Power generation 16 23 21 24 26 25 35 30 34 News & events SAIMC news Automation professionals Product news Michael Brown Control Engineering CC, Turck Banner, Beckhoff Automation Phoenix Contact RJ Connect LOESCHE South Africa, Lance Turner Iritron South Africa, Endress+Hauser, Vepac Electronics ElectroMechanica Yaskawa Southern Africa, Hydrasales, BMG, Zest WEG, SKF South Africa ifm - South Africa, VEGA Controls Extech Safety Systems OUR COVER 14 39VOLUME NO 7 JULY 2023 Official publication of the SAIMC Power generation & distribution | Water & wastewater | Process measurement IT in manufacturing | Wireless & telemetry | Control systems Fieldbus & industrial networking | Safety systems | Motion control & drives Shaping the future: Ethernet APL The world of digital communication is an Ethernet world. The process industries, however, are confronted with very specific situations, and Ethernet is only now becoming the enabling technology for a digital future. The new buzzword is Ethernet-APL, and describes a new Ethernet Physical Layer that is tailored to the requirements of process plants while seamlessly integrating into the omnipresent Ethernet world. Read our cover story on page 14 to find out what has made Ethernet-APL so successful and how it will lead process automation into the world of digital communication.
2 July 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za welcome VOLUME 39 NO 7 JULY 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. 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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 Nowadays I’m trying to get my mind around AI and figure out all the things I can do with it; but there’s another buzzword around, this one is ‘hyperautomation’. Today it’s not smart manufacturing but ‘hyperintelligent automation’. Please forgive me for thinking that’s what IIoT did. Anyway, I thought I would try and make sense of all these terms, and find out how they differ from automation, and if hyperautomation is part of AI and ML or the other way around, and where IIoT comes in, or gigafactories, or lights-out factories. Or is this yet another amazing new technological development? So here goes. It’s clear that automation is the carrying out of a repetitive task without human intervention. It typically occurs on a smaller scale than hyperautomation, and involves separate jobs. An example would be robotic process automation (RPA) − a robot that can perform low-level repetitive functions based on rule-based processes, for example a welding robot. Hyperautomation on the other hand is a combination of advanced automation technologies like generative AI, ML, RPA, natural language processing, digital twinning, data analytics, predictive maintenance algorithms and more, that automate processes without human intervention. From what I can see, hyperautomation is the concept of leveraging all these new technologies and automating everything in an organisation that can be automated – basically if it moves, you automate it. One description of hyperautomation I saw is that it’s RPL on steroids. Another is that it’s the automation of automation. The end goal to automate as much of a task as possible, while allowing human workers to focus on other jobs that require creativity, judgement and emotional intelligence. IIoT at scale I found it more difficult to decide if IIoT is part of hyperautomation or the other way around. One school of thought is that hyperintelligent automation is a driver of IIoT; but I eventually decided that IIoT is the enabler, arising out of the convergence of OT and IT. I remember when not very long ago we used to publish articles on how the machines are talking to each other. Hyperautomation needs manufacturers to think on a greater scale, and this is what’s driving the adoption of the IIoT technologies we already have. Complex automation is only possible in digitally interconnected systems. Gartner has listed hyperautomation as one of the top ten strategic technology trends of 2023, and believes it is shifting from a nice-to-have to a matter of survival for many organisations because it has the ability to eliminate outdated The automation of automation work processes, which are a top workforce issue. Whatever you call it, many manufacturers are already dabbling in hyperautomation in preparation for a scaled-up IIoT because simple, task-based automation doesn’t deliver the cross-functional results that they are looking for. Many of the examples I found are clients of SA Instrumentation & Control or have featured in our stories − companies like Siemens, ABB, Rockwell Automation, Fanuc, Schneider Electric, Festo and Honeywell. As an example, Schneider Electric automates the process of creating, labelling, documenting and organising switchboards. Human interaction is eliminated from the process, apart from data input and the physical installation of the finished product. In South Africa we have some world class in industries such as automotive, and food and beverage, and they are on the way to hyperautomation. The benefits are pretty much the same as we heard when IIoT first came in: optimised processes, increased efficiency, and improved overall performance. So are the caveats. The explanations that jobs won’t be lost, they’ll just be different and more satisfying, are no different. Avoid the traps One of my favourite Bill Gates quotes is: “The first rule for a technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”There is a fine line between elegant networking and a tangle of hyper-automated systems − excessive automation. Elon Musk discovered this in 2018 when the production line for the Tesla Model 3 came to a complete halt for four days. Musk said the plant became a manufacturing nightmare, with its complex network of conveyor belts struggling to manage production and instead resulting in bottlenecks. Businesses can take digitalisation, connectivity and artificial intelligence to an extreme without understanding fully what they hope to achieve. Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that the road from manual to automation to hyper-automation is a continuum, and each manufacturer has their place on the scale, whether it’s a small factory creating lots of jobs or a Tesla gigafactory.
NEWS & EVENTS www.instrumentation.co.za July 2023 3 Endress+Hauser employees around the world are celebrating the group’s 70th anniversary this year during a wide range of events – and at the same time committing to a good cause in a special way. As part of the Endress+Hauser Water Challenge, employees collected donations for a water project in Vietnam through running and other physical activities. The campaign is now heading into a second round. The Endress+Hauser Water Challenge was launched in 2019. With this initiative, employees cover a pre-determined distance by running, cycling, swimming or taking part in other sports activities, and donate a specific amount that goes toward providing people access to clean water. The company matches each of the donated amounts. Endress+Hauser is thus extending its corporate commitment to a safe, economic and sustainable water supply to the non-profit sector. Around the world for a good cause Valve & Automation’s control valve, more than four metres tall, produced for Siemens Energy in Duisburg, has broken ARCA’s internal design height record. In September 2021, Valve & Automation ran a special type of acceptance test at one of its factories in Tönisvorst, Germany. With the production of this ‘control giant’ with a design height of 4,20 metres, the company confirmed that it is a leader in control valve design and manufacture, and is a first contact partner in compressor construction. This record was achieved by the pairing of a 60 cm valve with a special bonnet, which in addition to its conventional components, also included a bellows seal, which was specially designed to prevent any emission of the medium through the stuffing box. The enormous design height made it necessary to switch to alternative assembly steps in order to The control giant from Duisburg manufacture the valve according to customer requirements. Together with this colossus, this project from Siemens Energy included a 50 cm valve and a 157 cm perforated disc. Siemens Energy required these valves for a plant owned by Formosa Petrochemical Group, which will be built in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Ningbo. The control valve was part of a delivery of a gear type turbo compressor train, which is to be used in a purified terephthalic acid plant (PTA) to manufacture plastic products. The compressor train consisted of a gear type compressor of the STC-GV (200-4) type and a cold gas expander STC-GT (160-2),driven by an electromotor. For more information contact Desmond Delport, Valve & Automation, +27 11 397 2833, [email protected], www.valve.co.za Goal achieved, goal doubled Endress+Hauser employees established a special goal for the anniversary year by endeavouring to circumnavigate the globe in 70 days through various team activities. The 40 075 kilometre mark was reached in only five weeks. “This success is a tremendous team effort. The Endress+Hauser Water Challenge is mobilising our employees across the globe,” says CEO, Matthias Altendorf. The campaign is now heading into extra time, with the goal of circumnavigating the earth a second time. Clean water for 1000 people This year the Endress+Hauser Water Challenge is supporting a project in Vietnam. The project will promote the availability of clean drinking water in a 90-family village with little infrastructure, that is situated roughly 10 kilometres from the main road. “We can sustainably improve the lives of more than 1000 people through this project,” emphasises Altendorf. Hand in hand with local partners The donated funds will go toward the construction of a water house in the centre of the village, where ground water will be transported with pumps, then filtered and cleaned through reverse osmosis. Solar panels will generate the required electricity during the day. In addition, the village square will be redesigned and the access road renewed as part of the project. Endress+Hauser Vietnam will implement the project together with local representatives NK Engineering and Plan International Vietnam, an aid organisation. The first Endress+Hauser Water Challenge project in 2020 was also completed in Vietnam. For more information contact Endress+Hauser South Africa, +27 11 262 8000, [email protected], www.endress.com
NEWS & EVENTS 4 July 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za As its expansion into Africa gathers pace, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is getting closer to customers and building stronger direct partnerships – to push modernisation and efficiency. “It just makes sense for our customers to have direct access to the OEM,” says Jonathan McKey, national sales and marketing manager at SEW-EURODRIVE. “This is particularly relevant in Africa, where distances to sites can be lengthy, and the infrastructure is often limited.” He points out that SEW-EURODRIVE in South Africa is already serving large multinational corporations around Africa who have global agreements with SEW-EURODRIVE at head office level. These customers are active in industries such as food and beverage, automotive, mining and specialised machinery. “Big international customers want to know that all their subsidiaries around the world can receive the same high quality of service for their SEW-EURODRIVE equipment,” he says. “The same applies for any size of customer; Africa is now demanding higher levels of technical support, especially in those countries experiencing economic growth and technological advancement.” He notes that governments are also encouraging the global private sector to have a local presence in African countries, and SEW-EURODRIVE is responding to that call. This fits well with the SEW-EURODRIVE culture of being close to customers wherever they are, so that the service response can be quicker and more effective. “We are very serious about implementing this culture, and we are well positioned to drive our expansion initiative into Africa,” he says. SEW-EURODRIVE has already placed staff in Partnership focus marks SEW-EURODRIVE progress in Africa Kenya and Zambia, and is planning to establish a presence in three more African countries during 2023. Placing its own people on the ground around Africa will enhance to value to customers, says McKey, especially with SEWEURODRIVE’s continuous development and ‘zero complacency’ approach to innovation. “Our research and development cover a wide range of fields that can benefit customers – from gearing topography to specialised gearbox oils,” he says. “With more sophisticated tools to analyse our own products, we have been able to offer customers even higher reliability and improvements in aspects such as torque demand.” This progress has been enhanced by a strong digital offering, which Africa is already well placed to leverage. SEW-EURODRIVE has some of the most advanced technology for monitoring the condition of drives, paving the way for customers to apply more proactive maintenance. Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, highlights that Africa is generally well advanced in digital communication. “Access to the cellular network makes everything possible, from selecting and buying gearboxes to monitoring and analysing their performance remotely,” says Obermeyer. Indeed, the range of SEW-EURODRIVE equipment has been designed to use multiple communication methods, and to communicate to every device from scada systems to computers and mobile phones. Systems like DriveRadar can therefore be installed on a product and monitored from anywhere in the world where there is a data signal. Given this depth of technology and innovation, McKey emphasises that direct contact with customers is preferable to working through a ‘middle man’. Through its extensive and ongoing training efforts, the company upskills its own employees and customer staff, to fully understand both the operation and the potential of its technology. “We have invested in our in-house Drive Academy for precisely this purpose. It can provide skills development in-person, at our Johannesburg facility or remotely,” he says. “This creates a symbiotic relationship with customers, where we support each other in the trend towards modernisation.” This applies to both the company’s modular ranges and its purpose-built products – such as the air-cooled condenser (ACC) solutions. Greater in-house expertise also ensures that constant advancements are brought to customers’ attention. A recent example of this was the evolution of the robust X series industrial gear units to the state-of-the-art Generation X.e units, delivering new possibilities in performance, safety and efficiency. Obermeyer points out that the most advanced SEW-EURODRIVE products are already found all over Africa, showing how the continent has embraced technology. The company’s expectation is that this equipment is supplied and maintained to the same highest standards anywhere in the world. The growing footprint of SEW-EURODRIVE branches across Africa will ensure that this is achieved, he says. For more information contact SEW-EURODRIVE, +27 11 248 7000, [email protected], www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
NEWS & EVENTS www.instrumentation.co.za July 2023 5 Siemens has partnered with United Nations (UN) Women Germany for an upskilling programme of more than 600 young African women in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda. The UN Women – African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) will train young women between the ages of 17 and 25 in digital literacy, programming and work-readiness skills. Thus they will be empowered to become programmers, coders and designers so that they can take up careers in the ICT sector. The learning content goes from cybersecurity, through to career options in IT, to low coding. Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens subSaharan Africa, said the programme offers enormous potential to bridge the ICT gender gap in the African continent by training the beneficiaries from these countries. Elke Ferner, president of UN Women Germany said: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with Siemens to Siemens joins forces with UN Women upskilling programme invest in the education and empowerment of girls in Africa – a crucial driver of sustainable development in the continent.” In addition, Siemens South Africa has designed a new mentoring programme – SieMent EmpowHer, which works hand in hand with the AGCCI. This initiative will connect experienced female mentors from different Siemens locations around the world with the 600 young women participating in the upskilling in Africa. “With the introduction of SieMent EmpowHer, we will help bridge the gap between academia and the workplace. By empowering and upskilling young women through mentorship across the African continent, we will help improve their employability by equipping them with a set of skills that will help them generate an income, develop resilience, and contribute to transformative growth in Africa,” said Dall’Omo. Turck is continuing its globalisation course with the founding of its own subsidiary in Sweden. Since 1 April 2023, the automation specialist has been officially trading as Turck AB, based in Jonsered near Gothenburg. Until now, Turck was represented in the Scandinavian country by its own sales office. Together with his seven employees, managing director José Ramalho looks after local and international customers from many industries such as machine and plant engineering, intralogistics and pharmaceuticals/biotech. “Sweden is a strategically important market for Turck with well-known customers. With our own subsidiary, we have now created the prerequisite to be able to serve these customers even better than before,” Ramalho comments on the new establishment. Christian José Ramalho. Turck establishes subsidiary in Sweden Wolf, managing director of Turck Holding, is also pleased about the new subsidiary. “Up to now, we have been working the Swedish market through our sales office and have been able to grow continuously. Our thanks for this go to our Swedish colleagues, and especially to José Romalho, who has been steadily increasing our market success there since 2017 and will also lead the new subsidiary. With the foundation of Turck AB, we not only underline the importance of the Swedish market for Turck, but also strengthen our position with customers.” For more information contact Turck Banner, +27 11 453 2468, [email protected], www.turckbanner.co.za The young women will be offered training and workshops in robotics, cybersecurity, animation, 3D printing and gender equality, and in women empowerment, leadership, work readiness and communications. “I am proud to see our company’s continued commitment to the development of young African women who don’t have access to skills development opportunities like these. In sub-Saharan Africa, youth unemployment remains a barrier to progress,” said Natalia Oropeza from Siemens AG. “Teaming up with UN Women on this initiative is helping us to enable young women to gain access to technology, while indirectly addressing the issue of inequality.” For more information contact Siemens South Africa, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens sub-Saharan Africa. Natalia Oropeza, Siemens AG. Elke Ferner, president of UN Women Germany. Aleta Miller, UN Women South Africa.
NEWS & EVENTS 6 July 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za Jan Grobler, managing director of GHM Messtechnik South Africa, says that the company received quality leads from both potential new customers and existing clients during its three-day exhibit at the Africa Automation and Technology Fair (AATF), recently held at Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg from 6-8 May 2023. “The high interest in our range of flow, level, temperature and pressure instrumentation more than justifies the GHM Group’s investment in trade shows, not only in South Africa, but also globally,” he said. “It allows GHM Messtechnik South Africa the opportunity to hear about the challenges and requirements faced by the industries we service, and to feed this customer information back to our R&D divisions in Germany. This allows for tailored solutions to be explored by customising our instrumentation to meet the needs of our customer base. Our presence at AATF reconfirmed our belief that direct interaction with visitors to the stand and our ability to show in real time the quality and performance of our specialised instrumentation delivers dividends. This was also the case when the GHM Group exhibited at the Sensor+Test Trade Faire in Nuremburg earlier this year.” Christian Unterberger, who was appointed as CEO for the GHM Group in 2022, made his first visit to South Africa to attend AATF. Unterberger was impressed by the quality of the exhibitors, delegates and visitors to the show who visited the GHM Group stand. “The South African market offers much potential for growth in the specialised instrumentation sectors. I was impressed by how industry has embraced new and advanced technologies across all elements of measurement and monitoring. It is an exciting market to be part of,” he said. These were some of the highlights: Smart sensors for Industry 4.0: Industrial processes are becoming increasingly digital, networked and complex. To ensure high efficiency, product quality and safety – in addition to precise measurement and control – sensors are needed that are intelligently connected and able to communicate with higher level systems. The products that the GHM Group exhibited at Sensor+Test under the motto ‘IQ Inside’ demonstrate this, with intelligent electronics and a digital IO-Link interface. As one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality industrial sensors and industrial electronics, the Group is addressing the requirements of increasing digitalisation and Industry 4.0. Intelligent ‘multi-talents’: Grobler said that the new OMNIPLUS devices were highlighted Investing in exposure delivers dividends at both exhibitions and were a huge attraction for visitors due to their ability to be configured in a variety of ways, thanks to their new transmitter electronics. Whether current value, total volume or various operating states, the user has quick and easy access to all relevant information and configuration options via the rotatable multifunctional ring – without the aid of a manual or PC. In combination with the high-resolution illuminated graphic display, the user benefits from increased operating comfort, even under difficult conditions. Added to this is the robustness of the mechanical design, which ensures a high level of operational reliability. With its different measuring principles, the OMNIPLUS model series offers perfect solutions for flow measurement and the monitoring of water, cooling lubricants and other viscous media – all with maximum convenience, as a result of the safe and simple configuration and easily identifiable process values. A common characteristic is the digital interface (IO-Link), which makes the OMNIPLUS devices a future-fit investment. CONDIX and LINEAR LCD-S: Additional smart sensors and industrial electronics were also showcased, for example the digital conductivity converter, CONDIX, used for determining the conductivity of liquids. The measured ohmic resistance provides information about the ion concentration in the electrolyte. The integrated converter subsequently transforms the signal into a digital process value, which eliminates the need for further scaling in the higher level system. The LINEAR LCD-S level sensor/transmitter was also on show. This is made entirely of stainless steel. The operating principle of the continuous float detector is based on the step-by-step disconnection of a chain of resistors and reed contacts. In this case, the measurement result is displayed with a resolution of 5, 10 or 20 mm on the four-digit local display. “The Group’s stance is always to be proactive, and we will have a presence at future major trade shows, where we believe we can make a difference through our instrumentation solutions. We believe that our focus on specialising in customised solutions puts us a step ahead of the competition. Our investment in research and development enables our engineers to support our customers in finding the best solution, and if need be we can adapt our products to meet their specific application requirements, whilst still delivering the quality that we are renowned for,” concluded Grobler. For more information contact Jan Grobler, GHM Messtechnik SA, +27 11 902 0158, [email protected], www.ghm-sa.co.za
NEWS & EVENTS www.instrumentation.co.za July 2023 7 Drakenstein Municipality partners with Schneider Electric and Altek for sophisticated scada system Drakenstein Municipality is currently partnering with Schneider Electric and system integrator partner Altek to upgrade its 25-year-old scada system to ETAP, a model-driven electrical scada software solution. Situated in the Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape, Drakenstein Municipality awarded Schneider Electric and implementation partner, Altek the contract following a rigorous tender process. The ETAP SCADA solution met the requirements of the municipality, which ultimately aims to significantly improve fault finding, predictive and preventive equipment maintenance and overall customer service delivery. Moreover, the system needs to integrate with Drakenstein Municipality’s existing infrastructure and the geographic information system (GIS) mapping solution. System ready Before commencing with implementation, Drakenstein Municipality completed an eight-year communication network upgrade, which now sees all its substations communicating through a wireless ethernet or a fibre backbone. The previous scada system only allowed for radio frequency (RF) communication. “We couldn’t embark on a scada upgrade before implementing a new communication backbone. Now, with our network fully operational we have started deploying the new scada system. As a municipality, we will be well ahead of our peers as ETAP’s software continues to evolve. It will readily meet our ongoing system needs,” explains Herman Rossouw, senior engineering technician at Drakenstein Municipality. Feature-rich “The ETAP SCADA offering is software neutral which allows it to overcome integration and interoperability issues, thus saving on costly equipment upgrades and project delays,” says Dwibin Thomas, cluster automation leader at Schneider Electric. “The system offers many exciting features such as live insight into switching operations that provide us with valuable information on current loads and what you can and cannot move or implement on the system in order to safeguard equipment,” says Leon Laing, manager of planning and customer services (Electro-Technical Services Department) at Drakenstein Municipality. “Also, as it integrates with GIS, the ETAP system will be able to pinpoint accurately which customers are being affected by power failure. This will allow us to drastically cut down on fault finding and turnaround times. The ETAP solution will also utilise Drakenstein Municipality’s communication backbone to provide remote access to operators, again improving on system monitoring. Moreover, it will provide preventive maintenance schedules which will mitigate potential equipment failure and costly repair.” “With the ETAP systems’ digital twin technology we will also be able to simulate maintenance processes. The solution uses historical and current data to simulate maintenance and upgrades to the system. This will ensure that when we perform maintenance, no unnecessary unplanned system tripping will occur,” explains Rossouw. The Drakenstein Municipality ETAP SCADA project is earmarked for completion by 2025. “When the project is complete, we hope to benefit from a sophisticated scada system that will not only deliver return on investment (ROI), but also enable us to react quicker to outages and failures, reducing fault finding, and ultimately enhance customer experience,” concludes Laing. For more information contact Schneider Electric South Africa, +27 11 254 6400, [email protected], www.se.com/za/en For the production and packaging of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry, hygiene is an important factor in determining the purity and efficacy of medications. Production therefore takes place in defined hygienic areas. A stable overpressure prevents the penetration of particles from adjacent production areas. Differential pressure transmitters can be used for overpressure control in hygiene rooms. Whether the tablets or powders are packed in blister, glass or plastic containers, or whether serums are filled into phials, syringes or glass bottles, the production environment must meet the highest standards of cleanliness at all times. The first option is to place the entire production line in a traditional cleanroom. The second is to use a series of separate, sterile hygiene cabins. The third possibility is to use delimited areas or ‘mini environments’ within the machine for sensitive stages of production. In Overpressure control in mini environments and hygiene rooms these sensitive production areas, the supply and exhaust air are regulated and monitored. A controlled, stable overpressure prevents particles entering the cleanroom from adjacent production areas. Halstrup-walcher supplies a variety of differential pressure transmitters for overpressure control and filter monitoring in process and packaging machines. All devices have stable measuring systems for lowest air pressures in the lower Pascal range. The portfolio includes a wide variety of designs with various pressure and electrical connection options, interfaces and parametrisation settings, including the functions described above for zero-point calibration and adjustment. For more information contact Vepac Electronics, +27 11 454 8053, [email protected], www.vepac.co.za
NEWS & EVENTS 8 July 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za Bosch Rexroth Africa recently completed a successful Youth Employment Service (YES) programme. This is an initiative undertaken by the government and the private sector to try and reach the goal of creating one million jobs for the country’s youth. The YES programme targets youth from previously disadvantaged groups. Participants from this year’s graduating class comprised 36 people aged between 18 and 25. The class had 23 women participating, up from the 13 that graduated previously. The YES programme’s 2022 class with Bosch Rexroth Africa’s chief operating officer, Mike Harrison and Hytec South Africa Manager, Freddie Kühn. Bosch Rexroth Africa says YES to the youth The participants were placed at numerous Bosch Rexroth Africa branches to acquire experience and skills in various fields including IT, administration, finance and HR. The programme includes over 12 months of workplace experiential learning. Each learner is assigned a mentor who monitors progress and gives quarterly reports. At the end of 12 months, those who excelled within the YES programme are offered permanent or limitedduration contracts of employment. The class of 2022 had tremendous success, with 24 of the 36 learners being offered contracts. The remaining 12 participants have been equipped with the necessary tools and aid in furthering their job searches. For more information contact Gillian Allin, Bosch Rexroth South Africa, +27 11 979 4630, [email protected], www.boschrexroth.africa At the annual general meeting of MESA Africa held on 7 June 2023, votes were taken on the election of officers. The new team in charge is made up of Gerhard Greeff (chairman), Gawie Reyneke (vice-chairman), and Nick Stead (treasurer). We thank the outgoing chairman, Daniel Spies for laying the foundation for big changes at MESA Africa and for steering the team through some very challenging years. The new 2023 executive committee will be announced in the near future. For the balance of the year, MESA Africa will be holding monthly Special Interest Group (SIG) events that will be promoted via LinkedIn and mailshots, culminating in the annual year end summit in November 2023. The next event will be held at the SAP Experience Centre, Woodmead, Johannesburg. The topic will be ‘Manufacturing and Asset Management Technology’, and the presenter will be Wesley Esment, Digital Supply Chain Solutions executive. Further SIG events are scheduled for August and September. MESA Africa CoC training course This will be held from 12 to 15 September 2023 at the premises of DRA Global, Woodmead, Johannesburg, from 9:00 to 16:00. Gerhard Greeff, a MESA Authorised Instructor, will be facilitating the training. The cost to attend is R35 000 for Premium MESA Africa members and R40 000 for non-MESA Africa members. Please contact us regarding the various membership opportunities. MESA Africa news MESA Africa year end international summit This will be held on 15 to 16 November 2023. The theme will be ‘Accelerating the Journey to Smart Manufacturing’. More information will be released shortly regarding a call for papers, sponsorships and attendance. As a new advisory council of SAIMC, MESA Africa looks forward to collaborating and promoting the values and benefits of becoming members. For more information contact Jane Collett, MESA Africa, +27 82 528 1238, [email protected], www.mesa-africa.org Gerhard Greeff. Gawie Reyneke.
www.instrumentation.co.za July 2023 9 In South Africa, the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) defines the various engineering disciplines within which professionals may register. These names may not always be the names that the industry would prefer. One of these names is ‘computer engineering’, which is quite misleading. Computer engineering is not information technology (IT), and industrial computer engineering could have been a more accurate name for this new discipline. In contrast to information technology, computer engineering is an engineering discipline combining electrical engineering and computer science to design, develop and test industrial control systems, computer systems, communication networks and associated software. Computer engineers are involved in various fields, including robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, internet of things, biomedical engineering, etc. Computer engineering is a rapidly growing and evolving field that requires constant innovation and adaptation to meet the needs and challenges of society and industry. ECSA tasked SAIMC with developing a Code of Practice for computer engineering. Our thanks go to Dr Henri Marais, associate professor and undergraduate programme manager from North-West University School for Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering, Gerhard Greeff, Gawie Reyneke and Antoine Snyman from the SAIMC MESA Africa Advisory Council for taking on this task. As a new engineering discipline, computer engineering also requires voluntary association representation at ECSA, which is the statutory body that regulates the engineering profession in South Africa and sets the standards for engineering education, training and practice. ECSA also accredits engineering programs, registers engineering practitioners, and promotes public interest and safety in engineering. Voluntary association representation at ECSA enables computer engineers to: • Have a voice and influence in developing and implementing policies, regulations and standards that affect their profession and practice. • Access professional development opportunities such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and publications that enhance their knowledge and skills. • Network and collaborate with other engineering professionals and stakeholders across different disciplines and sectors. • Receive recognition and validation of their qualifications, competencies and achievements. • Benefit from protecting and supporting their rights and interests as engineering practitioners. From the office of the CEO Johan Maartens. National Members GAIL NORTON INSTRUMENTATION - South Africa Another new engineering discipline SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control) is one of the voluntary associations recognised by ECSA. SAIMC represents professionals in mechatronics, measurement, control, automation, instrumentation, industrial electronics, and related disciplines. It aims to advance the theory and practice of these fields and promote the professional development and recognition of its members. SAIMC does not explicitly include computer engineering in its name, although it forms part of its scope as evidenced by professionals working in the computerised control system space. Since MESA Africa joined the SAIMC, this added another computer engineering focus to the SAIMC’s scope. If SAIMC does not explicitly including computer engineering in its long name there could be confusion and ambiguity among computer engineers seeking a voluntary association representing their specific discipline. It may also limit the visibility and awareness of computer engineering as a distinct and valuable engineering discipline among other engineering professionals and stakeholders. After discussions with Henri Marais and Gerhard Greeff, we propose to change the ‘long name’ of SAIMC to include computer engineering as one of its core disciplines. This will reflect the diversity and inclusivity of SAIMC as a voluntary association that caters for automation in all its aspects. It will also acknowledge the importance and relevance of computer engineering as an engineering discipline that requires voluntary association representation at ECSA. We believe that changing the name of SAIMC to include computer engineering will benefit both SAIMC and computer engineers in South Africa and that this change will reflect the current trends and needs of the engineering profession in South Africa, and will enhance the value and impact of SAIMC as a voluntary association. We propose the new long name to be Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Computer Engineering. Yours in automation SAIMC NEWS
10 July 2023 www.instrumentation.co.za The Durban branch end-of-year-dinner Let’s celebrate another year by bringing back an old favourite! And his friends….. Conrad is South Africa’s top comedy ventriloquist, a double international Emmy-nominated comedian. His most famous puppet, Chester Missing, has won numerous awards in his own right, including being the first recipient of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Anti-Racism Award. Chester Missing has interviewed most of South Africa’s political élite and has held a number of regular radio and TV slots, and even wrote an award-winning book. Conrad’s live shows have received wide political acclaim, and are a regular feature at arts and comedy festivals, including at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. The truth is, with a master’s degree in social anthropology, talking to puppets was his only career option. Venue: Mount Edgecombe Country Club Date: 18 November 2023 Time: 18h30 for 19h00 Supper: Gourmet three-course meal Entertainment: Conrad Koch and Chester Missing Music by Angus Tables of ten: R9500 Sponsorship opportunities available! Contcat: Joan Jones, [email protected], +27 83 703 8070 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 June technology meeting for the Durban branch of the SAIMC was held as usual at the Premier Splendid Inn in Pinetown. An intrigued audience listened attentively whilst Dhilkash Bahadur from ifm took everyone through his presentation on the evolution of vision systems and how it is shaping the next (fifth) industrial revolution. Dhilkash posted the challenge of imagining what the future holds for humans in an ever-evolving world of machines and factories, asking how much more and how much further will digitalisation and automation go? He looked at where we started, how we got here, and what possibilities the future holds, and showed how camera technology is the next step to unlocking the untapped potential of the fifth industrial revolution. He ended his presentation with the thought: The future is bright … the speed of light-bright! Dhilkash Bahadur qualified at Sappi Kraft as an instrument mechanician in 2008. In 2010 he moved to Dunlop Tyres as an instrument technician and then subsequently climbed the ladder to From left: Dhilkash Bahadur, ifm; Mark Calvert, Durban branch general manager. Durban branch the electronics and automation department as a senior electronics technician. In 2014 he moved to ifm. He has an N6 diploma in instrumentation and was well qualified to present here. The SAIMC would like to thank Dhilkash and ifm for their kind sponsorship of this evening and the very informative presentation.
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12 July 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 July 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]
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