The intelligent automation users group
July 2003
News
Since its introduction in 1987, Foxboro's I/A Series (intelligent automation) system has continued to undergo a process of evolution. The I/A Series was founded on the principle that a system can remain perpetually up to date if it can be made to continuously accommodate the latest developments in both hardware and software as they evolve, while allowing the original system to carry on as originally intended.
Because of the rapid advancement into the South African market, Protea Automation Solutions, which represents Foxboro in SA, formed an I/A users group consisting of representatives of all the companies and establishments who now use the I/A Series. So far, the Foxboro I/A Series system is in operation on 13 sites throughout the country, in widely different plant facilities. At present, chairman of the group is Jon Simon of Lever Ponds, and the Foxboro contact is Graham Malloy at Protea Automation Solutions.
The users group meet on an annual basis, when they feel they have a need to compare notes and obtain information from Protea Automation Solutions on latest developments. The meetings are held in various parts of the country where there are user sites. The most recent meeting was held in Johannesburg when Foxboro's Alain Ginguene, marketing consultant, Foxboro I/A Series platform visited SA and conducted a one-day seminar for the users group at the Protea headquarters.
Alain Ginguene addressing some of the Foxboro I/A Series users group at Protea Automation Solutions in Johannesburg
Every new I/A Series development programme begins with a customer request or review. This means users, by helping to identify and drive forward specific upgrade programmes help to shape the form and functionality of I/A Series systems. Thus the users group plays an important part in this role and benefits from the experiences and ideas from similar users all over the world.
For more information contact Graham Malloy, Protea Automation Solutions, 011 719 5700.
Further reading:
From solar to water, onsite plants are the next big industrial resilience shift
News
South African industrial operators who secured their energy supply with onsite solar generation now face the same imperative with water. Robert Erasmus of Sanitech argues that onsite water treatment is the next essential pillar of business continuity.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Pushing engineering to the limit
Technews Publishing
News
Among the many things robots can do, it’s a lot of fun to follow how fast they are. They go from the Boston Dynamics cheetah, which first reached a record-breaking speed of 45,5 km/h, to the robot Charlie
...
Read more...
Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme for energy and industrial tech startups.
Read more...
VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026
VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...
Sustainable solutions for sugar
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
News
BMG received a Special Commendation Exhibition Stand Award at the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association Congress, where it showcased an integrated turnkey drive solution designed to simplify the upgrading of ageing crushing-mill drive systems.
Read more...
Measure, Manage, Maintain: The operating model behind SA’s water resilience
Siemens South Africa
News
South Africa’s growing water crisis is putting pressure on infrastructure, municipalities and the economy. Siemens highlights how digital technologies, smarter operations and safe water reuse could help shift the country from crisis response towards a more resilient and sustainable water future.
Read more...
VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026
VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...
Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme.
Read more...
RX Africa and Messe Muenchen India join forces to strengthen business platforms in Africa
RX Africa
News
Messe Muenchen India has announced a strategic partnership with RX Africa to strengthen the scale, reach and market impact of its premier co-located trade fairs, analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa, ahead of their 2027 editions.
Read more...
John Thompson secures order for bagasse-fired boiler
News
John Thompson, a division of ACTOM, has secured an order for a 320 t/h bagasse-fired boiler for what is set to become the world’s largest greenfield sugar mill development in Indonesia.
Read more...
printer friendly version