R2,1 m project for Associated Systems
January 2005
News
Infrastructure
Johannesburg systems integrator specialist, Associated Systems, is hot commissioning the electrical and instrumentation control for the vacuum furnace at Avalloy's plant near Pelindaba. The design and installation contract is worth R1,2 m, representing another major project undertaken by this skilled nine-year-old company.
Avalloy is part of the African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) mining group and, when fully on-stream, will be producing 4 kilotonnes of a variety of high performance superalloys per annum. The mining house has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to supply alloys in cast stick form to the aerospace division. Nickel-based superalloys are ideally suited for jet engines as they retain strength under high-temperature operation.
The furnace software program, for the electrical and instrumentation control system, was written by Associated Systems for a Siemens S7400 PLC on an ASI network backbone consisting of 3000 I/O. As a recognised Siemens integrator, Associated Systems is familiar with ASI systems used on several other projects. All 41 motors and variable speed drives are driven by Siemens switchgear on a Profibus network.
For more information contact José Permuy, Associated Systems, 011 477 2572.
Further reading:
Drone flies in and swaps its own battery in 25 seconds
Editor's Choice News & Events Infrastructure Products & Solutions
Local enterprise-class drone consultants can now supply SA organisations that need remote aerial operations with in-house drone and dock solutions that enable 25-second automated battery swapping.
Read more...
Finding footing with footage
Axis Communications SA
Surveillance Infrastructure
Storage is a strategic consideration for critical infrastructure security, and operators must consider how to meet their storage requirements without getting stuck in a quagmire of constantly having to buy more capacity.
Read more...
Connecting security operations from gate to control room
Integrated Solutions Infrastructure
Most private security companies already have plenty of technology in place. The problem is that those systems often produce separate records, making it harder to piece together what happened across a shift or incident.
Read more...
Helping mines get results from water improvements
News
South African mines operate under constrained, water-scarce conditions where every investment must be justified. Xylem’s Chetan Mistry explains how the right water technology partner helps mines prioritise high-value water systems across the mining lifecycle.
Read more...
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...