President's desk
June 2006
SAIMC
Well all, it has been a long road that I have travelled with the SAIMC. From being a student member when an apprentice at African Explosives and Chemical Industries as it was then known, to the president of the organisation. It all started around about the middle of the twentieth century when things were done very differently. The transistor had not yet been accepted as a reliable component in instrumentation. There have been many 'revolutionary new ideas', but guess what; the basic principles are the same!
For those of you entering this field of engineering, my advice is to become well grounded in the basic principles of measurement, and use the latest technology as purely a tool to convert physical phenomena into engineering units that can be used to evaluate or control the process that you are measuring.
The tools change, when I started, we used pneumatic signals to transmit and control (spring and wind instruments using 3 to 15 psi). This worked extremely well, and we achieved some exciting goals. Today, we use bus systems transmitting enormous amounts of information on two wires. Combine this with microprocessors and we can once again transmit and control. This too works extremely well, and again we have achieved some exciting goals. The only difference is that the equipment has got smaller and faster.
We are in an industry that changes faster than any other. Revel in the new developments; but remember the basics. If you want to stay in this exciting profession, become an expert at using new tools but be prepared for change because it will happen sooner than you can imagine. This occupation is exhilarating and challenging; enjoy the experience, get the latest tools, but do not discard the old ones. If you do not get excited about change, or fear it, then go and count something, you could earn more 1, 2, 3, 4...
Vivian MacFadyen
Vivian MacFadyen
[email protected]
Further reading:
Digitise what matters and leverage
SAIMC
SAIMC has been invited to partner with technology leaders 4Sight and NextGenOpX for a one-day industry event aimed at unlocking the full value of OT investments in the mining sector.
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Bridging the digital gap in industrial systems
SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
Industrial engineers, digital transformation leaders, and operations managers are invited to an exclusive knowledge-sharing event designed to tackle the complexities of digitising large-scale systems.
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SAIMC: From the office of the CEO: Is AI turning us into idiots?
SAIMC
SAIMC
When calculators were first introduced, there were several concerns, particularly in the educational sector. Many educators and parents feared that students would become too reliant on calculators and
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SAIMC Johannesburg branch
SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg branch recently hosted the June Technology Evening. The presentation covered HVAC systems through the lens of instrumentation, highlighting how sensor technologies form the backbone of effective monitoring and control, allowing for effective energy efficiency.
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SAIMC Durban branch
SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban Branch hosted its latest technology meeting on 4 June.The event drew a strong turnout, highlighting the keen interest in the topic ‘Understanding Level Measurement: Contact vs Non-Contact Methods’.
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SAIMC at KITE 2025
SAIMC
The Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control Engineering (SAIMC) invites you to connect with us at the KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition (KITE) from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 July 2025.
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SAIMC User Advisory Council annual summit
SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
The SAIMC User Advisory Council is proud to present the 2025 Annual Summit, formerly known as the MESA Africa Summit. The theme is ‘Mining and manufacturing in South Africa: SMART operations in a disruptive world economy’.
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SAIMC: From the office of the CEO: Recognising winners
SAIMC
SAIMC
The Africa Automation and Technology Fair proved to be another successful event – and that is before any formal figures have been released.
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SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC
SAIMC
The Durban branch of the SAIMC was pleased to welcome Vusi Sithole, managing member of Hybrid Control Corporation in Richards Bay, who presented\on the very pertinent topic of ‘Infrastructure monitoring and control for water loss management’.
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SAIMC: Sunshine, swings and smiles: Durban Golf Day hits a high note
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
SAIMC
We say it every year, and we’ll say it again: May in Durban is hard to beat; but 9 May, when the Durban Golf Day teed off at Kloof Country Club, was something else. With sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 20s, it was a fantastic day, full of fun and great energy.
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