South Africa’s automation, control, mechatronics and computer engineering community is changing fast, and the SAIMC is changing with it. Across the country, our branches are filled with passionate volunteers who care deeply about advancing our profession, but the reality is, many branches simply do not have the time, resources or capacity to arrange monthly technical evening sessions on their own. Instead of allowing this to limit member value, we decided to turn it into an opportunity. A big one.
I am excited to announce a new national initiative that will reshape how we deliver technical knowledge, strengthen branch identity, and bring our community together like never before.
Welcome to Power Hour Goes National
This is a new way of thinking about how we share expertise, build community and ensure that every SAIMC member, from Upington to Durban, from Kitwe and Ndola to Cape Town, has access to high quality, relevant and inspiring technical content every month.
How it works
For those branches struggling to organise their own events, the SAIMC NPC now hosts one national Zoom session. All branches join the same link. At the start of the meeting, each branch is placed into its own breakout room for five to ten minutes of local discussion. Branch general managers can greet their members, share updates and maintain their branch identity. Then, with a single click, everyone is brought seamlessly into the main national lecture where we present the latest technologies, trends and innovations shaping our industry.
It’s simple, it’s elegant and it works
We are doing this because our members deserve consistent, high-quality technical content regardless of where they live or how busy their local committee may be. Our volunteers deserve support rather than pressure, and our industry deserves a unified platform where ideas can be shared, questions can be asked, and knowledge can flow freely across provincial boundaries. The SAIMC remains committed to leading, rather than following.
What this means for branches
For branches, this shift removes the ongoing challenge of scrambling to secure speakers each month, eliminates cancelled technical evenings, and ensures a more consistent member experience. In its place, branches gain a reliable monthly technical session, the ability to maintain their local identity, access to a national platform that elevates everyone, and a stronger sense of belonging within a unified SAIMC.
What this means for members
Members gain access to top-tier technical content, exposure to national-level expertise, and a consistent CPD opportunity, all while feeling part of something larger and more connected than their local branch alone.
What this means for the SAIMC
For the SAIMC, this represents a confident step into the future; it reflects an organisation that is embracing technology as a subject of discussion, and also a tool for transformation. More importantly, it supports the development of a stronger, more connected and more resilient institution that better reflects the innovation and excellence of the industry it represents.
The future is collaborative
Power Hour Goes National is only the beginning. This model opens the door to new possibilities such as national panel discussions, cross branch collaboration, shared learning programmes, and a unified technical calendar that serves the entire country.
• We are not replacing branch identity, we are amplifying it
• We are not centralising control, we are centralising support
• We are not reducing branch responsibility, we are empowering branch success.
A new era for the SAIMC
As we roll out Power Hour Goes National, I invite every branch, every member and every partner to join us in this exciting new chapter. Together, we are building a stronger SAIMC that is modern, connected and ready for the future of automation, control, mechatronics, and computer engineering. The power of our community has always been in our people. Now, with this new national model, we are bringing that power together.
What about socials?
Branches are now free to arrange informal social gatherings over weekends or after hours, giving members the opportunity to participate and even bring their families. There is no pressure on attendance numbers or formal proceedings, just a relaxed environment to get to know one another and connect more naturally outside of structured meetings.
Members will receive more information shortly.
Important communication from the SAIMC
Some important news is that the POPIA act allows the SAIMC to send you invoices and once-off requests as members of the SAIMC.
Other SAIMC communication channels are:
• Mailchimp: You are subscribed to the mailing list when you register on the SAIMC website. If you have not been able to select your communication preferences, it may be because you have not yet registered on the new website. If you are already a member but have not registered on the website, select Website Registration under Website/Membership. If you previously unsubscribed from this list and would like to receive these notifications again, please contact Jane at jane.collett@saimc.co.za to be re-added to the mailing list.
• The SAIMC website: This is at https://saimc.co.za. The website has a calendar where you can see the latest activities and events. There are also links to various activities on the home page.
• LinkedIn: Jane regularly posts updates and information on LinkedIn.
• SA Instrumentation and Control magazine: This is SAIMC’s official publication partner where you will find more information on the automation industry.
Yours in automation
Johan Maartens
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | ina@saimc.co.za |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SAIMC |
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