Process Automation and Information Technology 2009 looks once again set to be the industry’s product and services platform of the year. For this issue SAI&C decided to invite exhibitors to provide us with a preview of the items they will be showcasing at Nasrec from 19–21 May.
In the foreword of the event brochure, Hanli Kritzinger, MD from organisers élancommunications, wrote: “I realised while launching, planning and organising the Process Expo 2009 in the midst of a challenging economic situation, when marketing expenditure and more specifically exhibition costs are often some of the first to leave the building, exactly how determined the vendors and suppliers to the Control and Instrumentation industry were to make things happen.”
This has certainly been reflected in the enthusiastic response we received to our invitation. So much so in fact that due to space constraints I had to keep in mind the original guidelines when editing this feature. Many thanks to everyone who sent submissions, and to our readers, I hope you find the previews useful insight as to what will be on offer at the Expo, and how you plan to spend your time there.
This issue
Cover advertisers, Endress+Hauser, recently opened the fourth Dr. Georg Endress training facility at the University of Johannesburg. It is the latest advance in a dynamic partnership between public institutions and business designed to help address the skills shortage in the industry.
The seeds for the centre’s establishment were sowed in 2006, when the UJ identified the critical need to train more instrumentation technicians and technologists. The university subsequently approached Endress+Hauser to build a centre of excellence.
UJ’s invitation to E+H followed the latter’s successful establishment of three similar training facilities at the Tshwane South College, the Thekwini College and the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology.
In this month’s cover story the company reflects on its commitment to training through such facilities, complemented by additional initiatives like in-house training for internal and external employees and the popular bi-annual Interkama training tour.
The paper and pulp industries have been severely affected by the global economic downturn. This is reflected locally by the dramatic collapse of Sappi’s share price – currently down about 80% year on year – due to gloomy profit expectations.
Little wonder then that the industry is seeking the help of automation companies like Honeywell to implement company-wide strategy’s that permit seamless growth, diversification and integration.
Finnish-based JoutCon is one: the featured article describes how the organisation used Honeywell’s OptiVision Tools to integrate corporate level activities and manufacturing at the mill in its drive to improve production efficiency.
Jim Pinto offers another column of strategic advice to companies looking for ways to re-evaluate fundamental value propositions and the importance of a positive mindset in these troubled times. He also provides some interesting futuristic insight into the evolution of cloud computing and the emergence of software as a service.
Features editor, Andrew Ashton, is noticeably absent this month due to a conflict of deadlines with sister magazine, Motion Control, of which he is the editor.
See you at the Process Expo.
Steven Meyer Editor:
SA Instrumentation & Control
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