At the last Johannesburg branch technology evening Extech Safety Systems sales director, Gary Friend, gave a presentation on intrinsic safety – a preferred protection technique for many instrumentation installations. The presentation started with an overview of the Piper Alpha disaster in the UK to highlight the importance of intrinsic safety. Then, the origins and principles of IS were examined, including hazardous area zoning and the implications for dust. Gary covered the three principles of Exi design, area classifications and levels of protection. He then examined the principles and compared the use of zener barriers versus galvanic isolators and provided insight into how loop approvals are done and cable lengths calculated. The presentation ended with a brief look at IS for Foundation Fieldbus, serial devices and Ethernet.
Gary Friend
The presentation was accredited for CPD points. The validation number is SAIMC_CPD_S_035.
Forthcoming events
* August – Ster Kinekor on cinema automation.
* September – Endress+Hauser on energy management.
Digitise what matters and leverage
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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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In this day and age, we all have access to AI tools. A lot of people claim that if you are not using AI tools in your daily job today you are falling behind. But would it be ethical to use AI tools to write an article per day and sign my name to it?
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The Durban branch of the SAIMC held its July technology meeting at the familiar Premier Splendid Hotel, drawing a strong turnout of industry professionals.
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The SAIMC Johannesburg branch recently hosted the July Technology Evening at the Bryanston Sports Club.
Read more...Digitise what matters and leverage
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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.
Read more...Bridging the digital gap in industrial systems SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
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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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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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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’.
Read more...SAIMC at KITE 2025
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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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