At the latest Johannesburg branch Technology Evening, Ralph Hauselmann from Buhler shared his views on the future of automation.
Ralph Hauselmann receives the SAIMC presenters’ certificate from Alvin Seitz
Historically, the PLC was designed to replace relay-logic targeting the digital control environment while the DCS targeted the analogue control environment. Over time these technologies converged and took on attributes of each other; both can now execute analogue and digital control and have settled into their respective markets dictated primarily by the client.
Schneider award: Debbie Scott looks on while Johan Grobler congratulates Tjego Thejane from the University of Pretoria on receiving the Schneider Electric /SAIMC award for best student in instrumentation and control
According to Ralf, future growth will not come from these technologies, but from decentralised embedded controls. Industrial automation will lean towards nanotechnology and with nanotech wireless sensors (microscopic, low-power, relatively low-cost, multifunction sensors), which will measure almost everything. Coupled with the power and flexibility of the Internet, machine to machine networking and programming with complex adaptive controls and with multiprocessing systems will be achieved.
The presentation ended with a demonstration that illustrated the subject matter.
SAIMC Zambia SAIMC
SAIMC News
SAIMC Zambia marked its 21st anniversary with the annual SAIMC Banquet, held on 29 November 2025 at Mukwa Lodge in Kitwe, Zambia.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban Branch closed off its 2025 technology meetings with an exceptionally well-attended session on selecting and applying signal transducers.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban year-end dinner SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban branch hosted its much-anticipated annual year-end dinner at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club on 22 November 2025. Durban’s summer weather provided the perfect backdrop for a warm, ...
Read more...Durban branch
SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg Branch technical evening was hosted by Proconics Advanced Solutions. The topic of the session was ‘Turning Big 3D Data into Actionable Engineering Insights – Challenges and Smart Solutions’.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council Annual Summit 2025 SAIMC
SAIMC
October 2025 marked a pivotal moment for the South African automation and manufacturing community as the SAIMC User Advisory Council hosted its first annual summit under the SAIMC banner.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg
SAIMC
The Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMC hosted a successful Technology Evening on 10 September. The event was well attended and generously sponsored by Phoenix Contact.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version