This year, I challenge you to try something that you are truly passionate about. In 2019 I took the plunge and bought an entry level 3D printer. It changed my life completely. I am now only limited by my imagination as to what I can produce on it. It also sparked a higher level of creativity and fun within our home, as we can now produce customised artefacts.
People still ask me what I do with it, and how I justified buying it? Well, I saved money every month while looking at my options and waited for the best deal I could find. The first thing I printed was the default print, went through the learning curve, and figured out how it all works.
Then the next thing I printed was for my four-year-old niece, who saw the printer for the first time. Nobody told her how it works. She just heard it could print anything, and she immediately asked me if it could make her a pink puppy. From there, there were no limits on customised things I could print.
I hope this year you can find something for yourself, be it a committee where you serve to change the specifications in our industry, or mentoring youth and assisting them with ECSA registration. Or how about buying an Arduino and building stuff with your children? Be brilliant and find your passion. Take the plunge. Do things you know in your heart you should be doing, but never have the time for.
Opportunities within the SAIMC
There are always opportunities to get involved within the SAIMC. This year, you will see our structure change and the transition is aimed to ensure that the SAIMC is the ultimate guiding voice in industry, and also to provide opportunities to be part of a life changing technical community committed to excellence. I invite you to get involved.
The SAIMC has eight branches across South Africa. Please attend one of the AGMs and let your voice be heard as a member on who the leadership for your branch should be. Branch leadership is an entry point for individuals who want to be on council, and we welcome fresh ideas.
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO SAIMC
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The INSPIRE Conference 2026 brought industry and academia together to explore advances in automation, AI, mechatronics and engineering. It also marked a new direction for the SAIMC as it works to build future-ready engineering talent and strengthen South Africa’s automation industry.
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SAIMC Durban members went behind the scenes at the ATNS facility at King Shaka International Airport. The visit offered a fascinating look at the sophisticated technology and highly trained people keeping South Africa’s skies safe.
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At the SAIMC Durban branch September 2026 technology meeting, Werner Das of SICK explored how deep learning is moving industrial machine vision beyond rule-based systems into practical, everyday quality control on the factory floor.
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The recognition of mechatronics and computer engineering has created both an opportunity and a responsibility. Recognition means little without participation, professional registration without professional conduct, and technical knowledge without the mentorship, implementation and measurable value that industry needs.
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Hendrik Spies of SICK Automation Southern Africa presented at the SAIMC Johannesburg Technology Evening on 12 August 2026, covering the digital journey from condition monitoring to predictive maintenance.
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The SAIMC Durban branch hosted S’yabonga Langa, systems performance engineer at eThekwini Electricity, who presented on applying substation automation to improve operational efficiency and service quality in modern power distribution networks.
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The inaugural SAIMC INSPIRE Conference will bring together the industrial automation, robotics and academic communities for two days of presentations, panel discussions and networking, and will explore developments in smart manufacturing, mining, robotics
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