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Instrumentation and Control

Image processing system upgraded

By: Nadine James 26th August 2016 Multinational electronics company Omron earlier this year launched the upgraded Vision FH high-speed camera controller with enhanced optical character recognition (OCR) to allow for high-speed production line inspection without compromising on quality. Omron South Africa Vision field application... →

Company introduces thermal imaging service

26th August 2016 Industrial solutions provider Magnet Group’s newly established division – Magnet Electrical Projects (MEP) – offers a critical thermal imaging service to all industries in the electrical and instrumentation sectors, in addition to its solutions for hazardous environments. “Although the Magnet... →

HEAT SEEKING Magnet’s thermal imaging service has been designed to reduce plant breakdowns and improve safety in the workplace

Specialists look to expand freightrelated services

By: Nadine James 26th August 2016 Automation specialist Abacus Automation intends to further business relations with State-owned freight utility Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), and increase its market share in port and harbour services through the implementation and optimisation of its crane automation offering. The company –... →

SMOOTH PORT OPERATION Abacus supplied the automation solution for two 40 t Terex rail mounted gantry cranes that were supplied to Pier 2 of the Durban port

Endress+Hauser

By: Zandile Mavuso 26th August 2016 Being an industrial process measurements products supplier and automation solutions and services provider, Endress + Hauser offers comprehensive process solutions for flow, level, pressure, analysis, temperature, recording and digital communication across seven industries. →

Collective factors impact on state of I&C industry

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th March 2016 Micro and macroeconomic factors, and the unavailability of local skills in South Africa are key issues that contribute to the stifling of progress in various sectors within the instrumentation and control (I&C) industry, says the Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Measurement and Control... →

ORATILE SEMATLE The SAIMC facilitates continuing professional development accreditations and has collaborated with international bodies to provide training and development expertise in the I&C industry

GSM device suitable for remote monitoring

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th March 2016 Wear control company, Filter Focus, indicates that there are no competitors that implement the same logic control as the i-Commander— a global system for monitoring, automating and reporting events at remote sites, using mobile communication (GSM) — owing to its completely unique software, says... →

I-COMMANDER The i-Commander is a control and telemetry device configured to perform site specific functions and enables the client to remotely monitor and manage the operation

MCBs provide protection and safety solutions

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th March 2016 Electrical and digital building infrastructures company Legrand’s portfolio of miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) offers solutions for efficient protection, enhanced safety and continuity of service in commercial, industrial and domestic applications. New to the company’s MCBs is the TX³ series,... →

LEGRAND TX3 The TX³ series, designed for safe installation and maximum protection of people and property in modern commercial and residential installations

Exchange rate challenges impact on I&C sector

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th March 2016 The biggest challenge facing the instrumentation and control (I&C) sector, both in South Africa and on the continent, is the impact of the deteriorating rand to dollar exchange rate, indicates Actum Group director Kevin Klaff. “Owing to the deterioration in the exchange rate, the biggest... →

GL840 GRAPHTEC DATA LOGGER The data logger contains a highly-isolated input mechanism to ensure that signals are not corrupted by noise from other channels

APC technology cost efficient for industries

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th March 2016 Using advanced process control (APC) technology ensures relatively low costs for various industry applications, says specialists in process and operations management solutions BluESP. As an instrumentation and control technology, APC optimises the performance of process units to improve... →

Shell helps develop advanced control systems software

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 Japanese engineering and software company Yokogawa and international oil company Shell have jointly developed a software suite that acts as a platform for advanced control and estimation, which accelerates and simplifies the process of designing, deploying and maintaining advanced process control... →

Industrial switch helps manufacturers address network requirements

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 Industrial automation specialist company Rockwell Automation introduced its new Allen Bradley MobileView tethered operator interface – a mobile terminal that enables plant and industrial personnel to take a machine’s human-machine interface (HMI) with them to make real-time adjustments to... →

NETWORK COMPONENT The Stratix 5400 switch offers up to 20 gigabit ports in a single switch

Monitoring solution mitigates worker fatigue

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 More than a dozen companies worldwide are using heavy machinery and engine manufacturer and designer Caterpillar’s 24/7 equipment operator monitoring service, which provides customers with the ability to see, mitigate and manage operator distraction or fatigue, says Caterpillar safety solutions... →

PREPARED When Caterpillar’s monitoring centre is alerted, the company’s analysts follow a custom, preset safety procedure

Petrochemicals partnership develops wireless gas detector

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 Japanese engineering and software company Yokogawa and Norwegian wireless optical gas-detector developer GasSecure in July announced the delivery of the world’s first SIL2-certified wireless gas detection system for use at a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility, in Northern Europe. →

WIRELESS MANAGEMENT STATION

Mobile HMI enables real-time changes to out-of-view applications

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 Industrial automation specialist company Rockwell Automation introduced its new Allen Bradley MobileView tethered operator interface – a mobile terminal that enables plant and industrial personnel to take a machine’s human-machine interface (HMI) with them to make real-time adjustments to... →

OUT-OF-VIEW APPLICATION The MobileView uses a 10" display with a resistive touch screen

Advanced vision sensors check catalytic converters

By: Dylan Stewart 28th August 2015 Peter Jones Electronic Equipment, a division of the Actum group recently supplied two IV series vision sensors to the Port Elizabeth-based Mobile Emissions Catalyst division of Germany-based chemicals company BASF, says Actum technical sales manager Rob Howes, who notes that visual inspection... →

Instrumentation company remains strong, despite industry challenges

By: Pimani Baloyi 13th March 2015 Since engineered solutions provider ELB Engineering Services (ELB) acquired local electrical and instrumentation (E&I) contractor B&W Instrumentation and Electrical (B&W) in April last year, B&W has reported a significant turnaround and continues to register growth, despite the rest of the E&I... →

Company highlights benefits of thermography for maintenance

By: Pimani Baloyi 13th March 2015 South African companies and government entities need to realise the benefits of applying thermographic imaging to maintenance procedures, says process control equipment solutions provider Comtest thermography products specialist Jeanri Mellanby. Mellanby is Southern Africa’s first female Snell... →

Increased demand for electrical houses, MCCs and VSDs

13th March 2015 Motor control centre (MCC), distribution board, control desk, PLC and instrumentation enclosure, portable and containerised substation manufacturer Shaw Controls, a member of Zest WEG Group, has registered a significant increase in the demand for electrical houses (E-Houses), fully withdrawable... →

BEST SERVICES Shaw Controls’ electrical workshop is used for the production of main and sub distribution boards

Complete sensor solution added to product offering

By: Pimani Baloyi 13th March 2015 South Africa-based process control instrumentation manufacturer and distributor Instrotech now sells UK-based sensor solutions manufacturer Monitran’s MTN/5000, which Monitran introduced to the market in September last year. “Recently, Monitran started focusing on providing not only single... →

Company launches enhanced integrated production control system

By: Pimani Baloyi 13th March 2015 Process control and field instrumentation systems, solutions and services provider Yokogawa Electric Corporation, as part of its aim to optimise clients’ plant productivity, this month launched the Centum Vigilant Plant (VP) Release 6 version 01 (R6.01) – an enhanced version of the company’s... →

Company launches new configuration suite, improves cybersecurity

13th March 2015 Processing technologies and services provider Emerson Process Management in December introduced the world’s first remote terminal unit (RTU) and highway addressable remote transducer (HART) configuration suite – the OpenEnterprise Field Tools software suite – which enables local and remote... →

OPEN ENTERPRISE FIELD TOOLS The software promotes personnel safety by eliminating unnecessary trips to the field

Sensing technology supplier develops into high-level service provider

13th March 2015 Johannesburg-based sensing technology supplier Countapulse Controls has developed from being a supplier of “technologically superior” sensing and monitoring devices to a solutions provider that offers advanced technology packages incorporating high-level support. These services include assisting... →

R5m project for snack producer under way

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 Engineering and technological products distributor BEP Bestobell South Africa is installing eight NDC 710e series moisture gauge systems at a local snack manufacturer’s facilities in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The R5-million project started in November 2013 and three units had been installed as... →

GAUGING QUALITY Several food and snacks companies use the NDC 710e series moisture gauge system

Tertiary curricula not conducive to growth in I&C skills

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 There is no specific qualification for instrumentation and control (I&C) in South Africa at the Bachelor of Science level and, as a result, there is insufficient scope for specialisation, which contributes to the existing shortage of skills, says South African measurement and control industry... →

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE The SAIMC is engaging with South African universities to ensure that students are being taught the required practical skills sets

Restructuring places greater emphasis on Africa

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 Monitoring and control systems provider Yokogawa has restructured its operations to provide greater support for the company’s Africa-based operations over the past year, Yokogawa South Africa and Yokogawa Africa Anglophone Region (AAR) MD Johan Louw tells Engineering News. “We moved from a... →

ENGINEERING INTERNS Yokogawa South Africa has been running a one-year internship programme for electrical (instrumentation) engineer graduates since 2009

Software system simplifies plant management

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 Industrial software and real-time operations management solutions company Wonderware introduced its Situational Awareness library for the InTouch SCADA/HMI software program in March. The use of this library makes plant operators more aware of their environment by providing real-time status... →

SIMPLIFYING SYSTEM MANAGEMENT The Wonderware Corporate Energy Management functionalities include recording consumption and demand for a range of energy types

Company appointed as Japanese product distributor in SA

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 Tokyo-based temperature and humidity-control speciality products designer and manufacturer Shimaden appointed local industrial instrumentation and process control supplier Indecon Instrumentation as its South African product distributor in May. Indecon Instrumentation managing member Bennie de... →

FP23 PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER Shimaden products are predominantly used for high-accuracy temperature control and profiling

New sensor range positively received by local market

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 Since local sensor solutions company Countapulse Controls introduced the Leuze 18B series range of sensors to the local market in the last quarter of 2013, sales of the product have been favourable, Countapulse Controls MD Gerry Bryant tells Engineering News. He says the high-performance sensors... →

LEUZE 18B SENSORS The sensors offer smaller dimensions in a more robust housing

SA Gauge

29th August 2014 SA Gauge is a manufacturer and supplier of pressure and temperature measurement instrumentation, with branches in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and Kempton Park, Gauteng. The company, which recently celebrated its twenty-second year of designing and manufacturing pressure and temperature gauges for... →

Society seeks I&C recognition by end of 2015

By: Ilan Solomons 29th August 2014 South African measurement and control industry development promotion body the SAIMC aims to get the instrumentation and control (I&C) sector acknowledged as an engineering discipline by the end of 2015. SAIMC president Vinesh Maharaj tells Engineering News that the society is lobbying its cause... →

SAIMC president Vinesh Maharaj discusses the state of the local instrumentation and control sector.

Company to install multimillion-rand control and instrumentation system

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th March 2014 Consulting and environment engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV) will design and install a control and instrumentation system, estimated at R35-million, at the 149-million-litre Tshele Hills oil storage facility in Kgatleng, Botswana, this year. “RHDHV will start detail design of the... →

GANSBAAI WASTEWATER TREATMENT Royal HaskoningDHV aims to have the Nereda system installed at wastewater treatment plants in the country to enhance efficient plant operation

Information software new trend for local industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th March 2014 Industrial Software and real-time operations management solutions company Wonderware will launch its new situational awareness graphics software and alarm management software at its X-Change User Conference for Industrial Automation and Information Software, in KwaZulu-Natal, next month. The... →

NEW METHOD The new situational awareness software by Wonderware provides new methods for managing manufacturing and operating plants

New generation digital time switches for ideal control

14th March 2014 France-based electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand has extended its range of time switches with the launch of a new generation of digital time switches for industrial, commercial and domestic environments. This range was launched at the end of 2013 and is designed for... →

TIME CONTROL Electrical specialist Legrand’s new generation of digital time switches is suited for air-conditioning systems, thermostats and pressure sensors

SA’s first accumulator testing solution developed

14th March 2014 Automation distributor Tectra Automation has developed South Africa’s first solution for the pressure testing of hydraulic accumulators for recertification processes required by law. Tectra Automation, which is a member of the drive and control company Hytec Group, was recently approached by... →

TESTING SOLUTION The accumulator testing solution developed by automation distributor Tectra Automation can accommodate 1 ℓ to 150 ℓ accumulators

Cable vital for communication systems

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th March 2014 Germany-based cable manufacturing specialist Helukabel has introduced a new variable-frequency drive (VFD) power cable to its range of Topflex cables that can be used in the industrial sector, as well as in motor and control applications. The Topflex 620 VFD cable was launched in Chicago, in the... →

TOP APPLICATION The Helukabel Topflex cables can be used in any industrial applications, such as measurement and control

All-in-one thermostat solution brought to market

14th March 2014 Global energy management specialist Schneider Electric last month introduced a new series of room controllers, which provides a solution that integrates a thermostat/temperature sensor and programmable room controller in a single unit. “The SE8000 series room controllers are designed with a... →

ROOM CONTROL The new SE8000 series of room controllers can enhance operational efficiency

Company stays abreast of new developments

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th March 2014 As an instrumentation and electrical construction company, B&W Instrumentation and Electrical marketing manager Ken Nel says the company is very training-orientated with regard to new technological developments in its industry. “We continuously train employees to keep up to date with the current... →

Instrumentation firm broadens product range

14th March 2014 Electrical equipment and industrial instrumentation supply and implementation company Magnet has extended its range to include energy management specialist Schneider Electric’s new Accutech self-powered wireless instrumentation system. The Accutech range of instruments, which is designed for... →

ACCURATE TECHNOLOGY The new Accutech self-powered wireless instrumentation system is designed to reduce installation costs

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