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Instrumentation & Control News

SICK Automation moves offices in long-term commitment signal

By: Schalk Burger 12th September 2017 Specialist automation and sensor company SICK Automation Southern Africa has moved to new custom-designed premises in Lanseria Corporate Estate, which is five times larger than its previous offices. The new facility is an important prerequisite in the company’s next growth phase as it continues... →

Zest WEG Group achieves Level 2 BBBEE status

By: Mia Breytenbach 1st September 2017 Motor and controls manufacturer WEG subsidiary Zest WEG Group has taken steps to create a broader-based and more sustainable ownership foundation to ensure its compliance with the new Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes of Good Practice, which has seen the group achieve a Level 2... →

Zest WEG Group CEO Louis Meiring discusses the group’s new empowerment initiative. Video and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Advanced lighting technology boasts significant improvements

1st September 2017 Advanced lighting technology from electrical solutions provider Magnet Energy has significantly improved light levels, enhanced safety and contributed to energy savings at the Centurion Mall parkade in Pretoria. →

TRADITIONALLY COMPLEX Lighting solutions for parkades are complex projects, as most of the installation work needs to be done outside of normal business hours

Extended component and solutions range ensures management and control

By: Simone Liedtke 1st September 2017 Engineering consumables and components distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG) has extended its range of power management solutions provider Eaton’s hydraulic components to include Eaton’s advanced conveyor solutions, which are designed for safe and efficient electrical power management and control. →

DISTRIBUTION VALUE The new distribution agreement is valued at R6-million in the first year

Level measurement probe an alternative to traditional systems

By: Simone Liedtke 1st September 2017 The Level Transmitter Mining-2 (LTM-2) level measurement probe from Pretoria-based measuring instrument supplier Instek Control aims to be an alternative to traditional measurement systems, as it provides accurate level measurement in various difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible measuring... →

PRODUCT APPLICATION Level Transmitter Mining-2 probes are typically installed in flotation banks, tanks, individual flotation cells or in columns and sumps

Load banks allow for variable power factor loading

1st September 2017 The combined Asco Froment load bank (resistive/inductive) with Sigma load control and instrumentation hardware, allows for fully variable power factor loading and can test generators up to 800 kVA at 80% load, says Southern Africa Asco power switching and control components electric motor... →

FROMENT LOAD BANK Asco Froment load banks offer efficient power test solutions and also reduce the harmful effects of ‘wet stacking’

Manufacturer to improve efficiency through software and sensors

By: Simone Liedtke 1st September 2017 With industry moving towards embracing the technology advancement of Industry 4.0, manufacturing company DMG MORI aims to improve machine tools operation efficiency through remote maintenance, operation status management and accurate failure prediction for machines using networking, software and... →

DMU210P The DMU210P is available with up to 5-axis and is valued at about €1.2-million

Range of radar level transmitters extended

1st September 2017 Process instrumentation solutions supplier Krohne has added six new 24 GHz and 80 GHz transmitters to its Optiwave series of frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar level transmitters, which are aimed at liquid and solid applications in a range of industries. →

RADAR LEVEL MEASUREMENT Each device has a particular target area of application

Solutions specially designed for protection of data

1st September 2017 South Africa-based electrical and digital infrastructure product supplier Legrand Electrical’s extensive range of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems have buttons and light-emitting diode, known as LED, signalling that provide real-time control of the status of the UPS systems. →

COMPACT UPS These compact microprocessor-controlled UPS systems have an electronic automatic voltage regulator

Digitalisation must be embraced by trucking industry

25th August 2017 Digitalisation will rapidly transform the trucking industry in the near future, as it will force the industry to embrace this concept, or risk being unable to compete. This message was emphasised at this year’s fourth annual TruckX and FleetX conference and expo, which took place at the Kyalami... →

Photo by Bloomberg
AUTONOMY Autonomous vehicle technology is being tested around the world, and will force the trucking industry to adapt to technological innovations

Technology to aid fleet management

By: Nica Schreuder 25th August 2017 South Africa-based, international information technology and communications provider T-Systems says technological improvements in sensors, software and management solutions indicate that commercial vehicle owners, such as fleet management and logistics organisations using trucks and bakkies, can... →

DERESHIN PILLAY The influence of technology on fleet management is important for industry growth and consumer satisfaction

Telematics fleet management solutions guarantee increased profitability

By: Robyn Wilkinson 18th August 2017 When fleet operators are suitably equipped, they are guaranteed to see an increase in profitability as a result of improved fuel consumption, driver behaviour and equipment use while ensuring the safety of their employees and security of their vehicles, says fleet management solutions provider... →

INFORMATION AT A GLANCE The MiX Journey Management tool presents all information relating to cargo’s journey in a clear and efficient manner to facilitate quicker decision-making

Local manufacturer looks to bridge skills gap

By: Nadine James 11th August 2017 Sealing products manufacturer Klinger Mzansi has opened its training academy, which offers a learnership programme, joint integrity training as well as an introductory course on all of the company’s products. Klinger sales and marketing director Phillip Herbst notes that the academy opened on... →

KLINGER TRAINING ACADEMY The trainees have access to a fully equipped workshop, and gain both practical and theoretical knowledge

Oil and gas companies falling victim to cyberattacks

By: Schalk Burger 11th August 2017 Information technology-based cyberattacks are being used to disrupt oil and gas companies or hold them to ransom, while subversion of legitimate software allows criminals to steal from and defraud them, says global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab Critical Infrastructure Protection business... →

Smart factory systems boosting product customisation

By: Schalk Burger 11th August 2017 Smart factory systems – specifically digital information technology systems that support highly detailed, varied and variable industrial work – are integral to enabling effective customisation of products and their management across disparate supply chains, says enterprise resource planning... →

BMG to distribute Eaton’s conveyor solutions across sub-Saharan Africa

By: Mia Breytenbach 11th August 2017 Power management solutions provider Eaton has signed a distribution partnership agreement with technical solutions provider and engineering consumables and components distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG), whereby BMG will be responsible for the distribution of Eaton’s range of conveyor solutions... →

TERMS OF AGREEMENT BMG will distribute Eaton’s conveyor safety switches with all corresponding accessories to provide complete conveyor solutions

High speed cameras improve measuring ability

10th August 2017 The University of Pretoria has recently purchased four new high speed cameras that are being used for the measurements of vibration on fast moving structures. Victor Moolman tells us more. →

High speed cameras improve measuring ability

Forum to address rail maintenance and rehabilitation

4th August 2017 A delegation of international rail maintenance and rehabilitation professionals, together with an “unbeatable” line-up of thought leaders in Africa’s transport sector will be in Durban, South Africa in October to address challenges faced by the rail fraternity in Africa. →

Rail is the future of Africa’s industrialisation

4th August 2017 Rail infrastructure upgrades remain a core focus of the ongoing industrialisation of Africa, where the transportation of goods and commodities is often difficult and costly, owing to underinvestment in rail infrastructure, says multinational power and engine manufacturer and distributor Cummins. →

Creating digital representations of factories offers real-world spin-offs

By: Schalk Burger 4th August 2017 Using digital representations of factory systems in a so-called digital factory helps to reduce manufacturing costs, and serves as a testbed and a way of managing industrial information, says design and engineering software multinational Dassault Systèmes South Africa solutions consultant Jason... →

Outreach programme providing opportunities for participants

By: Simone Liedtke 28th July 2017 Engineering company Bosch’s Outreach Robotics Programme has provided participants the opportunity to compete in the 2017 World Robot Olympiad, in Costa Rica, in November this year. →

MARKUS THILL The programme aims to ensure that children from various backgrounds have an opportunity to study robotics

Education institutions struggling with connectivity

By: Simone Liedtke 28th July 2017 Amid water, electricity and basic infrastructure challenges at various education institutions, the lack of Internet connectivity has also been a challenge, states wireless connectivity firm Ruckus sub-Saharan Africa sales director Riaan Graham. →

RIAAN GRAHAM Connectivity to the Internet is essential and if it is available at a school, WiFi can be used to distribute access to the students

Training facility to improve skills deficit in artisan industry

By: Simone Liedtke 28th July 2017 Industrial rope access specialist Skyriders Access Specialists aims to bridge the rope access skills deficit in the artisan industry through offering training at its Midrand-based facility, states Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn. →

Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn gives a tour of their training facility, in Midrand. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Software-defined storage allows schools to use commodity hardware to build storage pool

By: Simone Liedtke 28th July 2017 Enterprise open-source software company SUSE has released what it calls software-defined storage which supports schools using free open-source software (FOSS), says SUSE client executive Derek Rule. →

DEREK RULE The global community of open-source software users and developers provides a constant stream of updates and improvements

No local-content verification of Transnet locomotives conducted yet, SABS confirms

By: Terence Creamer 26th July 2017 The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has confirmed with Engineering News Online that it has not conducted any verification of local content in the 1 064 locomotives being acquired by Transnet and that it also does not have an agreement with Transnet to do so. Transnet awarded the... →

Industrial cybersecurity resilience in focus as attacks increase

By: Schalk Burger 21st July 2017 Effective industrial cybersecurity protection improves the resilience of industries, defends investments in automation and control systems and becomes an asset to manage industrial systems, risks and business continuity, a range of industrial cybersecurity specialists explain. The increased... →

Industry 4.0 will affect connectivity

14th July 2017 As Industry 4.0 advances, the demands on cable and connection technology will also change, states cable connector producer the Lapp Group, predicting that the speed at which data is transferred will climb with the consistent networking of company and business processes, which is a development... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SMALLER AND FASTER Lapp Group Southern Africa states it is an enormous challenge to combine the requirements of flexibility, robustness and the highest data rates into cable solutions

Latest product range for carrying cables to be showcased

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th July 2017 At its annual expo scheduled to take place on September 14 and 15, technical solutions provider Bearing Man Group (BMG) will showcase industrial motor control manufacturer Tsubaki’s Kabelschlepp roller supporter chain (RSC) system, which is used to carry cables and suitable for cranes and long... →

THEY SEE ME ROLLING The roller support chain system’s rollers are mounted on ball bearings at the side of the carrier

Greener rotary compressor can deliver savings exceeding 20%

14th July 2017 Compressor engineering firm Lontra founder Steve Lindsey devised a more efficient, oil-free rotary compressor that offers a greener solution to traditional compression technology, able to deliver energy savings of more than 20%. His efforts gained recognition of the European Patent Office (EPO)... →

STEVE LINDSEY The founder of Lontra was nominated and shortlisted as a finalist at the 2017 European Inventor Awards

New pumps suited to packaging, food and beverage industries

14th July 2017 In May, sustainable productivity solutions provider Atlas Copco announced that it had extended its range of variable speed drive (VSD) vacuum pumps with the addition of three models offering flow rates up to 5 004 m3/h. The new GHS 3800-5400 VSD+ rotary screw pumps are particularly suited for... →

GHS VSD ROTARY SCREW PUMP The range provides significantly higher performance levels and reduced maintenance, noise and heat emissions compared to conventional oil-sealed and dry vane vacuum pumps

New variable-speed drive showcased at European expo

14th July 2017 Last month multinational industrial machinery manufacturer Voith exhibited power industry solutions at the POWER-GEN Europe 2017 conference and exhibition, and one of the main features was its new variable speed drive (VSD), the VECO-Drive, intended to enhance the efficiency of rotating... →

DRIVING FORCE The VECO-Drive increases input speed and generates a high output speed for compressors or pumps

Troubleshooting device eases, enables priority maintenance

14th July 2017 The Fluke 810 – manufactured by industrial testing equipment manufacturer Fluke – is one of the most advanced troubleshooting instruments available for vibration testing, enabling maintenance teams to rapidly collect data and diagnose and solve mechanical problems. Fluke, represented locally by... →

FLUKE 810 The Fluke 810 uses a set of advanced algorithms to produce a plain-text diagnosis of the machine with a recommended solution

Industrial IoT platform enables companies to customise solutions

By: Schalk Burger 14th July 2017 Network solutions provider Vula Telematix is inviting industrial and commercial organisations to develop fit-for-purpose industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems for their specific needs on an open IoT platform, which will help to stimulate local innovation and use of IoT, says Vula Telematix... →

Passenger rail group in final stages of deploying digital comms system

By: Schalk Burger 14th July 2017 A digital wireless communications system – GSM for railway, or GSM-R – is being deployed to improve the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) operations and run its rail passenger transport systems more efficiently, says information technology multinational Huawei Railway executive... →

Control system minimises dust escape during grab discharge

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2017 Materials handling equipment supplier BLT South Africa’s Samson travelling Eco-Hoppers have an effective dust control system that minimises the escape of dust during the grab discharge cycle. →

DUST CONTROL The grab discharge cycle includes transferring materials down the line using handling systems

Automation pivotal to steel industry’s future

By: Nica Schreuder 7th July 2017 Owing to its customers requiring cost-effective, faster and better solutions, capital equipment manufacturer First Cut MD Andrew Poole says automation coupled with innovation is pivotal to the future of companies in the local steel industry. The prospect of automation threatening the livelihood... →

Digitalisation evolution, not revolution

7th July 2017 Efficient plants, machinery and services solutions company SMS group has developed strategies to promote digitalisation in the steel industry, in light of Internet 4.0, digitalisation, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing becoming dominant themes in the industry. According to the SMS... →

DIGITAL SALES Electronic spare parts catalogue in an eService module, which would be used by sales departments as digital tools to facilitate pricing and delivery transparency

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