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Instrumentation & Control News

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... →

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... →

Hansford Sensors opens new office in South Africa

By: Ilan Solomons 26th February 2016 UK-based industrial accelerometers manufacturer Hansford has opened a new office and customer support centre in South Africa. The company announced on Friday that the centre would form part of a group of wholly or partly owned subsidiaries in Poland, Australia, Germany and India, as well as a... →

Brett Hutton

Aveng’s work on tugboat contract progressing well

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 26th February 2016 Construction and engineering group Aveng Grinaker-LTA says its mechanical and electrical contracts division is making good progress on the electrical installation of nine harbour tugs, with work having started on the second and third tugs. The first tug, the 31-m-long Mvezo, was launched in... →

IoT implementations indicate tipping point – Dell

By: Schalk Burger 19th February 2016 Increasing industrial and large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) implementations worldwide are a result of more affordable cost structures, better machine learning, machine-to-machine communication, wireless communications and cloud systems that serve as platforms, says Dell South Africa sales and... →

ABB reaches contract milestone at Kusile

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 5th February 2016 Automation company ABB is on schedule to complete automation for the first 800 MW generating unit at State-owned enterprise Eskom’s Kusile power station, in Mpumalanga. “With record timing as a key deliverable of such an intrinsically complex project, there is excellent cooperation between the... →

New lightweight humidity verification system saves space

5th February 2016 High-precision sensing company Michell Instruments’ lightweight humidity verification system for humidity probes saves space as it is designed with portability in mind. Michell Instruments says the HygroCal100, with a battery life of up to eight hours, weighs 3.2 kg, making it less than 25% of... →

LIGHTWEIGHT The HygroCal100 weighs 3.2 kg, making it less than 25% of the weight of its closest competitor

Surge and lightning protection specialist launches academy

By: David Oliveira 11th December 2015 Lightning and surge protection, and safety equipment supplier Dehn Africa launched its Dehncademy, in Johannesburg, last month to transfer its knowledge and experience to customers across Africa. This will help curb the effects of lightning strikes, and ensure that African engineers and... →

HANO OELOFSE Our vision is to equip the African people with knowledge, experience and tools to protect their lives and investments

Engineering consultancy introduces integrated earthing for wind energy facilities

27th November 2015 Engineering consulting firm Hatch Goba has introduced a new approach to integrated earthing for wind energy facilities, using insulated cables to connect the individual wind turbine groundmats to the substation groundmat, taking the equivalent circuit of the entire wind energy facility (WEF) into... →

Photo by Bloomberg
INTEGRATED EARTHING Hatch Goba has researched new groundmat designs for grid integration at wind energy facilities

Rise in truck hijackings driving telematics industry growth

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th November 2015 The increasing number of truck hijackings in South Africa has resulted in its telematics market maturing at a rapid pace. Telematics technologies ensure full visibility of fleet vehicles at any time to allow for the early detection of potential theft and are, therefore, one of the biggest... →

Photo by Duane Daws
EMPOWERED USE Telematics technologies ensure full visibility of fleet vehicles at any time to allow for the early detection of potential theft or hijacking, thereby enhancing security

Internet of Things to lead to new ways of working, business models

By: Schalk Burger 13th November 2015 Barriers to entering many industries and professions are rapidly changing and decreasing, as devices connected to and pay-per-use services over the Internet provide lower-cost access for start-ups and individuals, says T-Systems South Africa Intervate Sharepoint division head Peter Reid.... →

Bearing company trials new product on railway vehicles

6th November 2015 Bearing company SKF’s intelligent bearing technology is being deployed on a railway vehicle in a new project to monitor axle bearings wirelessly. →

INTELLIGENT BEARING SKF’s intelligent bearing integrates a self-powered sensor and wireless device within a conventional bearing envelope

Locomotive autopilot achieves 100-million miles

6th November 2015 Multinational conglomerate and locomotive manufacturer General Electric (GE) Transportation announced last month that its locomotive auto-pilot control system Trip Optimizer has clocked 100-million auto-pilot miles in locomotives equipped with the software. →

Security company introduces electronic shelf hook to deter shoplifters

By: Nadine James 30th October 2015 Loss prevention specialist Lodge Security has acquired the distribution rights for a smart shelf hook for retail security. The shelf hook detects and analyses unusual product movements, setting off an acoustic and optical light-emitting diode alarm, enabling staff to intervene and address the... →

SMART HOOK Lodge Security's electronic shelf hook notes the number of products removed within a specific time period

Machine tools trade exhibition returns

By: Nadine James 16th October 2015 Exhibition organiser Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery last month announced the official launch of Machine Tools Africa 2017, an upcoming trade conference and exhibition that is expected to be the biggest Africa-based trade expo of its kind. The exhibition will be held at the Johannesburg Expo... →

MAKING A COMEBACK The largest African trade exhibition of its kind will take place in May 2017

Vodacom Business aims to leverage fast network for growth

By: Schalk Burger 2nd October 2015 Telecommunications division Vodacom Business will leverage the group’s fast and high-quality network – a result of continuous investment in it – to grow its share of revenue contribution to the group from 17.9% to 30% within three years, says Vodacom Business Chief Officer Vuyani Jarana. Vodacom... →

VUYANI JARANA Vodacom Business has made significant investments in last-mile fibre connections to provide high-speed fibre-based services for businesses

Auto production needs to be streamlined, says control specialist

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 As the timeframe needed to produce automotive vehicles is becoming increasingly shorter and the process significantly more efficient, the design and implementation of automotive components and assembly production equipment must also be completed in shorter timeframes, says motion-control... →

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... →

Mechatronics laboratory enables pupils to explore industrial systems

By: Schalk Burger 28th August 2015 The Mechatronics laboratory, or MecLab, at science centre Sci-Bono, in Newtown, Johannesburg, will enable school pupils to build, test and operate industrial handling and automation systems, says Sci-Bono CEO David Kramer. “A key problem that educators and industries face worldwide is that... →

MECHATRONIC MANUFACTURING Pupils can explore and trial picking, sorting and handling systems, as well as the integration of these subsystems to create a manufacturing circuit

Centre to test and prove industrial systems before installation

By: Schalk Burger 21st August 2015 The applications centre at multinational industrial automation company Festo’s Isando offices, in Ekurhuleni, will test and prove concepts and systems for clients to ensure that the systems deliver the intended value once installed, says Festo South Africa MD Brett Wallace. The centre will... →

Photo by Duane Daws
BRETT WALLACE Festo customers can physically test any electric drive applications in a controlled environment

Zest WEG receives competition nod for TSS Engineering acquisition

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 22nd July 2015 The Competition Commission has approved electrical and instrumentation solutions provider Zest WEG’s proposed acquisition of automation company TSS Engineering, TSS Transformers and Intertest, without conditions. Post-merger, Zest WEG would have sole control over the companies. Zest WEG... →

Signal-processing technique set for commercial testing

By: Mia Breytenbach 17th July 2015 Having developed a new signal-processing technique for the vibration monitoring and testing of turbomachinery, the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Centre for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM) research facility aims to create industry partnerships to develop this technique to maturity and... →

Centre for Asset Integrity Management director Professor Stephan Heyns discusses the importance of the research conducted at the centre.

Ford improves automation processes at assembly plant

By: David Oliveira 15th June 2015 Automotive manufacturer Ford’s Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, has improved the automation of the Ford Ranger production line, following the installation of a conveyor belt and wax system, as well as further improvements to the underbody system of the production line, which were all... →

Ford Manage the Change team manager Victoria Machete tells Engineering News about the automation systems at the company’s Silverton plant,

Motion-control specialist intensifies focus on linear motion solutions

By: Mia Breytenbach 12th June 2015 Motion-control solutions specialist DC Auto-Motion aims to increase local market awareness for the Japan-based THK linear-motion (LM) product range this year, emphasising the range’s suitability in welding and cutting machine applications. DC Auto-Motion started representing THK in 2012 and was... →

SEALING SOLUTION The LM block guide rail systems with the laminated contact scraper (laCS) system and sealing arrangement prevent potential seizures and failure

Company helps recommission fire damaged cheese factory

By: David Oliveira 12th June 2015 Factory automation services provider Automation Works last month successfully completed the installation and recommissioning of equipment and electrical wiring at Western Cape dairy factory Ladismith Cheese. Automation Works owner Wynand Kotze tells Engineering News that a significant portion of... →

QUICK RESPONSE Fire fighters from Eden district municipality combat the fire that broke out in March at Ladismith Cheese

Energy solutions company to launch Web-based boiler monitoring system

By: Donna Slater 5th June 2015 Energy solutions company Energy Partners is in the final stages of developing a real-time Web-based boiler monitoring system, which will monitor and report on various operational parameters of a boiler or a set of boilers. →

BOILER MAINTENANCE Energy Partners operates an outsourcing boiler operation business focusing on servicing coal-fired boilers in the process-steam industry

Stainless steel motors offer hygienic solution

29th May 2015 Stainless steel air motors are a good option for the food and beverage industry, which has to focus on hygiene when implementing automated production processes, says automation and air-motor company Deprag. →

ADVANCED LINE The robust, sealed design of this motor line's external parts in noncorrosive stainless steel means that the vane motors are predestined for use in the food industry

Communications group reports efficiency spin-offs from sustainability thrust

By: Schalk Burger 22nd May 2015 Communications technology firm Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa head Fredrik Jejdling says the company’s commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility has been integrated into all facets of its operations, which has provided it with sustainable revenue generation and market prospects. This... →

FREDRIK JEJDLING Sustainability becomes an important part of a business’ decision-making process

Coping with Internet of Things data volumes

By: Schalk Burger 15th May 2015 A key way through which companies will be able to cope with the increasing volumes of data from the Internet of Things (IoT) devices is to use software-defined application services (SDAS) to ensure that their networks are scalable, reliable and secure, says networking company F5 Networks senior... →

MARTIN WALSHAW The Internet of Things is not about ‘things’ at all, but about the data, applications and services that it enables

Industry 4.0 requires ‘factories of learning’

By: Schalk Burger 1st May 2015 The expected changes influencing manufacturing and industry over the next twenty-five years, including digitisation, hyper-connectivity, automation and integration, will require that many factories become centres of learning, says German industrial systems education and training subsidiary Festo... →

RUSSELL SCHWULST South African industry will have to maintain its pace with changes to remain competitive in the ever-globalising world

High-temperature gas flowmeter launched

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th April 2015 Industrial process instrumentation manufacturer and solutions provider Krohne this year launched its new Optisonic 8300 ultrasonic flowmeter for high-temperature gas and steam onto the global market. The new Optisonic 8300 ultrasonic flowmeter is a two-beam ultrasonic flowmeter for high flow... →

OPTISONIC 8300A two-beam ultrasonic flowmeter for high flow rates of superheated steam

Increased interest in laser gas analysis, says engineering specialist

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th April 2015 Specialised engineering company Rand Technical Services (RTS) noticed an increased market interest for laser gas analysis in the last quarter of 2014, with the beginning of 2015 reflecting ongoing interest from potential clients, including the petrochemical and mining sectors. RTS became the... →

GAS DETECTION GROWS Neo Monitors' laser gas monitoring systems provide reliable measurement of the concentration and control of a single gas among other gases

Automation control specialist lands third oil and gas contract

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th April 2015 Automation control specialist Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS), which serves industrial process manufacturers worldwide, announced in March that it had been selected by oil and gas explorer and producer Hoang Long Joint Operating Company (HLJOC) to handle critical project management and... →

SAFETY CONTROL SOLUTIONSThe C300 process controller is used to tap oil and gas reserves in Vietnam

Process automation specialist improves flow-measurement solution

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th April 2015 Instrumentation and process automation specialist Endress+Hauser is developing a new-generation change to its Proline flow-measurement solution platform. “The launch started three years ago and will cotinue for the next two years,” says Endress+Hauser product manager Frans van den Berg. Proline... →

PROMAG 53H STAINLESS STEEL Endress+Hauser develop a new-generation change to its Proline flow-measurement solution platform

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