Electricity + Control April 2018

New Concepts for High Tech Hazardous Areas (SAFA) 23 – 24 May 2018 Emperors Palace, Johannesburg Enquiries: Gary Friend. Email gary@extech.co.za A-OSH EXPO/Securex South Africa 2018 22 to 24 May 2018 Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand Africa’s leading occupational health and safety (OHS) trade exhibition. Enquiries: Email info@aosh.co.za Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg Manufacturing Indaba is the leading manu- facturing event in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the annual Manufacturing Indaba and its provincial roadshows is to bring together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to explore opportunities and grow their manufacturing operations. Enquiries: Email thembisa@siyenzaevents.co.za NOT TO BE MISSED Manufacturing Indaba 2018 19 – 20 June 2018 POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa 17 – 19 July 2018 Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg A forum that brings together international business leaders and technical experts com- mitted to powering up a continent. Enquiries: Visit www. powergenafrica.com/2018/html

In this month’s Write @ the Back, Siemens’ Keshin Govender sees: ‘TheWorld in Grey’

T here used to be a relatively simple division in the workforce - blue collar workers performed man- ual labour, often unskilled and paid weekly wages. White collar workers were more skilled, in offices earning monthly salaries. Combining elements of traditional blue and white collar tasks and set to shift the balance of the labour force as modernisation changes the future of manufacturing … are the Grey collar workers, the workforce of economic growth. In South Africa advanced manufacturing is recognised as vital for a balanced, sustainable econ- omy that creates employment and boosts prosperity. South Africa's investment in a modern man- ufacturing economy will be followed by jobs, skills development and growth that lead to further investments in the wider economy. The technological and economic benefits of modern manufacturing will contribute to the coun- try's stability and development with industry as an engine for South Africa's growth. However, South Africa must now do what other countries are doing − pour political and economic resources into improving competitiveness via advanced manufacturing capabilities, upgraded infrastructure and transformed workforce skills. This is where the traditional roles of blue and white collar merge as the workforce of economic growth. Many South African factories resemble technology museums. Yet innovation and growth are directly linked to the development and availability of skilled workers – the grey collar workers of the future. South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP) recognises the country's high cost structure makes it difficult to compete globally in low-skills manufacturing. Business recognises the tension between the need for mass job creation and efficient, automated and high-skills industry. The country needs advanced manufacturing to be competitive and to build an industrial economy creating sustainable employment. However, it is only through competitive industries based on new technologies and international best practices that South Africa will be able to build that viable man- ufacturing sector in the first place. South Africa's single largest strategic challenge for advanced manufacturing is the availability of skilled people – the country is not educating nearly sufficient skilled apprentices, engineering tech- nicians or engineering graduates. Skills development reduces unemployment. Developing a modern manufacturing sector solves both the skills and unemployment challenge as automation and mechanisation enables grey collar workers to increase their skills and employment opportunities. The jobs of the future have yet to be invented, but South Africa has its work cut out in a world fast escalating towards the next industrial revolution.

Electra Mining Africa 10 – 14 September 2018

Expo Centre, Nasrec in Johannesburg Gateway into Africa for further business expansion. Enquiries: Visit www.electramining.co.za

Author Keshin Govender is in Media Relations at Siemens South Africa. Enquiries: Email keshin.govender@siemens.com

*Full article in E+C Spot on

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

ACDC Dynamics.................................OBC CDAA.........................................25 Countapulse Controls........................11 Cummins.....................................2 Efficient Engineeering.........................10

Phoenix Contact..........................27 R&C Instrumentation...................26 Rockwell Automation....................9 Schneider Electric........................IFC Siemens..................................13

TransElectron...................................37 VEGA......................................OFC, IBC Voltex..............................................31 WearCheck.....................................39

44 Electricity + Control

APRIL 2018