Electricity + Control December 2020

COMMENT

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

The year that was 2020 W hat a peculiar year. A year that went viral much faster than anyone could have predicted But at least it is almost over. All of us at Crown Publications, and specifically the team working on Electricity + Control , do hope that you, your families and your colleagues have managed to weather the storm. And what a storm. But I observed some intriguing things during the course of this year. Let me unpack a few of them for you. We have often argued that a 21 st century magazine is a multi-media platform for sharing information. And so it is. There was a time (I think back to when I was an editor) that a magazine was a collection of pages between covers. Magazines today are still between covers – but they are much more than that – simultaneously available on multiple platforms. All the magazines in the Crown Publications stable have been available in print for decades, available as electronic editions online for at least a decade, and they are all accompanied by respective websites, electronic newsletters and a presence on LinkedIn or other social media. In May this year, when Covid-19 was really beginning to take its toll, I pointed out that, at the start of the year, Electricity + Control had almost 1 000 online subscribers in the rest of Africa, and a slightly lower number in South Africa (where the magazine is posted to readers). During the year, the number of online subscribers has risen further, and the total circulation of print and electronic editions has grown to more than 7 500 (as audited for Q3 2020). As it has done for the past decade and more – Electricity + Control continues to serve its readers and advertisers across multiple platforms. The rapid rise in online readers was really pleasing – and obviously not unexpected under the circumstances. The swing to online readership was one intriguing outcome of this year.

Then, many found the year exceedingly tough. In fact, unless you were rolling out PPE, I cannot imagine the year being anything but tough. Even under those conditions, I was intrigued that some companies did not reduce their advertising spend. In some ways it was surprising; in others, I now look back and see the strategy they were following. It seems to be paying off, to be frank. Indeed, our thanks go to those advertisers who have maintained their spend and presence in Electricity + Control , in print and online. We appreciate their continued support. So here we are at the end of the year – again! I wish you and your families all the very best for the end-of-year break and the festive season. May it be safe; may it be a time of reflection; and as we turn to the opportunities that 2021 will bring, may we remind ourselves that we have the good fortune of being in a nation that has everything going for it. And there seems to be just a little more light at the end of the tunnel each day. We have many heroes in this society – and many are going out on a limb to ensure a better future for everyone. Thanks to our editor, Leigh Darroll, advertising manager Heidi Jandrell, and our layout artist Darryl James; thanks also to Karen Smith and the admin team who have ensured that Electricity + Control continues to operate across a dynamic mix of platforms and reach a growing number of readers; and thanks to our Publisher and Deputy, Karen Grant and Wilhelm Du Plessis. Thanks to the team for continuing to ensure that Electricity + Control provides the best information to help you find the best solution to your plant challenges. It remains the best magazine in its field – read it.

energy + information in industry

Editor: Leigh Darroll Design & Layout: Darryl James Advertising Manager: Heidi Jandrell Circulation: Karen Smith EditorialTechnical Director: Ian Jandrell Publisher: Karen Grant Deputy Publisher: Wilhelm du Plessis CBI-electric: low voltage’s new Astute range of Smart IoT products can be used in various applications to re- motely switch geysers, lights and oth- er electrical installations via the CBI Home App. (Read more on page 3.)

Audited circulation: Quarter 3 (July-September) 2020 Total print and e-editions: 7741

Published monthly by: Crown Publications (Pty) Ltd Cnr Theunis and Sovereign Sts, Bedford Gardens, PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008 Printed by: Tandym Print Telephone: +27 (0) 11 622 4770 E-mail: e-mail: ec@crown.co.za; admin@crown.co.za Website: www.crown.co.za/electricity-control

CROSS PLATFORM CONTENT INTEGRATION: * Electricity+Control Magazine * Online Edition * Bi-monthly Newsletter * Website* LinkedIn

Publisher of the year 2018 (Trade Publications)

Electricity+Control is supported by

Ian Jandrell PrEng IntPE(SA), BSc(Eng) GDE PhD, FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

1 Electricity + Control DECEMBER 2020

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA or the Copper Development Association Africa