Electricity + Control September 2015

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

ROUND UP

Innovative applications centre opens

Automation solutions provider, Festo , un- veiled its brand new applications centre at its Johannesburg headquarters recently. Customers and media were treated to a tour of the cutting edge centre.The applica- tions centre is the first of its kind in South Africa, boasting state-of-the-art ‘Electric Drive Handling and Vision Systems’. Festo customers are now able to physically test any 4D electric drive applications in a con- trolled environment to confirm details like maximum speed, accuracy and cycle time. With remote capabilities such as live video streaming, the applications centre is positioned to meet the needs of customers all across Southern, East and West Africa. Brett Wallace, managing director of Festo South Africa, highlighted the value that the applications centre is able to deliver to Afri- can manufacturers in a highly competitive global marketplace. “Our clients cannot afford to make mis- takes.Whatever they design and implement needs to work the first time. Our applications centre is there to support them by allowing

them to simulate the handling of the actual products with real products and software. Although Festo has powerful simulation software, there is nothing as reassuring as taking a concept from theory to practice. In this way, we are able to add value that brings them security, confidence and com- petitiveness.” The applications centre works hand-in- hand with another recently unveiled Festo

customer is prompted to enter parameters and information critical to the task on hand. The powerful software then makes use of Festo’s extensive data base of proven de- signs to provide possible solutions. Enquiries: Enquiries: Russell Schwulst. Tel. 08600 33786

Brett Wallace, managing director, Festo South Africa.

i nnova t i on , its Handling Guide Online (HGO).This in- tuitive online tool, another fir st in the South African market, allows users to quick- ly and easily design and or- der a handling system from scratch. The

Courses accredited for CPD points Yokogawa South Africa ’s training courses have been accredited by the Society for Automation Instrumenta- tion Measurement and Control (SAIMC), for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points for registered professionals of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). For the first time inYokogawa’s 100 year history, field instrumentation and control systems training courses offered byYokogawa SouthAfrica have been evaluated and accredited by a professional body. It has been a lengthy process of six years to reach this important milestone which was spearheaded by Yokogawa’s service training manager, Nico Marneweck. “We believe that the recognition of our training courses will make a meaningful contribution to the competency of South African and African industrial automation”, explains Marneweck. SAIMC is an ECSA recognised voluntary association which has the ability to validate courses for CPD points. Fourteen courses covering field instrumentation and control systems have been accredited. Yokogawa has embarked on a strong drive towards training and skills development since 2009 offering training courses at the Yokogawa SouthAfrica head office in Roodepoort or onsite at customer premises as well as 12 month student intern- ship programmes. Since 2011, Yokogawa South Africa has successfully trained over 1 200 people.

Enquiries: Christie Cronje.Tel. 011 831 6300 or email Christie.cronje@za.yokogawa.com