Electricity and Control December 2023

COMMENT

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

Another year gone

I t’s another year gone. And what a year it has been. One of the interesting things to me is how evident it became to everyone that the country, in general, is in quite a bit of trouble. For whatever reasons, things have slipped in an extraordinary way. What also became apparent is that it is the ‘ordinary citizens’ who, no doubt, have felt the brunt of this far more than other sectors of the population. This raises so many questions on the ethos of how we manage as a nation; but it again emphasises the gulf that exists between private citizens trying to make a difference – and the organised institutions that one presumes serve the nation. We saw Eskom spiral into its worst loadshedding ever – although there had been promises of a seemingly miraculous recovery; we saw our ports and rail systems struggling

up, for continuing to serve our industry. Daily, I reflect on the difficulty that the manufacturing industry, among others, faces, challenged by the reality of the world in which we find ourselves – yet somehow managing to keep our heads above the water. May you and your families – and your colleagues – have a truly wonderful year end and Festive Season. For those of you able to take a break, may you return to the new year refreshed – and ready to continue to do all we can to save this economy. And, of course, we will welcome you back in 2024 as loyal readers of Electricity + Control . I must extend sincerest thanks to the Editor, Leigh Darroll, and the team: Advertising Manager, Heidi Jandrell, Design and Layout artist, Darryl James, Circulation Manager, Karen Smith, and indeed to the Publisher, Karen Grant and Deputy Publisher, Wilhelm Du Plessis. See you all in the new year. And have the break you so richly deserve.

energy + information in industry

Editor: Leigh Darroll Design & Layout: Darryl James Advertising Manager: Heidi Jandrell Circulation: Karen Smith Editorial Technical Director: Ian Jandrell Publisher: Karen Grant Deputy Publisher: Wilhelm du Plessis Minimising life cycle costs and ensuring the reliability and longevity of transformers have always been a central focus in the management and maintenance of electrical power systems. (Read more on page 3.)

in the face of a barrage of obstacles. And yet, as a nation, we survived.

As we see this year out, may I commend everyone reading this for the fortitude you have shown – in your personal capacity, as an employer or an employee – for not giving

Audited circulation Quarter 3 (July-September) 2023 Total print and e-editions 13 879

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

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

E-mail: ec@crown.co.za; admin@crown.co.za Website: www.crown.co.za/electricity-control

From the Publisher We are very sorry to share with you the news that Heidi Jandrell, long-time Advertising Manager for Electricity + Control , has chosen to step away from the working world and en joy more time with her family. Heidi will leave Crown Publications at the end of this year. She will be missed by many of you in the industry who have worked with her through her past 27 years of handling all the advertising bookings, schedules and material for the magazine and its allied platforms, and seeing to consistently correct placements. Heidi has built up a wide network of contacts and colleagues in the in dustry and, for us at Crown Publications, her leaving the title will mark a huge absence. Heidi has always been professional and thor ough in her dealings with clients – and she has been thoughtful and committed to supporting clients with the best opportunities available to suit their objectives and budgets. One of

Heidi's remarkable attributes, in addition to her willingness always to help colleagues, is her buoyancy. Despite the many obsta cles she has encountered in working through these years, she ALWAYS bounces back and presses on, opening up to new possibilities. She has been particularly steadfast through these past difficult years which have pushed the manufacturing and process industries, like many other sectors, and indeed the econ omy generally, into a very difficult operating environment – faced with extraordinary and sometimes demoralising challenges. We will miss her greatly. Nonetheless, we wish her all the best in this next and no doubt more re laxed chapter of her life. Thank you for staying the course with us Heidi.

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

DECEMBER 2023 Electricity + Control

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