Electricity and Control November 2022

COMMENT

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

The immeasurable value of meeting face to face in South Africa, the most significant aspect was to see how much we need to sit down with, shake hands with, and look into the eyes of our fellow human beings. It was a profound moment in the scientific community.

energy + information in industry

I t is seldom that I would choose to address the same topic two months in a row. But I have not yet received a suggestion not to do so! I mentioned last month the then upcom ing International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) – which took place in the first week of October. The reason I do want to mention it again – noting too that it followed so closely on Electra Mining Africa 2022 – which also was an on-site event – is the remarkable chemistry that emerges when folk actually get together. TheICLPwasattendedbyrepresentatives from more than 40 countries, with over 170 registered delegates on site. It was very well supported by local and international industry partners and was, by all accounts, a successful event. It was also heartening to see a very good turnout of local delegates. I mention this because the previous edition, scheduled to be held in 2020, was delayed to 2021. This was a difficult decision taken by the International Scientific Committee in the hope that the pandemic would be over – and that we could all meet in Sri Lanka. As it turned out, the 2021 conference was held in a virtual mode. It ran well – but it was different. We had the good fortune, as a country, to have won the bid to host the ICLP in 2022 – and this was a decision made almost a decade earlier. How could we ever have imagined what was to follow? It was indeed quite incredible to be able to host a face-to-face event (with an online option available to those who could not travel). Apart from being delighted to see so many people joining us in Cape Town and

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 The METES 3.5 is a portable, three phase energy meter calibration ver ifier, designed for the verification of electronic and Ferraris energy meters in the growing pre-payment energy meter sector. (Read more on page 3.)

We learned during the pandemic that so much can be done virtually with great success – perhaps more than we ever imagined to be possible. We learned that for many, working from home could be a productive alternative to working at the office; cutting out commute times made more working hours available. In parallel, we saw multiple online meeting platforms emerge. We saw the digitisation of a multitude of business and industrial processes accelerate to enable virtual operations – and we saw connectivity escalate to enable remote management and maintenance of industrial plants. These changes – and many others too – will, no doubt, stay with us. But what we have now also realised, is how very important face-to face interaction is – and perhaps especially when one is engaging in learning and sharing of knowledge and experience. Personally, I will forever remember that the virtual environment is far more powerful than we thought – and is likely to become even more so in time and with changes in technology; but equally, I will remember the absolute importance of being physically together, sharing and truly engaging with our colleagues, friends, families and fellow travellers. One wonders how many more such crises will befall humanity in our lifetimes – and what lessons they will teach us.

Audited circulation Quarter 2 (April-June) 2022 Total print and e-editions 12 562

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

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

Electricity+Control is supported by

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

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

1 NOVEMBER 2022 Electricity + Control