Sparks Electrical News May 2019

INDUSTRY 4.0

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POLYTECH AFRICA ASSISTS EM TO DEVELOP CRITICAL SKILLS POOL FOR INDUSTRY 4.0

country like ours, we need to pay more attention not just at a higher level, but also at early learning and development. This is to ensure that our learners have the dual advantage of familiarity with, and experience of, technology.” Mabusela stressed that business had a key role to play in not only disseminating innovation, but also in providing training and employment opportunities. He concluded: “Our central message is that both the DHET and the Ministry strongly support this venture. It supports the main aim of our National Development Plan of stimulating economic growth, based on skills development and training. This will allow us to address some of the social challenges facing us, including unemployment.” The Mechatronics Academy is the first training facility of its kind to be accredited by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA). It will focus on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 2 learnership. This is based on essential aspects of precision mechanical engineering, electronics, and

for quality and excellence, was something that really resonated with EM,” Director Andrew Nobbs said at the launch. Straussner said her long-held dream to establish such a specialised training facility was ultimately realised with the involvement of EM. “The Mechatronics Academy has come about at just the right time, because Industry 4.0 is here to stay. We can try to put our heads in the sand and pretend it does not exist, but we are going to have to get on this particular bandwagon or be left behind. And the only way to achieve this is to ensure we have proper training in place to deliver the skills we will need.” Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Director David Mabusela gave the keynote address at the launch. “It is indeed a pleasure for the DHET to have been invited to this launch, which responds to our call for technological innovation to have a more expanded space in the education and training environment. “On the other hand, we are also working with the Department of Basic Education to address the many gaps at that level. For Industry 4.0 to have any chance of success, especially in a developing

POLYTECH AFRICA, a B-BBEE Level 4 start-up engineering consultancy/projects and training specialist, has teamed up with ElectroMechanica (EM) to assist in developing critical skills neces- sary for Industry 4.0 to be adopted successfully in South Africa. Polytech Africa MD and Founder Astrid Straussner stressed the importance of this at the official launch event of the Mechatronics Academy on Thursday 28 March at EM’s Wynberg Campus. “Educational institutions cannot operate as islands, and require the cooperation of both the government and the private sector.” Straussner added: “Here is where EM’s active involvement is so crucial, as it is important that students are exposed to the latest products and developments, especially given the fact that Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things are a reality in South Africa. The Mechatronics Academy was fast-tracked when EM met Straussner officially about six months ago. “We were able to formalise a partnership between EM and Polytech Africa. Straussner’s passion and undeniable track record in academia and training, as well as her real drive

computer design systems used to control and automate mechanical products with electrical signals. EM’s specialised products in this regard include its Delta industrial automation range. Upon completion of the NQF Level 2 qualification, certificate holders will be able to gain entry to highly-skilled sectors such as mechanical and electrical engineering, pneumatics and hydraulics, robotics, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Computer Numeric Control (CNC), industrial Information Technology (IT), the automotive sector, and also precision welding.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 249 5000

UNDERSTANDING KNK WITH MATTHEW CARTER

USING KNX TO CONTROL THE LARGE VARIETY OF LUMINAIRES ON THE MARKET T he arrival of LED lighting has been the biggest challenge to lighting controls, ever. The lack of capable dimming products on the market still cause’s issues for home owners and developers. KNX has solu- tions for all these issues. With a new of generation products designed for the task, KNX gives the integrator, not only the confidence of using compatible products, but access to dimming actuators that provide superior dimming with LED luminaires. The obvious upside to this, is that there is a wider choice of lighting products for use in lighting designs. Compatibility, however, is only one element of a modern home’s lighting. The complexity of lighting instal- lations has grown exponentially. The days of the three-arm brass pendant and the one-gang brass dimmer is over (is my age showing?) Many of the projects we work on in modern buildings have rooms with multiple circuits and dimming requirements. that the collective R&D amongst the more than 450 manufacturers keeps up with the developments in the sector. Controlling the lighting in an automated and human centric way means that the use of sensors and programmed schedules are an essential part of any lighting design. Without a sophisticated control system driving the lighting providing a seamless and easy to use interface to the client the experience for the client usually disappoints. With the power of KNX and the vast number of control options a solution which exceeds the expectations of the clients is always possible.

Conclusion Lighting design and control have traditionally been a simple affair with one switch controlling one light circuit. If your architect or electrician got creative you may have a few 2-Way switches in your building. Now there is the possi- bility to control any light or any number of lights from any point in the building. KNX not only empowers you to achieve this but also liberates your clients and eventual building users to customise the spaces they inhabit to best fit their needs. The challenge is not a technical one that has already been solved by KNX it is a philosophical one. It requires you to introduce your clients to the power of modern lighting design and control.

Light used to create depth and texture

Design essentials Lighting is all about the luminaire. Looking at the plethora of light fittings on the market it is hard to ignore the fact that design aesthetics play a part in the selection for the interior designer and the client. In tandem with aesthetics comes the cost and then of course performance. However it is the perfor- mance of the luminaire which ultimately determine the user experience to a large degree. With LED light sources, colour consistency and colour rendering (CRI) are critical, in addition to this, output, beam angles and colour tempera- ture play a role in the look and feel of a room. By varying these parameters, depth and texture can be created and enhanced. Simply dimming the lights does not cut it anymore. When creating a lighting design, control and day to day user experience will always have more than a little consideration. The scenes designed for a space can only be achieved by careful manipulation of lighting levels and colour temperature in multiple circuits. The lighting design dictates the selection of the luminaires to be used which this in turn dictates the control system. If the luminaries require constant current, constant voltage, phase dimming, leading or trailing edge or other control protocols like DALI or DMX. Deploying a control system with multiple control elements could be a complex task, but not with KNX. This is where the KNX is head and shoulders above other building automation protocols. Its ability to work natively with DALI, 1-10 V and DMX, combined with industry-leading phase-dimming is a distinct advantage. DALI gateways are easy to use in residential and commercial installations combining the flexibility and relative low cost with the power of KNX. Whilst phase dimming is still predominant, DALI is being used more and more in residential installations. There is still a lack of knowledge concerning DALI in the electrical installation trade however the use of customized DALI connections and the ease of implementation is leading to the standard being implemented in more and more projects. Luminaire compatibility with the many forms of control gear still makes testing a necessity to ensure consistent dimming speed and light output. Keeping ahead with KNX Linear dimming of luminaires is important for the successful outcome to a project, so the selection and setup of the control system is critical for best results. Allowing the lighting designer to .manipulate not only intensity but colour temperature as well translates into a much better outcome for the those using the space. As the landscape of lighting in buildings evolves at pace the ability to keep up with the demands of the designers and clients is a continuous challenge. The benefits of using an open system like KNX means

Matthew Carter is the President of the South African KNX National Group. Enquiries: www.knxsa.com

Dedicated DALI connectors’ make implementing DALI installations fool proof and avoids mistakes on site

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MAY 2019