Electricity + Control February 2018

COMMENT

ON THE COVER

Things are looking up!

B elieve it or not, as you read this, around 10% of this year has already passed by. Naturally, we have all been very busy. A while back, I had the privilege of attend- ing, albeit briefly, the 26 th Southern Afri- can Universities Power and Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2018), and engag- ing colleagues from industry, students, and engineering academics on the impli- cations of Fee Free education. I have also been involved in some excit- ing developments in the energy sector regarding education – but with a focus on continental leadership in this sector; and have been watching many of the evolv- ing situations in our own country and its neighbours. This is all fascinating stuff. It is not my place to say this, but one does (I do) sense the emergence of a more positive feeling in many sectors of socie- ty, equally in engagements with industry. Naturally, the proof of the pudding is in the eating – and we have a way to go. But feedback from some readers has convinced me that this is no longer just smoke and mirrors. Something more interesting is beginning to occur – even if only in the spirit of the citizens.The reason I personally find this extremely encourag- ing, is that the opportunity to draw on the massive, massive wealth of this continent is potentially to be realised. What is the wealth I speak of?Well, it has two core pillars – people and natural re- sources (including, to mention a few, min- eral wealth, agriculture, energy sources).

Africa is amazing. It is also home to some of the fastest growing populations on the planet, and one of the greatest migrations in the history of the planet – the move- ment of people into cities. Cities are rapidly expanding – here in South Africa, as well as across the conti- nent. One country has built up more than ten medical schools in (I think) the past twenty years. Remarkable development. There are challenges: Massive urban ex- pansion, growth in energy needs, urgent need for education (basic right up to ter- tiary level) – and so on. But with these come undeniable opportunities. And Africa is big.You literally can place the USA, China, and much of Europe onto the land area of Africa. A sobering thought. To my mind this can only present opportu- nities – from education, to health care, to the need for manufactured goods. Could we be entering an era during which we can genuinely reach our potential?

FEATURES: Cables+ accessories Control valves+ electric actuators Control systems+ automation Sensors, switches+ transducers Transformers+ substations

Leading manufacturers from the fields of sensors, actuators and control technology have devel- oped IO-Link . Read more on page 23. 2/1/2018 9:25:44AM www.electricityandcontrolmagazine.co.za ECFEB2018 cover.indd 1

Magazine Team

Editor: Design & Layout: Advertising Managers:

Wendy Izgorsek Adél JvR Bothma Helen Couvaras Heidi Jandrell Karen Smith Karen Grant Wilhelm du Plessis Ian Jandrell

Circulation: Publisher: Deputy Publisher: Editorial Technical Director:

Circulation

As a country and as a continent. I suspect we are.

Quarter 3 (Jul - Sep 2017) Total print circulation: 4 537

Contact

Published monthly by:

Crown Publications cc Cnr Theunis and Sovereign Sts, Bedford Gardens PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008 Tandym Print

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

Printed by:

Telephone: E-mail:

+27 (0) 11 622 4770 e-mail: ec@crown.co.za admin@crown.co.za www.crown.co.za

Visit our innovative online technical resource for the engineering industry. www.eandcspoton.co.za

Website:

Electricity+Control is supported by

Or watch the latest interviews on our Facevalue page. Just scan here

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of thepublisher, theeditor,SAAEs,SAEE, CESA, IESSAor theCopperDevelopmentAssociationAfrica