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Automation industry calls for collaboration to make SA
globally competitive
S
peaking at the official launch of the Africa Auto-
mation Fair 2019, stakeholders noted that South
Africa was emerging from turbulent times, but said
that through collaboration to drive progress, the automa-
tion sector could help fast-track economic growth and
development.
The automation sector, now moving toward a digital
‘Industrie 4.0/IIoT’ era, is poised to drive greater efficien-
cies and make South African enterprises internationally
competitive, which will ultimately benefit all South Afri-
cans, they said.
Oratile Sematle, President of the South African In-
stitute of Measurement and Control (SAIMC), noted that
the industry had already progressed to a point where its
voice as a collective is now heard in government, insti-
tutions and various sectors. ‘But knowing that if we use
automation in the right ways, we can ultimately change
the landscape of the South African economy and improve
the lives of all people, we need to continue to collaborate
to drive further progress, and make South Africa great
again,’ he said.
Marc Van Pelt, Chairman of the Industrial Instrumenta-
tion Group (IIG) and MD of Pepperl+Fuchs and, noted, ‘As
we seek to bring the country to new levels economically,
we need to look to automation and smart manufacturing
to make our industries competitive on a global basis. At
the Connected Industries conference earlier this year, the
sector started the “Industrie 4.0/IIoT” discussion, and the
next question is: who is using it? Is the sector ready? As a
country, we still have a long way to go.’
Sematle and Van Pelt encouraged industry stakehold-
ers to step up collaborative efforts through forums such
as the Africa Automation Fair and Connected Industries
conference, where the sector is able to assess the auto-
mation industry’s challenges and seek solutions to support
progress.
The Africa Automation Fair, which marks its 21st anni-
versary in 2019, and the Connected Industries conference,
will expand its scope and reach in 2019, delivering Afri-
ca’s largest showcase of industrial automation and control
technologies. The event, incorporating the Connected In-
dustries conference (Industrie 4.0/IIoT), is a focused net-
working platform for the Automation and Control Industry
and works closely with industry associations including the
IIG and SAIMC.
In 2019 Africa Automation Fair will host the second
edition of the Connected Industries conference in line with
growing international focus on the Fourth Industrial Rev-
olution and the advanced, connected industries of the fu-
ture. Following the success of AAF 2017 and the Connect-
ed Industries Conference, when over 4,000 people from 25
countries attended and 117 companies participated in the
three-day event, event organisers Reed Exhibitions plan to
grow the fair and conference yet further.
Jayne Harley, GM: Technology & Business events at
Reed Exhibitions, announced that in line with a rapid-
ly-evolving environment, Africa Automation Fair 2019 will
expand its focus across the ecosystem, with new pavil-
ions to be introduced focusing on information security and
system integration. The event will also expand its reach
to buyers from across Africa, supported by extensive mul-
ti-media marketing and public relations campaigns and
VIP buyer events.
‘We are growing the visitor numbers and reach, and
further developing the content, to take the automation in-
dustry’s key forum to the next level,’ said Carol Weaving,
Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions.
Students thrust magnesium back in to the spotlight
S
tudents in Birmingham, UK, are being challenged to
showcase the potential uses of magnesium within
the aerospace sector as part of a competition being
set by Birmingham City University and the world’s largest
producer of magnesium components, Meridian.
At 1.8g/cm³, magnesium is the lightest of all structur-
al materials, the eighth most abundant chemical element
in the earth’s crust and is 100 per cent recyclable.
However, misconceptions surrounding the element’s
properties have seen a historical aversion to designing
products with magnesium when compared to less sus-
tainable and heavier metals.
The competition being set by the partners aims to alter
these perceptions with an interdisciplinary art installation
designed by students that will be showcased to experts at
the University, Meridian and the International Magnesium
Association (MIA), who are also supporting the project.
If the winning prototype inspires further investment, it is
hoped a full-scale version will be crafted from magnesium
and exhibited in a partner venue.
Makhan Singh, Development Manager at the Institute
for Sustainable Futures, Birmingham City University, said,
‘A lot of people still believe magnesium catches fire eas-
ily. It doesn’t, but the myth still influences most people’s
understanding, including engineers. However, while mag-
nesium is not the simplest material to extinguish when
alight – it continues to burn in nitrogen, carbon dioxide
and water – its thermal conductivity makes it difficult to
ignite in the first place.
‘Magnesium is one of the best metals in terms of
flammability, because it dissipates heat across its body so
well, whereas steel, for example, localises the heat, so it
can get very hot much more easily.’
The competition will also provide the students with an
opportunity to work closely with professional artists, de-
signers, engineers, industrial partners and global organi-
sations on this project, with the potential of international
exposure for the winning entry and runners-up.
Kellie Easton, HR Manager, Meridian Lightweight
Technologies United Kingdom (MLTUK) said, ‘Our Not-
tinghamshire plant produces around 5 000 net metric tons
of die-cast products annually, serving automotive clients
such as Daimler, Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, Ford, Honda,
Porsche, and Volvo.
‘However, a long-standing ban has been lifted for the
use of high pressure magnesium die-casting in aircraft
seat construction, providing they meet strict performance
standards, and we see this as an opportunity to work with
aircraft seat manufacturers who may soon start using
lightweight, new-generation magnesium alloys in their
seats.
‘This particular project with Birmingham City Univer-
sity, therefore, is pivotal in showcasing the wonderful
benefits of magnesium to the aircraft industry by fusing
engineering and the arts in a dynamic, creative and ar-
tistic manner.’
Birmingham City University and Meridian agreed a
strategic partnership last year, which has seen the two
organisations work together in the education, research
and development of magnesium use. The partnership is
placing fuel efficiency through weight savings and sus-
tainability at its core, and last year they joined forces for
an inaugural magnesium symposium held at the Universi-
ty’s City Centre Campus in Birmingham.
The competition was launched at Birmingham City
University on Thursday 15 February and individuals and
teams from across the institution’s four Faculties will have
two months to finesse their ideas before submission in
April.
In attendance at the launch was Professor Julian
Beer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University;
Stephen Brown, Engineering Manager and Kellie Easton,
HR Manager, both from MLTUK; and Councillor Shafique
Shah, as well as representatives from the University’s
multidisciplinary Magnesium Innovation Group and par-
ticipating students.
The project was run in conjunction with the Univer-
sity’s Graduate+ Week (Monday 19 – Friday 23 March).
Graduate+ is an undergraduate scheme that looks to iden-
tify and develop students’ experience and build on their
skills, enhancing and supporting their employment options
when they leave university.
By embedding career-related skills into every degree
course taught at Birmingham City University, Graduate+ is
designed to provide students with a personalised range of
activities, so as to build on their own professional profile.
A Graduate+ Award also offers recognition and evidence
of achievements gained from participating in the initia-
tive.
