Ian Jandrell's vast experience in the engineering world, and his many years as editor of Electricity+Control and technical director of Crown Publications, come through in this insightful introductory article. As inspiration he was able to draw on contributions by a ‘wise counsel' whom he acknowledges; he also spent many hours wading through back issues of Electricity+Control... enjoying a trip down memory lane.

The author looks at the image of the engineer and how the profession has had to move with the changes and keep at the forefront of technology and innovation.

This author, in a light-hearted manner, conveys some of his experiences as a young technician 25 years ago. He wonders how we all coped then - without the technology that we take for granted today.

In 2011 the world celebrates 25 years of the PC - described as the locomotive of automation technology - which has changed our technical, commercial and private worlds - and will continue to do so.

Process automation and control (PA&C) is crucial to Sasol - the integrated energy and chemicals company with a history spanning 60 years. With the current and anticipated future business and technology trends, Sasol ensures that PA&C is entrenched as a key business driver.

In the authors' view, very little has changed in large rotating electrical machines in the last 25 years. They point out that the electric vehicle, the Joule, is the single most important milestone for electric motors during the period in focus.

This article shows the advantages of an ac squirrel cage motor and Variable Speed Drive combination over medium voltage slipring motors using liquid resistance starters.

The author examines cost effective ways to reduce the electricity consumption of motor-generator controlled dc mine winders.

Does the LED pose a special threat to visual comfort in commercial spaces when lighting design is ignored; and will an ageing population, more sensitive to glare, find spaces lit with poorly designed LED luminaries especially challenging?

Winston Churchill said, ‘The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see'. The author relates this quote to the NFPA 70E and points out that by delving into its history, wiser decisions pertaining to electrical arc flash safety are likely to be made.

The author's concern is that every year an unacceptable number of lives are lost due to lightning. He urges engineers and scientists to actively engage in reducing the number of lightning-related injuries and deaths! He covers technology, risk and people in his discussion.

The author gives some insight into how the SABMiller Group has reduced energy consumption and improved efficiency in the beer-making process.

Change is not easy to accept - stopping and thinking about where we are and where we are going is very important. In pressure technologies, change has varied from limited in some instances to almost beyond comprehension in others.

Pyrotemp is a respected supplier of a wide range of temperature sensors and accessories in South Africa. This article traces the history of Pyrotemp from the fledgling one-man business in 1969 to where it is today as part of Endress+Hauser, one of the largest privately owned instrumentation suppliers in the world.

Multi measuring point process control thermocouples (multipoint thermocouples) when designed correctly and with thought, will provide great dividends in fuel and energy savings, product uniformity and safety - as well as the increased economy of long-lived and accurate temperature measuring instrumentation.

Climate change and rising fossil fuel prices are driving an imperative need for the implementation of energy conservation. Buildings, identified by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as an area where mega-trends are required to transform energy efficiency, account for up to 40% of primary energy in most countries, including South Africa.

This article covers the last 25 years of nuclear development in South Africa - unfortunately this period began with Chernobyl and ended with Fukushima which hasn't done much for its ‘image' - and makes good PR very difficult! The authors discuss how nuclear energy has shown itself to be the safest, most cost effective energy source available.