As we manage our way through daily scheduled power outages, Professor Ian Jandrell, Editorial Technical Director for Electricity + Control, highlights the wider costs of loadshedding for industrial plants. In his upfront comment in this September issue, he points out that beyond the costs of backup power supplies that become essential to continuing industrial operations – whether by way of generators or renewable energy alternatives and battery energy storage – plants and electrical equipment are being hammered by the unusual supply switching and changing operating conditions being imposed on them. And this means they need more frequent servicing and maintenance – which presents additional costs. He refers specifically to transformers and switchgear but adds that the same applies to other electrical equipment such as drives, motors, and automation and control systems.
These are all aspects of industrial plants that we feature in this issue – in many cases, as is typical, designed specifically to meet the needs of high-performance applications and demanding industry conditions.
In Control systems + automation, Shane Novacek of Beckhoff USA, reports on the use of EtherCAT and PC-based control and drive technology from Beckhoff in a high-performance case packer developed by US machine builder RA Jones, for a multinational manufacturer of high-volume coffee products. The customised machine – the order was for 12 of the same to be delivered in a tight timeframe – is designed for fast and continuous operation.
In Drives, motors + switchgear, we see how South African companies like Zest WEG and SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa are reaching into Africa, meeting the needs of projects in the mining sector (among others) in Africa and working with established local partners – or looking to establish local, in-country offices where demand indicates this need.
At the same time, we see how South African companies like ABB, Actom, and Marthinusen & Coutts, are continuing to invest in growing local manufacturing capacity and developing new products to serve the local market and others on the continent.
In Measurement +instrumentation, we learn how VEGA worked with BASF to solve the measurement challenge in its additives manufacturing facility in Kaisten, Switzerland, providing a differential pressure measurement system that innovatively combines ceramic and metallic measuring cells.
In Transformers, substations + cables, we see how energy management and automation technology can improve operations and services in municipal electricity distribution. The Drakenstein Municipality in the Cape Winelands District is working with global energy management and automation leader, Schneider Electric, and system integrator Altek, to upgrade its 25-year-old SCADA system to ETAP, a modern, electrical SCADA software solution. This will enable the municipality to improve fault finding, predictive and preventive maintenance on equipment, and overall customer service.
And again we see how South African based companies, with their expertise in designing and producing electrical equipment, are serving markets across the African continent and abroad. Just two examples: Trafo Power Solutions is increasingly supplying customised modular substations to customers in South Africa and other African countries, and CCG is supplying its range of SA manufactured stainless steel cable cleats to customers locally and internationally.
In our regular columns on Reskilling, education + training, Cybersecurity, Engineering the future, and Write @ the back, we present fresh insights and different perspectives across various issues relevant to industry. There is always something new to learn!
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