In this issue of Electricity + Control we feature Control systems + automation; Drives, motors + switchgear; Sensors + switches; and Plant maintenance, test + measurement.
As the world seeks new pathways to sustainability, food security tends to be buried beneath growing revelations of extreme weather patterns emerging around the world and the clamour for cleaner energy and stable water supply. Of course, they all work together in earth’s natural ecosystem – which our primarily industrial climate stressors have pushed out of balance.
In the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which sets out the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Zero hunger is listed second, after No poverty.
Interestingly, the UNIDO Conference on its Climate Change Adaptation for SA Industries Project (the South African Industry Adaptation (SAIA) project), which I attended recently, reported on some of the work being done to support industries in South Africa to accelerate their adoption of measures and technologies for more sustainable practices and become more climate resilient.
The project is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in collaboration with the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). It is funded by the Government of Flanders.
It emphasises that by embracing green technologies and sustainable practices, industries can enhance their competitiveness in local and international markets, reduce their environmental footprint and create green jobs. More on that another time. To note here, is that the project focuses on the water-energy nexus in the agro-processing sector.
Automation in agriculture and agro-processing and in the manufacturing of food and beverages, can make a significant difference in increasing yields and food security. We look at this in the feature on Control systems + automation. Food security and food safety are priorities for Bühler Southern Africa – which supplies equipment and technology to the food, feed and FMCG industries. Leigh Darroll spoke to MD, Marco Sutter about the work the company is doing in this regard in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.
In Drives, motors + switchgear, John Mitchell of CP Automation notes the growing move to improve energy efficiency in industry. He highlights the important considerations of also managing power quality and limiting harmonics, especially where VSDs are used in an endeavour to optimise energy efficiency.
In this feature we see too how South Africa-based OEMs are increasing their local manufacturing capabilities, and/or extending the range of equipment and technologies they offer to support advances in industries here and regionally – some in the agro-processing sector as well others across a wider range of sectors.
In Sensors + switches, circling back to just one critical aspect of food safety, ifm shares an application report on the use of its self-monitoring temperature sensors in dairy production at the Berchtesgadener Land cooperative. Milk is a high-quality natural product and, in its processing, precise temperature settings are required. ifm’s sensors used here continuously monitor process temperatures and themselves, to ensure compliance with the highest safety standards and optimise the quality of the dairy products.
A team from Belden, including Dr Michael Hilgner, Cornelia Eitel and Lukas Bechtel, looks at factors to consider in the continuing development of Single Pair Ethernet – which is fast becoming the foundation for smart factory connectivity – how SPE can complement Ethernet networks at the sensor/actuator level, and the core aspects that will inform the true lifecycle costs of implementing an SPE network.
In Plant maintenance, test + measurement, Ian Loudon from remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex, outlines the advantages of using dual voltage power supplies for battery backup systems that support remote monitoring stations.
And Jacques Martiz of Quyn International sets out the benefits of outsourcing specialist skills to streamline plant shutdowns, especially in complex industries running high-stakes operations where meticulous planning and execution are required.
There is too, always more to learn from our regular columns on Cybersecurity, Reskilling, upskilling + training, Engineering the future, and Write @ the back.
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