Automation + Control

Hans Beckhoff, Managing Director and founder of Beckhoff Automation, the technology company headquartered in Verl, was recently honoured with the acclaimed Rudolf Diesel Medal 2025. Hans Beckhoff received this prestigious award in the category: Most Successful Innovation Achievement at the award ceremony held at the MAN Museum in Augsburg on July 10. The medal honours him as a visionary pioneer in automation technology.

The Eastern Cape is well established as a hub for key industries, including automotive manufacturing, ports, agri-processing and renewable energy. With an ongoing expansion of its facility in Gqeberha, SEW-EURODRIVE is strengthening its presence in the region. From this strategic base, the company delivers drive, automation and motion control solutions tailored to the needs of local industry and backed by responsive service and deep technical expertise.

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), celebrated annually on 23 June, is a global campaign to honour the achievements of women engineers and inspire the next generation. This year’s theme, #TogetherWeEngineer, highlights the power of collaboration and inclusion in building the future of engineering. One of the companies that supports women in engineering is Bühler Johannesburg and this year it shared the stories of three young women whose journeys with the company demonstrate resilience, excellence, and the spirit of unity.

Energy chain specialist, igus, has introduced its new ‘glide-chain’ which has been developed specifically for gliding applications with travels of up to 30 m, as is the case with indoor cranes, for example. Its slim design enables cost savings of 30 to 40%.

Neopak, a leading manufacturer of containerboard and paper products, has renewed its partnership with global technology company ABB, to upgrade the existing automation system at its Rosslyn Paper Mill in Pretoria, South Africa. At the mill, Neopak produces a variety of paper grades, including high-performance recycled liner and fluting, paper bags, core board, and plasterboard – essential materials for local industry applications such as building hardware, converters, and corrugators for packaging.