At the last Technology Evening, Kenneth McPherson, managing director Beckhoff Automation South Africa, presented on EtherCAT. EtherCAT, which stands for Ethernet for Control Automation Technology, is an open, real-time industrial Ethernet technology, invented by Beckhoff Automation.
Mike Banda (right) thanks Kenneth McPherson after the presentation.
The protocol is standardised in IEC 61158 and is suitable for both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ real-time computing requirements in automation technology.
Generally a bus system is one of the core components of the control system architecture. It helps define the system performance, determines the choice of suppliers, and subsequently the overall cost of the control system, amongst others.
The three main performance challenges of any real-time communication are bandwidth utilisation, stack delays and switch delays. Thanks to EtherCAT’s technology performance breakthrough, these limitations are all resolved. With EtherCAT being the fastest industrial Ethernet technology available, and the largest industrial Ethernet organisation in the world, it becomes the engineer’s choice when it comes to selecting the right bus technology.
EtherCAT provides competitive advantages such as precision manufacturing, throughput and efficiency, with its added benefits of being low cost, easy to use, truly open, reliable and stable. Topics covered by Kenneth included:
• Enabling machine builders with EtherCAT.
• True topology flexibility.
• Comprehensive information for the operator.
• Supplier variety with EtherCAT.
• EtherCAT I/O vendors.
• Safety over EtherCAT.
• EtherCAT, Industrie 4.0 and the IIoT.
• Success stories.
The branch thanks Kenneth for his informative presentation.
Golf Day
On the 6 October the branch hosted its annual Golf Day and wishes to thank all who participated in the event. The golf was followed by the prize-giving ceremony and networking.
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO SAIMC
SAIMC
We are writing to share exciting developments regarding the evolution of the SAIMC that will come into effect on 1 January 2025.
Read more...SAIMC: MESA Africa 2024 summit TransLution Software
SAIMC
The SAIMC Computer Engineering Council, also known as MESA Africa, recently held its annual summit. The two days were jam-packed, with an excellent balance between theory, thought leadership, and practical case studies. The general consensus among the delegates was that the insights gained were incredibly valuable.
Read more...SAIMC: Secunda branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Secunda branch recently celebrated 25 incredible years at its year-end function and birthday bash, held on 1 November at The Glasshouse in Secunda.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The Johannesburg SAIMC Branch held its annual year-end function at Northcliff Country Club on 13 October.
Read more...SAIMC: Gqeberha branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The Didactic Branch of the SAIMC, in collaboration with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape, recently hosted an insightful talk on postgraduate opportunities. The event aimed to inspire and guide students about the paths and possibilities available to them through postgraduate studies, and to introduce them to some exciting projects.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban Branch Annual Dinner
SAIMC
The Durban branch of the SAIMC held their popular and well-supported annual year-end dinner at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club on 23 November 2024.
Read more...MESA Africa Summit has been expanded and rebranded SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
We are writing to share some exciting developments regarding the evolution of the MESA Africa Summit, which has been a cornerstone event in industrial automation and manufacturing excellence.
Read more...How to claim CPD points SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
SAIMC makes it possible for you to claim CPD points for attending courses and technical meetings, or completing an online quiz on a SA Instrumentation & Control magazine.
Read more...SAIMC: From the office of the CEO:Slaughtering AI holy cows SAIMC
SAIMC
A couple of sessions at various dealers, a wrong delivery, a failed holiday plan, a two-week unplanned vacation and 32 kg of steel on the back seat awaited us as we left South Africa on a dream holiday. But let me start at the beginning.
Read more...SAIMC: Secunda branch SAIMC
SAIMC
At the most recent SAIMC Secunda technical evening, Jenine Jansen van Vuuren, sales account manager from Comtest Technologies, gave a presentation on the calibration of process instruments.
printer friendly version