On Thursday 2nd November the Secunda branch held its last technology evening for 2017 at the Honeywell Hub in Secunda. Hennie Grobler from Yokogawa presented on the topic ‘PLC versus DCS’. He highlighted some interesting facts regarding the programmable logic controller (PLC). The first PLC was developed by General Motors, in order to simplify the automotive manufacturing process. A distributed control system (DCS) is a combination of a field control system and a supervisory control and data acquisition (scada) system. When it comes to choosing between installing a PLC or a DCS it is important to ask the following seven questions:
1. What are you manufacturing and how?
2. What is the value of the product and the cost of downtime?
3. What do you view as the heart of the system?
4. What does the operator need to be successful?
5. What system performance is required?
6. What degree of customisation is required?
7. What are your engineering expectations?
Answering these questions shows that the application or type of process will ultimately be the deciding factor in choosing between a PLC or DCS for process control. We would like to thank Hennie for an excellent presentation.
Annemarie van Coller, vice president.
All instrumentation and control related artisans, technicians and engineers are welcome to attend our monthly technology events in 2018. The planned dates for 2018 will be communicated in January 2018. All Secunda SAIMC presentations will earn CPD points for ECSA registered persons and any enquiries can be directed to the branch chairman Johan Maritz at [email protected] or 082 856 3865.
On a personal note, the Secunda SAIMC branch would like to congratulate committee member, Annemarie van Coller on being elected as vice president of the SAIMC council. We are extremely proud of her and know that she will make a big success of this opportunity.
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