Autotronix keeps the water flowing for Rand Water and Umgeni Water

October 2010 System Integration & Control Systems Design

Autotronix is a leading system integrator in southern Africa, engineering small to multimillion Rand projects for diverse industries in the region. In a short space of time, it has established itself as a leading contender for large systems projects, having secured multimillion rand contracts for major water utilities and petrochemical installations as well as a host of other operations.

Autotronix engineers systems for diverse markets including water, mining, iron and steel, aluminium, electricity demand management, municipalities, automotive, food and beverage, petrochemical and general manufacturing. Its mission is to provide added value solutions through no-compromise quality engineering that sustains long-term reliability and functionality for its clients.

All systems are supported by a competent team of technically qualified engineers and technicians who understand the key to a successful project is the relationship that is developed with the client. Headquartered in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal, the company also has a branch in Vereeniging that was formed to deal specifically with the company’s ongoing, long-term contract for Rand Water.

Using a multidisciplinary approach and focusing on factory automation, energy management and telemetry/data acquisitions systems, the company has developed both proprietary and open solutions for many industrial applications.

Expertise in automation

One of the company’s strengths is the experience and knowledge of its staff. The team has extensive experience in automation design and also PLC and scada configuration of all popular packages. Although the company is a total systems integration solutions provider, its core business has always been in the selection, installation and commissioning of PLCs from Rockwell, Schneider and Mitsubishi.

Autotronix has developed a reputation for engineering excellence in PLC projects, and is well positioned to engineer any solution, even those that demand the most advanced mathematical and motion control algorithms. Because there is currently very little expertise available in motion control in South Africa, Autotronix is in demand in the marketplace, especially as an increasing number of production machines now use motion control and robotic platforms.

Networking of PLCs and other equipment has become a major strength of the company and many of the larger projects now feature fibre-optic-based Ethernet LANs connecting PLCs, scada and other systems. In addition, Autotronix has extensive experience in Profibus, Modbus, Controlnet, Devicenet and radio-based networking in diverse industries.

Autotronix’ systems integration offering includes:

* Allen Bradley, Schneider and Mitsubishi and PLCs application and programming.

* Supply and configuration of scada and front-end systems.

* Control and PLC panel design.

* Energy management systems.

* Programmable remote terminal units.

Every step of a project, from conceptualisation to commissioning is handled in accordance with the Autotronix professional code of business. This ensures that the right relationships are formed at the right levels, reporting channels and processes are established up-front key project milestones are realistically pegged and proper engineering procedures are adhered to throughout the project.

The company also develops large energy management systems, distributed over wide geographic areas such as those found in the mining industry.

The company recently completed the large-scale water projects for Rand Water in Vereeniging and Umgeni Water in Hazelmere which involved removal of dated control systems and replacement with state-of-the-art control and scada systems. As a result of the success of the latter project, Autotronix has since been involved in a number of similar projects for the same clients.

Another notable achievement is a project completed in 2009 at Sasol Secunda which involved the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a large networked fire alarm system.

Credit(s)

Autotronix PI SA (PROFIBUS & PROFINET SA)

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