The world sighed with relief as 33 miners were rescued alive form the San José mine in Chile after being trapped underground for 70 days. Few people were aware of the fact that a cable from the Lapp Group had played a small but significant part in the rescue.
In mid-August, about two weeks after the accident, an ultra-slim custom-made telephone was lowered down the first shaft that had been drilled to the emergency shelter, some 700 metres below the surface. A normal telephone cable would not have been sturdy enough, so the handset was attached to a 700-metre long Unitronic data cable that engineers had requisitioned from a mine nearby. The individual strands of this cable are wrapped with an additional layer of copper mesh for shielding.
Normally this sort of shielding would be used to protect against electromagnetic interference. In this case however, a side-effect was more important: it was the shielding that made the cable tough enough to be pulled through the narrow communication shaft without damage. The Unitronic product enabled communication between the surface and the miners – a glimmer of hope that led to a happy ending.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...Justice Malala to talk at exclusive breakfast
News
South Africa’s economic recovery and industrial growth depend on policy reform and business innovation. Few commentators are better placed to explore these challenges than Justice Malala.
Read more...How to claim CPD points SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
News
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...Festo celebrates its centenary Festo South Africa
News
Creating added customer value through innovation has been the driving force behind the family-owned company from the beginning and remains the key to Festo’s success today. The company’s anniversary is being celebrated with employees, customers and partners worldwide throughout the year.
Read more...RS Group cements its position as an ESG leader
News
RS Group has announced its inclusion in the prestigious CDP A-list, having improved its CDP rating this year from A- to A for its commitment to climate action, environmental transparency and disclosure
Read more...ECSA awards full accreditation to IIE degrees
News
The Independent Institute of Education has received full accreditation from ECSA. This is the first private higher education provider in the country to be recognised in this manner by the industry authority.
Read more...South African students advance to international round of Young Researchers awards
News
Two Masters in Engineering students from Stellenbosch University have advanced to the international round of the 2025 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation competition. Their projects impressed the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa for their originality and relevance to the forestry sector, which plays a key role in producing wood and paper.
Read more...The ultimate range for design and repair RS South Africa
News
Design and repair are fundamental aspects of any industry. The launch of the new RS PRO Design & Repair range caters to a wide array of industries, including discrete and process manufacturing, energy and utilities, facilities management and intralogistics.
printer friendly version