The Durban Branch recently held its Annual General Meeting and the following were elected to the committee:
Chairman: Carl Reinecke
Vice Chairman: Mike Barker
Treasurer: Gary Van Vuuren
Secretary: Willie Bekker
Dr Ed Boje provided some light-hearted insight into process control and a great meal was enjoyed by all who attended.
However, prior to this, the Branch had already been active and January saw a well-attended presentation by Glenn Marley of CSMS on control loop optimisation. Glenn detailed the steps that need to be considered prior to and after a loop tuning and loop optimisation programme has been completed.
The Branch has a busy year planned – so keep a look out for branch meeting notifications and don't forget about the golf day which is scheduled for 2 June 2000. This is intended to be a day out, where guests can be entertained and some "catching up" done in an informal environment. Late last year also saw the presentation of a PLC, donated by Dave Howcroft of Instrotech, to the Natal Technikon. We are sure that this will be put to good use in the training of prospective control engineers.
Paul Harry
(031) 309 8060
Johannesburg Branch
After a few initial hiccups at the start of the New Year, our new committee has finally been chosen. Almost all the members from last year have committed themselves to another term in office, which gives us a great opportunity to keep the momentum going.
The 2000 committee is as follows:
Johan Steyn of Kubler Africa, Chairperson
Morne Maree of Spescom, Vice Chair
Willie Olivier of Johannesburg Technical College
Eric Carter of Dynawrite
Johan Van Jaarsveld of Alpret
Dave Bean of Best
Rob Ambler of Endress+Hauser
Quentin Richardson of Endress+Hauser
Johan Grobler of Wevs
Cornu Perold of Siemens
1999 has proven to be an exceptional year under the very capable leadership of Tony Holme of Adroit. Not only did the Branch manage to have some very successful events like the annual Golf Day and the Business Breakfast, but we also succeeded in winning the Negretti award. The competition turned out to be a very close run affair, with the Zululand Branch only five points adrift at the final scoring. It is going to take a very special effort this year to hold on to this award, but with the experience and dedication we have in our 2000 committee it is definitely possible.
At the previous branch meeting, held on 8 March, we were treated to a very spirited presentation by Cornu Perold of Siemens on the history and development of PLCs. All those present enjoyed it very much, it is just a pity that we had a below average turnout for the evening. The following meeting was on 12 April 2000, where John Immelman of Endress+Hauser spoke on: Fieldbus Foundation - Is it ready for us? The venue was as usual, the Rivonia Country Club at 6 p.m.
We make a special appeal to all SAIMC members and their guests to make a concerted effort to visit our monthly meetings on a regular basis. The SAIMC is your institute and it is run by dedicated people on a voluntary basis for your enjoyment and continued learning on a wide range of industry and nonindustry related subjects.
Our sub-branches are going from strength to strength with the Secunda Branch sending a very clear message to all that they intend to achieve full branch status in record time. The Rustenburg and Welkom branches are in the process of achieving full branch status and that will leave us with only the Secunda Sub-Branch. We will continue to endeavour to establish more subs in the country, with the Vaal Triangle and the East Rand the most immediate target areas.
We look forward to hear from our members out there, any comments or suggestions will be most welcome.
Johan Steyn, Chairperson
Johannesburg Branch
Secunda Sub Branch
On 10 March 2000 the branch hosted a very successful Golf Day and the feedback from sponsors as well as players were very positive, everybody agreed that we must do the same again next year. Some of us were lucky to play some good golf, while others played a lot of golf especially in the rough and we also had a player who lost his ball in the middle of the fairway.
As promised here are the dates on which we plan to host presentations at the Secunda Club:
* 13 April 2000
* 11 May 2000
* 8 June 2000
* 13 July 2000
* 17 August 2000
* 21 September 2000
* 19 October 2000
* 10 November 2000
November's will be the last one for the year and we will kick the New Year off with our AGM on 25 January 2001 hopefully to announce to our members that we have achieved full branch status.
Topics for presentations that were requested by our members are as follows and if there is anybody interested and of the feeling that they can assist in educating us it will be appreciated if they would contact the Chairman of our branch.
1. Back to basics - pressure, temperature, level and flow measurement.
2. Impulse lines and installations.
3. Bus networks and protocols.
4. Fibre optics.
5. Analytical - conductivity.
6. PLC vs DCS vs PC.
7. Safety systems.
8. Variable speed drives.
9. Data acquisition.
10. Positive displacement and custody transfers.
11. EMI prevention.
12. Optimisation/ PID loop tuning.
13. Intelligent I/Ps.
14. Servos and actuators.
15. Level – laser, radar etc.
16. Telemetry.
We also congratulate Dave Howcroft our new Council President and wish him the best for the term that he will carry the reigns.
Piet van Rensburg, Chairman
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