The first National PROFIBUS Conference and Expo was held at the Ceasar`s Conference Centre recently, an event that aimed at providing the local market with an update on the state of PROFIBUS technology worldwide. The event was well attended and included a host of international delegates including the chairman of PROFIBUS International, Mr. Edgar K"uster.
According to PROFIBUS Competence Center (PCC) manager Michael Bean, PROFIBUS is used around the globe across numerous industries for process and factory automation. "The event was a first for South Africa, with high quality presentations from leading personalities in the field. The conference was a great success and moving into the future we anticipate wider industry and end-user participation as we unite all parties involved."
At the event, International speakers and case study reports given by Mondi, De Beers and AST, showed that there is a huge need for proper system installation and maintenance using trained personnel and certified devices. The PROFIBUS user organisation will be looking to its new PROFIBUS Competence Centre, which will be operated by IDXOnline, to achieve this.
Bean says PROFIBUS recently announced the installation of its 10 millionth device at the Hanover Fair. "PROFIBUS International plans to double this value in the next four years, which is good news for suppliers worldwide. It means doubling of revenue generated from PROFIBUS related sales and services in the last 10 years in the next 4 years. While for end-users it means that the technology is obviously proving itself, performing well enough to support this kind of investment around the world."
"Although there are exceptions, a good look at the South African industry generally sees us several years behind in the complete adoption of international technologies. While PROFIBUS itself is reasonably prolific, many of its supporting technologies like PROFIdrive and PROFIsafe are seriously under utilised," explains Bean.
Feedback from the international delegates was extremely positive; they were highly impressed with South Africa`s professionalism, competence and know-how with regards to PROFIBUS.
At the EXPO, various South African vendors had the opportunity to display their products and solutions. It included a full working system, which was put together by the local PCC, of devices from more than 30 different manufactures. The display, which was named `The Power of PROFIBUS`, demonstrated the flexibility and across the board integration of PROFIBUS. The PROFIdrive (PROFIBUS in motion control applications) exhibition, which was shipped to SA from the Hanover Fair, was another of the highlights of the event.
"The conference is a reminder that PROFIBUS is dynamic and happening in South Africa and we can look towards some explosive growth in the industry over the next few years," concludes Bean.
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The PROFIBUS Competence Centre (PCC) of Southern Africa, operated by IDXOnline, was established at the beginning 2004. It is the outcome of an initiative by the Regional PROFIBUS Association of Southern Africa to provide vendor neutral support and training for organisations maintaining and installing PROFIBUS systems in the Southern Africa.
30 centres of this kind have been established in countries around the world and form an infrastructure that has seen great success in the adoption of PROFIBUS as the fieldbus of choice. With an installed base of more than 10 million devices it enjoys a substantial lead over its nearest competitor with growth to 20 million devices predicted by 2008.
The PCC carries the formal endorsement of the International PROFIBUS Organisation who ensures that all such centres adhere to stringent quality standards.
The PCC of Southern Africa strives to bring the same comprehensive training and support available to PROFIBUS users elsewhere in the world home to PROFIBUS users in South Africa.
These services include:
* Call Centre and Email support free of charge
* Internationally Certified PROFIBUS Installer`s and Engineer`s training
* Supplementary training - system planning, troubleshooting & maintenance
* System Design and Installation
* System Audits and Installation Certification
* System support and troubleshooting
* Remote network monitoring and predictive maintenance
The Competence Centre carries the support of, and has a good working relationship with the majority of PROFIBUS device manufactures and system integrators in Southern Africa as well as a host of international contacts. We want to make PROFIBUS the simplest, least troublesome fieldbus available - if you work with PROFIBUS make the Competence Centre your first port of call and let our network of experts do the hard work for you.
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