Page 3 - trends in automation 1.2013

Water is the most abundant compound on Earth. It covers 71%
of the Earth’s surface; however, much of it is in bound up in
oceans and glaciers. Only a mere 2.5% of the Earth’s water is
fresh clean water – suitable for consumption for all life forms.
With rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization,
we continue to contaminate and use up this precious resource
and we will soon be facing water shortages.
In global terms, we see the United Nations’ General Assembly
nominating 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation,
while the world’s most populous nation – China – has included
key targets for huge investments in water supply and wastewater
treatment in its 12th five-year plan. It is of the utmost impor­
tance to increase the supply of potable water, essential for all
human life. Governments and organizations are striving to
deliver a sustainable water solution through urban and industrial
planning processes in order to meet current and future demand.
As a global automation specialist, Festo provides cities, metropo­
lises and industry with expertise in communal water supply
and wastewater treatment. Our emphasis has always been on a
greater use of automation as a means of enhancing productivity
and energy efficiency, increasing reliability and improving quality
and “total life-cycle” costs.
Of equal importance in implementing reliable and high quality
water supply projects is the need for qualified staff to ensure that
water supply and wastewater plants are efficiently operated and
sustainably maintained. After all, knowledge provides clarity.
You can read the article about how Festo Didactic has developed
specially adapted learning systems for South Africa (page 20).
Besides the focus on water, we also share news from our Bionic
Learning Network, which is inspired by the geckos who never
lose their footing, even on glass. NanoForceGripper has been
developed to provide energy-free holding and energy-efficient
gripping operations.
We are often puzzled by this question: pneumatic or electric?
Are you still wondering which is the most energy-efficient
solution? We share a comparison tool with you, the Festo model
calculator, to assist you in achieving concrete results. After all,
energy efficiency in automation is always dependent on the
industrial application. We will help you to make the right choice,
as we are the engineers of productivity!
Yours sincerely,
Desmond Teo
Desmond Teo, Director of Business Leadership,
Asia Pacific Region
Water is crucial
for life on Earth