2.2011
trends in automation
Synergies
24
–
25
developing market economy is
leading to a dynamic, enterprise-friendly
investment climate with advantages and
opportunities in global competition.
Automation technology on the up
The continuous construction and
expansion of the national infrastructure
is proving to be a very promising
potential for automation technology.
The manufacturing industry is an
extremely important part of the South
African economy with a share of about
18% of GDP and 5% of exports. In the
next five years the country expects
rapidly growing levels of investment
in the manufacturing industry sector.
One of the most important branches
of the manufacturing industry is the
automotive sector that is showing
significant growth boosted by the
“Automotive Production Development
Programme”.
A promising automotive industry
Numerous multinational groups buy parts
for automotive production from South
Africa and have vehicles manufactured
there for the domestic and international
market. This economic segment alone
accounted for about 10% of national
industry exports. The South African
government has recognised the
automotive industry as a vital growth
area and intends to increase vehicle
production to 1.2 million units by 2020
which will significantly increase the local
value creation chain. Festo South Africa
stands to benefit from this positive
development as one of the preferred
suppliers of the automotive industry.
It is in no small part responsible for the
company’s excellent 17% growth by
March 2011.
Investment in education
The South African government has for
years set great store by establishing
sound professional qualifications.
With the introduction of the “Skills
Development Act” in 1998, the
development of individual skills has
been at the heart of the policy. Graduates
in science, engineering and technology
will make a decisive contribution now
and in the future to promoting economic
growth and investment into the society’s
infrastructure. Festo Didactic is
supporting this development by
supplying learning systems to service
sector institutions and large private
industry training centres.
Cape Town:
A fascinating city and for many “the most beautiful end of the world”.
In two years the national company will
be celebrating its 40 anniversary in
Johannesburg. In total it employs 175 staff
at its head office in Johannesburg and in
the eight sales offices. Electric drives and
process automation are two strategically
important growth areas for Festo, ones on
which it will concentrate even more strongly
in future. As these industry sectors are
also extremely competitive in this thriving
country, the company is assuming
considerable, sustained growth dynamics
in South Africa in these areas.
Festo in South Africa
Richard Teagle,
General Manager
of Festo South Africa