4M provides the Architecture, Engineering & Construction community with advanced CAD & BIM Software since 1986. Intelligent Building Design has never been so easy and affordable.

4M provides the Architecture & Engineering Community with Advanced Verticals and with Innovative BIM Solutions. Today 4M has more than 35.000 Active Users in over 40 Countries Worldwide

Powered by the technology, all the 4M Software offer an unrivalled compatibility with AutoCAD ® by using DWG as their native file format.4M has a user base of over 35.000 users closely supported by a network of highly professional partners in more than 40 countries.

CAD4ALL has been the sole distributor for 4M in Southern Africa for the past 8 years expanding the 4M Footprint sustainably over the past few years. CAD4ALL offers expert CAD service as well as accredited training in CAD and Various courses and Qualifications.

Cad4all Corporate Solutions (CCS)established in Cape Town is a proud division of Cad4all Career and Design College. CCS was founded as a consulting company that specializes in partnering with corporates to provide insight and direction to guide B-BEEE implementation.

Our Corporate Strategic Training and Consulting solutions division with industry experts enables us to create the best strategic transformation plan that will help corporates to maximise the most out of their B-BEEE. In any business in South Africa a BEE scorecard is an important element hence encouraging business owners to understand the scoring and value thereof.

The higher your BEE score the better chances of your business gaining opportunities with favourable tax gains

South Africa’s leading construction materials company, AfriSam is celebrating the graduation of 23 small business owners who completed their business training as part of the 2nd intake of Dudfield’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme. The training programme commenced in January 2018 with the aim of identifying Small and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the surrounding communities to the AfriSam Dudfield operation and assisting those enterprises to grow their business skills and capabilities to access markets and participate in the AfriSam supply chain.  

This initiative is in line with AfriSam’s transformation strategy and the Social and Labour Plan Local Economic Development initiatives of the company’s Dudfield operation in Lichtenburg, North West province. The graduation to celebrate the 23 participants achievements was held on 13 March 2019. 

Hannes Meyer, Cementitious Executive says: “AfriSam continues to support local enterprises, to create possibilities of growth in the local economy, staying true to our slogan of ‘Creating Concrete Possibilities’. We trust that the SMMEs as part of the second intake of Dudfield’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme have gained valuable knowledge and skills to grow their businesses.” 

Local SMMEs were invited to apply for the business skills training programme which is coupled with Coaching and Mentoring of the SMMEs to be able to grow their businesses. Their profiles were assessed and a total of 23 SMME owners and delegates signed up for business training. The full training series comprised three levels covering 20 modules and entailed 39 days of training in total, over a six-month period.  

The modules covered during the programme included basic accounting concepts, statutory requirements and compliance, and bookkeeping amongst others. Based on feedback received from various sources including the mine management and some SMMEs, the training program / content was modified to create room for an additional module covering costing and pricing, which was identified as the biggest shortcoming demonstrated by the SMME tenders.  

Exempted Micro Enterprises and Qualifying Small Enterprises (as defined by the B-BBBEE codes of good practice) from AfriSam’s Vendor list are identified and enrolled for the mentoring and coaching programme, which aimed to assist them with resolving some obstacles that they were experiencing in doing business and to increase their competitive advantage.  

During the six months of training, the SMMEs were also given an opportunity to participate in some short- and medium-term supply opportunities at Dudfield which included, catering, transportation, silo cleaning, and construction and renovations of toilets in the local schools as part of the AfriSam’s CSR initiatives. The SMMEs were also introduced to the NHBRC and CIDB for a workshop and advice on how the SMMEs can effectively affiliate with the organisations. AfriSam has developed a criterion to assist five deserving companies with affiliation fees for one year. 

At the ceremony three individuals were rewarded for 100% Attendance and one obtained a Top Achiever award.  The North West ABSA Entrepreneurship Centre Manager presented the funding options which entrepreneurs can apply for online, and the non-financial support that ABSA offers entrepreneurs at their two centres in Rustenburg and Klerksdorp and through community workshops.  

The SMMEs thanked AfriSam for supporting their businesses and pledged to be ambassadors of AfriSam by setting a good example in the community and providing employment and upliftment to the youth in their respective communities. All participants who completed the course, received a laptop from AfriSam, as a gift to be used as an essential tool to enhance their business administration and connectivity.   

AfriSam will continue with the long-term Coaching and Mentoring of all trained SMMEs to realise their companies’ development plans and growth aspirations.

The construction and infrastructure industry should expect another tough year during 2019 following reduced budget allocation to the sector by the minister of Finance Tito Mboweni, this according to South Africa’s leading economists speaking at the Annual AfriSam Post-Budget Breakfast event. Political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi adds that national elections on 08 May will add to business pressures, despite that the African National Congress (ANC) being expected to retain its majority position in parliament. 

South Africa’s construction materials giant hosted an insightful post-budget breakfast session with Dr. Azar Jammine director and chief economist at Econometrix, David Metelerkamp, Senior Economist at Industry Insight and political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi.  

“2019 is going to be tough for the local economy, but better than 2018. There were positive signs in the budget. There are still some risks especially around the function of the SOEs, slow-down in the global economy because of the trade wars between the US and China, as well as Brexit. On the local front the power supply challenges at Eskom is South Africa’s biggest quandary,” says Dr. Jammine. 

On infrastructure, Dr Jammine says the budget showed very little of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pronouncement to increases infrastructure spend. “The numbers presented don’t show increased spend on infrastructure even though we are hearing the President and minister of finance talk of infrastructure”. He adds that in nominal terms, budget allocation for infrastructure rose by about 4%.  

Metelerkamp highlighted the reduction of infrastructure spend from 2017 to 2019. State-Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) are the biggest contributors to poor infrastructure spend in the economy, resulting in the construction industry being at recessionary levels. “The year 2018 was not a good year for construction as there was a 15% decline in the nominal value of construction projects awarded”, said Metelerkamp.  

He adds that if the R864,9bn allocated to construction and infrastructure is spent effectively, it could be a step in the right direction for the economy and job creation. In addition, a positive cleanup of the SOEs (restructuring Eskom being a step in the right direction), implementation of renewable energy projects, road upgrades, and the building of affordable housing could restart the economy.  

Matshiqi said South Africa could be facing another recession and downgrade by credit rating agencies if steps are not taken to change current economic course, boost foreign investors’ confidence, and dealing with corruption and some of the negative sentiment emerging from the various commissions of inquiry. “Change will only come with the decisions we take as individuals”, encouraged Matshiqi.  

AfriSam Sales & Marketing Executive, Richard Tomes said the construction market was facing serious headwinds, some of which could be resolved if the state-owned entities are fixed and made to function efficiently, especially Eskom. 

This second Annual AfriSam Post-Budget Breakfast event brought together more than 200 infrastructure, materials and construction specialists to review the impact of the national budget on the sector. 

-- END --

This article was published by Archy Hlahla, Hlengani Communications on behalf of AfriSam.

AfriSam's Richard tomes | Aubrey Matshiqi's Interview 

Rapid technological advancements have gifted people with the ability to redefine their work lives. Saying goodbye to the nine-to-five, many professionals around the world are now untethered from their desks, able to work remotely from anywhere and at any time thanks to WIFI, smartphones and a whole host of other tech savvy tools. The benefits of this work method have been lauded for increasing productivity and work-happiness in employees. While it seems work may have left the building, companies and employees are still in need of future-forward spaces to connect, collaborate and share ideas.

As a result, many office developments are responding to this need by providing considered work environments that emphasize openness, transcend the idea of the daily grind and encourage a healthy work life balance in campus-style and community orientated spaces.In a 2017 article for Director, Monica Parker a behaviourist and founder of organizational change consultancy, Hatch, whose clients include Microsoft, Deloitte and the BBC says, “People always need a place to come together, and while coffee shops are great, people still like to have a place they can call a work home. I don’t think work has left the building – there is still that communal driver.”Today, companies are understanding more and more the importance of nurturing productivity through the significant benefits of open and flexible office environments. These benefits include creativity, knowledge sharing, teamwork and coordination. While Google, Apple and various other tech advanced companies have been operating like this for decades already, South Africa is just beginning to ride the crest of the flexible and open work wave.

Cue Park Square, Nedbank’s iconic R1billion mixed-use office and retail development located within uMhlanga’s New Town Centre and thriving commercial hub. Bordering the popular CJ Saunders Park and featuring innovative commercial and retail offerings, Park Square with its considered restaurants, shops and coffee bars will offer a connected work culture incorporating a unique leisure offering seamlessly linked to a vibrant and open urban square.  The Four Star Green Star-rated building, due for completion in October this year, includes 36 000m² of commercial space, 4 000m² of retail and an impressive 3 500m² open public piazza. Furthermore, it’s easily accessible to pedestrians, offers abundant parking and is close to a GO!Durban Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) stop. Ken Reynolds, Nedbank Property Finance Divisional Executive, property expert and Director of Nedport Developments, a subsidiary of Nedbank and Park Square’s developers says, “Projects like Park Square are effectively turning the South African urban planning paradigm around.

This innovative and connected space encourages people to think beyond the boardroom, take time to unplug and to connect with one another. By similarly drawing the surrounding communities for shopping and relaxing, the overall effect is a sociable, communal space that emphasises a convenient and balanced work life experience.” Park Square has already secured a series of high profile tenants including Nedbank, Spar and the IBV International Vaults.

Spar Marketing Manager, Travis Anderson says, “Customers no longer want to shop in large centres. They want the convenience of parking, walking straight into the building, doing their shop and walking straight out. We love Park Square because of its convenient location in a fast-developing area and its proximity to the CJ Saunders park which will allow us extra exposure as we piggy back off activities held there.” Reynolds says, “If you can imagine your day like this; arrive at work with your barista-made coffee in hand, in a reusable mug of course, use the morning for planning and responding to mails followed by a quick jog around the park at lunch, tuck into an artisanal deluxe sandwich bought from the Spar then attend afternoon meetings and drinks in the Square with your new client? Then you have imagined a day at Park Square.” Not forgetting profitability, a positive work environment increases productivity and in turn can have a significant impact on a company’s success. A reduction in staff downtime having amenities within walking distance of employee’s desks also reduces stress, as well as the lunch-hour rush with staff being able to avoid having to leaving the campus for their various requirements – from healthcare to lunch and even a spot of recreational shopping. Reynolds says, “Park Square offers mutual benefit for the employer and the employees with its unique commercial and lifestyle aspects. This world-class destination offers a win-win situation for both, where staff benefit by working in an open, future-forward environment and companies reap the rewards on their bottom line,” he concludes.  

To explore investment opportunities, contact Samantha Stewart (082 903 0828/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or visit: www.parkquare.co.za to find out more.

A snap survey conducted by TaranisCo Advisory has revealed that a large number of construction companies are in danger of having their B-BBEE status downgraded due to a failure to implement the Preferential Procurement and Supplier Development Element (PPSD), which collectively affords companies the most points on the Scorecard.

Companies surveyed reported that the Construction Sector Code was released rather late in 2017, and for those having February as their financial year-end, it came too late for them to make any meaningful interventions to optimise their scores before the next B-BBEE audit.

According to Gerrit Davids, Lead-Advisor of TaranisCo Advisory, “construction companies must firstly be aware that the ‘PPSD’ carries the mandatory “Priority Element” status wherein a minimum of 40% must be scored for all three applicable sub-elements”.

“Irrespective of what the company scores for ‘PSSD’, if they don’t achieve the 40% sub-minimum, their points will be downgraded to zero”.

Davids says, “a company could be downgraded from a Level One to that of a Level Six status, should it scores zero for this element and it will not do them any good when it tenders for government contracts”.

The Sector Code also now instructs companies to appoint people from senior management to coordinate the implementation of the ‘PSSD’ and it excludes the sub-element of Enterprise Development and it only allows for Supplier Development, with the effect, that it could only support those qualifying small-contractors doing business with it.  

For companies interested to receive an extended, but short report on how to implement the Preferential Procurement and Supplier Development element, kindly visit www.taranisco.info

The growing number of informal settlements in South Africa is increasing pressure on basic services that the government has to provide such as water and sanitation, housing and electricity, challenges both local and national government are working extremely hard to address. Hoxana Consulting Engineers has partnered with various local municipalities to deliver service of the highest quality as part of government’s commitment to eradicate dire conditions in disadvantaged communities such as Wesselton, Ermelo.

The Wesselton settlement consists of both formal and informal settlements which have developed as a result of the housing shortages in the area. Wesselton Extension 5 currently has 100 informal structures housing 400 people, and extension 10 has a total of 51 informal living structures which are home to 212 residents.“These informal settlements are a health hazard and a resolution to formalize all informal settlements has been made by Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM)”, says Livingstone Mashele, Managing Director at Hoxana Consulting Engineers.

The Msukaligwa Local Municipality appointed Hoxana Consulting Engineers to undertake the planning, design and construction monitoring for the implementation of the extension of sewer reticulation from Wesselton Extension 5 and 10. The estimated cost of the proposed sewer reticulation and toilets for Wesselton Ext 5 is valued at R 2 390 429.98 and R 1 703 250.52 for Wesselton Ext 10.The completion of the sewer reticulation will greatly improve the quality of life for all residents through hygienic living conditions, reduction in pollution and eradication of water borne diseases such as Cholera and Typhoid.

Hoxana Consulting Engineers will also ensure that local communities benefit from the project through the adoption of labour intensive construction methods and training. “At Hoxana, we strongly believe in community upliftment which is why approximately 60% of this project will be executed through labour Intensive process in order to empower the local labourers and to provide technical skills to the local community”, says Mashele.The Wesselton project began 29 January 2018 and should be completed and handed over to the local community on at the end of June 2018. 

Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings receives two nominations in this year’s SA Professional Services Awards 

Inyatsi Group Holdings and its CEO, Tommy Strydom, have both been nominated for SA Professional Services Awards, at the third edition of the event in February 2018.  Inyatsi was nominated as one of five finalists for the Best Firm in the Construction class of the Built Environment category, and Tommy Strydom was nominated as one of five finalists for the Professional of the Year in the Construction class of the Built Environment category Judges’ comment: “Tommy’s interview responses demonstrate a professional who can be a sterling example for many in the industry. His loyalty to Inyatsi is heart-warming in an industry where many are known to hop around, including a number of other award entrants.

That he counts not seeing his family often enough as a low demonstrates that he is a professional who prioritises work-life balance. Additionally, it is noteworthy that he represents the company and region at the World Economic Forum "  Judges’ comment: “Inyatsi Construction is a deserving recipient given that the company is carving out its niche in a market that is dominated by giant multinationals. Entities with African roots should be given recognition for daring to push boundaries particularly in these tough economic times. One of the most powerful statements we have seen in this cycle??? comes from their ‘respect for human dignity, individual advancement and teamwork’.

Tommy Strydom joined Inyatsi in November 2009. He is a graduate of Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg, or UJ) where he obtained a BEng in civil engineering and then furthered his studies at UJ.  Prior to his current position, he worked mostly for construction companies. In 1997 he started as a site engineer at WBHO before progressing to contracts manager at Lonerock Construction in 2007. Soon afterwards, his expanding expertise in engineering enabled him to join Inyatsi Construction in 2009 as a contracts manager, later becoming GM for South Africa and Namibia and then MD of Inyatsi’s Mozambique subsidiary, NCC. During this time, he also became director of Inyatsi Botswana before becoming CEO of Inyatsi Group. He currently represents the Inyatsi Group on the World Economic Forum, where Inyatsi is one of only 1000 companies worldwide that are members of this exclusive forum.    

ABOUT
INYATSI CONSTRUCTION GROUP HOLDINGS is a construction company that specialises in infrastructure projects, including roads and earth works, civil work, bridge construction, buildings, storm water drainage, water reticulation, water treatment plants, sewer works, dams and reservoirs. Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings was formed in 2007 as the holding company of Inyatsi Construction and its regional subsidiaries.  The company has operations in Swaziland (where it is head-quartered), South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, and registered companies in Botswana and Namibia. Inyatsi and all its subsidiaries are ISO 9001:2008 certified. It has completed the NOSA 5 Star Audit and was awarded four Platinum Stars. The company is named after the Swazi word for buffalo to capture the indigenous and hard-working heart of the company. ABOUT AWARDSFor more about the SA Professional Services Awards visit their website -  saproawards.co.za/ Press Release

New series of robust RJ45 connectivity devices offer 360° shielding and target networking and datacommunications applications 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 5 July, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has augmented its extensive range of products from Phoenix Contact used in industrial and electronics applications with a new series of RJ45 connector devices.  

Combining the trusted RJ45 format with innovative tool-free installation techniques, the Phoenix Contact CUC series offers a one-piece design providing easy installation even in hard to reach places. One of the most popular types of connectors, the RJ45 format is widely used by engineers working in networking and data communications. 

Ideal for applications that require version 14 push-pull interlocking, preventing inadvertent connector removal, the series also allows users to assemble parts without special tools, as well as offering high shock and vibration resistance capability. The series also delivers 360° shielding with high resistance to ESD and EMC to protect data transmission integrity. 

The CUC series includes a range of IP65/IP67-rated RJ45 connector plugs for Cat5e cabling, including straight and right-angle cable-mount options; panel-mounting frames for use with RJ45 connectors; a Cat5e and Cat6a RJ45 STP-shield straight socket insert; and an RJ45 protective cover. 

The Phoenix Contact CUC series of RJ45 industrial connectivity devices is now available from RS. 

-Ends-  

About RS Components

RS Components is the market leader in the high service level distribution of electrical, electronic, mechanical, tools and industrial products. Operating in 26 countries whilst serving a further 100 through third-party distributors, RS serves every sector of industry in the procurement of their products relating to maintenance, repair, operations, low volume production, research and development.   

With over 500 000 products across 2500 leading brands, the company is committed to ensuring that their 1,5 million customers have fast access to a broad, as well as deep range, of products and technologies, all under one roof. RS’s customers, whether ordering single or multiple items, experience a quick, easy, secure, painless and cost effective process.  The RS catalogue, available at za.rs-online.com, offers full colour pictures with extensive clear product specifications. 

Free access to thousands of datasheets ensures the correct product choice.  Order placement is easily facilitated through za.rs-online.com, the call centre, e-mail, fax and trade counter.  Locally held stock is delivered to customers within 24 hours, and products held internationally, within four to six working days.    

It is proven that departments traditionally spend 80% of their time sourcing products that account for only 20% of their total procurement spend. RS is focussed on reducing the customers “total cost of product ownership” by reducing the need to make multiple calls to various companies to source products, reducing supplier related administration and allowing for the amalgamation as well as consolidation of supplier bases. 

Through this process, procurement efficiency is improved and time is freed up to concentrate on the more important business decisions. 

For more information, please visit the website at za.rs-online.com 

Press Office:                                                                       

Le-andra Olivier
PR and Communications Specialist
RS Components South Africa
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+27 11 691 9345 

Further information is available via these links:

• Twitter: @rsonline_SA; @DesignSparkRS
• Facebook: facebook.com/rssouthafrica/RS Components on LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/rscoms 

Relevant Links:

• RSProRS Components South Africawww.electrocomponents.com
• DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com

Offering host of leading-edge features, robust Fluke camera delivers precise and reliable information for engineers and technicians working in industry sectors including electrical, processing and manufacturing 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 3 July, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has announced availability of the latest thermal imaging camera from the Ti range from Fluke, a world leader in the manufacture, distribution and service of electronic test tools and software.

The new Fluke Ti480 is a rugged 640 x 480-pixel thermal imaging camera that delivers precise and reliable information for engineers, enabling them to quickly and easily identify and diagnose potential problems before they become expensive failures. 

Offering a number of high-end features based on Fluke’s leading-edge technologies, the Ti480 thermal imager targets maintenance engineers, technicians and other engineers working in a wide cross-section of industries such as chemical processing, manufacturing, mineral and metallurgical processing, and the oil and gas sector.

Key potential applications include: motion control maintenance, such as checking the temperature of motors; electrical maintenance, looking for hot spots in components or wiring in control panels; or in fluid maintenance, spotting leakages under floors or within walls. 

Key features of the Ti480’s camera include: LaserSharp, which uses a built-in laser distance meter to calculate the distance to the designated target with pinpoint accuracy; MultiSharp, which delivers automatically focused images throughout the field of view, dramatically eliminating potential for misdiagnosis; IR Fusion, which enables the easy adjustment of blending visible and infrared images; and IR-PhotoNotes, which is an annotation system that captures digital images of the surrounding area to reference the actual location or local conditions, as well as allowing additional details such as voice annotations to be saved to a file. 

Additional features include: a one-handed pistol-style grip for fast point-and-shoot troubleshooting; SuperResolution, which captures multiple images and combines them to create a 1280 x 960-pixel image; and the ability to highlight areas that are outside the pre-set normal temperature ranges with colour alarms.  

The Ti480 also works as part of the Fluke Connect system, which wirelessly links the imager to the Fluke network of wireless test and measurement tools and allows the time-synced saving of images, enabling team members to instantly view the data. The imager also comes with the Fluke Connect SmartView desktop software, which allows users to optimise thermal images, perform analytics, generate customisable reports, and export images in various formats. Pre-calibrated lenses are also available for use with the Ti480 imager, including a wide-angle lens and two telephoto lenses to enable image capture from close-up or from larger distances. The Fluke Ti480 is now available from RS.

 -Ends-  

About RS Components 

RS Components is the market leader in the high service level distribution of electrical, electronic, mechanical, tools and industrial products. Operating in 26 countries whilst serving a further 100 through third-party distributors, RS serves every sector of industry in the procurement of their products relating to maintenance, repair, operations, low volume production, research and development.   

With over 500 000 products across 2500 leading brands, the company is committed to ensuring that their 1,5 million customers have fast access to a broad, as well as deep range, of products and technologies, all under one roof. RS’s customers, whether ordering single or multiple items, experience a quick, easy, secure, painless and cost effective process.  The RS catalogue, available at za.rs-online.com, offers full colour pictures with extensive clear product specifications. 

Free access to thousands of datasheets ensures the correct product choice.  Order placement is easily facilitated through za.rs-online.com, the call centre, e-mail, fax and trade counter.  Locally held stock is delivered to customers within 24 hours, and products held internationally, within four to six working days.    

It is proven that departments traditionally spend 80% of their time sourcing products that account for only 20% of their total procurement spend. RS is focussed on reducing the customers “total cost of product ownership” by reducing the need to make multiple calls to various companies to source products, reducing supplier related administration and allowing for the amalgamation as well as consolidation of supplier bases. 

Through this process, procurement efficiency is improved and time is freed up to concentrate on the more important business decisions. 

For more information, please visit the website at za.rs-online.com 

Press Office:                                                                       

Le-andra Olivier

PR and Communications Specialist
RS Components South Africa
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+27 11 691 9345 

Further information is available via these links:

• Twitter: @rsonline_SA; @DesignSparkRS
• Facebook: facebook.com/rssouthafrica/
• RS Components on LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/rscoms 

Relevant Links:

• RSProRS Components South Africawww.electrocomponents.com

OEMs, panel builders and system integrators will all enjoy the benefits of robust performance, ease of installation and product commonality 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 June, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has increased the range of products it stocks from Schneider Electric’s Harmony range – the most comprehensive range of switches, pushbuttons, and pilot lights on the market for OEMs, panel builders, and system integrators. 

The new additions – which comprise robust and ergonomic push buttons, switches and pilot lights, indicators, timers, sockets and potentiometers – will allow panel designers to incorporate additional functionality and flexibility into their electrical panels, which, in turn, will give operators additional capabilities and visual indicators. 

Thanks to a unique shake-proof system, low-power signals and low-power switching, the Harmony range is well suited to demanding industrial environments and explosive/dust-laden atmospheres and can withstand the harshest operating conditions, including those seen in the textile, wood and paper, automotive, packaging, food and beverage, marine, mining, water, and oil and gas industries. 

Delivering high reliability, service life and performance coupled to lower maintenance and increased operator safety, the range also offers quick and simple installation thanks to a self-holding function when mounting, the ability to stack contact modules, and reliable and friction-locked fastening with just one screw. A wide range of accessories is also available that is compatible with the entire Harmony range. New products in the range, now available from RS, include: Flush-mounting kits, which provide an innovative design to improve the look and feel of new and existing control panels; Potentiometers for drive-speed control or to make basic setting adjustments; Three-phase voltage Indicators, which highlight the presence of three phases with or without neutral for the main power supply 360−440 VAC; USB and RJ45 ports for simple and effective connectivity of a PLC; Panel mount timers for the modification of PLC timer programs without opening the panel door; Yellow functions, comprising lights, LED blocks switch heads, pushbuttons and selector switch heads. 

By stocking this extended range from Schneider Electric, panel builders can now call upon a single manufacturer and supplier for all of their electrical requirements, safe in the knowledge that spares and many other compatible devices are readily available with short lead times. Operators gain peace of mind through: improved efficiency with better feedback; a clearer view of control features, thanks to high brightness and full-surface illumination; and large, flat pushbutton heads that are optimised for button actuation while wearing gloves. 

The additions form part of a much larger collection of panel building solutions from RS, which are backed up with significant support and educational collateral on the RS DesignSpark website. For further information on products stocked by RS for maintenance and machine safety applications please visit: http://smarturl.it/plant-maintenance and http://smarturl.it/machine-plant-safety.  

-Ends-  

About RS Components 

RS Components is the market leader in the high service level distribution of electrical, electronic, mechanical, tools and industrial products. Operating in 26 countries whilst serving a further 100 through third-party distributors, RS serves every sector of industry in the procurement of their products relating to maintenance, repair, operations, low volume production, research and development.   

With over 500 000 products across 2500 leading brands, the company is committed to ensuring that their 1,5 million customers have fast access to a broad, as well as deep range, of products and technologies, all under one roof. RS’s customers, whether ordering single or multiple items, experience a quick, easy, secure, painless and cost effective process.  The RS catalogue, available at za.rs-online.com, offers full colour pictures with extensive clear product specifications. 

Free access to thousands of datasheets ensures the correct product choice.  Order placement is easily facilitated through za.rs-online.com, the call centre, e-mail, fax and trade counter.  Locally held stock is delivered to customers within 24 hours, and products held internationally, within four to six working days.    

It is proven that departments traditionally spend 80% of their time sourcing products that account for only 20% of their total procurement spend. RS is focussed on reducing the customers “total cost of product ownership” by reducing the need to make multiple calls to various companies to source products, reducing supplier related administration and allowing for the amalgamation as well as consolidation of supplier bases. 

Through this process, procurement efficiency is improved and time is freed up to concentrate on the more important business decisions.  For more information, please visit the website at za.rs-online.com 

Press Office:                                                                       

Le-andra Olivier
PR and Communications Specialist
RS Components South Africa
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+27 11 691 9345 

Further information is available via these links:

• Twitter: @rsonline_SA; @DesignSparkRS
• Facebook: facebook.com/rssouthafrica/RS Components on
• LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/rscoms 

Relevant Links: 

• RSProRS Components South Africawww.electrocomponents.com
• DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com