Johannesburg, South Africa – November 2017, Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), an audio pioneer and communications technology leader, recently announced the Blackwire 5200 Series and Blackwire 3200 Series. With sleek, updated designs, professional-grade audio, and a range of product choices at varying price points, the new Blackwire headsets connect to laptops, PCs and smartphones for seamless communication.

“The Blackwire family has consistently delivered for our customers and remains one of our top-selling product lines,” said Gavin Sear, Manager, Global Product Marketing at Plantronics. “The Blackwire 5200 Series and Blackwire 3200 Series step up the line’s adaptability for the next generation of in-office professionals by enabling them to easily connect to all their devices while enjoying all-day comfort and a high-quality audio experience.”

The Blackwire family of products are designed for people whose work demands that they are connected to their computer or smartphone with the flexibility to switch between devices without missing a beat. Research shows office-based workers are often distracted by ambient noise and interruptions, and they need communications solutions to help them focus.

When professionals select the forward-looking industrial design, premium materials, and lava-red accents used throughout the headset and cords of the Blackwire 5200 Series and Blackwire 3200 Series they get a high-performance headset that assures they can hear and be heard in every conversation along with a new design that conveys competence and confidence to handle even the most critical conversation. The Blackwire Series is designed to work with popular software applications such as Cisco Jabber, Microsoft Skype for Business, and Microsoft Teams across PCs, laptops and smartphones with a headphone jack.

Additional features and benefits of the next-generation Blackwire family include:

• Folding ear cushions and included carrying case for easy on-the-go storage
• Intuitive one-touch call answer/end, volume increase/decrease and mute controls
• Works across a range of devices supporting USB-A or USB-C and 3.5mm connections
• User-friendly audio prompts with language customization and inline indicator lights alert the user to incoming calls, mute and volume status
• Wideband audio with noise-canceling microphones for high-quality telephony audio
• Compatibility with Plantronics Manager Pro, an additional purchase, that enables IT teams to gain insight into every compatible Plantronics headset being used company-wide
• Dynamic EQ automatically adjusts audio settings between voice calls and music

Features exclusive to Blackwire 5200 Series include:

• Passive noise cancelling to mitigate nearby talking and other distracting noises for greater focus
• Dynamic mute alert, ensuring optimal productivity by sensing and alerting users via an in-ear whisper when they are trying to talk while muted
• SoundGuard Digital enabled by Plantronics Hub software provides additional advanced acoustic limiting protection preventing average daily noise exposure from exceeding 85dBA
• A redesigned headband that was influenced by the Voyager Focus design.

The Blackwire 5200 Series and the Blackwire 3200 Series will be available soon in South Africa through Plantronics authorized partners. More information about features offered within Blackwire 5200 Series and Blackwire 3200 Series are available at www.plantronics.com/africa

About Plantronics
Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike, and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit www.plantronics.com/africa. 

_____
Plantronics, Inc. Blackwire, Plantronics, and SoundGuard are trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. registered in the US and other countries, and Plantronics Hub is a trademark of Plantronics, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Skype for Business are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Cisco is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. The Bluetooth trademark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of the mark by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

[1] Not all statements applicable to Blackwire 3210/3220

Constant connectivity and being technology obsessed Is the reality our society has conformed to. How does this affect your summer vacation? And should this routine be avoided?

Cape Town, November 17, 2017: When you picture your summer holidays, do you envision family, outdoor activities, and the beach? Or sun, sand and your Android or iPhone? In the idyllic world, you would probably choose option one, however for most of us the sad reality is that our smartphones, tablets and laptops are always an arm length away, rarely leaving our lives for more than a day.   

Per We Are Social’s Digital 2017, South Africans spend a daily average of 8h 02min using the internet via pc/tablet, 3h 03min via mobile, 2h 54m on social media, and 2h 17min watching television. This is a significant amount of time dedicated to technology and can seem improbable to give up when going on a summer vacation.   

Having a tech-free holiday would naturally come with doubt and anxiety, as you are probably worried about the million and one emails you will have when you get back. Thus, it is important to plan before you go, inform all relevant bodies of your absence, setting up your out-of-office replies or making sure you have a house sitter to do daily check-ups can all play a role in making sure your holiday is stress free and enjoyable. 

If you are not convinced yet about having a tech-free holiday here are reasons why you should have a digital detox on your next trip:

• Reducing unnecessary stress of constantly getting work emails, tasks or people calling you about irrelevant things.
• Improving concentration and creativity, you will be pleasantly surprised the amount of ideas, and energy you will have from breaking routine.
• Increasing mental clarity and acuity, taking a break from technology and being one with nature can do wonders to your mental health and rejuvenation.
• Improving your health, no more eye irritations and bad posture from being slouched over your phone or PC.
• Promoting healthy restful sleep, you would be amazed how many extra hours you could put in without browsing on your phone before bedtime.
• Fostering a healthy work/life balance, is essential to your overall quality of life and happiness. Better overall attitude.
• Enjoy leisure time, taking a break from technology allows you to be in nature and have down time for yourself.
• Connect with others, you will be surprised how many new people you can meet and intellectual conversations you can have when your head is not buried in a phone or laptop.

Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of being disconnected from the outside world? Everything happens in moderation, practice good habits on your vacation and dedicate only 5% of your day to checking up on the online world. This will put your mind at ease, and eventually you can get to a state where you comfortable to not have it at all.

Khoisands Lodge is a luxurious beach house in the bustling town of Langebaan, in the Western Cape. It is the ideal accommodation for being in nature, for easy-living, and having a memorable experience. Visit our website to see our beautiful beach house accommodation.

SA Youth attracts over half a billion people to his YouTube channel, driving tourism and giving our national parks an Edge.  With You Tube already a partner on his channel and Facebook profiling him as a case study, the world is  Nadav Ossendryver's oyster.

The 22 year is fast making tracks globally with Forbes listing him as one of the most influential people to look out for under 30.  Thanks to What’s On Your Plate, a new series that highlights young entrepreneurs, innovators and influencers who are shaping the future; more South Africans will get to hear about him. 

On our second season of Bunnies in the Burbs: What’s On Your Plate; a JT Comms offering hosted by Wits student and youth entrepreneur Taynita Harilal, about sharing positive solutions of how a new generation of innovators are using technology and providing solutions to so many of the continents problems like job creation, nation building.

'We’re using our digitally enabled platforms to connect and amplify important, inspiring narratives that ordinary South Africans are creating to offer extraordinary solutions. Profiling Nadav in our Bunnies in the Burbs kitchen is an eye opener of how simple it can be sometimes to innovate without using any funds, working with what you have and building on one's passion. It's these kinds of stories that we believe can impact and influence how we use technology to create new futures." says Taynita Harilal.

Nadav Ossendryver has built one of the biggest YouTube followings in the country with his real-time wildlife-spotting service, Latest Sightings.  Latest sightings is a verifiable hit within the global wildlife and conservation community, with users not only being able to watch videos, but because of its crowd-sourcing model, can post their own encounters with nature and wildlife. Thousands of people around the world watch the live sightings and it's this kind of traction that Ossendryver's app is driving in profiling SA. His channel to date boasts more than half a billion views and has 537,969 subscribers.  The Latest Sightings app was named one of the Top 5 Most Innovative Apps for Culture and Tourism in the world at the World Summit Award (WSA) Innovation Congress, and Ossendryver was named one of Africa's Most Promising Entrepreneurs on the Forbes list for under 30’s for 2016.  Ossendryver's obsession with wildlife began when he was just eight-years-old, however it was only in 2011, when was 15, that he launched his first wildlife-spotting YouTube channel, Kruger Sightings, after a family holiday to the Kruger National Park. The channel was an instant success.

  "It was one of those small YouTube channels and my first video ever, actually went viral," Ossendryver says. This was despite some misgivings from the wildlife community about the possible interference of social media.  "At the time, that was the only way to get the community going. I couldn't think of any other way and I wanted people to know about this so they could share their sights, and because it's online, it's instant. In the past a lion could be a kilometer from you and you would have no way of knowing it."

 Ossendryver, who is currently studying for a B-Com degree part-time, has taken his influence beyond YouTube.  He has capitalised on the channel's success, launching a website and app, and together with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, updates wildlife enthusiasts on where interesting animals and birds can be spotted. The service also provides Kruger National Park accommodation recommendations and specials. 

With Tourism Month in full swing, the South African National Park (SANParks) is once again opening its doors for free for South African National Parks Week from Monday, 18 September until Friday, 22 September.The initiative is part of the annual South African National Parks Week. The campaign is held under the running theme ‘Know Your National Parks’ and allows locals, with valid identity documents, a chance to spend a day at a national park of their choice free of charge."Only when I finished matric, had I realised that this community is so big and I decided let's try and monetise it so I could do something I love forever and I could make a living off it. So the monetisation kind of started in the past two years and YouTube and the media around it is a big part of it."  Ossendryver has also partnered with Tendopro, an online education platform to provide wildlife courses to students, particularly those in rural and poverty-stricken areas.  For media queries, media accreditation, interview requests and to access high resolution pictures contact JT Comms on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 011 788 7632

About JT Communication Solutions

JT Communication Solutions “JT Comms” is a dynamic 21st century PR, Media, Communication and Marketing agency rooted in Africa, with a global reach. The agency is strategically positioned as a technology aggregator using digital to scale clients’ businesses linking them to a global audience through creation of engaging content distributed beyond the continent onto a global stage. Through its investment in technological operations, the agency has successfully launched a 360-degree turnkey digital solution hub for existing and potential clients. The agency is also home to Bunnies in the Burbs, #ECAfrica-Amplifying African excellence and architects of the #ECAfrica hashtag. Bunnies in the Burbs is a JT Comms initiative that launched in August 2016 and is a digital media cooking show about culture, cuisine and conversations and advancing positive African narratives. The show has a favourable footprint with viewership spanning beyond South Africa and the continent at large, being viewed and engaging audiences in countries such as United States of America, India, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago ,Mexico, Thailand, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Congo to mention a few. #WhatsOnYourPlate is the title of the second season of Bunnies in the Burbs where Youth Entrepreneurs are invited to cook a meal while sharing their entrepreneurial journeys.

Taynita Harilal (host) is no stranger to the hustle and opportunities of entrepreneurship. The 19 year old from Johannesburg first received media attention when she raised in excess of R150k for a tombstone for the late South African singing legend, Dolly Rathebe, garnering her place among the Lead SA Young Heroes in 2015, Yo TV's Achiever of the year amongst other accolades. She was born and bred in an entrepreneurial household and is making constructive use of the firsthand experience that this ongoing opportunity has provided by launching her own online television cooking show #BunniesintheBurbs #OurFamilyKitchen a JT Comms production. 

South African National Parks

The inaugural South African National Parks Week took place in 2006 and was aimed at linking the South African national parks system to the global national movement and to also showcase the best of South Africa’s national parks. During the SANParks Week, members of the public are able to access most of the country's national parks for free. It is part of San Parks campaign to showcase the natural beauty of South Africa and its heritage.  SANParks manages portfolio of 19 parks - a park for every region and one for every season. Table Mountain and Kruger National Park are international icons, but there other parks to experience and SanParks has tourism product development plans for adventure activities and other activities to attract visitors to Golden Gate National Park, which is accessible to the Gauteng market in particular.  

protel by Ankerdata launch mobile concierge and booking app with ConnectHOTEL  

The use of smartphones to book hotel rooms has increased significantly over the past few years with some statistics claiming this number to be well over the 50% mark for all hotel reservations.  With this information at hand the need for hotels to keep up with technology has become hugely important.  protel, by Ankerdata, a hospitality business solutions provider, has partnered with ConnectHOTEL to bring a customized, protel-compatible, ‘mobile concierge’ and booking application to the South African hotel industry.

The ConnectHOTEL platform, built locally in South Africa, integrates directly with protel platforms, bringing the best available rates, in real time, to guests using the app. Eben Marais, Director at Ankerdata, says, “This user-friendly, five-step booking application cuts commission fees to less than half of the major OTAs and together with a minimal set-up fee, is creating a lot of excitement in the industry.”

And, in response to the emerging chatbot demand which calls for conversation via auditory or textual methods, the platform also offers a bot named HOLLY, who is trained in the back-end to engage with guests before, during and after their stay, over a chat platform. Guests can order room service, lodge a request with housekeeping, book a taxi or arrange a later check-out time, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, ensuring a seamless, efficient and personalized experience with the hotel.

The mobile concierge and booking platform is designed based on a hotel’s requirements and internal management flows and processes, and is in keeping with its corporate identity. Jane Rosen from ConnectHOTEL says that they see this latest development in artificial intelligence as the future of guest engagement - it is a must for hotels wanting to attract and connect with a younger generation of travellers.

Easy-to-use RS Pro range of AC inverters and switches for induction motors ideal for processing and infrastructure industries 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 30 August, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, is expanding its high-quality RS Pro series of products with a large range of simple-to-install and easy-to-use AC inverters.

Complementing the wide range of AC inverters available from RS, the RSAC, RSMK, RSMA and RSDA series of devices are ideal for AC motor-control applications required by maintenance engineers and machine builders in processing and infrastructure industries. Designed for use with single-phase and three-phase AC induction motors across a wide range of power ratings, the RS Pro series comprises 17 AC inverter drives with the majority being IP65 rated (wash down), and the two models in the RSMK series rated to IP50.

The devices are ideal for situations where a robust and sleek design is necessary, and can be used in various applications including conveyors, HVAC and pumps. Available in epoxy die-cast-aluminium cases in two colours - rugged grey, and a white version that is FDA approved for use in food processing - the units offer easy operation with either simple or no programming required.

The high-quality and high-reliability RSDA series inverters, for example, offer power ratings from 0.75 to 2.25kW and feature common sense programming (CSP) to organise parameters into easy to understand intuitive groups. Devices in the range also include features such as Modbus communications protocol compatibility, programmable four-digit displays, status indicator LEDs and multi-function keypads. In addition, pricing is highly competitive and compares well to fully featured digital drives that require difficult programming and/or are provided in less robust plastic cases. 

Also available is a series of highly reliable switches for use with a selection of RS Pro inverter drives. The RSACDC power on/off switch, for example, is designed for use with the RSAC-24D inverter; the switch kit can be installed on the front cover of a drive to provide a positive AC-line disconnect.  The RS Pro range of AC inverter drives and accessory switches 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

RSPro
RS Components South Africa
www.electrocomponents.com
DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com 

Further information is available via these links

• Twitter: @RSComponents; @alliedelec; @designsparkRSRS Components on
• Linkedinhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components 

Relevant Links

• Electrocomponents plc
• www.electrocomponents.com
• RS Componentswww.rs-online.com
• DesignSparkwww.rs-online.com/designspark

Simple, effective and flexible communication infrastructure sees massive expansion in RS product range  

Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 August, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has expanded its range of IO-Link compatible hardware and ancillaries, more than quadrupling stock of IO-Link compatible devices over the past six months. IO-Link, the first standardised IO technology (to IEC 61131-9) for communication with sensors and actuators, will play an important part in the growing creation and adoption of fully connected solutions based around Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) concepts. Although the concept is very simple, IO-Link represents a huge milestone in sensor technology for industrial customers.

Machine and panel builders, designers, research and development engineers and maintenance personnel will all gain from its flexibility and its standardisation on M5, M8 and M12 connectors. The majority of IO-Link devices are equipped with M12 connectors, which can be used without any restrictions for IO-Link's switching mode and communication mode. Created by leading sensor manufacturers – including SICK, OMRON, ifm technology, BALLUFF, Baumer, Rockwell Automation and Pepperl + Fuchs – IO-Link’s point-to-point communication (which is Fieldbus independent) is based on long-established three-wire sensor and actuator connections, without additional requirements regarding the cable material. 

Each port of an IO-Link master is capable of processing binary switching signals and analogue values, with serial IO-Link communication taking place via the same port. Easy wiring, automated parameter-setting and extended diagnosis add even more functionality to the impressive mix of capabilities. All of these features combine to deliver multiple benefits, including reduced design and installation efforts and costs, reduced complexity, enhanced design flexibility, and standardisation of cabling and interfaces.

Of particular importance to the IIoT-based smart factory approach, IO-Link sensors can be leveraged as an easy and affordable continuous source of information, thanks to the new data-capable connection paths down to the lowest automation level. Primary applications will be seen in motion control, robotics, machine safety and process solutions, among others, across a great many industries, including food and beverage, packaging, assembly solutions and transportation.  Further information about IO-Link devices from RS is available here: http://za.rs-online.com/web/c/?searchTerm=io+link

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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
RSPro
RS Components South Africa
www.electrocomponents.com
DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com  

Range of pre-prepared cable assemblies for popular Molex connector families provides cost-effective solution for markets including communications, consumer and industrial 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 24 August, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has announced availability of a number of pre-prepared cable assemblies that provide compatible solutions for key product ranges from Molex, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of connectors and interconnection components. 

Targeting a wide range of applications in industries including automotive, consumer, defence, industrial and medical, as well as telecommunications and networking, the new Molex range of pre-terminated cables makes it even easier for engineers to adopt interconnection components in new and existing designs, removing the need for expensive tooling, long production times and laborious testing procedures. 

The wire-to-board cable assemblies have been designed with terminations chosen to work with some of Molex's most popular interconnection families. These include the FIT range (Micro-FIT, Mini-FIT Jr. Nano-FIT and Mega-Fit), as well as the CLIK-Mate and Micro-Clasp and Pico-Clasp connector ranges. 

The Molex pre-terminated cable assemblies are 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
RSPro
RS Components South Africa
www.electrocomponents.com
DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com

Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2017 - RS Components the global distributor for engineers recently partnered with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to kit out their new engineering labs in Bellville, Cape Town. RS Sponsored equipment to the value of R250 000 to be used in the project labs which are run by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (DEECE).

The four project labs will be used by over 450 students annually, to learn about electronics, mechanical and electrical engineering. The students will get the opportunity to learn about and work with actual engineering equipment by doing various assignments and projects according to their course curriculum.

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is the only university of technology in the Western Cape and is the largest higher education institution in the region. The equipment supplied to the labs is from RS’s private label range, called RS Pro – short for ‘professional’.

This range has grown to more than 50 000 high-quality, competitively priced industrial products and electronic components that have been developed over a period of 80 years in conjunction with global manufacturers.“RS Components has always been engaged in developing and supporting engineers and in recent years our involvement with education has grown in line with the demand for young people with STEM skills in South Africa,” said Brian Andrew, GM of RS Components South Africa.

“Being the global distributor for engineers and technical professionals, it made sense to partner with the CPUT as they are developing the next generation of technicians and technologists who are going to be required to be multi-skilled across engineering disciplines. We wanted the students to have access to the necessary tools and equipment so that they could practically put the theory they are studying into practice and have a taste of what the professionals use. Our RS Pro range matched the requirements of the labs by having great quality and performance while being affordable. We are extremely excited to see what these young students will be cooking up in the labs.” The official opening of the labs will take place on the 24th of August at the CPUT Bellville Campus.

There will be an opening by the Dean of the Faculty followed by a tour of the project labs.

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 

For more information contact
Shaun Watson
Account Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+27 (0) 87 941 3497

Brady BMP61 printer provides affordable labelling for identification of components and cables in industrial applications 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 August, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has introduced a new high-end thermal-transfer label printer that has been designed for quick and efficient customised identification of wires, cables and components.

The new BMP61 label printer from Brady is a highly useful tool for those working in market sectors that use a sizeable amount of cables that require labelling, such as the electrical, power, telecom and ICT industries. 

The BMP61 printer targets installers, field technicians, maintenance technicians, site managers and electrical contractors, as well as workers in cabling, control panel and switchgear manufacturing or cable harness assembly. Using high-performance materials that can handle the toughest industrial identification applications, the printer is both fast and portable, making it suitable for use on site or in the field. 

The printer is capable of high-performance printing on a wide range of durable labels, and is more than capable of handling a range of identification challenges due to its wireless connectivity. It is particularly suitable for applications such as the identification of outdoor cables of various sizes and main electrical components in the field or within facilities.

In addition, it can be used to replace engraved plates that identify components with printable labels that are virtually identical to engraved plates. Also available from RS are consumables and labels for the BMP61, including: engraved plate alternative labels in a range of sizes and personalised custom labels that can be ordered from a wide choice of personalisation options, including layout, shape, colour or logos. These labels can then be finalised using the BMP61 in the field by adding options such as serialisation code, barcode, number or text. The Brady BMP61 label printer 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
RSPro
RS Components South Africa
www.electrocomponents.com
DesignSpark Magazine -
http://www.designspark.com

Quick and easy to install Phoenix Contact wireless module enables Ethernet communication across wide range of industrial applications 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 August, 2017 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, has announced availability of an innovative Industrial Ethernet access point from Phoenix Contact. Offering quick and easy installation, the new WLAN1100 wireless LAN module is a reliable, rugged and safe device that combines access point and antenna technology in a single unit. 

Ideal for use with machinery, mobile vehicles and control cabinets, the module enables easy integration of industrial Ethernet technology to new and existing applications, helping to link smart devices to machines across a range of industry sectors and applications such as machine building, industrial automation, maintenance engineering, and the Industrial IoT and the Industry 4.0 smart factory concept. 

Designed for use in harsh industrial environments, the module is shockproof to IK08 and enables the simple and inexpensive integration of automation devices and PLCs via Ethernet connection to a wireless LAN, when compared to the traditional way of implementing communications in industrial applications via antennas and routers. 

Combining transceivers and a WLAN access point via two purpose-built antennas with MIMO technology in a single device, the WLAN1100 module’s design is simple to retrofit, and saves space and installation time via single-hole assembly and use of a Phoenix Contact COMBICON connector with push-in technology and an RJ45 connector. 

High levels of data protection are also enabled, as the device supports the highest available standards for IEEE 802.11i access points with AES encoding. Other features of the module include: protocol-transparent data transmission; low latency; configuration, diagnostics and connection control via SNMP and AT commands; as well as DHCP server and client operating modes. The Phoenix Contact WLAN1100 wireless module 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
RSPro
RS Components South Africa
www.electrocomponents.com
DesignSpark Magazine - http://www.designspark.com