Editor's Choice


Inovance brings advanced motion control to South Africa

Fourth Quarter 2023 Editor's Choice

Inovance and its South African distributor, Motion Tronic are launching the Easy Series PLC in this country, bringing its flexible, high-performance motion control solution to customers across South Africa in a wide range of industry sectors.

With the ability to deliver the simplest to the most complex motion control, the advanced EtherCAT-enabled Easy Series can be programmed to meet any requirement.

Motion Tronic director, Bradley Douglas said: “Motion Tronic is pleased to be able to offer its customers the opportunity to cut costs and improve their overall competitiveness with the Easy Series range, which has multiple communication protocols. I am excited about the potential of the Easy Series PLC to transform motion control for businesses in South Africa. The compact footprint of the product, and its suitability for a wide range of applications, makes it an excellent addition to Motion Tronic’s portfolio of Inovance products.


Bradley Douglas, Director, Motion Tronic.


David Bedford Guaus, Strategic Marketing.

“Inovance and Motion Tronic chose to bring the Easy Series PLC to South Africa because it is a high-end product and gives OEMs the ability to solve a wide range of problems. The company’s commitment to research and development is clear in the quality of its products, and the Easy Series PLC is no exception.”

The recent impressive growth in output by South Africa’s manufacturing sector bodes well for production. Figures from StatsSA show that it expanded by 1,2% month-on-month in June 2023, and 5,5% year-on-year. South African manufacturers are seeing activity increase, and many are turning to industrial automation technologies to handle higher output, improve their overall efficiency, and reduce costs. Inovance’s Easy Series PLC is therefore expected to prove popular with Motion Tronic’s customers.

The Easy Series PLC was launched in Europe in November 2022 at the well-known Smart Production Solutions (SPS) exhibition in Nuremburg, Germany. Explaining how the product can help companies in South Africa to meet their production goals, Inovance’s David Bedford Guaus, strategic marketing manager for AC Drives and Servos said: “I am proud to be able to offer the Easy Series PLC to South African customers through our strong and effective partnership with Motion Tronic. Inovance’s advanced Easy Series PLC provides the simplest to the most complex motion control solution through its complete range of products.”

Emphasising how the Easy Series PLC offers flexibility from simple to complex motion control, Guaus pointed out that it features PLCopen compliant axis control and multiple communication protocols such as Modbus RTU, EtherCAT (on the Easy5xx models), optional CANopen (except on the Easy301 model), and Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP (both available in the Easy320 and Easy523 models). This is provided alongside ST, LD and SFC language support to ensure compatibility with a wide range of existing systems and applications.

“The Easy Series PLC is the next level in PLC motion control, with simulation mode for offline debugging, real-time fieldbus, axis group for linear and circular interpolation, and CAM table functionality. The PLC series also supports function block and function for encapsulation, code reusability and scalability.

Industrial automation giant, Inovance and its South African distributor Motion Tronic, based in Durban, were both founded in 2003. Together they provide South African OEMs with a wide range of world-leading industrial automation technology and services, including installation, commissioning, mechanical and technical support.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Pushing technological boundaries with Festo Electric Automation solutions
Festo South Africa Editor's Choice
In the ever-evolving landscape of Industrial Automation, Festo Electric Automation solutions are at the forefront of a revolution, fundamentally reshaping production paradigms. As a global leader in automation, Festo focuses on intelligent connectivity to reduce costs, save time, and increase efficiency and convenience for customers.

Read more...
Perfect balance for every race
Horne Technologies Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
It goes without saying that success in Formula 1 requires a top driver. However, their chance of achieving a place on the podium depends on the car, which in turn depends on three essential factors: engine, tyres and aerodynamics. To find the optimum balance, the racing teams test models of their bolides in the wind tunnel. At Sauber, the adjustable components are moved on the model and in the test chamber using FAULHABER motors.

Read more...
MeerKAT radio telescope array
Editor's Choice News & events
Leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory practice, Zutari is continuing its involvement with the world-leading MeerKAT radio telescope array, where it has played a leading role since the project first broke ground.

Read more...
Top 10 emerging technologies
Editor's Choice
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified ten technologies likely to make a significant positive impact in the next three to five years. These are detailed in the ‘Top 10 Emerging Technologies’ report, which explains each technology’s potential for addressing global challenges and the factors that will shape the future and revolutionise connectivity still further.

Read more...
Electrifying the future
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
A revolution is underway, transforming the way we power compact construction machines and heavy-duty mobile machinery. This is the electrification of equipment, a movement propelled by the need for environmental sustainability, lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and the pursuit of a cleaner, greener future.

Read more...
How to clean compressed air effectively
Editor's Choice
SO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.

Read more...
New Black Bruin hydraulic motors for heavy-duty applications
Axiom Hydraulics Editor's Choice Hydraulic systems & components
Axiom Hydraulics and Black Bruin have been working together since the late 1990s, serving southern Africa’s fluid power, mining, industrial, agriculture and marine industries. Now Black Bruin is extending its rotating shaft motor portfolio. With a patent pending design, the new X-series is engineered to enhance the performance of both new and existing machinery in terms of durability, serviceability and cost-effectiveness.

Read more...
Quality gearboxes for agriculture
SEW-EURODRIVE Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Offering a complete gear solution for centre pivot irrigation systems, SEW-EURODRIVE brings its quality products and support as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) closer to South Africa’s farming sector.

Read more...
Robotic solution for adhesive tape application with flexible control
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Robotics & Mechatronics
In industry, even elaborate processes, such as the application of adhesive tape to parts with varying geometries are automated. Innovative Automation has developed a platform with Beckhoff control technology and a remote feeding module, which increases productivity and enables flexible customisation for different requirements.

Read more...
The information explosion
Editor's Choice Other technologies
The world has a data storage problem. There’s an explosion in the volume of data being generated and stored, and it’s rising exponentially. Fortunately, organisations are beginning to test new storage technologies like DNA storage, glass storage, neuromorphic computing, and extreme parallelism in order to keep up.

Read more...