Students acknowledged as Young Researchers

EMP 2025 Electronics Manufacturing & Production Handbook News

Two engineering students from Stellenbosch University, Yasmin de Raay and Chris Erasmus, have advanced to the international round of the 2025 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation competition. Their projects impressed the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) for their originality and relevance to the forestry sector, which play a key role in producing wood and paper.

Managed by the International Council of Forestry and Paper Associations (ICFPA), this competition seeks projects from researchers under 30 years of age who are working in forest-based science, products using wood, pulp or paper as a raw material, process improvements, or other innovations throughout the forest sector value chain.

As first and second place winners in the South African competition, Erasmus and De Raay were awarded R15000 and R10000 respectively. Their projects will now be judged against those from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. An international panel will select the top three global finalists who will then present their projects at the ICFPA CEO Global Roundtable in May 2025 in New York.

Erasmus, who is completing a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has developed a wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system tailored for the forestry industry. This solar-powered device tracks tree growth patterns, water dynamics, and environmental stressors such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture with precision.

De Raay is pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering with her project introducing a mini rhizotron system designed to remotely monitor root growth and dynamics in forestry plantations.

For more information contact Jane Molony, Paper Manufacturers Association Of South Africa, +271 180 35063,

[email protected], www.thepaperstory.co.za

Further reading:

Datacentrix achieves Cisco IIoT certification
News
This certification underscores Datacentrix’s expertise in the deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions, empowering industries such as manufacturing, automotive, energy, oil and gas and critical infrastructure clients, to accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

Read more...

---

Mycronic year-end report
News
Net sales increased 5% to the new record level of SEK 2059 million, where a decrease in pattern generators was offset by increases mainly in high volume and global technologies.

Read more...

---

Latest South African innovation shown abroad
Etion Create News
Pretoria-based electronics company Etion Create’s new CheetahNAV Compact vehicle navigation system is making its debut at the IDEX 2025 exhibition in the United Arab Emirates.

Read more...

---

Calls to register for Computer Olympiad Talent Search
News
The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) has urged more South African schools to register their learners to take part in the 2025 Computer Olympiad Talent Search - a free, fun challenge to help schools identify and nurture STEM skills.

Read more...

---

Distribution agreement expansion for Mouser
News
Mouser has expanded its global distribution agreement with Eaton Corporation to include Eaton Electrical.

Read more...

---

How NTN modules integrate cellular and satellite to revolutionise IoT connectivity
News
Join this Masterclass webinar, held in partnership with Trimble, for an in-depth discussion on how to navigate the requirements of ASIL for GNSS devices.

Read more...

---

From the editor's desk: A challenging manufacturing landscape
Technews Publishing News
Electronic manufacturing in South Africa faces many challenges that limit its potential to compete effectively on the global market, with several obstacles that are impeding its development.

Read more...

---

TrendForce: Unveiling new opportunities in tech innovation for 2025
News
TrendForce has outlined 10 key trends shaping the technology landscape in 2025.

Read more...

---

Technical resource centre for smart cities
News
Mouser’s infrastructure and smart cities content hub features comprehensive articles, blogs, eBooks, and products from Mouser’s technical team and trusted manufacturing partners.

Read more...

---

UFS Flash named Best in Show
EBV Electrolink News
KIOXIA Europe GmbH was named as winner in the Memory & Storage category of the Embedded Computing Design (ECD) electronica Best in Show Awards at the recently held electronica 2024.

Read more...

---