Profibus Australia announces second consecutive year of profit and plans for coming year

Profibus Australia (PAA) has announced a profit for the 2014 financial year, but forecast a softer financial return in 2015 following a slowdown in Australia’s resources sector.

PAA made these announcements at its 2015 annual general meeting, held at Bürkert Fluid Controls’ premises in Sydney on 28 May 2015. The 2014 financial year results represent the second consecutive year of profits for PAA.

With Australia’s resources sector being a major user of PAA’s Certified training courses, the association predicts that the slowdown in that sector will reduce its revenue during the current financial year. However, PAA said the drop in revenue will not affect its promotional plans for 2015 and 2016, announcing a wide range of promotional initiatives.

Profibus International Conference

The PI Conference will be held in Sydney in May 2016. The conference will see Profibus International’s leading decision-makers, each representing one of 27 Regional Profibus Associations around the world, participating in the 3-day conference.

Inspired by the 2016 Profibus & Profinet EXPO theme ‘Forward Thinking’, Profibus Australia has already secured a number of venues on Sydney’s spectacular harbour foreshores for the conference. Delegates and their partners will be transported daily from Sydney’s Circular Quay in the heart of the historical Rocks area via passenger boat for a scenic harbour tour in between their morning and afternoon presentations.

The afternoon meeting venues are located in close proximity to the luxury hotel, which has panoramic views of the city skyline, Sydney Opera House or Sydney Harbour Bridge. Delegates will have the opportunity to walk through Sydney’s popular historical areas on their way back from the conference.

Advanced bookings have opened for the 2016 PI Conference and can be made on PAA’s website.

Profinet & Profibus Expo

The one day Profinet & Profibus Expo will follow the PI International Conference, at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney on Wednesday 25 May 2016. Many of the PI delegates, leading experts in industrial networks and automation technologies, will be guest speakers at the expo’s one-day forum.

Profibus and Profinet certified training courses

This series of training courses will run in October and November 2015. They will feature the newly elected Global PITC Chairman, Peter Thomas, an experienced trainer and recognised authority on Profibus and Profinet.

The certified training courses will be conducted in Auckland, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Advance bookings are now open and can be made on the PAA website at profibusaustralia.com.au.

2015 Executive and marketing committees

PAA has also announced the elected 2015 executive and marketing committees. Due to the busy year of planning ahead, the 2015 marketing committee will be larger than usual.

Executive committee:

• Rafael Koenig — Chairman (Pentair Actuation & Controls)
• Chris Hoey — Treasurer (Bürkert Fluid Control Systems)
• Andrew Dummett — Secretary (Adshop Marketing Communications)

Marketing committee:

• John Skinner (Siemens)
• Kaveh Fanian (Pepperl+Fuchs)
• John Ortika (Phoenix Contact)
• Shalveen Sharma (GE Intelligent Platforms)
• Darrell Adams (SMC)
• Jim Wallace (Balluff)