Industrial Data Xchange (IDX) is proud to have represented Southern Africa at the 36th Annual PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) Meeting, held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from May 12 to 16, 2025. This five-day event brought together key stakeholders from across the globe to share developments, align strategies, and shape the future of industrial communication technologies.
Kyle Roos attended the event on behalf of PROFIBUS and PROFINET International South Africa (PISA), our affiliated Regional PI Association (RPA). He wears a few important hats, including:
- Head of Site Engineering at IDX
- Head of the Training Centre (PITC) for PISA
- Head of the Competence Centre (PICC) for PISA
“What a fantastic week at the 36th PI Meeting,” said Kyle. “With talks, discussions and strategy engagements on industry-leading communications technologies, we are headed for some exciting innovations, ease of maintenance, integration and true digitalisation to the field.”
The event exceeded expectations with eighty-eight delegates attending, which was significantly more than the anticipated fifty. Each day featured a packed agenda covering a wide range of innovative topics, including:
- The latest advancements in PROFINET security
- OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) integration
- Advanced Physical Layer (APL)
- Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)
- IO-Link developments
- The role of PI Training Centers (PITCs) and PI Competence Centers (PICCs) in global knowledge sharing.
Kyle noted the value of engaging with other RPAs and emphasised IDX’s excitement in bringing these learnings back home. “We’re inspired to teach, demonstrate, and share these exciting developments through our PITC at IDX, and through our continued events and engagements hosted by the South African RPA,” he said.
It was also a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow PI colleagues and strengthen global collaborations.
As a PITC and key sponsor of the RPA, IDX remains committed to ensuring the region remains at the forefront of industrial communication technology.
