The PROFIBUS User Group of Southern Africa is active on many fronts:

PUG manages local standards to ensure quality in PROFIBUS Installations supporting this through Marketing and Training Seminars that are run around the country to improve awareness and understanding of the technology. The User Group also is also a great forum for dealing with difficult integration issues and share user experiences.

In 2004 the PROFIBUS User Group initiated the formation of South Africa's very own PI Competence Centre at IDXOnline. The PCC is a centre of expertise on PROFIBUS & PROFINET and runs the PI internationally certified ProfiTech Training courses for Personnel involved in designing, installing and maintaining PROFIBUS Systems.

Whats more PUG has begun with an accreditation program for installation and design companies to encourage a general improvement in PROFIBUS Installations - so there is now more reason to use PROIFBUS than ever before!

Currently a major focus is sowing back into South Africa by working with Universities and Colleges to improve the quality of training on digital communication available. If you use PROFIBUS technology in your business this is a great avenue for social responsibility activites that will ultimately impact your business operations!

If you work with PROFIBUS at any level shouldn't you be involved with what is happening in and throught the PROFIBUS User Group?

• ALL: Get involved in guiding and supporting the uptake of PROFIBUS in Southern Africa
• ALL: Free telephonic and email support on PROFIBUS and PROFINET issues. Access to a forum of users, system providers and device manufactures to sort out integration issues
• ALL: Invitation to attend all training seminars and events run by the PROFIBUS User Group
• ALL: 15% reduction in certified training conducted through our PROFIBUS International Competence Centre
• ALL: Opportunity to contribute to PUG Socail Responsibility Projects
• ALL: Use of the PROFIBUS and PROFINET logos on your marketing materials. Use of the PROFIBUS User Group SA Member button in your marketing materials.
• ALL: Free Listing in on our PROFIBUS Members Page in Electricity & Control
• ALL: Free Publication of Product Inserts and Application Reports in PROFINEWS and Online through this website.
• ALL: Banner advertising at www.profibus.com
• ALL: Access to the restricted areas on www.profibus.com including the Downloads and PROFIBUS and PROFINET forum sections
• DEVELOPERS: Device Ident. Numbers and Certificates at reduced members' prices
• VENDORS: Free entries in the www.profibus.com Online Product Guide
• INSTALLERS: Becoming a 'PROFIBUS Accredited Company' - A PUG recommended installers.
• END USERS: Direct influence and contribution to the development and support of critical manufacturing technologies in South Africa
• END USERS: Possible employment of students trained through PUG student training programs.
• END USERS: Access to lists of 'Accredited PROFIBUS Companies'

Five levels of membership are available through the RPA to cater for different parties and levels of involvement in PROFIBUS and PROFINET.

Vendor Membership (Category A)

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Vendor Membership (Category A): R 20 000

A complete marketing and involvement package for vendor companies who stand to gain from an increase and improvement of PROFIBUS installations.

The package includes all standard benefits plus:

• A reserved table for 10, to bring clients to the PROFIBUS Breakfast at the PROFIBUS Breakfast in Johannesburg. value R3,000.00
• Stand space at the PROFIBUS Expo to be held at the Eskom Convention Centre. value: R2,500.00
• 6 Advertising inserts in Electricity & Control magazine. value: R7,500.00

Vendor Membership (Category B)

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Category B Membership: R 8 500

Basic package for smaller vendor companies looking to be involved in promotion and growth of PROFIBUS in South Africa but with perhaps not the capacity to take full advantage of the befits offered in the Category A package.

The package includes just the standard benefits and involvement in the PROFIBUS Expo at the Eskom Convention Centre but any of the additional benefits offered to 'Category A' members can be bought into on request.

End-user Membership (Category C)

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End-User Membership Fee: R3 000

End-Users reap significant value through the Support, Training and Standards Development initiatives such as the 'Accredited PROFIBUS Company' program, the PROFIBUS Competence Centre, Technical Conferences and Presentations operated by the PROFIBUS User Group.

By getting involved with the User Group, End-Users get a forum to raise complaints and directly influnce standards enforced on PROFIBUS System Vendors as well as recieving significant discounts on training for their staff through the PROFIBUS Competence Centre.

Installer Membership (Category D)

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Installer Membership Fee: R4 500

The PROFIBUS User Group is encouraging the adoption of a PROFIBUS Installation Accreditation process that will make it compulsory for installation companies to be accredited and use accreditted installation procedures on site. Being a member is the first step towards recieving accreditation and is a stong marketing tool in convincing potential clients of competence with PROFIBUS.

Membership also hold beifit in significant reductions in training fees through the PROFIBUS Competence Centre of Southern Africa as well as access to PROFIBUS standards and documentation through www.profibus.com.

Individual Membership (Category E)

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Individual Membership Fee: R1 000

Persons are welcome to join the Association in their individual capacity in order to get first level information on PROFIBUS and PROFIBUS. This category has been formed especially for individuals in educational institutions and single consulting individuals who have little to gain from the advertising and marking efforts of the group. Individuals have access to all of the standard benefits afforded to full members with regards to technical support from the PCC and reductions in cost of training, as well as access to the restricted forums and download parts of the www.profibus.com site.

A recent decision by the RPA makes all PROFIBUS Certified Engineers trained by the PCC lifetime members in this capacity.