CDA celebrates 10 years

At the time, the market was still feeling the after effects of the 2008 credit crunch - remember that? - and there was a certain degree of scepticism about launching a new title in what some saw as less than ideal economic circumstances. Well, 10 years, an industrial revolution, and a global pandemic later and Controls Drives & Automation continues to thrive and has developed well beyond the print-only format of its infancy.

Looking back on the first issue of the magazine, at first glance it might seem as if not much has changed over the last decade. Unsurprisingly, many of the companies covered are still prominent today - Mitsubishi, Eaton, ABB to name just a few. And a good proportion of the subject matter is enduring. An industry focus on the rail sector references “a new era of rail transport culminating in the controversial HS project” - and let’s face it, HS2 is still making headlines and is no less controversial!

Another focus for the inaugural issue was renewables, although I can’t see a mention of net zero, which somewhat ages the articles. And while environmental concerns are covered, there is no reference to government initiatives in this area - that’s not to say that there weren’t any at the time, just that they didn’t seem to be so prominent.

One thing that is conspicuous in its absence from the first issue of CDA is Industry 4.0, a subject that has gone on to be prominent in the industrial sector over the last decade. Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution as many in the UK insisted on referring to it as, first emerged as a concept in Germany around about the time that the launch of CDA was being planned in East Sussex! However, if I recall correctly, it wasn’t until later in the year that readers were asked “Are you ready for… the Internet of Things?”

Preceding the Government’s 2017 Made Smarter review, which explored the potential for UK manufacturing to maximise benefits of increased digital technology adoption, in 2016 CDA launched the annual Smarter Futures supplement to give further coverage to this important aspect of industry. The magazine also now has a section covering IIot & Smartch Technology in every issue - something that wasn’t even considered when it was first launched.

The rapid development of automation, connectivity, digitisation and all manner of cutting edge technologies has made editing CDA a thoroughly enjoyable job - there is always something interesting to report on, as well as important messages in terms of climate change, productivity and efficiency. And long may it continue in this vein.