Process Automation

What Process Automation does

Process Automation (Pty) Ltd is a South African industrial measurement systems manufacturer founded in 1980, headquartered in Randburg, Johannesburg, with a 12,500m² SANAS-accredited, ISO 9001-certified production facility and five domestic branches across South Africa's major mining regions. The company designs and builds custom-engineered conveyor belt scales, gamma-ray density gauges, weigh feeders (belt, screw, and change-in-weight), level measurement, blocked chute detection, metal detection (Tectron brand), moisture measurement, radiation measurement, speed sensors, and blending/batching systems, all unified through its proprietary UNIPRO/UNIPROM modular transmitter platform that supports industry-standard fieldbuses including ProfiBus DP/PA, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, MODBUS+, and MODBUS RTU. Process Automation's commercial model is built on direct enterprise field sales to large mining houses and process industry operators, with all equipment quote-based and configured to site-specific application requirements, supplemented by 24-hour field service, equipment repairs, refurbishment, preventative maintenance, and operator training delivered through its branch network. International reach is achieved through named agents and distributors in Chile, Peru, Canada, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, plus complementary reseller lines (MoistTech, Hawk Instruments, SCAIME) that broaden the portfolio without internal R&D spend. A November 2025 partnership with Razor Labs layers AI-powered predictive maintenance (DataMind AI platform) onto the installed base, representing an early move from pure hardware sales into recurring, software-enabled service revenue.

Name

Process Automation

Legal name

Process Automation (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://process-auto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Process Automation is a South African manufacturer of custom-engineered mass measurement and process control instrumentation, primarily conveyor belt scales, gamma-ray density gauges, and weigh feeders, serving mining and process industries across Africa, the Americas, and select international markets via direct field sales and a distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mining Automation, Telematics & Fleet Management Systems (IMAKANAK)

Keywords

• Conveyor belt scales
• Density measurement systems
• Weigh feeders
• Industrial process instrumentation
• Mining measurement equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Process Measurement Instrumentation Sales: Process Automation manufactures and sells a wide range of measurement systems and process control equipment including conveyor belt scales, density measurement systems, weigh feeders, radiation measurement instruments, metal detectors, and related instrumentation. Equipment is custom designed to meet specific application requirements for mining and process industries.
2. Field Services and Repairs: The company provides 24-hour field service support, equipment repairs, refurbishment, and preventative maintenance services from its branch network across South Africa.
3. Training Services: Process Automation offers in-house and on-site training programs for equipment operators covering theory of operation, field application, preventative maintenance, and fault-finding diagnostics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Process Automation manufactures a wide range of industrial measurement systems and customized solutions for the mining and process industries. Core offerings include conveyor belt scales, gamma-ray density gauges, weigh feeders (belt, screw, and loss-in-weight), level measurement devices, blocked chute detectors, metal detectors, speed sensors/switches, radiation measurement instruments, moisture measurement, and blending/batching systems, all supported by the proprietary UNIPRO/UNIPROM modular transmitter platform with multi-protocol fieldbus connectivity.

Product overview

Process Automation is a measurement systems and conveyor belt scales manufacturer serving the mining and process industries since 1980. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial process measurement and control equipment organized around core product categories including Conveyor Belt Scales, Density Measurement (gamma-ray based systems), Weigh Feeders (belt, screw, and change-in-weight types), Level Measurement, Blocked Chute Detection, Static Weighing, Metal Detection (Tectron brand), Moisture Measurement, Radiation Measurement (UNIRAD 350), Speed Sensors and Switches, and Blending & Batching Systems. Central to the product line is the UNIPRO modular transmitter/indicator system that supports all measurement applications and multiple industry-standard fieldbus protocols (ProfiBus, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, MODBUS). The portfolio also includes specialized density analysers (UNICAL series), density gauges (NDG-430, NDG-431), and the complete UNIPRO family. Beyond hardware, Process Automation provides field services, repairs, and training programs. A 2025 partnership with Razor Labs introduced AI-powered predictive maintenance capabilities through the DataMind AI platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gamma-Dense®: Gamma-ray density gauge product line for density measurement and control in mining and mineral processing.
• Tectron®
• UNIPRO®
• UNICAL®
• UNIPROM
• UNIPROv
• I-Tag®
• Gamma-Weigh®

Products and services

• Conveyor Belt Scales A wide range of conveyor scale models for measurement on almost any conveyor application, including standard conveyors with rubber belting and chain conveyors, providing accurate production tracking and inventory management for mining and process industry customers.
• Density Measurement Systems Gamma-ray based density measurement systems using source and detector bolted to opposite sides of process pipes, measuring slurry density for optimal mineral recovery during processing in mining and mineral processing plants.
• Belt Weigh Feeders Custom-designed weigh feeders purpose-built to suit specific application requirements for any product, capacity, belt width or length. Features optional Automated In-Line Calibration Checking for continual accuracy monitoring without process interruption.
• Level Measurement Systems Three technologies for level measurement suitable for various applications depending on specific requirements and user preferences in mining and process industry plants.
• Blocked Chute Detector Early detection system for chute blockages that cause production losses and pose safety risks to people and equipment in mining operations.
• Static Weighing Systems Wide range of static weighing equipment for plant control applications and systems, including hopper, bin, and silo weighing.
• Tectron Metal Detectors Tectron-branded metal detectors (Model 50, Model 5500 E1, Model 8050 Discriminator) designed to protect expensive crushers, grinders, saws and other downstream equipment from metallic contaminants on conveyor belts. The Model 5500 E1 is marketed as the most sensitive metal detector for conveyor belt applications, and the Model 8050 Discriminator differentiates between magnetic and non-magnetic metals.
• UNICAL Density Analysers/Calibrators Portable, hand-held calibration tools for density measurement. UNICAL is battery powered and lightweight; UNICAL-200 provides mains-powered increased accuracy; UNICAL-420 adds automated logging with time/date stamp and operator identification for production supervisors and instrument technicians.
• Model NDG-431 Density Gauge Gamma-ray density gauge with source holder assembly using Caesium-137 isotope, gamma detector assembly (DSA-1), pipe clamp assembly, and UNIPROM transmitter. Features optional I-Tag electronic isotope tag for safer radiation source tracking.
• Model NDG-430 Mass Flow/Density Gauge Density gauge with mass flow computation capability when connected to volumetric wet flow rate meter. Provides outputs for density, dry mass flow rate, volumetric wet flow rate, totalized dry mass, and totalized wet flow.
• Density Control Systems Gamma-Dense density gauge providing both measurement and control for dense medium separation plants, tailing lines, dosing/mixing control circuits, thickener underflow, mill discharge/cyclone feed, and cyclone overflow applications.
• Screw Weigh Feeders Accurately meters products handled by screw conveyor using non-contacting Gamma-Weigh Mass Meter for throughput computation with compensation for material depth and bulk density fluctuations.
• Change-In-Weight Feeders Process feed control system extracting directly from or into hopper/silo, operating as loss-in-weight or gain-in-weight. Achieves superior accuracies over wide feed rate range with totally enclosed design.
• Throughput Batchers Hopper scales for low flow rate processes where accuracy of totalized material is paramount. Material is batched, weighed, totaled, and discharged achieving very high accuracies.
• UNIPRO Transmitter/Indicators Modular transmitter system supporting all Process Automation measurement applications including conveyor scales, weigh feeders, density gauges, level gauges, loss-in-weight feeders, bin weighing and hopper scales. Supports fieldbuses including ProfiBus DP/PA, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, MODBUS+ and MODBUS RTU.
• SS-500/501 Speed Switch Fully digital speed switch designed for harsh mining conditions. SS-500 provides direct coupling to pulleys; SS-501 features built-in drive arrangement. Provides fail-safe relay output, 4-20mA output, heartbeat output, and pulsed output proportional to speed.
• PT-500/501 Speed Sensor Tachometer speed sensors for conveyor belts. PT-500 suitable for 24-3000 RPM with optional low-speed PT-501LS (1-50 RPM). PT-501 features integrated drive mechanism for lower cost installation.
• BSD 50X Belt Slip Detector Measurement system for detecting belt slip with remote mounted transmitter electronics, including shaft mounting PT-500/501 Pulse Tachometer and BSD Detection Unit providing 0-10 VDC output and fail-safe relay.
• Radiation Measurement Instruments Range of radiation measurement devices including UNIRAD 350 for monitoring radiation and gamma radiation levels in mining environments ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Moisture Measurement Non-contact moisture sensors measuring moisture content in bulk materials, providing data to optimize drying processes and ensure product quality.
• Blending & Batching Systems Automated material mixing systems ensuring consistent product quality and minimizing human error through automated blending control.
• Field Services 24-hour field service from various service centres with competent and experienced engineers providing installation, commissioning, and maintenance support to mining and process industry customers.
• Repairs and Refurbishment Dedicated repairs department offering repair and maintenance services, equipment refurbishment, and preventative maintenance services for Process Automation and related industrial measurement equipment.
• Training On-site and in-house training on proprietary equipment covering theory of operation, application, preventative maintenance and fault finding diagnostics for equipment operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Intrinsic accuracy of 0.02% achievable under controlled laboratory conditions
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Razor LabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Strategic partnership announced November 2025 between Process Automation and Razor Labs (TASE: RZR) to bring AI-powered predictive maintenance to African mining. The partnership introduces Razor Labs' DataMind AI™ platform to mines and processing plants across Africa, using AI Sensor Fusion technology combining data from vibration, pressure, temperature, current, oil analysis, and camera systems for early fault detection, root cause diagnostics, and performance insights. CEO Larry Smith stated this partnership reduces downtime, lowers maintenance costs, and drives improved productivity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schenck Process: Global leader in weighing, feeding, and screening equipment for mining, mineral processing, and bulk solids handling. Directly comparable to Process Automation across conveyor belt scales, weigh feeders, and density/level measurement.
• Endress+Hauser: Major supplier of industrial process measurement instrumentation including flow, level, pressure, density, and analysis instruments. Competes with Process Automation across density gauges, level measurement, and process instrumentation sold to mining/process plants.
• Mettler-Toledo: Global manufacturer of precision weighing solutions and process analytics, including industrial scales, weigh feeders, and in-line measurement. Directly comparable to Process Automation's static weighing, belt scales, and weigh feeder portfolio.
• Berthold Technologies: Specialist in radiation-based process measurement (density, level, mass flow) using gamma and X-ray technologies. Closely comparable to Process Automation's Gamma-Dense and Gamma-Weigh product lines for mining and process industries.
• VEGA Grieshaber: Manufacturer of level, pressure, and density measurement instrumentation widely used in mining and process industries. Overlaps with Process Automation's level measurement and density gauge offerings.
• Milltronics (Siemens legacy) / Ramsey Thermo Scientific: Long-established conveyor belt scale and level measurement product lines for bulk material handling. Directly comparable to Process Automation's conveyor belt scales, weigh feeders, and level measurement portfolio in mining applications.

Broad incumbents

• Yokogawa Electric: Global process automation vendor offering distributed control systems, field instruments, and flow/density/level measurement. Competes with Process Automation's instrumentation portfolio and broader plant automation scope.
• Siemens Process Industries: Provides SITRANS and SIMATIC weighing/measurement instrumentation alongside full plant automation suites for mining and process customers. Overlaps with Process Automation across conveyor scales, weigh feeders, and density measurement, but at much broader scope.
• ABB Measurement & Analytics: Global automation vendor offering weighing, level, density, and process instrumentation sold into mining, mineral processing, and bulk material handling. Comparable to Process Automation across the in-plant measurement portfolio.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Process Instruments): Manufactures online process analytical instrumentation including radiation-based density gauges used in mining and mineral processing. Comparable to Process Automation's gamma-ray density measurement business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PAprivatelimited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/process-automation-do-brasil

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Process Automation