MechChem Africa April 2019

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Tyres for autonomous shuttle service

Africa Automation Fair.......................................................... IBC Altair..............................................................................................IFC Atlas Copco CT............................................................................13 Bosch Rexroth SA.......................................................................19 Comtest Group............................................................................27 Endress + Hauser........................................................................23 Filtech................................................................................................ 3 Flexicon......................................................................................OBC Marthinusen & Coutts..............................................................17 Rolfes Chemicals.........................................................................33 RTS Africa Engineering.............................................................37 SEW-EURODRIVE......................................................................14 SKF....................................................................................................12 thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions.......................................18 Vega............................................................................................. OFC Wearcheck.....................................................................................35 Weir Minerals...............................................................................24 Zest WEG Group.........................................................................21 Index to advertisers “We are very excited about the potential of the Expo to ignite business ties between our local manufacturing sector and industry captains from Africa and abroad. It’s time for local manufacturers to share their offer- ings with the market,” says Charlene Hefer, portfolio director for Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery. Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo (LME) 2019 Nasrec, 21 to 23 May 2019 Endorsed by the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, LME will include free-to-attend seminars hosted by SAIMechE, a pavilion hostedby theAssociationof Representatives for the Electronics Industry (Arei) and the Skills Development Zone hosted by the Artisan Training Institute (ATI). Arei aims to contribute to the creation of an environment that encourages a dynamic growth of the electronic manufacturing in- dustry in SouthAfrica at both component and system level. Alongside Arei, ATI will display technical skills in an interactive workshop setting, showcasing how we can make a substantial difference in the technical train- ing environment by driving quality training throughout manufacturing operations. An agreement with the Mandela Mining Precinct has also been signed to enable the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) to host the SA Mining Supply Chain Conference and Workshop alongside the LME. tyre companies. It employs about 64 000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two innovation centres inAkron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology andperformance standard for the industry. www.goodyear.com/corporate Industry diary

T he Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company is expanding its ongoing work with autonomous or driverless vehicles, which includesbeingnamed theexclusive tyre supplier for a leading autonomous passenger shuttle service being offered by Arizona- based Local Motors. LocalMotors has selectedGoodyear tyres for exclusive fitment on its Olli vehicles – the brand name of an eight-passenger autono- mous shuttle. The two companies are also conducting tyre testing with the Olli. Adding the vehicle to its testing fleet al- lowsGoodyear touse it for advancedmobility evaluation at various locations, including the University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility;

the public-private research anddevelopment site with about 16 acres of roads and traffic infrastructure. “Our work on autonomous vehicle projects such as the Olli is another milemarker on our journey to futuremobility solutions.Welearnthroughpilotprogrammes with leading startups, transferring advanced vehicle and ride-sharingdata into trulyusable and connected information to improve oper- ating performance and benefit customers,” says Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technol- ogy officer. The test work with autonomous vehicles allows Goodyear to study the op- eration and maintenance areas that need to be addressed when there is no driver at the controls. This includes future tyre technology options for such vehicles. Additionally, in Luxembourg, where one of its two global innovation centres is located, Goodyear is outfitting three autonomous shuttle buses. The vehicles, operated by bus company Sales-Lentz, will shuttle up to 14 passengers per ride on a variety of local routes. On the three shuttles, Goodyear tyres are equipped with sensors to collect operational data in the real-worldapplication, whichGoodyear engineers anddata scientists can use to map predictive maintenance and other performance benefits. Goodyear is one of the world’s largest

Local Motors has selected Goodyear tyres for exclusive fitment on its Olli vehicles, the brand name of an eight-passenger autonomous shuttle.

Farewell to MCA columnist Gary i Crawford It is with a great sense of loss that we bear the news that Gary i Crawford, a columnist and loyal supporter of MechChem Africa , passed away on 13 March 2019. Crawfordwas the first to point out the advan- tages, and encour-

aged us to take on the projectwhole heartedly. He enthusi-

I first met Gary back in 2009 at the Metquip Group company, Grating World, where he was responsible for marketing. He facilitated, with considerable grace and skill, an interviewand tour of the facility for a cover story for Mechanical Technology . I had only been editor for a few months at that time, and his support and encourage- mentwerea significant confidencebooster. His positive and affirming outlook – in life, marketing, creativity and writing – have since remained an ever present aspect of our relationship. Gary was instrumental in fostering MechChemAfrica’s relationshipwithSassda. He set us up as part of the judging panel for the Sassda Stainless Steel Awards and was the conduit through which we established relationships with the Association and published articles formany of itsmembers. In the uncertain times when discus- sions began about themerge of Mechanical Technology and Chemical Technology into MechChem Africa , the ever-positive Gary i

astically became a MechChem Africa col- umnist with his first contribution ‘Tracking industrial trends: Blurring the lines and the new renaissance,’ which appeared in February 2017, in our second edition. This article alone highlighted Gary’s amazing career, his writing skills, his creativity and his widely open mind. For those wishing to get a senseof him, it iswell worth searching for it online. In several subsequent articles, Gary introduced us to his passion for light steel frame (LSF) building. Ever the doer, he and his wife Sharon spent the past few years designing and building a new LSF home in Hartbeespoort, which became the focus of Gary’s columns during 2018. We have enjoyed your writing and have been privileged to know you. We will remember you, Gary i Crawford. Hamba Kahle.

40 ¦ MechChem Africa • April 2019