Mechanical Technology July 2015

⎪ Industry forum ⎪

Aquaponics project award for high school students

In brief Tectra Automation has appointed Wayne Neethling as branch manager for its Cape Town office. Neethling has over 25 years’ experience in pneumatic and hydraulic technology across the mining, packaging, dairy and automotive in- dustries. As a branch manager, he has managed sales and services outlets in Welkom, Klerksdorp and Port Elizabeth. Schneider Electric , the global specialist in energy management and automation, has an- nounced that Eplan is to become its major E- CAD solutions provider for the design of global Energy division products. The Eplan platform enables Schneider Electric to optimise its work- flow from design to production, structure and to centralise the components database and to facilitate knowledge management. Vale Canada has chosen Intergraph ® Smart- Plant ® Materials as its supply chain manage- ment software for the Long Harbour Nickel Processing Plant in Long Harbour, Newfound- land, Canada. After an extensive review of the software capabilities and the business needs of the project, Vale replaced its existing solu- tion with SmartPlant Materials, a solution the company has successfully implemented in its Brazilian operations. seebaWIND Service is the first enterprise to use the Reference Designation System for Power Plants (RDS-PP ® ) standard-based REGAS applications software app. The software will initially be used for its own technical operations management. In the next stage, seebaWIND’s service technicians will use the app to log wind turbine data and to record results as stan- dardised reports. The City of Joburg and the Ministry of Small Business Development have demonstrated their support for SMMEs at Empowertec Africa, a small business opportunities showcase that formed part of the SA Industry and Technology Fair (INDUTEC). “We are determined to support the development of entrepreneurship, SMME businesses and employment opportunities in Gauteng and the City of Joburg,” said Reginald Pholo, a director at the Department of Economic Development. The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has announced the much-anticipated arrival of its new CEO, Barlow Manilal. Manilal is optimistic about his five-year plan for TIA but also acknowl- edges the challenges ahead. RITZ Pumps SA in partnership with Rockwell Automation are engaging in a project to solve one of South Africa’s high-profile national prob- lems – acid mine drainage (AMD). The project, taking place at Gauteng’s Central Basin, is being implemented by TCTA (Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority) on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation .

Air Products South Africa has once again demonstrated its ongoing support for young agriculture students with the sponsorship of Inmed’s Aquaponics unit at Carel de Wet High School in Vander- bijlpark, close to the company’s flagship production facility. Inmed, a global children’s organisa- tion, launched the unit in August 2013 in partnership with Air Products South Africa, in order to introduce students to aquaponics, an agricultural technique that combines aquaculture and soilless crop growing. The aquaponics project has generated much interest, particularly among students taking agriculture as a school subject. The first group of students, Grade 10 and 11 learners at the school, who are studying agriculture as a subject, were recently honoured at an awards ceremony. Of the sixteen students who took part, 12 received graduation cer- tificates while the remainder received participation certificates. Grade 10 pupil, Matshepo Maduna, got top honours with her impressive 95% mark. “It has been an honour to be involved in this exciting initiative, which teaches young people an innovative and environ- mentally friendly method of farming to After 12 years of service, SEW-Eurodrive South Africa’s managing director, Ute Schoeman, has stepped down to pursue personal interests as a business consul- tant. Schoeman, who made a name for herself as one of the youngest and first female MDs in the local power transmis- sion industry, has doubled the turnover of the South African business during her reign. SEW-Eurodrive would like to thank Schoeman for her years of service to the company, and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavours. She will be re- placed by general manager of operations, Raymond Obermeyer, who has more than 25 years of operational experience in the company. Obermeyer, who officially took up his post from 1 July 2015, was instrumental in the upgrading of SEW’s South African facilities, during which all factories were equipped to handle additional tonnage and fitted with load test benches, tooling upgrades and new assembly lines. He was also involved in the streamlining

help combat hunger among communi- ties in our country,” says Josua le Roux, general manager, central support at Air Products South Africa. The aquaponics training programme includes a combination of ‘hands-on’, practical experience at the school’s farm- ing facility, plus a theoretical component. Air Products South Africa’s sponsorship has paid for the training and the devel- opment of course material. In addition, Air Products donated a gift voucher for each student who achieved a pass mark of 80% and above; and a prize for the top student. www.airproductsafrica.co.za Matshepo Maduna got top honours with her impressive 95% mark.

SEW-Eurodrive appoints new MD

of process flow in the factories, which has led to optimum productivity and reduced delivery times. Obermeyer hails from Nelspruit, where he was initially the branch manager before his promotion to operations and logistics general manager three years ago. “I have every confidence in Raymond’s ability to lead the company to new heights,” concludes Schoeman. www.sew.co.za Raymond Obermeyer, the new managing director of SEW-Eurodrive, South Africa.

Mechanical Technology — July 2015

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