By Qhawekazi Memani – 07 June 2024

The manufacturing industry in South Africa is a key sector of the economy, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and employment. It encompasses a diverse range of sub-sectors, including automotive, food and beverages, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles, and electronics.

Recognising the importance of this sector, on June 5, 2024, the Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) unit at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted the Production Technologies Association of South Africa (PTSA) for a dynamic networking event. The event was held at VUT’s Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park.

Themed “TIME: Collaboration and Partnerships between South African Tooling Industry and Academic and Research Institutions”, the event sought to highlight the synergy between academia and industry in driving innovation and progress.

Mr. Maemo Kobe, the Acting Executive Director of TTI, in his welcoming address, emphasised the importance of collaborations between the tooling industry and universities. He shared an illustrative story about Boeing and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the United Kingdom. Through their partnership, Boeing and AMRC developed a ground-breaking automated drilling process for titanium components, significantly reducing production time and costs. This story served as a testament to how industry-university collaborations can lead to innovative solutions, improve manufacturing processes, and drive industry advancements.

Addressing the importance of collaborations, Mr. Kobe emphasised that the tooling industry is pivotal in manufacturing, providing essential equipment and technologies for producing goods across various sectors such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer goods. He stated that, “tooling is the backbone of modern manufacturing” and highlighted the mutual benefits of partnerships between universities and the tooling industry. “Universities bring cutting-edge research facilities, talented researchers, and fresh perspectives, while the industry gains access to innovative research and emerging talent. This collaboration not only fosters innovation and talent but also benefits society by developing new technologies and processes that improve quality of life,” he said. Mr. Kobe urged attendees to embrace these collaborations to drive progress and solve societal problems, creating a future where the tooling industry and academic institutions work hand in hand.

Various business units within the TTI presented their work to the attendees. The presenting team included Mr. Robert Malatsi, the VUT Acting Technology Station Manager, who spoke about the Technology Station in Materials Processing Technologies; Mr. David Mauchline, Team Leader for Applied Research and Collaborations, who discussed TTO, I2P, COFE, and training; and Mr. Zacharia Moalahi , Manager of Skills Development.

In his presentation, Mr. Mauchline highlighted VUT’s strategic position within the industry and its potential to provide technological products. He mentioned VUT’s robust networks such as RAPDASA, CPAM, and DICOM, and the university’s main research areas, including additive manufacturing for foundry applications, biomimicry, and metal additive manufacturing.

On the other hand, Mr. Moalahi provided insights into the TTI office’s key contributions, which include the Idea to Product Lab, innovation support, education and community outreach, and applied research. “The team is committed to skills transfer, offering training in areas like 3D printing and even reaching remote areas to ensure widespread impact. The lab supports students in completing their projects and serves surrounding communities, functioning as a mobile entity to reach areas where services are most needed, and supporting incubation and SMEs,” said Mr. Zacharia.

During the session, Mr. Francois Beetge, Regional Manager at PTSA Gauteng, also presented an overview of PTSA and the skills required for a toolmaker. He shared that since its establishment in 2006, PTSA has supported the growth and development of all manufacturing sectors with world-class facilities and globally accredited programs. He highlighted PTSA’s credential modules, which create opportunities for earlier employability, and noted that their programs have the highest industry absorption rate globally at 95%. Mr. Beetge stressed the importance of investing in skills development and aligning training with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) needs, emphasising partnerships to maintain and enhance South Africa’s manufacturing sector, thus bringing it back to its former glory of manufacturing proudly locally made products.

Other notable speakers included Dr. Lucas du Plessis from Protea Machine Tools at the University of Pretoria (UP), who discussed how Protea Machine tools can unlock South Africa’s manufacturing potential, and Mr. Stephen Aucamp, who presented on Tooling Technik’s plaster laser welding in assembly processes.

This insightful event concluded with a tour of the TTI building, where attendees were shown various service departments including additive manufacturing machines and the COFE shoe manufacturing department. In a nutshell, the tour provided a tangible insight into VUT’s capabilities and the potential for future collaborations.