By: Selina Rapulane- 08 June 2023

Mr David Mauchline Additive, Manufacturing Specialist at VUT presenting on Rapid Prototyping in the world of manufacturing.

On the 25 May, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) team attended an informative networking evening session presented by the Production Technologies Association of South Africa (PtSA)’s Gauteng Regional Executive Committee.

During the session which discussed rapid prototyping in length, Mr David Mauchline, Additive Manufacturing Specialist at VUT, made a presentation titled “Rapid Prototyping in the world of Manufacturing.” He focused on Additive Manufacturing’s applications to the tool and die industries. In addition, he highlighted TTI’s mission and vision to the partners, and its capabilities to turn challenges into solutions, while strengthening relationships with existing contacts.

Rapid prototyping provides engineering, design and development teams with distinct advantages such as the ability to explore and realize concepts more quickly. This efficiency in time and cost allows teams to move beyond the mere visualization of a product, making it easier to grasp the properties and design of a product.

The networking session played a key role in allowing VUT team to meet with professionals in this field, as well as connect and build meaningful and healthy relationships. The evening was a great opportunity for VUT TTI to give an overview of its core functions and an introduction about VUT TTI’s products and services that their clients get to see.

According to the VUT team, attending events of this calibre aids TTI to significantly contribute to its ability to succeed in the industry as they give it access to information and resources that are useful for its industry advancement.

Another point of discussion was the upcoming All Africa Expo/ISTMA2023 World Conference to be hosted in November in Cape Town. This event will be a unique platform for the South African and African tooling industry, including TTI to showcase the capabilities of Africa.

After the event, the partnership between VUT TTI and PtSA was cemented through the awarding of a certificate that confirms that the precinct is now an institutional member of PtSA and subscribes to and supports the mission and vision of the association. By joining the network, TTI has become part of a network of companies which forms the tool, die, mould and specialised machining industries in SA.

PtSA is a membership-based organisation with the mission of promoting, protecting and supporting the collective interests of the Tool, Die, Mould and Special Machining industries (TDM Industry) of South Africa, in order to support the growth and development of all manufacturing sectors.