PRODUC T NEWS
Worldskills TVET mechatronic competition kicks off Teams of young mechatronic students gathered at the pneumatic and electronic automation company Festo’s offices in Johannesburg towards the end of last year, for the start of the Worldskills competition in mechatronics. The winning team from Wordskills, Victor Hlaise and Tressure Mokgohloa from Tshwane North College
Silent revolution The silent revolution of mechatronics can be seen in our everyday lives. Modern cars, for example, require not only a spanner but also a laptop to service it. QualiďŹ ed mechatronic technicians are a real need in industry and are key to the future success of South African industry, and for the world, Weinert explains. Addressing the coaches who mentored and accompanied the students to the competition, Weinert reminded them that they are providing the skills for these young people to run our factories of the future. In this, the Decade of the Artisan , we
ORLDSKILLS IS the largest
was Horst Weinert, a former South African
can only be proud to have the oppor-
vocational
W
and
Worldskills expert for mobile robotics and
tunity to participate in Worldskills, and
skills excellence competition
education
manager for Festo Didactic, a global spon-
put our local talent on the global stage,
in the world. From regional
sor of the competition.
Weinert concludes.
competitions across the many disciplines,
Mechatronics, the combination of me-
The winning team took home equipment
winning teams progress to the Worldskills
chanical and electrical engineering, is the
they need to compete in the Worldskills
national competition in January 2015.
way of the future. It is has been recognised
national competition, to be hosted in Cape
as a scarce skill by Merseta, and mechatron-
Town. Winners of the worldwide national
global
ic technicians and engineers are well-paid
competitions, in their respective countries,
Worldskills event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next
people. You will be running the factories of
will take part in the international competi-
year. Speaking at the opening of the event
the future, Weinert said to the competitors.
tion in Brazil later this year.
National winners get the chance to represent
South
Africa
in
the
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