SA Mechanical Engineer September 2014

S MECHANICAL A ENGINEER Sept 2014

Publication of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering, incorporating News of Associate Organisations

Filling up at home Open source prosthetics THE SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER

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Chris Reay

Chairman of the Working Committee: Communications (SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering)

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Maxwell Nemutshili

The monthly circulation is 3 947

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Malcolm Black

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Forthcoming Workshops - October 2014 Programmes and Registration Forms obtainable from Carey Evans, Tel. 031 764 7136 or Email: carey@saimeche.org.za Code

Title

Start Date

End Date

Region

C8214

Fundamentals of LEAN Manufacturing

14-Oct-14

15-Oct-14

Cape Town

A6114

Leadership & Management Principles & Practice in Engineering

15-Oct-14

16-Oct-14

Durban

E8214

Fundamentals of LEAN Manufacturing

21-Oct-14

22-Oct-14

Rivonia

A4114

Fundamental Management Tools

28-Oct-14

29-Oct-14

Durban

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Savings of compressed air generation

Maintenance and energy costs

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CAREERS

Prominent Professionals Maxwell Nemutshili, Manager Mechanical Engineering, Exxaro.

which our children and grandchildren can benefit from.

Academic

Projects

School:

Most challenging

Dimani Agricultural High School in Limpopo.

Graduate studies:

The University of Cape Town.

Post-Graduate:

I completed a programme in Project Maxwell Nemutshili Management (PPM) before doing a post graduate diploma in Business Administration. I then did a business degree (MBA) through Gibs and also complete an advanced programme in Sourcing & Supply Chain.

Career Path First employer

I started at Kumba Resources as an engineer in training at Tshikondeni coal mine.

Growth path

Next I moved to Grootegeluk mine as maintenance engineer.

Then I joined Anglo Coal as a senior technical assistant for about 20 months before moving to Anglo’s head office as a commodity manager in the supply chain management division where I spent three years. After that I came back to Exxaro as a principle mechanical engineer before getting a promotion to manager of mechanical engineering.

Achievements

As mechanical engineer there were many challenges in designing and managing the water treatment plant for Grootegeluk. It was a project which we took over and unexpectedly we encountered very hard, large rock formations on the route of the pipeline from Lephalale (Ellisras) to the mine, and spent a lot of time planning around blasting operations. Another challenge here turned out to be the pipe itself. Although the UPVC pipe supplied to us was SABS certified, it turned out that the couplings to join the pipe had never been certified. In the end, we had to go through the whole certification process ourselves in order to complete the project.

Most rewarding

The Fairbreeze mining project in Kwazulu Natal is by far the most rewarding of anything I had worked on. As engineering manager of the project I was involved in the detailed design of the project, supported by a big team of our engineers and third party consultants. Originally we planned to move an old plant and upgrade it, but in the end we decided to design and build a new plant altogether. This project is currently in the construction phase and so far everything is running as planned.

Commentary

A project

A project I’ll never forget involved the dismantling and refurbishing of a crushing and screening plant at NBC’ Majimela mine. Very early in the project, which we redesigned from scratch, we realised that the plant would need to include a washing plant which was not foreseen originally. This was necessary in order to produce the quality coal the customer anticipated getting from this beneficiation plant upgrade.

Not only did we therefore have to start designing the whole plant all over to include a cyclone as well as a drum module washing plant, but we ended up managing the entire project right through to commissioning.

Are there shortcomings in the Mechanical Engineering Industry in South Africa?

Future – a concept, a dream or a wish

Always try to get as much practical experience as possible.

Be inquisitive and explore things while you’re young. Find out how a pump, an engine or a machine actually works and try to get to the coalface, into the workshops and out in the field as much as possible.

I’d like to get more involved in renewable energy. To me renewable energy is not about the magnitude, but rather about creating something which is sustainable. I would like to know that I was involved in creating an environment

Our university programmes for mechanical engineers are not designed for specific industry needs wich creates a huge gap in the industry. We need to encourage students to focus more on doing relevant research for their master degrees, for instance. In this regard companies should play a bigger role by encouraging engineering student to become more competent. It’s up to us to make mechanical engineering more sexy in general.

Message to young engineers

IT PAYS TO KEEP THE RIGHT COMPANY Find out if you qualify to #JOINOURTABLE at www.pps.co.za

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PROSTHETICS A typical hand printed on a 3D printer

Richard van As

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PROSTHETICS

Hands can be made in various sizes

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POWER

GENERATION

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The latest version solar car built

by UJ students

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Paul Fitzsimons

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MAN ITEMS Y BE OFF CAN ER FROM ED STOCK

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One of the most vulnerable parts of the cold chain is temperature control especially when transporting goods from A to B. Temperature fluctuation, unforeseen events and acts of god, are just some of the risks.

Frans van Vianen

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Compressed Air System Monitoring with CSM-2G

-Data acquisition of unlimited -Secure data storage on local hard drive in SQL database number of sensors (power consumption, air consumption, -Server / client architectture pressure, dew points etc.)

-Alarm monitoring and indications on screen, relay output or SMS.

allen@articdriers.co.za www.articdriers.co.za

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-client access through web browser. Access your data from anywhere by PC, Tablet or smart phone

27 11 420 0274 27 11 420 0247

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Your business doesn’t have to become an unfortunate ERP statistic

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Jeffry Butt

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MARKET FORUM

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MARKET FORUM

Don’t Miss the 2015 Buyers Guide Contact Colleen Cleary on Tel: (011) 781-1401, Cell: 084 680 9022 or Email: samecheng@promech.co.za for advertising opportunities

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Jon Pittman

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Dave Athey

Gavin Dyer

Aniel Vishnuduth

Lavinia Khangala

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► EIA Process

► Environmental Risk Assessments

► Geographical Information Systems

► Agricultural Assessment and Advise

► Project Managment

► Wetland and Riparian Services

► Natural Resource Services

► Visual Impact Assessments

► Ecological/Biodiversity Services

► Public Participation Process

► Application Assistance

► Game Ranch Management

► Developement Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

N2 Mnini ECO Duties

Plant rescue

Durban Coal Terminal Site Inspection

Ohlanga Pump station ECO Duties

Freightpak Warehouse Site Audit

Public participation Makhabeleni

Ballito Interchange Botanical survey

Site assessment Sundumbili pipeline

l Tel: (031) 303-2835 l Fax: 086 692 2547 l l Email: info@afzelia.co.za l www.afzelia.co.za l Skills on Site THE SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER VOL 64 Septmeber September2012 2014

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A meeting of great engineering minds.

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