Newsletter – 13 August

GAUTENG FOUNDRY TRAINING CENTRE

Tenders have been issued for the major plant and equipment required for the training of artisans in the soon to be established GAUTENG FOUNDRY TRAINING CENTRE at the Ekuruhleni East College (EEC) in Kwa Thema in Springs. The final agreements for the funding between the NFTN, the Gauteng Department for Economic Development (GDED) and the EEC will be concluded shortly. Other tenders will be issued over the next few weeks, so watch the website for developments. For tender opportunities, please click here

SAIF and NFTN are inviting you to join us at our stand, C62 during the 2012 Afrimold

MANUFACTURING COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME (MCEP)

The dti has announced a new funding assistance programme for the manufacturing industry, whereby both grant and loan funding can be made available to companies in industry to improve their competitiveness. Foundries are encouraged to pursue this opportunity and if any foundry requires further information or assistance, please contact the SAIF or NFTN offices.

Please visit the website for more information.

TRADES LIST

The trades list has been updated to include the NEW FOUNDRY TRADE OF MELTER. This means that training can be provided for the creation of artisans in the three skill areas of melter, foundry moulder and engineering patternmaker. To read more please click here.

VALVE AND ACTUATOR MANUFACTURERS CLUSTER OF SOUTH AFRICA (VAMCOSA)

The SAIF is arranging a joint meeting with the members of VAMCOSA to the status of the designation process for valves and to share the opportunities offered by this initiative. Industry members are invited to attend on the 28th August 2012 at the READING COUNTRY CLUB at 17h30. The designation process will dictate that valves will be purchased from local manufacturers for government funded projects, ensuring that castings are sourced from local foundries.

FEEDBACK ON RECENT TECHNICAL MEETINGS

On 12 June, Andrew McFarlane of Ametex (representing MAGMA) discussed the Simulation Technology Applied to core making. A presentation on the Second Hand Goods Act and its effect on foundries using scrap metal (make link to homepage website) , presented by Brigadier Bert van der Walt was well attended and the implications for foundries were discussed and explained. Foundries are advised to purchase only from licensed dealers or recyclers.

On the 10th, 11th and 12th of June a series of workshops were held with the foundry industry, on the “Technological Improvements in the Application of Industrial Gases in Foundries”, presented by Dave Saha, the Director of International Application Technology for Air Products and Chemicals Inc. The use of new burner technology, using both air and oxygen, as well as the methods of aluminium degassing, amongst many other applications were discussed. Click here for the presentation.

On the 11th and 12th of July, Carl Reinhardt provided feedback on the pilot project, sponsored by the NFTN, comparing the productivity levels of some local permanent mould and investment casting foundries with others in the world. This manifested the significant opportunities for improvement if we can overcome certain challenges.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Training Courses are currently being presented at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) on Heat Treatment, at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Supervision, at two Gauteng based foundries on bentonite bonded sands, and in the Western Cape under the auspices of the Western Cape Institute of Foundrymen (WCIF) on both Quality Control and Productivity and Production Planning.

Courses will start in August in KZN with the presentation of the MELTING and METALLURGY Module. Members in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg region should watch the website and the mailed notices regarding this important initiative.

For more information please click here

A practical Sand Testing Course will commence at the UJ on the 18th August, combining learning about the correct way to carry out the practical tests on sand, as well as the theory of the interpreting the results and the corrective actions if required. As this will have limited space early booking for this short course is essential.

To register please click here

From June of this year to date, there are over 150 learners in training across the spectrum of courses currently being offered by SAIF in support of Skills development in the industry.

METAL CASTING CONFERENCE 2013

Planning for this important conference is well underway, co-hosted by the NFTN, SAIF and UJ, it promises to be an outstanding forum for all foundrymen to meet counterparts from all over the world, but especially from the BRICS nations, with all the key-note speakers having already accepted their invitations. The second call for papers and presentations has been sent out and foundrymen are encouraged to participate with relevant presentations and also by their attendance.

To submit an abstract for this conference, please click here

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please click here

BRICS 2013

As previously reported the BRICS FOUNDRY FORUM will take place in South Africa next year, preceding the Metal Casting Conference in March 2013. Delegates from all four visiting countries will be welcomed in Johannesburg, before proceeding to the conference venue. This Foundry Forum funded by the NFTN, will provide all local foundrymen to share experiences with the major casting countries in the world. The BRICS countries produce 60% of the world’s castings!

OLYMPIC GAMES OPENING CEREMONY

Most foundrymen would have noticed the reference to Abraham Darby and his contribution to the industrial revolution in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. He is probably the best known foundryman, remembered for his invention of the blast furnace using coke in 1709, to produce pig iron, from which cooking pots using green sand and cores were made in iron. This heralded the first commercial production of iron and led later to the widespread use of steel and the beginning of the world that we know today.