SAIF Newsletter – 13 December 2012
Year end message
As we reflect on 2012, I am proud to report that SAIF had a very successful year. With the launch of the new look and feel website and the regular communication to our stakeholders in the form of the electronic newsletter, we enabled our members to access information with regard to events, training courses and technical information important to foundry technology and the industry as a whole. SAIF were also involved in endeavours such as being part of the delegation of industry leaders, the dti and NFTN to present the impact of electricity price increases on the industry competitiveness to NERSA. UNIDO has also contracted SAIF to conduct the profiling and benchmarking of various industry players. A number of technical meetings, training courses and seminars were hosted in 2012 with high profile presenters such as Dr Frank Goodwin, a pre-eminent specialist in the field of Zinc Die Castings. Dr Goodwin is also a presenter at the 2013 Metal Casting Conference. SAIF is a co-host of the 2013 Metal Casting Conference and has worked with the NFTN and the University of Johannesburg’s Metal Casting Technology Station to ensure that the conference provides a forum to share the latest international and national technological developments driving competitive advantage in the foundry industry. The event will be hosted at Kwa Maritane in the Pilanesberg from 13 – 16 March. The MCC is offering a special discount of 10% to individual members of SAIF and 15% to company members. Early bird registration closes on 15 December. To claim your discount, please get a promotional code from Marina at SAIF before you make your booking for the conference. Please note the benefit only applies to paid-up members of the institute. We look forward to 2013 and wish you and your loved ones a blessed festive season. All the best John Davies |
FEEDBACK: TECHNICAL MEETINGS, TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS The Green Energy Efficiency Fund made a presentation to 27 members and guests at Reading on 2 October 2012, on the availability of funds for green energy interventions in the foundry industry. Paul Stevenson and Jose Bobes described the process to be followed as well as citing several case studies that have been successful overseas.
A visit to the AMCOL (VOLCLAY) chromite sand deposit and beneficiation plant near Rustenburg took place on 4 October 2012. Those in attendance were shown both the mining operations and also the recently constructed treatment plant, which provides for a consistently high quality product. Two very successful seminars were held in conjunction with the MCTS of the University of Johannesburg on the interaction between the mould and metal in the casting process in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. The visiting lecturers, Drs Wolf and Damaschk, from Germany, proved once again to be proficient and knowledgeable in their fields. Copies of the presentation can be obtained from the SAIF offices. A short course on the principles of running, gating and feeding of iron castings was presented by Andrew McFarlane of AMETEX in October, and was very well received by the eight students who attended. Other modules completed for the “Diploma” in the period were the Supervisory Management course (UJ), Melting and Metallurgy (KZN and Western Cape), Cores and Core making (Brits), Quality Control (WC) and Productivity and Production Planning (UJ). Eight students also attended a successful course on Practical Sand Testing (UJ), which included comprehensive laboratory training as well as interpretation of results and corrective action guidelines. Training has commenced at TRANSNET in Pretoria, with the Melting and Metallurgy module and will continue next year with the other modules. The timetable for the training courses for the first semester of 2013 will be posted on the SAIF website. |
SAIF/NFTN CAREER VIDEO
|
The recently completed video describing career opportunities in the foundry sector was launched at the AFRIMOLD EXHIBITION held at Gallagher Estate in October. The video created much interest from the students and others visiting the exhibition and attending the conference. It will be shown widely at schools and colleges around the country. Further information can be obtained from the SAIF offices.
Morris Murray visit in 2013
|
Over the past number of years Dr Morris Murray of MM and Associates has visited South Africa and provided support to various aluminium permanent mould and die casting foundries in South Africa. In addition he has given a number of presentations ranging from die design for HPDC to Energy workshops. Over the past two years these visits have been funded by the DST through the Technology Assistance Programme (TAP). The DST TAP programme has been completed and it is important that the positive progress made with the local foundry industry be continued. Presentations, workshops and Individual foundry visits by Dr Murray have had very positively received in the past. Dr Murray will be visiting South Africa early in 2013 again sponsored by the NFTN to continue the successful support to aluminium permanent mould and die casting foundries.
| SAIF ANNUAL GOLF DAY
The 2012 Annual Golf day, which took place on 15th November, was as always a great success and enjoyed by all who participated. The course was fully booked with 144 players consisting of 22 companies representing the various members of industry.
Prizes and other sponsorships were received from the following companies, namely: CRAWFORD PUBLICATIONS, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION, ENDECO, FOSECO, GFE – MIR, GUESTRO AUTOMOTIVE, IMP SCIENTIFIC, INSIMBI ALLOY SUPPLIES, KRIER SA, LAUDS FOUNDRY EQUIPMENT, LIL SALES, MCTS – UJ, MINERAL-LOY, MORGAN THERMAL CERAMICS, NFTN, NICAST, NI MAG, RECLAM, RELY INTRACAST, SAIF, SCAW METALS, SI GROUP, SOUTHWAY, SAVEWAY, TRANSNET, VIP METALS
|
| GAUTENG FOUNDRY TRAINING CENTRE
All revised quotations from the various suppliers have been received and are currently being evaluated by the Training Centre committee. The committee will be meeting again on 10 January 2013 to evaluate the progress of the project and the scrutinising of the tender process which will be followed by discussions with the various tenderers on extending the validity date of each of the quotations received to February 2013. The Training Centre manager, Robert Bezuitenhout, will take up his position in January. |
| RADIATION DETECTION
For more details contact the SAIF office. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS 2013
Co-hosted by SAIF, the NFTN and University of Johannesburg MCTS, the MCC takes place from 13 – 16 March 2013 at Kwa Maritane in the North West Province. Sponsorships for the event has been confirmed by the following participating companies: RAND YORK MINERALS & XTRATA ALLOYS, FOSECO, CEREFCO INDUCTOTHERM, INSIMBI ALLOYS
There are still opportunities available for sponsorship to the event. For the full programme please click here As a benefit to SAIF Members a discount is offered to paid-up members of the institute. Please contact Marina to obtain your promotional code before completing your registration for the conference. Company members qualify for a 15% discount and individual members will receive a 10% discount on the overall conference package once they have confirmed their membership account to be in good standing with the institute. For more information on how to qualify for this benefit, contact Marina EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 15 DECEMBER To register for the conference please click here The conference is preceded by the 3rd BRICS Foundry Forum.
|
| TRAINING TIME TABLE
Training in the various modules of the Diploma Courses for the first quarter of the year have been scheduled as follows:
For more information on the various courses available please visit the SAIF website |