Yaskawa Southern Africa has announced a strategic collaboration with Sol-Tech, a private technical and vocational training institution based in Pretoria, to strengthen technical education in industrial robotics and support the development of future-focused talent for South Africa’s manufacturing sector.
Raymond Meyer of Sol-Tech and Leon Coetzer from Yaskawa confirm their organisations’ collaboration in robotics training.
Core to the collaboration is a shared commitment to bridging the gap between theoretical training and practical skills development. Yaskawa Southern Africa is providing its globally recognised industrial robots together with industry-relevant training materials and support from its dedicated Training Department to enhance Sol-Tech’s engineering and mechatronics curriculum. The initiative forms part of Yaskawa’s broader investment in local skills development and reflects its long-term vision to empower the next generation of technical professionals.
“South Africa’s manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant shift towards automation, and with that comes the need to equip young professionals with real-world experience in robotics,” says Leon Coetzer, Training Officer at Yaskawa Southern Africa. “In this collaboration with Sol-Tech, in addition to supplying equipment we are supporting practical learning in the classroom, guided by industry standards.”
Sol-Tech has already integrated Yaskawa’s material into its training programme and has established dedicated robotics facilities on its campus, offering students hands-on access to the latest technologies. It reports that the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Students are keenly engaging with the Yaskawa technology on campus,” says Raymond Meyer, Programme Head: Electrical at Sol-Tech. “The freedom our training model affords has encouraged vigorous practical interaction with the robots, which has sparked increased interest and enthusiasm in the field.”
Sol-Tech’s long-term vision is to position itself as a leader in future-ready industry-aligned technical training. Meyer says partnering with Yaskawa Southern Africa has created “one of those rare opportunities” for the institution to elevate its offering: “We strive to keep our training curriculum and standards relevant in the continually changing technological environment. Robotics is a field that demanded our attention, and this collaboration helps ensure our students are equipped for the automation-driven world of work.”
The collaboration also signals potential for broader impact. As the demand for certified mechatronics technicians grows, both institutions see scope to scale through national skills initiatives and align with international education benchmarks.
For more information visit www.yaskawa.za.com.