Click to download and read pdf
“The past year has certainly been an interesting and difficult one and it has had an impact on SAIW, began Maroga. “It is increasingly difficult for people to make time for involvement in organisations such as the SAIW and we therefore appreciate the valuable assistance and contribution of each Board member,” he added before introducing the 2019/2020 SAIW Board members that had been elected: Johan Pieterse, Robin Williamson, Joseph Zinyana, Gert Joubert, Dawie Olivier, Ben Beetge, Paulo Trinchero, John Tarboton, Louis Breckenridge, Tony Paterson and Tom Rice.
“The past 18 months have been challenging for SAIW and this has kept the Board very active. Our meetings have been constructive throughout the period and I would like to thank all Board members for the time and expertise, which they contribute to the governance of the Institute,” Maroga said.
Moving swiftly onto financial matters, he said that Eric Berman, SAIW’s financial advisor had reported that, for the first time in many years, SAIW had recorded an operating loss for the financial year, which amounted to approximately R1.3-million. “Our income was down by around 11.4% compared with 2017, whereas expenses remained at the same level as 2017. Sponsorship amounted to R1.5-million, which is about 3% of total income. Whilst the Institute is largely self-funding, we have shared a very long relationship with the primary steel producers and we hope this will continue in the years to come and we thank them for their continued support.
“It is not possible to reflect this years’ financial results in a good light and there will certainly be challenges for us in the coming year,” Maroga warned, adding that the Board and the management team would be working hard to turn the ship around and get the Institute back to full health.
Growing membership, he reported, remains a challenge and a priority, especially during these difficult economic times. “The Institute currently has 222 personal member and 173 corporate members, which is stable and similar to previous year. We will be redoubling our efforts to grow the membership, however, through some specific initiatives, but please remember every member can help in this respect so I encourage you all to invite your contacts to come along and join us. SAIW is a prestigious and respected Institute and being a member is something to be proud of.
SAIW activities and events
The 2018 annual dinner was a wonderful celebration of 70 years of the Institute’s existence. The function was held at Emperors Palace in September and we were joined by several former SAIW stalwarts and well-known people from industry who have played a part in the history of the Institute. We were also able to celebrate our award winners for their achievements.
The SAIW Gold Medal was awarded posthumously to Philip Doubel for his dedication to welding engineering and inspiring and developing welding technologies, which made a significant contribution to the industry at large. The medal was collected by his wife accompanied by their son and daughter.
The Harvey Shacklock Gold Medal Award, made to the author of the best technical paper presented at an Institute or IIW event, was awarded to Kristian Kruger, who received the award for his presentation ‘Cold repair of Inconel 625 clad layer on medium carbon high strength steel’. The paper was co-authored by Frederic Laurent of 3C Metal and Pieter Pistorius from the University of Pretoria and presented at the International Institute of Welding Annual Assembly Commission 2 in Bali, Indonesia, in 2018.
The 2018 Phil Santilhano Memorial Award, for the best student on the Welding Co-ordination or Welding Inspectors training courses was won by Chane Marais, who achieved the highest mark for the SAIW Welding Inspectors Level 2 programme.
The SAIW Presidents’ Award for the best NDT student was made to two students. Bronwyn Nadene Geel was rewarded for achieving distinctions in Magnetic Testing Levels 1 and 2; Penetrant Testing Levels 1 and 2; Visual Testing Level 1; Ultrasonic Wall thickness Testing, Ultrasonic Testing Level 1 and Radiographic Interpreters Level 2. The second winner was Collen Morithinyana Tseke, who achieved distinctions in Magnetic Testing Levels 1 and 2; Penetrant Testing Levels 1 and 2; Visual Testing Level 1; Ultrasonic Wall thickness Testing, Ultrasonic Testing Level 1 and Radiographic Interpreters Level 2. Congratulations to both these winners for scoring outstanding marks in these difficult exams.
The Best IIW Manufacturing Certification Company Award was introduced for the first time in 2018 and made in recognition of a company that has excelled in the ISO 3834 Certification Manufacturing scheme. Kelvion Thermal Solutions (represented by Angel Krustev and his team) received this award.
Also new is the Best Responsible Welding Co-ordinator Award, made in recognition of an exceptional welding co-ordinator on the IIW Manufacturing Scheme. Lorien Chettiar of Aveng Grinaker LTA was the worthy recipient of this award.
The 2019 annual dinner is scheduled for the 11th of October when we will be celebrating the 71st birthday of SAIW.
SAIW Welder Challenge: The 2019 biennial SAIW Young Welder Challenge competition was held in January with 20 participants from many parts of the country taking part. The standard of competitors continues to improve and 2019 was the highest standard yet. The overall winner of the competition was Stefan Lottering from ArcelorMittal. Stefan will go on to participate in the national WorldSkills competition.
Training: The training figures for 2018 showed a decline in students attending SAIW courses in all categories. The reasons for this are complex but the general low level of industrial activity and absence of national projects are important factors.
We may have also contributed to the decline by favouring the IIW IWIP courses over the SAIW Level 1 and 2 inspection courses. This however has changed and we have re-introduced the SAIW Level 1 and 2 inspection courses starting from the second half of this year.
The purchase of the NASA NDT business in Cape Town has also not yet resulted in any significant benefit to our business. The factors we have control over are currently being addressed by the management team, but it is unlikely we will see a significant benefit until 2020.
In total, 1 399 students were trained by SAIW in 2018/2019, compared to 1 960 in the 2017/2018 period, a decline of 29% – and the decline is mirrored across the course range.
Technical Services: Consulting has also suffered at the hands of low-level industrial activity, but every effort is and will be expended by Riaan Loots and his team to grow this very important part of the SAIW business. Good progress has been made in the field of Welding Consumable testing and we are able to offer a one-stop laboratory solution, which now also includes diffusible hydrogen testing.
Qualification and Certification: Whilst these activities fall within the remit of SAIW Certification, it is pleasing to report that the ISO 3834 scheme continues to grow with 179 companies and 42 sites currently certified. Progress is also being achieved with the EN 15085 Railway certification programme. A total of 623 persons received qualifications in 2018 and the total number of certified persons is 5 501, a figure that includes people with multiple certifications.
IIW: The next IIW Annual Assembly will be held in Bratislava in July of this year. Our attendance will be severely curtailed because of the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves, but we will continue to play our part in the boards and committees of both IIW and the International Authorisation Board.
ICNDT: SAIW Certification has successfully renewed its ICNDT MRA Schedule 2 Registration, which gives international recognition to the SAQCC NDT certification system. The Institute is active in the meetings and committees of ICNDT and Harold Jansen remains chairperson of ICNDT Certification Executive Committee.
AFRA/IAEA: AFRA/IAEA has funded a contract between SAIW and Hydrac (Cameroon) for establishing a certification scheme in Cameroon and an Approved Training Body. The project also incorporates training of eight Level 3 personnel. South Africa will host the 30th AFRA Technical Working Group Meeting later in the year. This will be an opportunity for SAIW to showcase the achievements that have been made in NDT projects funded by AFRA/IAEA.
University Relationships: SAIW continues its close relationship with both Wits and Pretoria Universities where each University continues to make good progress on their respective welding engineer and research and development programmes in the field of welding.
SAIW Foundation: The SAIW Foundation has granted two more bursaries to IWT students, Landi Vincent Ndlovu Xaba and Mmaphete Boipelo Robin Phete. We wish them success with their studies. The SAIW Foundation has two existing industrial partnerships for training welders. These are with Afrox (the LIV Project) and ArcelorMittal. 15 Apprentice welders are currently receiving training in the Practical Welding School. Both projects are making good progress.
Staff: During the year Gideon Harris, a Practical Welding instructor, passed away after a short illness and Surekha Krishnan emigrated. SAIW has also parted company with Sean Blake and is in the process of recruiting a replacement Executive Director.
“I would personally like to thank all SAIW staff members for their hard work and contributions. The coming year will certainly be difficult, but the Institute has faced difficulties in the past and overcome them. That is certainly what we aim to do. Our caretaker executive director, Jim Guild, tells me we are receiving many enquiries from countries throughout Africa and he believes that taking advantage of these opportunities is an important way forward for SAIW,” said Maroga.
“We need every single member of staff to do their utmost to ensure that SAIW is seen to be a competent and professional organisation and the service provider of choice. People should want to come here knowing they are getting the best training possible and the best support and consultancy services available.
“Lastly, I would like to once again thank my fellow SAIW Board members for their contribution and support to myself and to the Institute,” he concluded.