MechChem Africa talks Claire Janisch, head of biomimicrySA. Janisch promotes the practice of biomimicry in business strategy, technology and education. She was also a co-creator of the Genius Lab, an experiential learning organisation that inspires innovation and future thinking.

As a leading screening OEM, Kwatani is working hard to raise awareness about the advantages and disadvantages of diverse vibrating screen technologies, making it easier for users to make informed decisions.

Digital design and simulation technology tools are enhancing Weir Minerals Africa’s solution offering to customers, allowing insights into upstream and downstream improvements that optimise mineral processing.

Taru Madangombe, vice president of Power Systems in the Anglophone Cluster for Schneider Electric, talks about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies likely to drive the direction of the world’s future smart buildings, infrastructure and cities.

MechChem Africa visits the Aeroton premises of SEW-EURODRIVE in Johannesburg and talks to South African MD, Raymond Obermeyer, about latest advances in drive technology and the local company’s plans to be the assembly, supply, refurbishment and training hub for Africa.

The applications knowledge of Zest WEG Group, coupled with the design capability of parent company WEG, now make it easier than ever for old high voltage (HV) motors to be replaced with new, improved HV machines within the customer’s existing footprint and operational configuration.

SKF and its subsidiary, Lincoln Lubricants, are currently expanding and broadening their training programmes in preparation for a 2020 move into new premises in Jet Park. MechChem Africa talks to global Centre of Excellence manager for SKF Training Solutions, David Reed, and Gail Taylor, sub-Saharan Africa’s SKF training solutions business development manager.

MechChem Africa profiles plant and process innovator, John Bewsey, a Fellow of SAIChE and IChemE who, across his career, has been granted over 25 chemical technology patents covering an application range from fertiliser nutrient processing to industrial processes and waste recovery.

App World and Motion Terminal VTEM launch in South Africa

Festo has recently launched a digital platform called App World. It is an online platform for purchasing and downloading software/licenses and is aimed at simplifying the lives of customers in the automation industry that are moving into the digital Industry 4.0 space.

In this month’s Innovative Engineering feature, Claire Janisch of biomimicrySA presents the case for adopting a more ‘life-friendly’ approach to business and industry, one that does not result in dumped toxic waste materials and contaminated land, air and water resources.

To save time and costs during the production of aircraft components, Airbus Helicopters, which is headquartered in Bavaria, has recently turned to additive manufacturing. After manufacturing the titanium components in a 3D printer, the next step is to separate them from their baseplates, which is done using a fully automatic KASTOwin amc bandsaw.

MechChem Africa visits the manufacturing facilities of vibrating screen and feeder design and manufacturing specialist, Kwatani, and talks to the company’s CEO, Kim Schoepflin and COO, Kenny Mayhew-Ridges.

Motivated by a strong desire to clean up the environment, while also fighting unemployment, hunger and the threat of drugs in her community, Johanna Leshabane launched the Bophelo Recycling project in 2007.

South Africa could go a long way to cut the risk of future load-shedding by adopting a minimum efficiency performance standard (MEPS) for electric motors. This is the opinion of Fanie Steyn of Zest WEG Group, who maintains that an MEPS would significantly reduce peak power demand on the national grid.

Fast payback on steam turbine cogeneration systems makes this technology an attractive option across numerous industries. This is according to Zest WEG Group’s Leandro Magro, who says that any industry with a boiler installed has cogeneration potential using a steam turbine.

It’s business as usual at a mining operation in Lesotho, thanks to the quick delivery of a rapid dewatering solution by Integrated Pump Rental.

The role of a filter press in recovering valuable saleable product makes it an important consideration for a mine operator, and just as important is the selection of the most appropriate pump for this application. Weir Minerals Africa has the expertise to advise on the best selection and offers a wide range of suitable pumps. Marnus Koorts, product manager for slurry pumps at Weir Minerals Africa explains.

The 11^th Annual SAIChE research day took place on the 28^th of August 2019 at Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, Durban, South Africa.

EMVAfrica has recently been awarded Level 2 B-BBEE status by harnessing the power of three – joining three companies together to implement a game-changing brand strategy that focuses on availability of stock, service excellence and fit-for-purpose solutions. Director Graham Whitty talks to MechChem Africa.

A South African Market Insight (SAMI) report on the South African manufacturing industry notes that from 20% in 1994, manufacturing is now contributing under 14% to South Africa’s economy. The reasons? South African companies and overseas OEMs operating in South Africa are importing more manufactured goods, leading to less demand for those locally produced.