MechChem Africa

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January 2017 • MechChem Africa ¦ 39
⎪ Products and industry news ⎪
Internship programmes –
paving future career paths
for unemployed learners
Atlas Copco South Africa’s internship programme
is “anexcellent initiative that provides unemployed
learners with a unique opportunity to gain invalu-
able, hands-on experience in the workplace,” says
KathrynCoetzer, thecompany’s academymanager.
First adopted in 2015, the six-week internship
programme exposes the learners to a functioning
business environment by presenting them with a
platformto shadowvarious job functions and roles
within the organisation. Coetzer adds that they
interact with employees from all levels within the
company as well as with customers and suppliers.
“We invite learners aged between 18 and 35
who have successfully completed the academic
component of a business-relateddiploma – such as
marketing, human resource and businessmanage-
ment, through a TVET college – to our internship
programme.”Coetzer explains that the learners are
required to submit amotivational letter alongwith
their application, which, she stresses, is “one of the
most important criteria for selection”.
“We look for a group of dynamic and talented
individuals who are really eager to grab this op-
portunity with both hands. Their passion and en-
thusiasmmust shine through.” Coetzer also points
out that “work experience is not a requirement”.
The handpicked interns are divided into groups
before being given a themed project to work on
for the duration of the programme. The theme for
2015 was ‘Employer branding – what can Atlas
Copco do differently to attract young talent?’ and
‘Reception as brand ambassadors for Atlas Copco’
was the topic for this year’s interns.
They are given various training and develop-
ment opportunities from internal subject matter
experts as well as NQF-aligned skills programmes
from accredited training providers.
At the end of the programme, the interns are
expected to put forward a project presentation
to a panel of judges. Human resources and line
managementareinvitedtothesepresentationsand
interns are encouraged to use this opportunity to
market themselves and apply for longer duration
internships within Atlas Copco.
A perfect ending to the 2016 Atlas Copco Intern-
ship Programme – interns putting their go-karting
skills to the test.
ABB,aleadingpowerandautomationtech-
nologygroupworldwide,issupplyingaR1,2
millionUniPack compact substation to the
CapePeninsulaUniversityof Technology’s
(CPUT’s) chemical engineering building.
The compact substation will help to im-
prove monitoring of its electrical network
and will offer a real-time training platform
for critical electrical engineering skills.
Manie Jooste, product groupmanager,
secondary switchgear and modular sys-
tems, electrification products, explains
that thenewUniPack compact substation,
the first supplied by ABB in South Africa,
is “a special type of mini substation that
facilitates viewing and analysis of electri-
cal signals fed to a control roomcomputer
screen known as a Remote Terminal Unit
(RTU)”.
Installation of the new substation
is part of the current CPUT project for
refurbishment of the Bellville campus’
electrical reticulation network with new
switchgear and new protective relays
compatiblewith IEC61850 standard tech-
nology. This projectwas initiated to imple-
ment the research outcomes achieved by
the postgraduate students at the Centre
for Substation Automation and Energy
Management Systems.
An important consideration for the
customer in the implementation of ABB’s
UniPack compact substation was compli-
ancewith IEC61850and compatibility for
intelligent electronic devices (IEDs).
ABB’s substation automationproducts
and systems are fully compliant with the
IEC 61850 standard. This open protocol
covers all communication issues inside
the substation; assures interoperability
between the functions existing inside the
substation; supports all types of architec-
tures used; reduces operating costs; and
safeguards investments. ABB has deliv-
ered numerous IEC 61850-based substa-
tion automation systems worldwide.
ABB’s products interoperatewith oth-
er IEC 61850-compliant intelligent elec-
tronic devices (IEDs), tools and systems.
They are able to handle comprehensive
communicationtasks,forexampleGOOSE
(Generic Object Oriented Substation
Event) messaging for horizontal com-
munication. ABB’s 670 series protection
and control IEDs provide versatile func-
tionality, as well as maximum flexibility
and performance to meet the highest re-
quirements of any application in genera-
tion, transmission and sub-transmission
protection systems.
“The compact substation togetherwith
its automation system will assist the uni-
versity to monitor its electrical network
status, equipment such as closed circuit
breakers, open circuit breakers as well as
protection trip history and electrical fault
location,” says Jooste.
Compact substation supplied to Cape
Peninsula University of Technology
ABB’s UniPack Compact Substation is
a special type of mini substation that
facilitates viewing and analysis of electri-
cal signals fed to a control room computer
screen known as a Remote Terminal Unit
(RTU).