MechChem Africa August 2017

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44 ¦ MechChem Africa • August 2017
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APE Pumps................................................................. OFC
Atlas Copco.................................................................... 40
Bearings International............................................... 10
BMG.................................................................................. 18
Gem Valves.................................................................. 41
Hahn & Hahn.................................................................IFC
Hytec Holdings............................................................. 13
Immanuelworks............................................................ 23
Kansai Plascon.............................................................. 20
Lanxess............................................................................. 32
Martec............................................................................IBC
Multotec.............................................................................3
Nilfisk................................................................................ 16
Omron.............................................................................. 25
Rockwell Automation................................................. 26
SKF..................................................................................... 34
SMC Pneumatics.......................................................... 43
ThyssenKrupp...........................................................OBC
Index to advertisers
Industry diary
September 2017
Wearcheck 2017 Oil Analysis
Oil Analysis 1 – Understanding oil and its
analysis
12-13 September, Namibia
10 – 11 October, Gauteng
Oil Analysis 2 – Report interpretation
12 October, Gauteng
14 September, Namibia
Photovoltaic (PV) Solar
27-29 September, Potchefstroom
The Solar Training Centre
Battery technologies
Energy Training Foundation and Pivotal
Engineering
Tuesday 10 October, Benoni
Kopanong Conference Centre
Thieda Ferreira
With the high rise in unemploy-
ment, South African women are
tapping into sectors that were
previously categorised as being only for men.
Fiona Kgalema and Ella Mambane are two
work-driven women who are making a name
for themselves in the engineering industry.
The South African engineering sector has
evolved to become more gender-balanced in
thepast tenyears as employment equitymea-
sures increasingly ensure equal opportunities
formen andwomen. TheEngineeringCouncil
of South Africa (ECSA) revealed that 70% of
the women who graduate with engineering
degrees leave the sector after starting their
careers, because they feel isolated in their
jobs due to a battle with stigmas in this male-
dominated industry.
Fiona Kgalema, who works as a receiv-
ing inspector for Unidrive Electric Motors,
has been with the company for two years.
Her day-to-day duties include, amongst
many other responsibilities, inspecting and
receiving material purchased and ensuring
that all received material complies with the
company’s specifications.
Starting out as an intern at the company,
Kgalema is the first staff member to move
from the internship programme to a perma-
nent position in the company, and since then
she has gradually worked her way up to her
current position.
“Initially I wanted to be a psychologist, but
as there is not enough employment for gradu-
ates in that sector inour country, I opted to go
into theengineering industry, as thatwouldbe
easier for me,” she says.
Currently busy with her studies in electri-
cal engineering, Fiona mentions gender in-
equality as being one of the major challenges
that she faces daily in such amale-dominated
industry. “We grew up in families where
culture and respect towards a male is very
important, hence it becomes quite difficult
to express your opinions and tell a man what
to do in this industry,” she says. Despite all
these challenges, Kgalema managed to get
nominated as ‘Employee of the Month’ for
December 2016.
Another amazing woman at Unidrive
Electric Motors is Ella Mambane, who works
as a coil winder. Her journey atUnidrive start-
ed27 years ago as the onlywomanworking in
the factory. Since then the engineering indus-
try has gradually opened its doors to women.
She endured the role of being a woman in a
field dominated by men, but her persistence
and hard work has been well maintained in
the industry for over two decades.
Both these women foresee a prosperous
future for themselves in this industry. “I see
myselfprogressingandsharingmyexperience
with new generations of women engineers,”
says Ella. She also plans on opening a small
business in the same industry, fixing small
electric motors in her local area.
Kgalema comments: “I see myself work-
ing for Unidrive as a qualified electric motor
technician and workshop supervisor, as well
as working on a programme for high school
students who wish to pursue careers in engi-
neering.” She also wants to be an inspiration
to prospective female engineers.
Unidrivehas a total of sevenwomenunder
its umbrella, three of whomare shareholders
and four employees. “Our women sharehold-
ersareseasonedandsoontoreachretirement
age, so we are deliberately bringing in young
women, such as FionaKgalema, who can soon
FILTECH 2018, March 13-15, Cologne
FILTECH is the largest andmost important
filtration event worldwide. This exhibi-
tion is a must for all those concerned with
designing, improving, purchasing, selling
or researching filtration and separation
equipment and services. The conference
is the international platform and filtration
solutionprovider for all industries covering
every market segment.
The FILTECH 2018 conference will
again feature the latest advances and tech-
niques in liquid/solid and gas/particle sepa-
ration, including dust, gas and air filtration.
The conference and exhibition will
take place at the KoelnMesse in Cologne,
Germany and is organised by Filtech
ExhibitionsGermany. Formore information
contact Suzanne Abetz by email at info@
filtech.de
Women create a space for themselves in engineering
Fiona Kgalema and Ella Mambane.
takeoverthereinsofthecompany.Asamajor-
ity women-owned firm, we want to develop
young women leaders who understand the
business and the industry. Success to the
shareholders would see me working myself
out of the job by having developed young
women leaders,” concludes Theo Mashego,
Unidrive’s managing director.
Unidrive is SANS 1561-1:2006 listed and
complies with SABS 0242. It also complies
with SANS 60079-0 and 60079-1 for repairs
of flameproof motors and SANS 60079-
0/15/19 for spark-proof motors, and is
also ISO 9001 certified. The company’s key
markets are broad manufacturing, mining,
agriculture and general industry.