MechChem Africa May 2017

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42 ¦ MechChem Africa • May 2017
⎪ Products and industry news ⎪
Graduate skills development programme
Graduates are finding it increasingly difficult to get into the jobmar-
ket, not only due to job scarcity but alsobecause companies are often
not keen to employ graduates straight from universities or colleges
because of their lack of work experience. “Many companies in South
Africa prefer to employ experienced graduates as they are simply
not prepared to invest in training, an expensive and time intensive
exercise,” says Siphindile Madonsela, a director at thyssenkrupp
Industrial Solutions South Africa and the head of Human Resources.
As graduates cannot compete with people with both a tertiary
education and job experience they often remain unemployed, unable
to earn a living, build a career and make a positive contribution to
the South African economy. Recognising the gravity of the current
situation, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions took the decision to
implement a graduate programme in late 2016.
The programme has officially kickedoff and15 graduates straight
out of tertiary education are nowemployedby thyssenkrupp and are
being given 12-month’s of training. “As far as possible, we have tried
to place the graduates in divisions that match their line of study,”
affirms Siphindile. The graduates will each spend the full period in
the department to which they have been assigned to ensure that
they receive thorough training and have complete understanding of
that particular area.
Although thyssenkrupp has successfully employed graduates in
the past, Siphindile says that it is the first time that thyssenkrupp has
undertaken this type of structured initiative in SouthAfrica. “It is the
duty of every company to be progressive on the skills development
front. We are very excited about this programme and believe that it
will add value and present a win-win not only for thyssenkrupp but
also for the country as a whole. Although the graduates add to our
staff complement they to do not add to the company’s head count.
While they are learning and gaining experience the graduates are in
turn assisting us with projects.”
Festoon systems are the lifeblood of mo-
bile electric bulk materials handling ma-
chinery, feeding energy, data, air or fluids
to these machines to keep them moving.
As operations such as open cast and un-
derground mines, quarries, stockyards,
and ports greatly depend on the reliable
operation of these machines, equipment
longevity, maximum uptime and high
productivity levels are fundamental to
sustainable production and subsequently
profitability.
“No matter how extreme and ardu-
ous the conditions, it is paramount that
festoon systems maintain a reliable,
efficient, seamless and uninterrupted
feed to machinery at all cost,” states
Powermite marketing director, Donovan
Marks. “Our specialised festoon systems
set the benchmark in quality and rugged
reliability because there can simply be no
compromise.”
Powermite is part of theHudacoGroup
and has been a specialist supplier to
local industry of electrical and mechani-
cal equipment for moving machinery
for close on 50 years. In partnership
with French multinational, Delachaux
and its Conductix-Wampfler operation,
Powermite’s materials handling divi-
sion has been distributing
Conductix festoon sys-
tems, cable reeling drums
(CRDs) and slip-ring
housings to the Southern
Africanmining and indus-
try for over four decades.
“Drawing on Power­
mite and Conductix-
Wampfler’s combined
experience in electrifica-
tion systems of over a
century, the modular de-
sign of our light, medium
and heavy duty festoon
systems incorporates the
latest state-of-the-art,
The Powermite/Conductix festooning range presents an extensive array of
configurations for straight runs, bends and circular configurations, making
these feeding systems ideally suited for virtually any type of moving
equipment.
Festoon systems, the lifeblood of bulk materials handling
world-class technology,” continuesMarks.
“Benefits delivered to customers and end-
users include above-average operational
life, easy installation, uncomplicatedoper-
ationand cost-effectivemaintenancewith
subsequent lowest possible operational
and ownership costs and rapid return on
investment.”
The design and correct alignment of
the cable significantly influences the per-
formanceof energyanddata transmission.
The compact, rugged and reliable custom-
made Powermite/Conductix-Wampfler
cable carriers on the festoon systems
effectively and efficiently handle and
protect flat and round power/data cables
that transfer electrical energy and data
to machinery.
The Powermite/Conductix festoon-
ing range presents an extensive array of
configurations for straight runs, bends
and circular configurations, making these
feeding systems ideally suited for virtually
any type of moving equipment, including:
bulkmaterial conveyors, stackers, reclaim-
ers, travelling hoppers, rail car and dump-
ers; plating lines; water treatment and
car wash systems that operate in mines;
steel mills; container handling and ship-
to-shore power supplies; power plants;
airports, warehouses; and automotive
facilities.
Graduates participating in the thyssenkrupp programme. From left to right:
Kethu Nkwanyana, Yastira Singh, Zakithi Chili, Kamogelo Molokwane and
Johannes Magomane.