African Fusion August 2015

SAIW Member profile: Hydra-Arc Contents

August 2015

FEATURES 4 Fabrication in SA: adopting world-class standards

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SAIW executive director, Sean Blake, talks about fabrication in South Africa compared to other countries of the world and makes some suggestions as to how we can do better. 6 SAIWmember profile: Hydra-Arc African Fusion visits the Sky-Hill fabrication facilities of Hydra-Arc and talks to Riaan Kruger, Ewan Huisamen and Jacek Matyja. 16 Dissimilar welding of high-strength steels This paper by Mvola, Kah, Martikainen and Suoranta describes the challenges of welding new high- strength steels to conventional steels and the development of suitable welding procedure specifications. 28 Turnkey welding productivity solutions African Fusion talks to Alexander Kistler, CEO of Kistler Cutting and Welding Techniques, about its manipulators andwind tower automation expertise. 31 Skills development: a long-term approach To help overcome skills shortages in the welding industry, Afrox has adopted a long-term approach. African Fusion talks to Johan Pieterse. 32 Gas distribution relationship focuses on growth Cosmo Industrial has been an accredited industrial and specialty gas distributor for Air Products South Africa for the Tshwane and greater Pretoria area since 1996. African Fusion pays Cosmo a visit. 34 SA company builds 600 t bullet rotators Starweld Automation, a proudly South African welding equipment and automation OEM, has completed the design and manufacture of two 600 t rotators for fabricating five LPG storage bullets required for the new R1.3-billion Sunrise Terminal, currently under construction in Saldanha Bay. REGULARS 3 Sean’s comment 10 SAIW Bulletin board 14 Front cover story: Robotic automation: SA’s challenges and opportunities 37 Welding and cutting forum 40 Today’s technology: Simulation and offline programming of robot systems

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Editor: Peter Middleton E-mail: mechanical@crown.co.za Advertising: Norman Welthagen E-mail: normanw@crown.co.za Publisher: Karen Grant Director: Jenny Warwick Cover design: Yaskawa Production & layout: Darryl James Circulation: Karen Pearson Subscriptions: Wendy Charles Printed by: Tandym Print

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African Fusion talks to Yaskawa Southern Africa’s Terry Rosen- berg about the manufacturing challenges in South Africa and how the growth of robotic automation can help to im- prove global competitiveness, economic growth and employ- ment prospects.

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August 2015

AFRICAN FUSION