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Tooling Programme

Training is the tool for job creation

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:55

The tool, die and mould making industry has received a multi-million rand injection for training. This will enable the local industry to obtain a significant part of the tooling contracts worth billions currently outsourced overseas due to a lack of local capacity.

The Toolmaking Association of South Africa (TASA)’s implementation agency, the NTIP (National Tooling Initiative Programme), has signed an agreement with Machine Simulation SA, for the supply of advanced Dassault Systemes Europe training software to the tooling manufacturing industry.

The software supplied to NTIP by Machine Simulation SA for use in the NTIP’s TDM Powered Apprenticeship Programme represents a private sector investment of millions in training in the SA tooling industry.

Gauteng Tooling Initiative (GTI) CEO Henk Snyman says the tooling manufacturing industry needs to have state of the art electronic and computer aided design content as part of the industry’s curriculum to meet global and international standards.

“The National Tooling Initiative Programme chose Dassault Systemes Catia for the local training curriculum to equip students with skills in 2D and 3D drawings, solids, CNC CAD/CAM, core and cavity design and functional moulded part design because of the comprehensive training suite offered by the Catia educational solution” Snyman says.

Dassault Systemes’ portfolio of products is rated as the global standard in industry, as it offers a full “end to end” product lifecycle management solution (PLM) - from concept to design and simulation to manufacturing. The software is supplied by Jim Plester of Machine Simulation SA and is supported by Dassault Systemes Europe.

Plester says it is critically important for South Africa to develop a proper manufacturing base. “This agreement will enhance job creation as it will enable the industry to improve training and skills development. Local companies will benefit from the extended pool of trained artisans, proficient in the industry standard CAD/CAM solution. Machine Simulation SA as an industry partner is very keen to see this happening”, Plester says.

Snyman has expressed his sincere thanks to Machine Simulation SA for the company’s contribution to training in the tooling manufacturing industry and it’s commitment to the industry and TASA/GTI projects.

TASA members are offered a discount on Dassault Systemes & C G Tech software solutions.

Please contact Henk Snyman of TASA at 012 663 9413 or Jim Plester of Machine Simulation SA on 011 021 0616.