Advanced Manufacturing
What is Advanced Manufacturing?
The focus of the manufacturing industry in South Africa is slowly shifting towards automation and robotics has become an important aspect of modern mechanical engineering.
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) defines Advanced Manufacturing industries as “those that have the following characteristics or are positioned to transition towards:
- Increasingly integrating new innovative technologies, in products and processes
- Adopting new technologies and able to use technology to remain competitive and add value”
The United States of America’s Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has developed a definition of Advanced Manufacturing that expands on the definition developed by TIA and assists in further defining activities related to Advanced Manufacturing:
“Advanced Manufacturing is a family of activities that:
a) depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or
b) make use of cutting edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical and biological sciences, for example nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. This involves both new ways to manufacture existing products, and especially the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies.”
South African mechanical engineers, technologists and technicians have excelled in the development of sophisticated machinery and vehicles, the creation of heavy industries, service industries such as the transport services, manufacturing industries and mining.
Why Advanced Manufacturing?
A strong manufacturing sector is a crucial component of a country’s intellectual capital, innovation capacity, and economic prosperity. Manufacturers around the world integrate technology platforms and interfaces into their products.
The manufacturing sector is one of the main sectors contributing to the economy of Nelson Mandela Bay. Nelson Mandela Bay has three export focused manufacturing-based growth sectors, namely automotive, chemicals, and metals and minerals.
The application of Advanced Manufacturing tools and techniques to existing manufacturing industries located in the region may elevate the competitiveness of the region, while simultaneoulsy increasing industry profits.
Why Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University?
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is the primary academic and research partner for AIMday Advanced Manufacturing.
The Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment & Information Technology combines top facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and stimulating training to produce highly sought-after experts in the fields of civil, electrical, industrial or mechanical engineering, mechatronics, information technology, quality and operations management, quantity surveying, and construction management, opening windows to career opportunities all over the globe.
World-class research is being conducted in this faculty, ranging from friction stir welding, manufacturing technology and automotive manufacturing, to information security, telecommunications, multimedia, and construction health and safety.
NMMU is uniquely positioned to respond to this shift in the manufacturing industry. Examples of excellence in this field are noted below.
eNtsa
eNtsa is recognised as a leading research, design and technology support centre for the manufacturing sector. This is achieved through provision of research supporting new technology development, technology support for optimising existing production processes and infrastructure and advancing the high-end skills level by offering technical training according to international best practices.
eNtsa provides support for enterprises in the first, second and emerging economy within the engineering and manufacturing sec- tor, with a specific focus on the automotive component sector. This is in order to improve the sector’s ability to be innovative and competitive with the aim of making the South African automotive industry more attractive as a financially viable exporter of high quality components.
The Technology Station is actively involved with testing, contract research, industrial design and development and the transfer of knowledge. eNtsa is constantly involved in assisting various SME’s with product and process evaluations to ensure conformity and to assist with evaluating different process techniques to make data available that could assist SME’s to address a specific problem.
VWSA-DAAD International Chair in Automotive Engineering
NMMU aims to facilitate increased innovation and international competitiveness of the integrated Motor Manufacturing Industry (MMI) in the Eastern Cape and to provide appropriate human resource development that will ensure an adequate number of high-level trained specialists in engineering with leading edge expertise. The focus is on materials and manufacturing technology and processes to enhance technology transfer opportunities from the university mainly into the small and medium enterprise (SME) automotive component supplier sector.
Friction Processing Research Unit (FPRU)
This Institute supports NMMU’s mission, to identify and serve the needs of the international/national friction processing community by contributing to sustainable development through high quality research, technology development and continuing human resource development. The purpose is to engage in research to grow knowledge in the field of friction processing with a focus on process optimisation, modelling and material characterisation; and to develop and optimise innovative friction processing techniques.
Advanced Mechatronics Technology Centre (AMTC)
AMTC is a non-research entity focusing on growing human resources development in the field of engineering. This centre includes the Renewable Energy Research Group which seeks to formalise and stimulate the various renewable energy research activities being conducted in the Engineering school at NMMU.
The goals of the group are primarily based on applied, practical research in the fields of;
- Small wind turbines (vertical axis (VAWT), horizontal axis (HAWT) and other novel designs)
- Optimal use of photovoltaics (PV) in the domestic environment – tracking, max power point systems, reflectors etc
- Solar thermal devices in the domestic environment – solar geyser optimization, concentrated solar power (CSP) and thermal storage
- Heat engines – development of a practical solar heat engine to produce electricity from solar derived heat (incorporating thermal storage)
- Solar cookers
- Electric bicycles
This Group is complemented by the NMMU Centre for Energy Research (CER). The aim of the CER was established to seek solutions in finding sustainable energy alternatives to fossil fuels. The CER strives to engage in multi-disciplinary research between Science, Engineering, Economics and Environmental Studies.
The CER collaborates with local and international industries, research institutes and universities engaging in energy related research and development activities.
Ford Engine Research Unit (FERU)
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa entered into a partnership with NMMU to create an engine research unit with the focus on achieving a higher level of expertise, innovation and competitiveness in the automotive industry. The FERU centres its activities on new engine research and development trends, new initiatives within the field of engine testing and associated research, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge into teaching and learning concepts for both undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programmes.
GMSA Chair in Mechatronics
The purpose of the Chair is to assist in the establishment of new re- search and development trends, opportunities and initiatives with- in the field of mechatronics. It facilitates knowledge transfer into teaching and learning concepts and integrates it into undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programmes. It further seeks to strengthen international opportunities and cooperation between NMMU, other national and international institutes of learning and the automotive industry.
