Education and training
We continue with the same theme as in the second quarter edition of Motion Control, where a large proportion of SAFPA’s efforts was focused on the fields of education and training.
SAFPA requested that the lifespan of the qualification ‘Mechanical Engineering, Level 2, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), ID Number 59689’ be extended to 31st December 2018, with the last achievement date being 31st December 2022. Several discussions among stakeholders took place regarding this qualification and its importance to the fluid power industry.
SAFPA is pleased to advise that we have received positive feedback from MerSETA and have been given the green light from the Quality Council of Trades & Occupations (QCTO) to continue with this training programme. This includes the ‘Mechanical Engineering: Fitting and Mechanical Fluid Power’ learning programmes.
We wish to thank Alan van Gent (Hytec), Wessie van der Westhuizen (Pirtek) and Hugo van Niekerk (Festo) for their sterling efforts in this regard. Without their valuable input, our industry would not have achieved this result.
We are also revising the Hose Safety course. It is presently being redesigned to include further facets of hydraulic hose assembly, including quality assurance and safe disposal of damaged and replaced hose assembly in accordance with current legislative requirements. The course will probably be extended from one to two days of training.
Proposed pressure vessel legislation
There have been no further developments in this regard following those previously commented upon. Our designated delegate, Dustin Pereira, will attend the next SANS 347 committee meeting and a more detailed report back will be provided at that time.
Economy
Our industry and membership base is facing strong headwinds at present. With South Africa officially in a technical recession, and the possibility of a further round of strikes, the short-term view is negative. During 2014 several of our member companies experienced hardship and acts of physical violence and abuse. It took several months for the situation to revert to some semblance of normality. We hope that the situation this time round will not sink to those levels previously experienced.
| Tel: | +27 11 061 5000 |
| Fax: | 086 589 2158 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.vdw.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SA Fluid Power Association (SAFPA) |
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