For this issue’s ‘From the president’s desk’ we interviewed new president Norman Hall to find out about the person and how he sees SAFPA evolving this year.
Norman Hall
Hall has been with Hyflo for four years and is its Johannesburg branch manager. He holds a BSc Mech Eng from UCT and an MBA from UCT’s Business School.
After matriculating from Sandown High School he went to study mechanical engineering at UCT on an Eskom bursary. When he was not studying he also found time to add to his Vaal Dam sailing skills, learning to windsurf on the many vleis and coastal surf spots.
On completion of his degree, Hall worked for Eskom, going through the power utility’s Engineer in Training Programme at Tutuka Power Station.
He followed this with a stint as a professional yachtsman, which culminated in his working as skipper of a classic 1936 100-footer. When the discomfort of cramped living conditions overcame his wanderlust he returned to Cape Town to study for his MBA.
This was followed by two years as factory manager of a metal press and drawing manufacturer and a similar period testing his entrepreneurial skills, before joining Hyflo.
Hall is married and he and his wife share a passion for the outdoors.
SAFPA relationships
When Motion Control spoke to Hall about his presidency he pointed out that he had, “… some big shoes to fill”, referring to the achievements of immediate past president Willem Gijzelaar.
Initiatives to develop relationships with various related organisations have been initiated and are currently being further developed.
ECSA
One of Hall’s goals is to build on the relationship that SAFPA now has with ECSA and to help develop the culture of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) awareness within SAFPA.
To remain registered, a professional engineer is required by ECSA to keep his skills and knowledge up to date. This is measured by way of CPD points obtained. There are numerous ways to obtain these points; these include attendance at accredited technical presentations (such as the SAFPA technical evenings), presentation at such meetings and mentorship.
CETOP
SAFPA is investigating affiliation to CETOP (Comité Européen des Transmissions Oléohydrauliques et Pneumatiques), the European Fluid Power Committee, the coordinating body to which the 17 national fluid power bodies are affiliated. The motivation for this is to keep up-to-date internationally and to share skills through international skills transfer.
SAFPA aims to use such relationships to keep its MERSETA approved training courses up-to-date and up to a common international standard.
Career awareness
Through its links with the North American Fluid Power Association (NAFPA), SAFPA obtained permission to duplicate NAFPA’s career awareness DVD. SAFPA recently provided copies of this DVD to tertiary education institutions and is looking forward to some positive responses.
The goal is to encourage young engineers-to-be to take up a career in the fluid power industry through making them aware of the industry and its career possibilities.
Copies of the DVD are available to anyone involved in tertiary technical education and can be requested through the SAFPA secretariat.
Membership and marketing drive
The SAFPA membership drive is continuing and impetus for this is being provided by initiatives such as the Hose Assembly Accreditation System, which is being modelled on the British Fluid Power Association’s HAAS. This scheme helped to promote BFPA membership growth in the UK and SAFPA hopes for a similar outcome in South Africa.
Membership grew by around 10% last year.
On the marketing side, SAFPA is encouraging all of its members to use the SAFPA Member logo on letterheads, business cards and other business stationery in order to raise awareness of SAFPA. The correct logo has been e-mailed to all members.
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