SAFPA’s executive committee has regular monthly council meetings at the Blairgowrie offices of its secretariat, Cost Time Resource. Kim Roberts attended one recently and found that plenty is happening.
Safety training course
SAFPA puts a great emphasis on training and guidance for hydraulic hose companies and its new training course on Working Safely With Hydraulic Hose and Connectors is about to be launched in Johannesburg, with subsequent rollouts to Durban and Cape Town. It was developed by SAFPA’s counterpart, the British Fluid Power Association, and has been very well received in the United Kingdom. The course covers the following topics:
* Basic hydraulics.
* Health, safety and environment.
* Hose and connector identification.
* Hose assembly installation.
* Hose and connector failure.
Hose assembly accreditation
Smaller hydraulics companies can find it difficult to get an accredited quality system in place. SAFPA can assist through its Hose Assembly Certification and Accreditation scheme. This was initiated at the end of last year with a successful audit on Hyflo. SAFPA has made the application process simple by making all documentation available on its website and all hydraulics companies are strongly encouraged to apply. Hyflo will now undergo an audit at its Cape Town office.
Market survey
SAFPA will be commissioning a market survey on The South African Market for Hydraulics and Pneumatics. This is a follow up to the one conducted in 2005 and will be carried out by the Centre for Marketing Research and Development at Tshwane University of Technology. The purpose is to get an indication of the size of these two industries, primarily in rand value. It will be the property of SAFPA but will be available to contributors. It will also be for general sale in hard copy.
Social
SAFPA has many social activities ranging from a golf day and 6-a-side soccer to a very entertaining annual dinner dance to interesting technical evenings where members can combine learning with networking.
MEMBERS
Your SAFPA committee members are: Norman Hall (Hyflo), David Michelle (Genflex), Willem Gijzelaar (Hytec), Manny Viera (Ernest Lowe), Russell Gill (Engineering & Hydraulic Service), Walter Zimmerman (Hydraulic Training & Consultants), Lorraine Victor (Alfagomma), Craig Sim (Turnkey Hydraulics), Bill Turner (Joy Mining Machinery), Graeme Lovesay (Hydraulic Tools) co-opted, and Heinz von Fintel (Fluidtronic) co-opted.
| 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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