Swagelok is one of the international sponsors of the Bloodhound SSC project. Bill Peet, managing director of Swagelok SA, introduced this engineering adventure and its importance in attracting young people to engineering. In South Africa, we are currently experiencing a shortage of scientists, engineers and mathematicians. We are in urgent need of motivated young people that will enjoy and study science and technology.
Bloodhound SSC is a supersonic land vehicle currently under development. Its goal is to match or exceed a speed of 1000 miles per hour (1609 km/h), achieving a new world land speed record. The car, powered by a jet as well as a rocket engine, is designed to reach 1050 miles per hour (1690 km/h). It is being built with the intention of breaking the land speed record by 33%, the largest ever margin.
The presentation team (from left) Peter Woodman, Dave Rowley, Bill Peet, Lindiwe Magana with branch chairman Mike Banda (centre).
The vehicle is approximately 13,5 metres long and weighs 7,5 tons. The design is a mix of car and aircraft technology, with the front section being a carbon fibre monocoque (like a racing car) and the back portion being a metallic framework and panels (like an aircraft). The two front wheels sit within the body and two rear wheels are mounted externally within wheel fairings.
Over 110 man years of effort have been invested in the design, build and manufacture of Bloodhound. Runway testing of up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) is scheduled to take place in 2017. Bloodhound will then be tested on the Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape, where a track 12 miles (19 km) long, 2 miles
(3,2 km) wide has been cleared.
The three objectives of the project are:
• To set a new world land speed record of 1000 mph.
• Inspire the next generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Share an iconic research and development programme with a global audience.
Date to diarise
The branch will host its annual Golf Day on 21 October at the Kempton Park Golf course.
SAIMC Zambia SAIMC
SAIMC News
SAIMC Zambia marked its 21st anniversary with the annual SAIMC Banquet, held on 29 November 2025 at Mukwa Lodge in Kitwe, Zambia.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban Branch closed off its 2025 technology meetings with an exceptionally well-attended session on selecting and applying signal transducers.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban year-end dinner SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban branch hosted its much-anticipated annual year-end dinner at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club on 22 November 2025. Durban’s summer weather provided the perfect backdrop for a warm, ...
Read more...Durban branch
SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg Branch technical evening was hosted by Proconics Advanced Solutions. The topic of the session was ‘Turning Big 3D Data into Actionable Engineering Insights – Challenges and Smart Solutions’.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council Annual Summit 2025 SAIMC
SAIMC
October 2025 marked a pivotal moment for the South African automation and manufacturing community as the SAIMC User Advisory Council hosted its first annual summit under the SAIMC banner.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg
SAIMC
The Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMC hosted a successful Technology Evening on 10 September. The event was well attended and generously sponsored by Phoenix Contact.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version