Six official entries have been received for this year’s Pneudrive Challenge as follows:
1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology – CPUT students, JP Pepler, Gideon Pool, Gareth Hardman and Willie van der Walt decided that a promising opportunity for development in the food and beverage industry (the theme for this year’s competition) is offering efficient and effective beverages dispensing at special events. They point out that the success of entertaining is often by disgruntled patrons having to queue for refreshments. Their high-speed dispensing design proposes a simple, intuitive machine that takes the minimum amount of time to serve patrons.
2. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – Kayleigh Bauer, Josh Hodgkinson, Dylan Prinsloo and Stefan van Aardt from NMMU identified the fishing industry as their target, since it contributes a great deal to employment and economic well-being in the Eastern Cape. Their design proposes to improve the fishing industry in the Eastern Cape by optimising a key stage in fish processing. Combining the use of conveyors and powered scaling rollers their semi-automatic fish de-scaler processes the fish quickly.
3. Stellenbosch University – Students JN Geldenhuys, C Liebenberg, DJ Malan and H Scheepers designed a high-speed, accurate and selective apple packer. They noted that because apple packing is currently done by hand, many potential problems are experienced by farmers and distributors. Their proposed packing machine is designed to box ‘red’ apples (any apples with some red colouring) with their best-coloured side facing upwards. Packing apples in this manner produces a more desirable box, an obvious benefit to retailers.
4. Tshwane University of Technology – Greta van der Walt, Charl Strydom, N Nkongolo and S F Baloyi from TUT focused their attention on the egg industry. The problem they identified is faced by emerging farmers trying to comply with the stringent packaging requirements of regulated chain-stores. Their design, an egg sorting and packing machine, offers entry level farmers a more efficient way of presenting and selling their produce.
5. University of Johannesburg – The UJ team of Jason Berry, Warrick Kin, Izak Coetzee and David De Ponte came to the consensus that Festo and SEW-Eurodrive could benefit from a fully functional ‘food and beverage delivery, marketing and presentation showpiece’. Their design showcases precision and energy efficiency in a fun and engaging manner and the ‘Blitz Burger’ is also applicable in the real fast food world.
6. University of the Witwatersrand – Students from WITS, Mduduzi Masuku, Lefa Madire, Meshi Hamese and David Ndeveelo, presented a design that shows how automating a restaurant could replace waiters by mechatronics. The design is composed of sub-systems that raise and convey loads from the chef to their designated locations in a restaurant.
Read more...Schneider Electric announces 2023 Global Alliance Partner Programme award winners Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has announced the winners of the 2023 Global Alliance Excellence Awards. Throughout 2023, Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partners supported customers in the digitalisation of industrial automation, delivering value with innovative initiatives, solutions and services.
Read more...Custom containerised lubrication dispensing system
News
Bosch Rexroth Africa recently supplied and installed a customised environmentally friendly and dust-proof lubrication dispensing system for a leading earth-moving equipment supplier.
Read more...Siemens to acquire industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst Siemens South Africa
News
Siemens has signed an agreement to acquire the industrial drive technology business of ebm-papst. The business includes intelligent, integrated mechatronic systems in the protective extra-low voltage range and innovative motion control systems.
Read more...Bearings International fosters a segment strategy Bearings International
News
Bearings International has a segment approach to the market, which places an intentional focus on key industries in South and sub-Saharan Africa in a bid to optimise operations, enhance uptime, and drive business sustainability and increased profitability outcomes for customers.
Read more...Local robotics team’s journey to the world stage
News
In the heart of Cape Town, a group of young visionaries aged 12 to 17 is making waves in the world of robotics. Known as Texpand, this team from Pinelands has not only dominated the First Tech Challenge (FTC) in South Africa, but has also earned international acclaim for its innovative approach to engineering and problem solving.
Read more...RS Group expands by 10 000 products RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa has announced its Better World Claims Based Framework, enabling customers to select verified sustainable product alternatives. This provides suppliers with a standardised framework to accelerate the development and manufacture of more sustainable and responsible products.
Read more...IRP 2023 could reset SA’s social and economic problems
News
ACTOM recently held a webinar on the ‘Draft IRP2023 Impact on the Manufacturing Sector’. South Africa’s Draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 is a key document that outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing the country’s energy security challenges, while also setting out its transition to a diversified energy mix, including renewables.
Read more...Young scientists to showcase innovative research
News
Innovative South African research which includes a cost-effective triage test for real-time detection of TB and a nature-based technology that brings about environmental remediation, will be showcased at this year’s International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology in Tunisia.
Read more...Moog takes a leadership position in lunar exploration
News
NASA is planning for a sustained human presence on the Moon, and resources such as water could eventually be harnessed from the lunar surface instead of being transported from Earth, and it has turned to industry to find ways to excavate and transport that icy regolith.
printer friendly version