The Transnet Rail Engineering executive receive a warm welcome to the CSIR: Dudu Masoek, TRE General Manager: Human Capital; Dr Molefi Motuku, CSIR Group Executive: R&D; Berenice Lue Marais, CSIR Manager: Strategic Alliances; Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, CSIR Chief Executive Officer; Richard Vallihu, TRE Chief Executive; Dr Hoffie Maree, CSIR Group Executive: Operations; and Raynold Zondo, CSIR Group Executive: Shared Services
Members of the Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) executive team visited the CSIR on 12 October 2012 for a tour of research facilities at the CSIR’s Pretoria campus. The delegation was welcomed by CSIR executives, led by CEO Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, who lauded the commitment from members of both organisations in crafting the strategic partnership.
Berenice Lue Marais from the CSIR Strategic Alliances office indicated that, “The purpose of the visit was to give TRE representatives an opportunity to meet some of the CSIR’s top experts, as well as show them the organisation’s various competencies and R&D facilities.”
Giving an update of the progress of the partnership thus far, Lue Marais reported that a steering committee – led by Dr Rachel Chikwamba, Group Executive: CSIR Strategic Alliances and Communication; and Sugen Govender, TRE General Manager: Business and Product Development – has been set up to manage the relationship. The management and technical oversight committees, which are jointly chaired by CSIR and TRE representatives, are also functional.
To date, the technical opportunities that have been selected by the TRE for further development are:
- R&D roadmap and R&D planning
- Technology assistance programme (supplier development)
- Advanced manufacturing support
- Condition monitoring of rolling stock and ICT diagnostics (telemetry to central system)
- Foundry benchmarking and foundry technology assistance
- Collaboration on mechanical testing
- Regenerative braking system (including storage devices)
- Power electronics
- Transnet production system modelling and simulation
- Pipeline infrastructure condition monitoring devices
- Electric and mechanical R&D support (future projects)
- Advanced materials/nanotechnology.
 Richard Vallihu, TRE Chief Executive got a hands on experience during their tour of the CSIR National Laser Centre |
“This list clearly captures the depth and strategic nature of the partnership which we’re all committed to,” said Sibisi. Indicative of the spirit that the relationship has been conducted in, he said he hoped that “our Transnet friends will enjoy the visit as much as we enjoyed the tour at Transnet at Koedoespoort”.
A meeting of great minds
TRE’s Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu, conveyed his team’s excitement about getting to fully understand the CSIR’s capabilities, adding that they appreciate the support they have received from the CSIR in the pursuit of expanding their industrial base.
It was certainly a meeting of great minds when the TRE team interacted with various experts in the CSIR to get a better understanding of the work that they do. The tour kicked off with Dr Liesbeth Botha, Executive Director: CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing and her colleagues showcasing light metals manufacturing; nanotechnology; and sensor science and technology capabilities.
 The delegation watches a CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing demonstration on light metals manufacturing |
This was followed by a trip to CSIR Modelling and Digital Science, where Executive Director, Dr Motodi Maserumule and his Mobile Intelligent Autonomous Systems (MIAS) colleagues gave demonstrations of some of their projects.
Laser-based manufacturing was also on show when Dr Ndumiso Cingo, Centre Manager: CSIR National Laser Centre and his colleagues gave the TRE team demonstrations of the Centre’s capabilities.
“What you do here is unbelievable,” said Vallihu. “It’s not just about the R&D, but also the applications. There is great synergy between our organisations and I believe that we are on very good footing. Together, we can be an example of how we can localise some of these technologies.” His sentiments were echoed by CSIR representatives who expressed the desire to move quickly to the next level and bring life to the partnership by scoping the projects by the end of October 2012.
Click here for a related article.
To view a gallery of pictures, click here.
 The tour included a visit to the DST/CSIR National Centre for Nano-structured Materials |
 CSIR Modelling and Digital Science colleagues showcase the autonomous rover |
 Front: Sugen Govender, TRE General Manager: Business and Product Development, and Deon Struwig, TRE General Manager: Finance together with CSIR colleagues listen intently to a presentation on sensor science and technology |
|
