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A team of engineers from Transnet\u2019s Rail Engineering division visited a number of CSIR laboratories recently on a fact-finding mission. The aim of the visit, according to Ntombi Twala, Transnet product development, was to see if they could tap into CSIR expertise as her organisation embarks on its expansion path. \u201cWe are here to see what the CSIR can offer in our specific areas,\u201d explained Twala.<\/p>\n
Transnet Rail Engineering is a leading South African supplier to the railway industry through the manufacture, upgrade and refurbishing of rolling stock and rail-related products.<\/p>\n
The Transnet team visited the CSIR National Laser Centre; CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing as well as the National Centre for Nano Structured Materials; and the mobile intelligent autonomous systems group at CSIR Modelling and Digital Science.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being put in place between the CSIR and Transnet at organisational level, we need to identify operational programmes in line with the MoU,\u201d said Twala. \u201cTransnet Rail Engineering is looking into bolstering the four strategic pillars of its operations, namely infrastructure; rolling stock; operations; and strategic support.<\/p>\n
However, she said, Transnet Rail Engineering\u2019s main interest lies in electronics because it wants to be a developer of electronic power systems. \u201cAnother area of interest is foundry,\u201d she added, \u201cand we are also looking into materials and manufacturing.\u201dh a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being put in place between the CSIR and Transnet at organisational level, we need to identify operational programmes in line with the MoU,\u201d said Twala. \u201cTransnet Rail Engineering is looking into bolstering the four strategic pillars of its operations, namely infrastructure; rolling stock; operations; and strategic support.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially, the visit is about creating synergy,\u201d she said. \u201cFor Transnet Rail Engineering to increase our efficiency, we need to grow our engineering capability to meet demands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twala added that the MoU between her organisation and the CSIR would be beneficial to in training of Transnet engineers.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/intraweb.csir.co.za\/images\/pic%201_big.jpg\") <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nAndries Wilken, product engineer at Transnet Rail Engineering, said the group enjoyed the laboratory visits and that it will be helpful in crafting the way forward.<\/p>\n \u201cOur long-term strategy, he added,\u201d is to focus on renewable energy while in the short term we have identified light materials as one of our big projects in the next five years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Berenice Lue Marais, head of the CSIR delegation and Strategic Alliances manager, said, \u201cWe are fostering technical collaboration to bringing about projects to give content to this strategic partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n Berenice continued: \u201cWe hope that this opportunity will open doors for building the relationship at technological level with Transnet Rail Engineering\u201d.<\/p>\n She also revealed that following the visit to the CSIR, technical discussions have already taken place between Transnet and the CSIR with the aim of identifying specific projects for collaboration.<\/p>\n
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