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OVERVIEW

There can be no manufacture without the tools to do so, and for this, South Africa needs qualified tool-makers. Tackling the shortage of tooling skills in KwaZulu-Natal is the KwaZulu Natal Tooling Initiative(KZNTI), whis is running a project, in co-operation with local industry, supporting learners to become fully qualified tool-makers.

"The need to grow the tool-, die-and mould-making industry in KwaZulu-Natal is critical to underpiin the growth of manufacturing, the development of new skills and the creation of new employment opportunities," emphasises KZNTI's Piet van Reenen - Deputy Chairperson of KZNTI.

Skills development is one of the five key focus areas for the National Tooling Initiative(NTI), which was established to reverse the overall decline of the tooing industry in South Africa after having suffered years of under-investment in skills development and equipment procurement.

Companies in KwaZulu-Natal are accomodating the learners and investing significantly in their skills development and mentoring. This allows students to gain valuable first-hand experince in the tool-making industry.

The companies, Toyota, Defy, Spec-Tool, Ramsay Engineering and Pressure Die Cast are all members of TASA.

Tool-making students are trained at the Umbilo campus of the Coastal KZN Further Education and Training College. A state-of-the-art Tooling Centre of Excellence(TCoE) for tool-making, fitting and machining has been constructed and is making good progress. As a service to the industry, tool-makers are proficient on manual lathes are introduced to Computer Numerically Controlled(CNC) turning technology.

The KZNTI is funded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, with assistance from the eThekwini Municipality.

Government has indicated the need to expand, modernise and make competitive the country's manufacturing base. The development of a large-scale, value-added local manufacturing industry was identified at the recent Cabinet Lekgotla as one of 24 so-called 'apex prioroties' that will receive special attention over the next two years.

The tooling industry is vital to the achievement of these goals and through the work of the NTI, hopes to achieve a turn-around in order to support expand the counry's manufacturing base. 

The Kwazulu Natal Tooling Initiative is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Department of Economic Development & Tourism KZN (DEDT KZN) and the Toolmaking Assocation of South Africa KZN (TASA KZN).

This Section 21 company has a board of directors that is represented by the two associations above as well as other stake holders in the province. The directors oversee the the running of the company.

The purpose of this company is to revitalise the Tool, Die and Mould (TDM) making industry in the province to support localisation within the manufacturing industry.

 

HISTORY

The Initiative was started some five years ago by prominent figures in the manufacturing industry to promote the interest of the tool-making sector in KwaZulu-Natal. The driving force behind the initiative was TASA Tooling Association of South Africa) and latterly the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development (KZNDED) and the eThekwini municipality.

The tool-making industry is the foundation on which any country builds its manufacturing base and, therefore, the industry must grow if the province wants to grow its manufacturing sector. The National Toolong Initiative (NTI) aims to reverse the decline of the South African tooling industry as a result of years of under-investment in skills and equipment. Under the NTI's auspices, a number of programmes have been identified - such as recapitalisation, skills development, capacity development, competitiveness and support structures in the tool-, die-and mould-making industry. This is a national initiative, fully supported by the goverment with direct interaction with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

 

WHAT DOES IT DO?

The mandate of the tooling initiative is to support the tooling industry and it does so in the following manner.

  • Supports training of new entrants and existing participants in the tooling industry;
  • Assists in developing guidelines with respect to appropriate curricula and content for training programmes and courses;
  • Supports technology and quality of tool rooms; and
  • Supports the recapitalisation of tool rooms - by sourcing funding for BEE partnerships and envestment in tools, equipment and in consulting assistance of current tool rooms.

 

 KZNTI - BOARD

Ms Fikiswa Pupuma is the founding Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Tooling Initiative. She is the General Manager - Trade and Sector Development - KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development. The deputy Chair is Mr. Piet van Reenen of the TASA (KwaZulu-Natal) structure. Other board members are Wessesl Badenhorst, Lance Deysel - both from TASA; Neville Matjie - representing Trade & Investment KwaZulu Natal.