VUT researchers will add value overseas

Selina Rapulane
VANDERBIJLPARK. – Three female staff members of the Vaal University of Technology Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park (VUTSGSTP) are proudly representing VUT and South Africa while participating in the DiCoMI research project in the United Kingdom and Romania for two months.

This initiative benchmarks the important role of upcoming female scientists and researchers in the additive manufacturing and composite space of VUT. The Directional Composites through Manufacturing Innovation (DiCoMI) project aim to bring together leading innovators from around the world to develop a new method of producing composite material parts with optimised fibre directionality. The DiCoMI project will integrate advanced manufacturing techniques, composite materials science and manufacturing system design. As such, it requires a high level of inter-disciplinary cooperation as well as collaboration between researchers and industrial partners across the globe. The outcome will be a novel composite manufacturing system capable of producing low-cost parts with increased accuracy and enhanced functionality.

Ms Sanele Nxumalo, 28, a lab assistant  at the Idea2Product, who has a BTech in Industrial Engineering, was chosen to participate in this project because of her experience in working with entry level polymer material extrusion machines. Her role in this project will be based in Romania. She will be doing polymer material research in preparation for testing on entry level material extrusion machines at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. Establishing a relationship between the Universities is also one of the project goals. She will stay in Romania until 31 August.
Second on the list is the 34-year-old Jeane Bresler who has a BTech in Fine Arts and is a designer by profession. She will start working on the project in July at Loughborough University where she will conduct practical tests at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in August.
The 29-year-old Ms Tintswalo Mabuza,  mechanical technician, who has a BTech in Mechanical Engineering. She leads the Energy Optimisation  nit at VUTSGSTP is the third local to represent VUT abroad. She was chosen to be a part of this project as she has a good background in mechanical design and energy optimisation and the research that needs to be done includes these two areas of speciality. This research encourages the exchanging of skills between Loughborough University and Vaal University of Technology. The long-term goal is to develop a platform within the VUT Science Park that encourages the exchanging of skills between different institutions. She will be in the UK until the end of August. The DiCoMI project will focus on directional Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials and combine different manufacturing techniques into a unique and innovative hybrid system. This project will have a direct impact on the European and international scientific fields of composite materials and manufacturing equipment, while supporting the innovation potential in the automotive and aerospace industries.
VUT has been a partner in this project since 2014 through its Advanced Manufacturing Precinct (VUT-AMP), based at the Science Park. The park is known to host one of the largest Additive Manufacturing centres in the Southern Hemisphere and focuses on providing support to various industrial establishments, including the SA Footwear Cluster and the Vaal Foundry Innovation Centre. It integrates seamlessly with conventional manufacturing, and includes both a tool room and a design centre.