The Southern African Pump Systems Development Association (Sapsda) and Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) continue to promote the local manufacture of stainless steel products such as pumps, valves and sealing systems to compete internationally and stimulate growth.

This follows the South African foundry industry being under pressure, owing to the impact of the importation of cheap cast iron products, with the foundry industry being internationally competitive when stainless steel castings and, in particular, duplex stainless steel is required.

Sapsda joined Sassda last year because it provides members with a platform to collectively promote the sustainable growth and development of the industry, with the main emphasis being on stainless steel being converted within the South African economy.

Meanwhile, both associations developed a plan to promote local manufacture as well as skills development. “Education, training and skills upgrading are without doubt the most important factors determining the successful growth of an industry,” Sapsda comments.

Therefore, any industry which aims to become competitive locally and internationally must have the will and the means to ensure that its personnel, at all levels, are educated in every aspect of their job. Sassda provides various training courses for stainless steel.

Training Courses

Some of the courses that Sassda provides include the introduction to stainless steel course. This course is a self-paced, convenient and easily accessible e-learning programme that offers basic understanding of stainless steel. The target audience is all new-comers and non-technical personnel involved with activities in an organisation that directly or indirectly liaises or interfaces with customers.

The course costs are R220 a person for Sassda members and R380 person for non-members.

The handling and fabrication of stainless steel course introduces employees to stainless steel best practices in the workshop and warehouse when handling, storing, fabricating and working with stainless steel. The target audience includes people exposed to and working with stainless steel.

The course costs are R900 a person for Sassda members and R1 200 a person for non-members.

The fundamentals of stainless steel is an intermediate course aimed at people who have acquired a basic understanding of stainless steel through workplace experience and/or from completing the introduction to stainless steel e-learning course. The targeted audience includes new comers to the industry, as well as people requiring a more in-depth knowledge of stainless steel, such as salespersons, supervisors, managers, specifiers and end-users.

Once learners have attended the course, they will be required to complete an electronic assessment and achieve a set standard to receive a certificate of successful completion.

The course costs are R 1 200 a person for Sassda members and R 1 500 a person for non-members.

The advanced stainless steel course is an intensive 3-day stainless steel course for people who require an advanced understanding of stainless steel, and have completed the fundamentals of stainless steel course, and includes a 1-day mill visit to Columbus Stainless.

The course costs are R2 800 a person for Sassda members and R3 800 a person for non-members.

“All costs quoted exclude value-added tax,” Sapsda states.

“Sassda has also arranged that Sapsda member companies attend the stainless steel training course at the same fees charged to Sassda member companies.