The 4th industrial revolution is not science fiction. Experts from across the globe will affirm the reality, scope and scale of technological advancement world-wide at the inaugural African Advanced Manufacturing and Composites Show in South Africa from November 7-9.
Headlining the seminar speaker line-up for the Show are German-based light-weighting giants Dr Michael Effing – Chairman of the Board, Composites Germany and Dr Michael Emonts, CEO of the Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) of RWTH Aachen University.
Addressing aspects of industry 4.0 and its potential to disrupt or change the normal course of business are Disruptas Founder Dr Harry Teifel, Mesopartner Director Dr Shawn Cunningham, and Makerspace Foundation CEO Steve Gray.
Key note addresses and panel discussions will be incorporated into four half day seminars addressing the themes Strategy And Policy, Additive Manufacturing (3d printing), Automation and AI, Future Production Technologies, and Composites Materials of The Future.
South African Composites Cluster MD, Andy Radford, formerly an industrialist at the CSIR is the visionary behind the Show, which he says is “an essential stepping stone to uniting the country’s stakeholders around a common vision.”
“The Advanced Manufacturing sector is highly fragmented in South Africa. Many associations and industry bodies promote advanced manufacturing but generally there is a lack of integration and awareness of even our own capabilities, which are substantial,’’ Radford said.
The Show to be held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, features the four seminars and the Third International Conference on Composites, Bio-composites and Nano-composites which run concurrently with a two day exhibition, demonstrations, factory tours and the first national awards for advanced manufacturing.
“While manufacturing remains an essential part of South Africa’s economy – contributing around 19% of GDP, our efforts towards Advanced Manufacturing in South Africa are highly fragmented, but we do have significant pockets of excellence,’’ Radford said.
