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, award-winning CEO of the Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL)  of RWTH Aachen University.

Effing is also the Founder and Managing Director of AMAC GmbH.  With unmatched international leadership experience, he previously led profitable growth businesses for global leaders such as DuPont, Berkshire Hathaway, Owens Corning, Huntsman and DSM.

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 iconic 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.

Organisers say several international buying delegations have already confirmed their presence at the Show, including leading advanced manufacturing companies from France and Germany, while a focused campaign will draw dominant advanced manufacturers from Africa.

"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.

"The African Advanced Manufacturing and Composites Show will not only bring all the key role-players and technology partners together towards a common vision, it would also inspire emerging engineers."

"Three-dimensional printing, lasers, automation, artificial intelligence and drones are exciting tools to encourage a new generation of engineers and scientists but we need to expose them and industry to these technologies and there is no time to waste.”

Radford said the Show had secured support from organisations across the globe and would also showcase technology and the Internet of Things through demonstrations and entertaining activities like drone night racing.

The show will be accessible to both trade and public visitors. For more information visit www.africanadvancedmanufacturingshow.co.za.