The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a licensing agreement with FW Gartner Thermal Spraying, a business unit of Curtiss Wright Surface Technologies in the US, for the roll-out of a CSIR-developed laser cladding technology in that country.
The agreement would see the CSIR earning royalties from the licensee as the cladding technology is rolled out.
FW Gartner provides a range of thermal spray and cladding technologies, focusing on the development, optimisation and application of coatings and overlays that protect or restore industrial components across various industries.
Commenting on the agreement, FW Gartner sales and marketing director Michael Breitsameter said the relationship between the CSIR and the South African industry made the CSIR an ideal partner.
“We aim to commercialise this unique technology, providing it to the broadest possible industrial audience and look forward to working closely with the CSIR in the future,” he commented.
CSIR senior commercialisation manager Brian Mphahlele added that the CSIR saw the licensing agreement as a unique opportunity to rollout a South African technology with significant industrial application potential in the Americas and Australia.
The agreement followed the earlier development of a novel laser-based process for the cladding of steel processing rolls, which was a key component in steelmaking.
The technology was tested and proven at ArcelorMittal South Africa's Vanderbijlpark plant, following successful testing and evaluation of the rolls that were clad with the developed process and material at the CSIR.