In its efforts to promote South Africa’s skills growth and continuous product improvement, the Multotec Group recently donated one of its SC20/7VC small diameter seven-turn spirals to the University of Pretoria (Tukkies). The spiral will support research and development as well as effective and experiential learning among students.
According to Wynand Roux, lecturer in the Department of Material Science and Metallurgical Engineering, proper research needs the involvement of industry players like Multotec. Significantly, the organisation has a long standing relationship with Tukkies that has included providing both funding and equipment donations.
“Ongoing interaction with equipment suppliers affords our students the opportunity to undertake projects aimed at providing innovative solutions and new technology for the mining and metallurgical sectors,” says Roux. “Having access to equipment like Multotec’s spiral certainly assists in bridging the gap between theory and practice, and allows students to better understand what this sort of equipment can achieve.”
Post graduate student Bernard Fundikwa, who is doing his Master’s degree in the department, says the equipment is used by both undergraduates – for practical work – as well as by post graduate students who are conducting research.
Rikus Immink, managing director of Multotec Process Equipment and himself a Tukkies graduate, says the donated spiral has a shallower angle and is equipped with a mouth organ product box and three sliding splitters.