Evolving Technology in the FET College Sector

From left: Ashika Kara (Northlink student), Duane Davids (Northlink student), Mr J.R. Ramalapa (Northlink Lecturer) and Kamuel Marcu (Northlink student).

Northlink College has seen the need to develop and expand their training in accordance with the needs of their Industry Partners within the Plastic Injection Moulding (PIM) Sector. The first Arburg Machine was installed and commissioned in March 2013 by one of the PUM experts from the Netherlands in partnership with the Western Cape Tooling Initiative (WCTI) to ensure positive training and development within the Northlink training structure.
PIM has become part of the Toolmaking Curriculum, and students are now learning to design and manufacture moulds.
These machines manufacture most plastic components, where small granules are used to produce everyday products such as lunch boxes, buckets, key rings, tags etc.
Quality Management is part of the designing so when the mould is completed, students then test it by using the PIM machine in order to make the actual component.
Mr Bradford van Reizig Head of Department: Northlink College Wingfield Campus stated: “We are very excited about all the developments that are happening with regards to the PIM course and we know that with the new technology, we will be able to train and develop students for the Tooling sector within the Plastic Industry.”
This addition to the current programme offering of Northlink College supports the goal of the College to be industry relevant as well as leaders in the FET sector for the Fitting and Machining/Toolmaking Trade.