Technology Transfer Impact on SMME Development -
Perspectives from a Small/Micro Enterprise Point of View
Alphons du Toit:
Technimark

History in the making: 1995
• Alphons du Toit is an
employee of the CSIR on
newly acquired CAD and
FDM RP systems
• Deon de Beer (from the
then TFS) spends a
sabbatical at the CSIR to
study the significance of
RP on the manufacturing
industry

Funny co-incidence in 1995?
• Alphons du Toit decides to resign and start an
own company in Cape Town
• Deon de Beer convince the TFS to start an RP
centre, which resulted in one of the best
organised research teams, as well as one of the
best equipped centres in the world
• Prior experience creates a platform for research
collaboration – almost similar to a spin-off
company.
• TFS/CUT benefited from industrial inputs, whilst
Technimark benefited from the R&D
inputs/results

Some Product Development Examples:

Total Cost of Project R 112 000
SLA Masters R 8 500
Finishing + Spraying R 23 000
Silicone Moulds R 34 500
Castings of Parts R 38 000
Finishing + Spraying R 5 500
SLS Functional R 3 500
Parts
Injection Mould R 1,3 M

Isuzu tail-light development

WIZCAM Q/A SYSTEM

The development team was approached during
December 1999 to design and develop a
complete line trimmer.
The time-scale set out by the client, implied
that all design development and tooling had to
be completed by mid-April 2000.
The deadline was crucial, as the client could
not obtain any orders for the upcoming
summer season, without the final
manufactured and tested product.

Concept Design: 6 - 10 December: Development
and presentation of 3 concept design options;
Final Design: 10 - 14 December: Presentation of
final design to the client. The concept sketches
were signed off.
Componentry design: 10 - 14 January: All
relevant componentry to be used were converted
into 3D models.
Detail design: 15 - 28 January: Detail handle
design started on 15 January with final evaluation
and approval given on 28 January.
Detail Base Design: 28 January - 18 February:
The detail base and guard section design
commenced on 28 January and final evaluation
and approval was given on 18 February 2000.

Conclusion: The following items directly contributed
towards the success of the project:
The team’s in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing processes
involved, as well as experience and know-how of all relevant
technologies to aid the design and development cycle;
The prototyping, which highlighted some improvements that could
be made prior to release of the design for tooling;
Modern RP and CAD technologies: Based on the RP parts and
modifications implemented, the final CAD data could be signed off
and implemented much more effectively and with minimum risk
with regard to form, fit and function of the final design solution.
Proper project planning and design- and manufacturing
management within the established network of facilities and
capabilities.
Finally, experience, dedication and commitment of all relevant
parties contributed towards the success of the project.

Body IQ
Some of the world’s first Rapid
manufacturing examples?
(before it even had a name,
Technimark/CUT has done it!)

Some of the world’s first architectural case studies – even
published in an accredited RP Journal

Injection Moulding is normally associated with:
Finalised designs
Economies of scale
Tight budgets
Long lead-times
Material removal – Aluminum or Steel
Sometimes (rather often?) bad experiences

Rapid Tooling?
EOS: Alumide case-study – another world first
through collaboration

Challenges:
4 Moulds needed
Less than 4 weeks
Tight budget – tendering purposes only
Results
23 hours of prototyping
4 days of finishing & fitting
R 23 000 as opposed to R 90 000

30 trial samples
Flame-retardant ABS
200 components done
Initially air-cooled
No visible mould
damage

Exhibition Products

Using Rapid Tooling (Direct Metal Sintering) to render a
cutting-edge tooling service

Funny co-incidence in 1995?
• Resulted in a text-book example of how an
SMME can collaborate with a university through
support programmes such as NRF, THRIP &
Tshumisano
• Sincere thanks to the CUT’s CRPM & PDTS
teams for the support and collaboration over
approximately 15 years especially for – Deon
de Beer and Gerrie Booysen for continuation
what Deon de Beer has started.

Thank You