At the time of writing this column, South Africa had not experienced a day of load shedding in nearly 100 days. While not particularly smoothly conducted, or should I rather say, well handled in the eyes of impatient South Africans, the new Government of National Unity has also managed to conclude its negotiations and dot its i’s and cross its t’s to finalise its ministerial positions going forward for the next five years.

Could this be a renaissance moment for our country? Only time will tell. But the crucial thing about renaissance moments is that they don’t come around very often and it’s important to see them for what they are – opportunities.

During the month of May, Metalworking News visited two exhibitions – namely Machine Tools Africa 2024, held in Johannesburg, and FEIMEC 2024, held in São Paulo, Brazil. Although FEIMEC had more than 10 times the number of visitors and exhibitors, both these exhibitions had a number of things in common – mainly, they showcased our industry and all the latest trends and developments – but the most important thing they had in common were opportunities. Numerous opportunities.

One of the biggest of those opportunities on offer was that of networking. Face-to-face networking is something that was taken away from us a few years ago and the chance to be able to chat to colleagues and discuss ideas in person again was and always will be invaluable. It proves that these types of events are so important for our industry as not only does one get the opportunity to network and reconnect with industry peers, but you also get the opportunity to see a vast amount of industry related equipment in one place at one time.

Of course, exhibitors want to see decision makers attend these types of events, however it’s equally important that the general workforce is afforded the chance to attend, where possible, and get the relevant exposure to what else is out there beyond their shop floor. The next time an event of this nature takes place in South Africa, give some thought to who might benefit from the experience from your company.

This issue of Metalworking News is packed with interesting, informative, inspiring, and positive information about our industry, both locally and from abroad. Of the many success stories and informative bits of information on offer to read, be sure to read Leigh-Ann Revill, CEO and Principal at Chartall Business College’s opinion piece entitled ‘Do you have the skills to succeed in the 4IR world?’

In it she says: “It is important to upskill and cross-skill our existing workforce to close the skills gaps that are beginning to emerge in the short term. The skills space is an extensive ecosystem where not
only are high-level skills vital, but several mid-level roles are being created, in which lower-level workers can be upskilled and cross-skilled to perform, ensuring that 4IR does not create massive unemployment.”

Think of what this kind of mindset might foster within your company in this evolving landscape. And of course, there is no escaping the onslaught of technology in our industry, so, fall behind at your own peril. Be innovative – one company featured in this issue is running a four-day work week and have been doing so for some time. A strange concept for the average South African, but a concept that has proved its place for this company.

Post-pandemic recovery in Brazil’s machine tool industry has been notably swift. This has been aided by the adoption of rapid advancements in new technologies, especially in connectivity and customer service, and these have created new business opportunities. Industry bodies are working closely with government to address fiscal and production challenges and South Africa could learn a thing or two from its BRICS partner.

Now it’s time for our widely-discussed Government of National Unity to roll up its sleeves and take action. South Africans need and deserve effective governance in order to foster stable economic growth. And don’t be afraid to look for opportunities, locally and abroad, you never know what might be out there.

Damon Crawford
Online Editor / Journalist