INNOVATIVE THINKING DISRUPTS ENGINEERING INDUSTRY BUSINESS-AS-USUAL
JG Afrika, a leading firm of engineers and environmental scientists, has embarked on a drive to position the company at the forefront of changes underway in the engineering industry.
Chris Wise, a Technical Director leading this innovation drive, says disruptive innovation has displaced established companies, significantly reshaped traditional industries and created opportunities for new markets for products and services.
“The global engineering sector is facing major disruption, driven by innovations like 3D printing, drones, alternative energy, sustainable materials, artificial intelligence and machine learning. JG Afrika has retained a competitive edge and remained relevant through an ability to find innovative solutions to complex challenges. This drive to revolutionise the way in which we innovate will ensure that we remain the vanguards of the industry,” Wise says.
His team comprises “Innovation Facilitators” tasked with collecting new ideas from staff. Key to this process is creating an environment that enables creative thinking to thrive.
Jefrey Pilusa, a JG Afrika Associate and Innovation Facilitator says voluntary brainstorming sessions and “think tanks” have been set up to promote the transfer of knowledge between technical disciplines and to incorporate diverse views from various departments.
“Ideas range from “low-hanging fruits” that can be implemented swiftly and with minimal effort through to more ambitious programmes and projects with a significantly larger impact that will be realised over the medium- to long-term. The areas of innovation being targeted include those that will improve efficiencies and broaden professional services. This is in addition to embracing disruptive technologies to find ways of harnessing them to the benefit of our clients,” Pilusa says.
Tim Davidson, a Technical Director of JG Afrika and the firm’s renewable energy expert, says energy is a sound example of a JG Afrika market segment that continues to undergo change.
“Decentralised electricity generation is a growing global trend that is challenging traditional centralised generation models. South Africa is gradually following suit, with more businesses exploring self-generation to mitigate their exposure to load shedding and decrease their carbon footprint. It is without doubt that the rate of growth of renewable energy will continue to accelerate in years to come.”
He has participated in the delivery of the !Khi Solar One, KaXu Solar One, De Aar and Droogfontein solar farms, as well as Noblesfontein wind farms under the very successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
Moreover, JG Afrika has played a leading role in assisting companies, municipalities, schools and universities to build resilience to water restrictions.
Work undertaken for the International School of Cape Town is an example of JG Afrika’s stellar work in the field. When all three phases of the project are implemented, the school will be able to achieve savings in water of between 95% and 98%.
The company also designed and is implementing innovative means of reusing campus greywater in “fit-for-purpose” applications at Stellenbosch University.
One of the largest installations of its kind in Africa, the system will flush over 1 300 toilets used by about 25 000 university students to meet between 20% and 30% of campus water supply and supplement campus irrigation.
Richard Emery, a JG Afrika Executive Associate, says that other potential “quick wins” include innovative integrated waste-management solutions to assist industries derive sustainable value from their residue streams to achieve a more circular economy.
Notably, he was part of the large team of companies that delivered Africa’s first large-scale waste-to-energy plant. Located in Athlone, Cape Town, the plant has been designed to convert a regular supply of municipal solid waste into various forms of sustainable energy, such as methane, liquid carbon dioxide and refuse-derived fuel.
Wise says that these innovative solutions are also in response to global climate change.
Paul Olivier, MD of JG Afrika, says constant innovation has ensured that the company remains relevant throughout its proud 97-year-long history.
“We therefore have a sound basis upon which we are able to continue to build. In today’s fast-paced engineering environment, we have now provided a wonderful broad platform from which to fully capitalise on new ideas and developments to create new opportunities and innovative solutions for our clients,” Olivier concludes.
More information from Charmagne Denny Tel: +27 11 231 2200 / Email: DennyC@jgafrika.com / http://www.jgafrika.com
