About
I have 20 years experience in CAD design, using several CAD packages on a regular basis (Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD Mech, Solidworks, Catia V5).
Project experience includes: Automotive body shop equipment design, automation machinery for automotive industry, special purpose machinery, agricultural machinery, detailed surface modeling, layout drawings, consumer goods product design, foundry tooling design, machininig jig and fixture design and many more
My company, Viz-Mec design, has been in operation since 2008, and we have serviced many clients in the mechanical engineering space.
I provide a full design service from concept stage all the way through to detail manufacturing drawings, bills of material and operation manuals.
From small one off part designs and detailing to larger projects including complete machine design.
Experience
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Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Viz-Mec Design · Part-time
Feb 2018 –
Present
6 yrs 11 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Although I have a full time job, my passion is still designing (mechanical). I have therefore kept my design business going as a part time venture, and still take on many of the same projects I used to as a full time entrepreneur.
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General Manager
Xmeco PTY Ltd. · Full-time
Feb 2018 –
Present
6 yrs 11 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
The overall management of the entire production facility including the machine shop, foundry, design office and CAD CAM stations. Also responsible to all production deadlines and all logistical functions within the orginisation.
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Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Viz-Mec Design · Full-time
May 2008 –
Jan 2018
9 yrs 8 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Start up business providing a engineering design and drafting service to the local industry. Worked with various CAD packages (i.e. AutoDesk Inventor, Catia, Solidworks, AutoCAD). Projects ranged from Automation equipment, agricultural equipment, Foundry equipment and tooling design, automotive body shop jigs and fixtures, grippers, machine shop jigs and fixtures, and many more
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QA and Fettling yard manager
Xmeco Ferrous Foundry · Full-time
May 2008 –
Jun 2011
3 yrs 1 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Responsible for all casting method calculation, as well as the entire quality system (ISO 9001:2008) and fettling yard, including casting heat treatment and upgrading.
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Manufacturing Director
Xmeco PTY Ltd. · Full-time
Jan 2004 –
Apr 2008
4 yrs 3 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Responsible for all technical aspects within the of the business including the overall design and manufacture of all parts from the machine shop and foundry areas, as well as project and production planning.
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Project Director
Xmeco PTY Ltd. · Full-time
Jan 1999 –
Dec 2003
4 yrs 11 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Responsible for all projects undertaken by the company, which include many projects in other parts of the world. The responsibility included the project, planning, design, manufacture installation and commissioning of all new project installations. These projects were all related to resistance welding equipment projects for new model launches.
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Designer
Xmeco PTY Ltd. · Full-time
Jan 1995 –
Dec 1998
3 yrs 11 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
Promoted from the machine shop to the design office, working primarily in AutoCAD designing resistance welding equipment and machine shop jigs and fixtures. During this time the company established a non-ferrous foundry. The design of many of the patterns and tooling equipment was the responsibility of the in house design office at this point with a total of 13 designers. This period was also my introduction to project management, managing fairly larger automotive body shop projects with specific focus on the design, manufacture and installation of resistance welding equipment.
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Machinist
Xmeco PTY Ltd. · Full-time
Mar 1985 –
Dec 1994
9 yrs 9 mos
Port Elizabeth, EC, South Africa
After completing my apprenticeship, I worked as a machinist (manual), machinist (CNC), programmer / setter / operator of several Fanuc and Heidenhein CNC milling machines and lathes. During this time I also operated the CAD/CAM systems (Cimatron, MasterCAM), and also did a lot of design work in AutoCAD.