Tangible financial benefits for TASA Members

Two companies that recently joined TASA both benefited financially from their TASA membership.

From Left: Mr. Geoff Tugwell, Henk Snyman,  Jim Plester & Barry Preston

The company Machine Simulation SA, TASA member number MAC001 , has agreed with TASA is that it will give a discount of 5% on the cost of the software purchased from MSSA. The first TASA member to take up this offer is Tugwell Engineering. They recently purchased Catia, a fully integrated design & manufacturing solution.

At an event at Tugwell Engineering, Henk Snyman, the secretary of TASA Gauteng, handed over the TASA membership certificates to MSSA and Tugwell Engineering. This was the trigger for Tugwell Engineering to get the discount on the software.

Present at the events were Messrs Jim Plester Technical Sales Director for MSSA, Geoff Tugwell from Tugwell Engineering and Barry Preston, the PLM consultant of DASSAULT SYSTEMS from Coventry in the UK.


Geoff Tugwell gave some background on his organisation. He stated that he specialises in blow moulding tools with a focus on the automotive industry. He has supplied major first tier suppliers such as FAURECIA with a blow moulded components. He stated that the reason for his choice of Catia software is that it’s the standard CAD/CAM package for the automotive industry. Tugwell engineering will use Catia to design and manufacture the tooling on their 2 CNC machining centres.

MSSA will supply the Dassault Systemes product lifecycle management (PLM) solution & C G Tech CNC simulation software at a discounted rate to all paid up TASA members. Further information on MSSA’s solutions can be viewed on the following websites, www.machsimsa.co.za (C G Tech software) and www.aided.co.za (Dassault Systemes PLM solution) or call 011 021 0616 to find out more.


Jim Plester also stated that “everyone recognises that Catia is the Rolls-Royce of CAD/CAM solutions, but what surprises most people is the price, for R123,000 (excl. VAT) you get a powerful design and machining package, including 8 days of training”

The Secretariat of TASA, Mr. Henk Snyman is handing over the TASA Membership Certificate to Mr. Jim Plester on Thursday 14th October 2010 on the premises of Tugwell Engineering.

TASA is in the process of negotiating similar deals with other suppliers. Please contact the TASA Gauteng secretary, Henk Snyman, to share and propose other suppliers to be approached to give the same preference to TASA members.

Gauteng TOOLMAKERS invited to join SOLAR PARK INITIATIVE Cluster

Photo Voltaic arrays in action.

The Gauteng Tooling Initiative has submitting the required information to DTI on a PRE-TRADE Initiative Selection Template to participate as a design, manufacture and supply CLUSTER to the SOLAR PARK Initiative planned for the Northern Cape.

This Solar Park will act somewhat like an Industrial Park. The "Solar Park Authority" will develop the infrastructure such as roads, transport, water and transmission infrastructure for use by the individual Solar power generation entities who are located at the park. TASA Members early involvement with the park will allow them to present their capabilities to the operators of the generating entities. This will assist to keep the manufacturing activities within South Africa with the associated job creation.

GTI operating as a cluster will market the TASA members capability and capacity to the Solar Park Authority. The real manufacturing and toolmaking opportunities are with the individual Solar power generating companies that will populate the park.

If you as a TASA member wish to participate in the Cluster, please contact Henk Snyman by e-mail (henks@gtiweb.co.za), phone (0823274069) or by sending a message from the Blog.



Heat storage traditional solar energy electricity generating plant.