Materials and manufacturing

The ultrasonic powder atomisation facility enables the production of high-quality spherical metal powders from metal wires and rods, reducing dependency on costly imports. It supports research and local industries that use advanced manufacturing techniques by offering powders with high purity, low oxygen levels, as well as excellent sphericity for varied applications. The first batch of 316L stainless steel powder was delivered in April 2025, shortly after the facility was established.

The powder characterisation facility is used to analyse metal powders for their physical and functional properties, as required for various manufacturing processes and industrial applications. It is ISO17025:2017 SANAS T0381 accredited. The facility is equipped to assess particle size, shape, density, surface area and chemical composition. It adds value by providing insights into the flowability and rheology of metal powders – critical factors for additive manufacturing, metal injection moulding and powder metallurgy processes.

The metal injection moulding facility enables the cost-effective production of complex metal components from powder feedstocks. It offers design-to-production services to support local enterprises with the precision manufacturing of small- to medium-size parts in high volumes. The facility aims to industrialise metal injection moulding technology in South Africa and provides a means for import substitution and the localisation of a wide range of products currently imported into the country.

Investment casting is a traditional manufacturing process that uses the lost wax method to produce intricate metal components with minimal machining. Our facility – South Africa's only production-level vacuum casting foundry – advances this process with capabilities in titanium and other alloys, supporting industry through research and development.

The hot isostatic press facility has been established to support advanced manufacturing, industrialisation and commercialisation by enhancing the quality and densification of finished metal components. Key processing specifications for selected components include pressure, temperature and weight. The facility serves various advanced and critical applications in the aerospace, medical and defense sectors by ensuring optimal density in processed parts and improving creep and fatigue resistance.

We support local industries through non-destructive evaluation and metrology services, including infrared thermographic and ultrasonic testing. Our dedicated laboratory is equipped with X-ray and phased array systems for detecting defects in metal and composite components. The team also conducts structural analysis, corrosion testing and forensic investigations for failure analysis – crucial for quality assurance and risk mitigation across various applications.

The mechanical testing facility provides high-quality materials testing services to support research, development and industrial needs. The facility is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, ensuring internationally recognised quality and competence in mechanical testing. Our experts deliver reliable and precise test results. Testing capabilities include accredited and non-accredited tests. Accredited tests comprise tensile testing, fatigue testing and fracture toughness testing. Non-accredited tests include compression testing, hardness testing, three-point bend testing, fracture toughness testing and fracture crack propagation testing.

The metallurgical characterisation facility is central in analysing the microstructure, properties and chemical composition of materials to understand their behaviour and assess their suitability for various applications. This facility is equipped with low-speed cutting machines, a mounting machine and a grinding/polishing machine for sample preparation. It also houses various microscopes, such as light optical microscope, stereo microscope, scanning electron microscope, as well as Vickers hardness testers (micro- and macro-) for material characterisation. Additionally, an optical emission spectroscopy is available for determining the chemical compositions of different materials.