TAKING THE INDUSTRY BY STORM
The South African energy, manufacturing, fabrication and steel industries are more interdependent than we know. This smooth oiled wheel is driven by an ‘engine’ of passionate professionals who accomplish extraordinary things on an almost daily basis. To highlight just such an individual, in this issue, we speak to Air Liquide Commercial and Development Manager Bridget Zuma…
Why did you decide to study engineering and what is it about the discipline that attracted you to this field?
I have always been determined to succeed and to be impactful in whatever I do while making a difference, inspiring and motivating others. At school I knew that I didn’t just want a career, I wanted to incorporate my love for science and make a contribution. I researched a variety of industries to find which of those would in future contribute to the GDP in South Africa.
I knew that I needed to use my capabilities positively, and my research led me to the University of Pretoria. I studied Metallurgy and acquired my Bachelor in Engineering (BEng). One of my first achievements was winning a SAIM award for Young Presenters, having placed first in Southern Africa. I followed my BEng up with my Masters of Science qualification through the University of the Witwatersrand where I won the Regional IOM3 Young Persons Lecture award in 2017.
I was also honoured with the Sassda Best Stainless Steel Student award in 2018 and the Golden Key Chapter award in 2019. My head was constantly in the game, and once in a corporate environment, I went on to complete a new Managers Development Programme in Business Management at Wits, followed by a Women in Leadership programme at Stellenbosch University in 2020.
How did the first years of your career build on what you had studied at university but in a more practical setting? What were the key lessons you learned during this time?
The first years of my career were focused on positioning myself as a contender in the industry by being a voice that needed to be heard. My academic achievements had prepared me for the transformation that I believe needed to take place in the manufacturing and mining sector, but the top-down style of management that was so common at that time, tended to overshadow growth and success. I realised that I needed to challenge the bias and that to make my mark, I would need to challenge the status quo so to speak and do things differently.
What motivated you to become a part of the industry and what is it that you love most about it? How long have you been in the field?
My deep love for science and my passion for the manufacturing and mining sectors were key players in my decision to study Metallurgy. My strong intellectual acumen and excellent leadership abilities were also great indicators that, as a previously disadvantaged woman, I can make a difference for women in general. I am extremely focused and I feel that I am auto-programmed to be an overachiever. Although I have been in the industry collectively for more than ten years, I continue to further my education and leadership abilities. I love this industry primarily because it allows me to play my part in contributing to both the industry and transformation. I mean, it has always traditionally been a male dominated field, and it’s rare to find women that are both passionate about this sector and able to progress and make transformation possible in this uncharted territory.
As a woman in a previously male dominated field, did you find it difficult to break into the industry ?
It was extremely difficult to break into the industry. Academic qualifications are one thing but there does come a point where actions need to speak louder than words. There are obvious challenges that are indicative of this sector, and one of those is simply that “it’s a man’s job”. It became my aim to represent two different demographics; women and the previously disadvantaged. I also realised that the mining and industrial sector has not boomed like the technical industry, and yet, the tools used by the technical industry are freely available to us all. This incredibly diverse and transformative thinking needs to be applied across the board in the mining, metallurgy, energy, manufacturing and fabrication industries, and the value of women in these sectors needs to be pronounced a little louder to encourage women across the country to take this leap. I started at Hulamin an engineer in training and moved on to become a blending specialist on key projects to business sustainability in the Metals Division. I then joined Air Liquide as a Metals and Energy Market Manager, and currently occupy the role of Commercial and Business Development Manager for Southern Africa.
How would you describe a typical day in your current position?
A typical day for me begins with taking care of family. I have two children under the age of four who are themselves, a full-time job. I manage a team of five business developers and sales representatives across Southern Africa. As you can imagine, this has its fair share of cultural and diverse challenges, but I work and operate from a point of integrity and respect. My Zulu culture teaches respect for all persons, regardless of liberality or position. My daily interactions which include reviewing performance, reporting to relevant boards, dealing with key customer needs and managing my team, are all driven by collaboration and respect. With my team so dispersed; collaboration and constant interaction removes the feeling of isolation and they rightfully feel like part of the bigger picture.
Why do you feel that gas production and stainless steel have such a significant role to play in getting South Africa’s economy back on track following
the COVID-19 pandemic?
Industrial gas supply plays a crucial role in stainless steel production in South Africa. Constant availability will facilitate stainless steel plant restart and recovery. Air Liquide has a strong commitment in and to Southern Africa. The business has been successful in procuring all the air separation units (ASU) from Sasol Secunda train 1 to 15. These ASUs produce industrial and speciality gasses that are used by Sasol. The staff from the Sasol trains were incorporated into the Air Liquide Business. This ensured stability during the pandemic, as well as assuring clients in the stainless steel industry of constant supply and support from experts in the industry.
Qlixbi has won a Red Dot Award in the innovative product Category in 2020 - why do you feel that this particular gas was so significant in the evolution and awareness of gas and stainless steel in the market and why is it so important to the growth of certain sectors now i.e. key applications where it’s the ideal choice?
We have developed a packaged gas solution that turns the art of welding into a user-friendly experience by making it easier, faster and safer to weld, thanks to a mix of mechanical and digital innovations. This product offers the welding and fabrication industry insight to help optimise the operation and increase efficiency. Traditional stainless steel production houses and fabrication will be incredibly enhanced with a product that delivers a digital interface combined with an upgrade on control systems and amazing precision of mixtures. Qlixbi has been rolled out in Europe and we can expect it to hit local shores soon.
What do you consider the most exciting innovations/product developments happening in the industry right now and what sectors hold the greatest potential for the use of gas and steel in the future e.g,. aerospace etc.?
I can’t say too much about this, but I will let you in on a major development in the gas sector that will have a strong impact on the future of stainless steel and fabrication. The buzz words on everyone’s lips are CO2 emissions, and this has indeed become a sore topic with levies that are increasingly problematic. Air Liquid’s new technology Cryocap, is a game changer. Cryocap focuses on reducing CO2 emissions for hard to abate sectors like stainless steel. CO2 has always been a key ingredient in traditional welding mixtures, but we have found that increasing the use of gasses like pure argon is beneficial not only to provide a better welding finish but also for the climate. Sectors that will benefit from this include the automotive and fabrication industries, but the manufacturing sector is also positioned to show great growth potential for stainless steel and industrial gas.