PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE & A VISION OF GROWTH
The greatest strength of the South African stainless steel sector is undoubtedly its people, who believe in the material’s ability to enhance and sustain the South African economy, no matter how onerous the challenges it faces. For this reason, we continue our profile series on passionate stainless professionals who embody the bold spirit and forward-thinking who will shape our industry for many years to come. In this issue, we speak to Air Liquide National Business Developer, Mwali Kawawa…
Why did you decide to study metallurgical engineering followed by a Bachelor of Science and what was it about these disciplines that attracted you to this field of study?
During my school days, I always found the subject of science intriguing, particularly chemistry and the building blocks of matter. As a child, I was privileged to own a few bicycles and thoroughly enjoyed taking them apart and modifying them; at one stage I rode a BMX with altered spoke wheel rims, fitted with a fixed Gear Bike’s handlebar stem and a stereo! To this day I have a thing for creating and building various items and thoroughly enjoy domestic improvement DIY projects in my spare time. I figured Material Science would be a good starting point, so post school I completed a Bachelor of Technology degree in Metallurgical Engineering, thereafter a post Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Welding Technology.
How did the first years of your career build on what you learnt at university but in a more practical setting? What were the key lessons you learnt during this time?
I started my career in 2007 working as a trainee metallurgist at a metallurgical testing laboratory under the mentorship of one of the distinguished South African pioneers in this area which exposed me to the various methodologies of material science, evaluation and analysis. The majority of the projects I worked on during this time were related to either weld testing or attributed to an inservice failure of metallurgical material in various codes; including corrosion, fatigue and embrittlement. This role involved extensive research by gathering background information, mostly from metal handbooks and materials from the library on topics for industrial applications. I also enjoyed hands-on sample preparation and physical testing in the laboratory. I learned how to structure technical reports and used knowledge from both my university training and research to analyse the results and formulate recommendations/ conclusions. This taught me how to investigate any topic thoroughly and make propositions based on observations and aligning this to credible discoveries by industry peers. In recent times, the advent and growth of the internet have simplified this approach immensely and virtually any content can be discovered just by clicking a button. It is no longer necessary to spend hours looking for reliable books in the library.
How and when did you then enter the stainless steel industry?
Since stainless steel is most widely used for corrosion-resistant applications, I have been involved with this metal alloy since the beginning of my career. The earliest memory I have in dealing with a stainless steel material application was for the refurbishment of continuous casting rolls used in casting machines wherein the rolls were clad with a martensitic stainless steel surface. To allow for bending and flexibility of the rolls, the high-temperature corrosion resistant cladding was welded in multiple layers upon a carbon steel core. In some way, this also introduced me to the welding
industry whereby stainless steel structures, for example, pressure equipment, railing and food processing equipment, are all predominantly fabricated by welding of the stainless steel material.
How would you describe a typical day in your current position?
My current role involves both technical and commercial aspects for identifying, developing and promoting the various welding and cutting offers and technologies available at Air Liquide. The exposure across the entire value chain is broad and dynamic and I continue to learn new things about the industrial gas applications industry daily. From product development to raw material sourcing and production of industrial gases, it’s all in a day’s work. Within the Group there is a global network of expert domains available to facilitate exploration, information sharing and mentoring. This aids me in tackling challenges as they arise.
Why do you feel that stainless steel has such an important role to play in getting South Africa’s economy back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic?
I think stainless steel is a multifaceted material with great potential for further innovation and development. South Africa has abundant mineral resources for beneficiation by creating products for promotion in both domestic and export markets. There are a lot of emerging semi-skilled, skilled and professional people eager to contribute positively to the country’s economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected all economies. Hopefully, successful implementation of the recently approved “South African Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan 1.0” will help unlock stagnant projects and create opportunities for business and employment. I think stainless steel is widely used in infrastructure for various industries and will surely experience growth in the coming years.
What do you consider as the most exciting innovation/product developments happening in stainless steel right now and what sectors hold the greatest potential for the use of stainless steel in the future?
I think there is a global focus on achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The resultant emerging renewable energy projects have produced some fascinating developments, especially the use of hydrogen as a fuel for transportation. There is always a stainless steel grade to be found for use across all conditions, from cryogenic, ambient to higher temperature applications. This makes the material versatile and adaptable for the various components required for engineering hydrogen’s production, consumption, and storage structures.