Marcel Auret

Mechanical Design Engineer

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

A qualified Mechanical Design Engineer with 24 years’ experience including automotive design and bulk materials handling industries. Having expertise in mechanical engineering design, CAD modelling & drawing, Discrete Element Modelling, manufacturing, costing, prototyping, CNC machining, feasibility studies and 3-D Printing. Achievements includes the design of a multiple national championship winning rally car, identifying&revising fatal design flaws in a multi-billion-rand Bulk Materials Handling project, and pioneering methods for testing materials properties as input values for Discrete Element Modelling of Dry-Bulk Materials Handling.

KEY SKILLS

Very good understanding of form, fit, function, human anatomy & ergonomics, vehicle dynamics, and movement of mechanical components

Very analytic with keen eye for fault finding

Innovative problem solving

Practical thinker

Mathematic skills

Good understanding of manufacturability, serviceability, standardisation, minimalism, and cost justification of designs

Highly artistic

Metrology, analysis, and research

Hand-eye coordination for hand work, such as drawing, sketching, illustrating, painting, modelling, and constructing

Cost estimates

COMPUTER SKILLS

Highly skilled in CAD & CAM (with SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor), as well as Discrete Element Modelling (with Bulk Flow Analyst & Newton)

Skilled in Conveyor Design with Belt Analyst & Sidewinder

Skilled in documentation and calculation using MS Office’s Excel and Word

Also worked with Repetier, Ardvino, Light Room, AutoCAD, and Fusion360

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree of Technology (Mechanical Engineering Design)

Technikon Pretoria

(Certified as four-year university degree by ICAS, Canada)

1994-2001

Graduated from high school in 1993

TRAINING

Currently studying Python, FreeCAD, Ligggths

CNC Programming and manufacturing on Fusion 360 and SolidWorks CAM with Haas (2019)

Newton and Sidewinder (2015)

Rifle stock making (2014)

Bulk Flow Analyst (Discrete Element Modelling) Overland Conveyor Ltd. (2010)

SolidWorks (2008)

Introduction to Railway Engineering at University of Pretoria (2007)

Autodesk Inventor (2003)

SASSDA Stainless Steel course at Technikon, Pretoria (1996)

PROJECTS

Start-up of new CNC machine shop for Racing Boys, Krugersdorp, South Africa (2019)

Mercedes Benz W206 new East London body shop Conveyors, East London, South Africa, and Sindelfingen, Germany (2018)

Transnet Ncgura Manganese Export Terminal, Port of Coega, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2015-2016)

Transnet Saldanha Iron Ore Export Terminal expansion project, Saldanha, South Africa (2011, 2013, 2019)

London Minerals Iron Ore export terminal, Pepel, Sierra Leone (2012)

Vale new Coal Export Terminal, Nacala, Mozambique (2011-2012)

Assmang, Transfer chute upgrade, Cato Ridge, South Africa (2010-2011)

Gautrain, Pretoria, South Africa (2006-2007)

30-ton electrical busbar installation project, Yeosu, South Korea (2005)

Rally car for Toyota SA Motors, Sandton, South Africa (2001-2003)

BMW (SA) automotive manufacturing assembly plant upgrade for E46 3-series BMW, Rosslyn, South Africa (1998-1999)

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Hands-on approach

Very artistic (painting, sketching)

Mostly big picture orientated

Self-sufficient

Prefer to start new task with an assessment of the situation, instead of running blindly into it

Ample tenacity

Good health, fit for work

Non-smoker

No substance abuse record

No criminal record

Team player

Married (no children)

Religious sabbath keeping Christian

HOBBIES AND PERSONAL INTERRESTS

Automotive design, reading (mostly history and professional literature), art (painting and drawing), target shooting, hunting, reloading, cooking,

WORK EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS OWNER

Marcel Auret Design / Pretoria, South Africa – Jan 2014 – Current

Mechanical Design Engineer providing the following services:

-Mechanical Engineering Consulting.

-Mechanical Design.

-CAD modelling and drawing.

-CAM programming.

-Prototyping.

-Problem Solving and Innovation.

-General services including design, automotive maintenance, painting, plumbing, masonry, tiling, steel fabricating, carpentry, appliance repairs, engineering site inspections and rifle stock making.

-Designed fully adjustable mock-up rifle stock to measure shooters for custom rifle stock manufacturing.

-Maintenance and restoration of trailers.

-Calculations by hand as well as on Excel, including writing a ballistics calculator for long range shooting.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION ENGINEER

Racing Boys / Krugersdorp, South Africa – Jan 2019 – Jan 2021

Engineering and management of new machine shop for aftermarket motorsport components.

-Performed market research, feasibility study and business plan for new venture.

-Researched, planned, and procured the process machines and equipment.

-Designed, modelled, drew and developed automotive components.

-Managed CNC programming, manufacturing, quality control, and purchasing.

-Designed aftermarket intakes as well as billet plates for Rotary Engines.

-Programmed and operated Haas VF3 CNC machine to modify existing automotive components and machine new components.

MECHAINCAL ENGINEER, BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

JHDA / Bryanston, South Africa – Aug 2019 – Nov 2019

-Procurement of conveyor equipment for the Saldanha Iron Ore Export Terminal expansion project.

CONVEYOR PLANNER, MANUFACTURING PLANT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION (BODY SHOP)

Mercedes Benz / East London, South Africa & Sindelfingen, Germany – Aug 2018 – Dec 2018

Conveyor planner for MBSA’s new W206 body shop conveyors in the East London plant.

-Managed collaborative planning and coordination support during project run in with Daimler team in Germany and ensured standardization of body shop conveyor system in accordance with Daimler standards.

-Controlled and monitored the general planning, owners, and engineer team for overall quality delivery.

-Carried technical evaluation of supplier bids and proposal, analysed externally provided services and suppliers.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

Aecom/Flour Woodmead, South Africa – Feb 2015 – Nov 2016

FEL 3B design of Transnet’s new manganese ore export terminal in Eastern Cape Province,

-Assisted with validation FEL3 concept, identified fatal design flaws, and revised layout and chute concept into workable design.

-Calibrated the Discrete Element Modelling software, designed chutes, verified, and created chute drawings and wrote transfer chute design reports.

-Reviewed documents/drawings and advised design team.

MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEER, BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

Vale + 5 mining companies / Various African Countries – May 2011 – Dec 2013

-Assisted with feasibility studies, plant audits, tendering, and design work on the expansion of belt conveyors for export terminals and mines at various locations in Africa.

-Developed reliable methods to test material properties for Discrete Element Modelling input values with more than 90% accuracy. The conventional industry practice is “reverse engineering” from video footage.

-Designed transfer chute concept that can be used in various transfer points feeding any direction with any drop-height through standardization with features such as vertical “fall into to mainstream” dribble chute for Vale’s Coal Export Terminal in Nacala, Mozambique.

-Reduced the Power demand of Vale’s Nacala Coal Export Terminal by 1800kW by revising the conveyor and transfer tower layout.

MECHANICAL DESIGNER, BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

Martin/ Witbank, South Africa – Oct 2009 – May 2011

-Designed conveyor transfer chutes and cleaning equipment with CAD Solid models and DEM, made manufacturing & installation drawings with bills of materials, calibrated DEM software, supervised & commissioned transfer chute installations, performed quality inspections & conveyor plant audits, and wrote design reports.

-Developed “Lego”-type chute and conveyor equipment concepts to enable standardization.

MECHANICAL DESIGNER AND DRAUGHTSMAN, MANUFACTURING

Bridgestone SA / Brits, South Africa – Mar 2009 – Oct 2009

-Managed drawing office, created manufacturing drawings, created CAD solid models and designed tyre manufacturing equipment.

MANAGER DESIGN, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Li-Cell Diesel Electric Power / Pretoria, South Africa – Mar 2008 – Mar 2009

-Mechanical design and development of housings and trailers for diesel powered electrical generator sets.

DRAUGHTSMAN, ASST. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Tabular Track (Pty) Ltd. / Pretoria, South Africa – Nov 2005 – Mar 2008

-Assistant technical director for manufacturer of longitudinal ballast-less, maintenance free, modular beams used on railway tracks as a substitute for conventional sleepers.

-Designed railway deviations for Metro Rail to accommodate the new Gautrain Railway lines in Pretoria, South Africa.

-Designed moulds for the casting of modular beams.

MECHANICAL DESIGN TECHNOLOGIST

Copalcor Rolled Metals / Wadeville, South Africa & South Korea – Dec 2003 – Nov 2005

-Designed factory equipment For Copper alloy sheet metal production

-Managed, designed, and supervised manufacturing & installation of busbar installations in Yeosu, South Korea.

MECHANICAL DESIGN DRAUGHTSMAN

Toyota SA Motors (Pte) Ltd / Sandton, South Africa – Feb 2001 – Dec 2003

Designed, modelled, created manufacturing drawings & assembly drawings as well as bill of materials for winning car of 2003 and 2004 South African Rally Championships. The car competed in the A8 class and was a modified Toyota RunX featuring front wheel drivetrain with a modified normally aspirated 2-liter 3S-GE four-cylinder engine and Hewland sequential gearbox.

Parts designed included:

-Complete engine fuel intake system with sliding throttle for each cylinder and variable intake length concepts.

-Exhaust manifold.

-Intermediate drive shaft and bearing bracket for right hand wheel for equal length side shafts to reduce “torque steering”.

-Steering rack layout, mountings, rods, spacers, and brackets.

-Complete rear suspension system to replace standard torsion beam suspension with independent swing arm suspension without adding mounting points on chassis. This suspension design was copied by our main rivals, namely the works Volkswagen team, resulting in it being used for every rally victory in 2004.

-Front suspension components such as lower control arms, wheel bearing carrier (knuckle) with wheel hub, strut brackets, brake calliper brackets, steering rod-end brackets, McPherson struts, shock towers & turrets (with castor adjustment brackets), bottom pin inserts for knuckle, top hats, spacers, spherical bearing holder, and modifications to the front cross member.

-New cam pulleys to use the variable valve timing system of the (then new) 2ZZ engine on the 3S-GE engine.

-Brake calliper brackets and brake disc bells.

-Radiator.

-Various spacers and brackets.

-Anti-roll bar brackets and links, gear lever mechanism.

-Bell housing to mate Hewland FWD sequential gearbox with Sachs clutch, Toyota Camry starter, Datsun Pulsar ring gear, Ford Focus clutch slave cylinder and Toyota 3S-GE engine block. Very compact design enabled removal/replacement of only gearbox or engine from car. Design was adapted by Motorsport South Africa as official bell housing design for the new 4WD class of 2005 in efforts to make the sport more affordable

-Shock absorber components as per suspension engineer’s design.

-Body styling of racing car panels.

-Reservoirs for brake fluid and coolant.

-Pedals, including brake pedal with front/rear brake balance controller.

-Sump guard.

-Driver seat brackets.

-Roll cage modelling as per structural engineer’s design.

-Various small engine components, such as pulleys, and alternator brackets.

-Brackets to hold body onto jig platform during roll cage fabrication.

-Jigs of for fabrication of rear suspension components.

-Flywheel to take Sachs multi plate clutch and Datsun Pulsar ring gear.

-Engine and gearbox mountings.

-Steering shaft

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT

BMW (SA) / Rosslyn, South Africa – Sep 1998 – Jul 1999

-Completed Practical Experiential Training.

-Assist production planner of door assembly, with factory upgrade for new BMW E-46 3-series door assembly line.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT

Silverton Engineering / Silverton, South Africa – Dec 1997 – Sep 1998

-Practical Experiential Training, including machining (hand tools as well as turning & milling), welding, grinding, drawing, CAD modelling, drawing office practice, product development, copper radiator manufacturing, metal pressing, metrology, quality control and sheet metal work.

+27-82-823-****

ad0vmd@r.postjobfree.com

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