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25/11/2015

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Launch of the Centre for Rubber Science and Technology was featured in The Herald on the 25th of November.

Read a full extract of the article below:

THE Nelson Mandela Bay motor industry has received a major boost with the launch of NMMU’s new Centre for Rubber Science and Technology at its south campus.

The centre will focus on providing analytical, technical services and training for the needs of rubber and tyre manufacturing industries in South Africa.

Centre director Dr Percy Hlangothi said it was committed to remaining relevant to the region’s needs.

“[It] will not only house research projects relevant to the industry and community needs, but will also offer learning programmes [short and long] and support services to benefit the industry,” he said.

Research and development programmes done through the centre would cross various disciplines, including chemistry, environmental science, computer science, engineering and economics.

NMMU Innovation Office director Jaci Barnett said the centre had been spurred on by its research on tyre recycling and was sponsored by the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa, “but . . . also looks at the industry as a whole”.

NMMU has long been active as a training institution in this field, providing education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

More than 50 masters and doctoral students have completed their research projects in the Physical and Polymer Chemistry Research Group.

Many are employed in the tyre and rubber industry, with some having gone on to establish rubber-related companies.