Tjeka Training Matters continues to proactively respond to the skills demands of the construction industry. This remains one of the leading private Technical Vocational and Education and Training (TVET) college’s key differentiators.
A case in point is the company’s ongoing collaboration with manufacturers and suppliers of quality equipment and materials to expose learners to the latest technology during their training.
Tjeka Training Maters recently also partnered Magneto Thermals and EMS Holdings, a local manufacturer of patented thermal low pressure integrated heat exchange systems.
As part of the agreement between the two companies, Tjeka Training Matters will provide training in the correct installation and maintenance of EMS Technology’s cutting-edge water heating systems. Meanwhile, Magneto Thermals and EMS Holdings have donated two domestic Magneto Thermals units to Tjeka Training Matters for training purposes at its state-of-the-art training and trade centres in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“There has been a marked increase in the demand for ‘green’ plumbing systems considering the energy and water crisis with which the country continues to grapple. This is on the back of growing ‘green’ consciousness among South African property owners, while the increasing cost of basic services is also driving the uptake of these innovative solutions. Considering the high demand for these services and the growth potential that they provide compared to conventional plumbing markets, many enterprising plumbers are diversifying into this specialist field. However, to compete effectively, they need to ensure that their employees are equipped with the correct skills and have kept pace with the latest technologies. Meanwhile, new entrants to the industry need to learn to think beyond the conventional role of plumbers. The industry is changing at a rapid rate placing new demands on plumbers. They, therefore, need to constantly keep abreast of the latest technologies and upgrade their skills to remain relevant,” Frans Toua, Chief Executive Officer of Tjeka Training Matters, says.
Magneto Thermals with EMS’s patented technology reduces electricity consumption by up to 75% by producing 3kW of heating with only 750W of energy. This is opposed to conventional hot water systems that constitute up to 60% of a typical household’s energy consumption.
The thermal low pressure integrated heat exchange systems harness ambient heat in the atmosphere and transfer it to the water stored in the insulated water tanks.
Stored at a temperature of 60°C, this water is used to heat water that is passed through the system. In this way, the tank serves as a “hot water battery”.
Heat exchange occurs at the heating coil inside the stored water glycol solution through which water is introduced to the tank under pressure via the water mains.
By the time that the water exits the heating coil, it has reached the desired temperature. A heat pump monitors the temperature of the water glycol solution inside the tank and regulates it to maintain the pre-determined temperature, which is around 60°C.
As it is a low-pressure system, there is no risk of explosion. This is a significant risk associated with the incorrect installation of electric geysers. There is also no limescale build-up in the tanks which have a 10-year warranty and a 30 year plus life expectancy. The system can be remotely controlled via WiFi and can be powered by solar systems.
Toua says that Tjeka Training Matters is especially proud to be associated with local innovation.
“There are very few local manufacturers of plumbing equipment left in the country. Deindustrialisation of the industry has also had a profound negative impact on job creation and skills development and training. The Magneto Thermal tank is unique South African innovation that has been patented in many different countries,” he says.
Franco Diederiks, Director of Magneto Thermals and EMS Holdings, says that Magneto Thermals is proud to be associated with a reputable provider of plumbing training.
“As a leading player in the ‘green’ plumbing industry, it was important for us to partner a trustworthy provider of quality plumbing training that was also highly recommended by the Institute of Plumbing South Africa. There is a dire shortage of qualified plumbers in the country, especially those with specialist ‘green’ plumbing skills. Unfortunately, the skills of many individuals who have supposedly written their plumbing trade tests or completed short plumbing courses have been found to be wanting, exacerbating the skills shortage. It was also important for us to partner a TVET that trains many newcomers to the industry. We want to expose these individuals to our technology early on in their careers. Equipped with this knowledge, they can correctly advise property owners on the best available plumbing solutions for their requirements,” Diederiks says.