Danie Hattingh

As a qualified Mechanical Engineering Technologist, I have acquired the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed in any position requiring this as foundation. My ability to understand mechanical systems and how they must be managed is a significant asset to any organisation. I have proven my ability to lead, mentor, and guide individuals and teams.

My experience in designing, planning, organising, leading, controlling, and implementing from concept to completion has enabled me to understand the importance of delivering right the first time in a very competitive industry.

I have worked with customers to understand their needs and designed numerous solutions through to successful implementation and operation. This required mutual discussions with detailed design, planning and coordination. Much of the time spent outside of South African borders and liaising with suppliers from all over the world.

My equipment manufacturing experience include:

• maintenance and continuous improvement of mechanical systems,
• design of equipment from verbal or written concept,
• project engineering and management of equipment from concept design through to installation and commissioning

My FMCG experience include:

• project engineering, maintenance management, project management and engineering management of food manufacturing facilities
• successfully completing the examination for being the food safety responsible person for the site and maintaining AA and AA+(unannounced audit) BRC issue 8 food safety compliance
• operations management of the manufacturing facility maintaining maximum efficiency and quality without fail
• adherence to all statutory and asset protection regulations for risk reduction

Highlights of my career include:

• Building a complete new dry food manufacturing facility and relocating all equipment for a new installation into the new building within six months from complete shutdown to start-up.
• Being nominated for making the difference in an innovation category designing and building a complete wet foods manufacturing facility in only 100 days from start to finish. Attending the final presentation and award ceremony in Virginia USA.
• Many exceed expectation ratings received through the performance management systems followed and maintained.

Past projects successfully completed:

• Established a complete 300,000lt per day Drinking Yoghurt Manufacturing facility in Lagos Nigeria for the Olam Group.
• Established a complete 150,000lt per day Drinking Yoghurt manufacturing capacity increase in Lagos Nigeria for Chi Limited.
• Designed and fabricated a continuous Pecan Nut sorting machine for a customer in the Northern Cape.
• Designed, costed, fabricated, and installed various conveyor systems for the fishing and poultry industries within South Africa and Tanzania.
• Prepared drawings and submitted to a pressure vessel inspection authority to recertification of two water shower retorts for continued safe operation.
• Replacement of:
  • 1000kVA Medium Voltage / Low Voltage oil filled transformers with resin core transformers,
  • Medium Voltage / Low Voltage oil filled switches with gas filled switches and
  • Main Control Cabinets incorporating power factor correction, filters and measuring equipment.
• Installing a 500kVA diesel engine driven generator complete with shunt breakers panel.
• Conducting a feasibility study and implementing a complete new wet foods (Royco) manufacturing facility producing sauces for pasteurising or sterilising in retort able doypack pouches for MARS.
• Establishing a complete new dry foods (Royco) manufacturing facility. This included the design of a new building to house equipment that was dismantled, relocated, and installed in the new facility for MARS.

Certifications:

• Mechanical Certificate of Merit
• Qualified Artisan (SAAF)
• Good Manufacturing Practice & Practical approach to HACCP (Swift / FoodBev SETA),
• Hygienic design of food processing plants,
• Basic dairy technology (Reaseheath College),
• Food Handlers Person in Charge (Entecom / FoodBev SETA).

I excel in an environment that enhances my enthusiasm to perform at the best of my ability and within a culture that promotes the freedom to explore cost effective solutions.

Highest Qualification: Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Engineering Mechanical

Certifications: Mechanical Certificate of Merit, Qualified Artisan (SAAF), N4 Mechanical, Good Manufacturing Practice & Practical approach to HACCP (Swift / FoodBev SETA), Hygienic design of food processing plants, Basic dairy technology (Reaseheath College), Food Handlers Person in Charge (Entecom / FoodBev SETA).

Computer Literacy: MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint) & Projects. Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.