Thato Moichela

Mechanical Fitter and Turner - Nedan Oil and Protein

(2026-02)

Perform reactive, preventive and scheduled maintenance on all mechanical plant assets to minimize downtime
Precision alignment of centrifugal pumps, motors and gearboxes using laser alignment equipment and DTI
Maintain and repair bulk material conveyors: bucket elevators, chain conveyors, screw conveyors, rubber, slat and belt conveyors
Service boiler ancillaries and water treatment systems including blowdown valves, pressure relief valves, feed check valves and steam lines
Overhaul and refurbish gearboxes, centrifugal pumps and mechanical seals
Maintain rotary airlocks, cyclones, hull fans and filter fans on extraction systems
Service seed expellers/presses, heat exchangers, extruders, flaker flakers, cracker machines, plate filters, leaf filters, deodorizers and centrifuges/separators
Maintain plant air compressors, hydraulic power packs, and pneumatic valve actuators
Maintain and repair industrial ovens, dryers and associated burners, thermocouples and temperature control systems
Support maintenance on Clean-In-Place circuits to prevent cross-contamination
Work under LOTO, permit-to-work, confined space and hot work permits. Participate in RCFA for major breakdowns
Log jobs, spares and hours on SAP/On Key to track PM completion and breakdown trends

Mechanical Fitter and Turner - Crofts Gears

(2023-10 - 2026-01)

Interpreted engineering drawings, assembly diagrams and OEM specifications to build gear units to tolerance
Assembled and refurbished industrial gearboxes: worm, bevel, helical, double reduction, lift actuators, and K-series units
Set and adjusted end floats, backlash, and bearing pre-load to company and OEM tolerances using DTI, feeler gauges and shims
Performed lapping of helical gear sets to achieve correct tooth contact patterns and reduce noise
Conducted test runs of completed gear units under load and no-load conditions and issued test run certificates
Stripped, inspected and reported on returned gearboxes and couplings to assist the quoting department with repair assessments
Fitted and aligned chains, couplings, and drive components during final assembly
Operated conventional workshop machines: lathe, milling machine and surface grinder for machining bushes, shafts, keys and spacers
Applied engineering principles for fault finding on gear failures, wear patterns and lubrication issues
Ensured all work complied with Quality, Environmental, Safety and Health (QESH) standards
Maintained 5S housekeeping standards in the assembly and test bay

Mechanical Fitter and Turner Semi-skilled - Productive Systems

(2017-10 - 2023-10)

Assembled, installed, and commissioned various conveyor systems on client sites, including belt, chain, and roller conveyors
Performed preventive and breakdown maintenance on conveyor belts: tracking, splicing, pulley lagging, and bearing replacement to minimize production stoppages
Manufactured and fitted precision components for packaging machinery using conventional lathe, milling machine, surface grinder, and CNC Haas Mill with basic G-code programming and setups
Read and interpreted engineering drawings and component tolerances to fabricate parts within ±0.02mm for critical assemblies
Conducted fault diagnosis and repair on mechanical systems for bagging machines, self-adhesive labelling machines, plastic closure cap assembly machines, wadding machines, leak testers, and trimmers
Drilled, tapped, cut, and shaped metal components and fitted fabricated parts into complete machines and sub-assemblies
Used mechanical measuring equipment: verniers, micrometres, DTI, and height gauges for quality control during manufacturing and assembly
Reduced machine downtime through rapid diagnosis and repair of mechanical failures on production lines
Adhered to SHEQ standards during on-site installations and workshop fabrication, maintaining zero LTI record

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