Optimising process plants to achieve the best possible efficiencies and throughputs needs not only good equipment; it needs skilled and experienced operators who have both a theoretical and practical grounding in process-related disciplines.

This requires bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical experience, which is the aim of Multotec’s new training facility.

Brent Combrink, Multotec’s process engineering training facilitator, commented: “Multotec believes firmly in the value of practically orientated skills training.

“The basics or fundamentals are often forgotten and must be reiterated, and our training does that; it should also be remembered that lessons learnt from experience are not always found in textbooks.”

Combrink added that the centre gives customers access to application-specific and product-specific training, which helps participants explore the best optimisation options for their particular conditions.

“Our product and process training provides technical knowledge that gives customers a firmer skills foundation on which to manage their operations day-to-day, but it goes further than that,” he said. “The way we train also gives customers a platform to engage one-to-one with industry experts, so they can ask questions about their specific challenges and objectives.”

The facility creates a knowledge-sharing environment in which experienced trainers facilitate the exchange of valuable information, not just between trainers and participants, but between the participants themselves, the company stated.

Fault-finding techniques are included in the training, as these are key aspects of effective plant optimisation. In addition, factory and laboratory visits give participants insight into how technologies are applied and adapted to best effect.