Qualified Millwrights in demand

South Africa needs more Millwrights due to the shortage of skilled artisans and the increasing demand for their expertise in industries like manufacturing, construction, and energy, where they are crucial for installing, maintaining, and repairing machinery.

The growth of industries, specially manufacturing, construction, and energy, necessitates the need for more qualified Millwrights to ensure smooth operations.

Millwrights are skilled in electrical and mechanical excellence. They are essential for installing, maintaining, and repairing machinery and equipment, making them vital for industries that rely on these systems. With their multi-skilled expertise in mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic areas Red Seal certified Millwrights are in high demand.

South Africa’s strategic infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, and power stations, require Millwrights to ensure successful implementation. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has identified millwrights as a trade in high demand and with the increasing demand for skilled tradespeople, millwrights can look forward to a promising career in the trades.

According to Elsie Harmse, CEO of UXi Artisan Development, Millwrights are skilled tradespeople and to become a Millwright, there are specific educational requirements that must be met, including completing specific subjects at school.

In the planning of a sustainable career path, it is important that young men and women with an interest in mechanical-, electrical-, hydraulic or pneumatic systems will explore the subjects that are needed to become a Millwright.

Harmse points out that occupational certified Millwrights are involved with the erection of machinery. Installing, dismantling, repairing, reassembling and moving machinery in factories, power plants and construction sites.

They are installing machinery on foundations or base plates and aligning electrical motors or other power sources such as turbines or equipment which millwrights typically connect with some type of coupling. They may also do some tap welding to temporarily hold components in place until it can be completely assembled by a welder.

Harmse says Millwrights are also known as industrial mechanics or machinists globally. They read diagrams, schematic drawings, and service manuals to determine work procedures, operate rigging equipment, fit bearings, align gears, shafts and motors and connect couplings and valves to precise tolerances.

Millwrights work with diverse components for construction and decommissioning of machinery. “Certified Millwrights legally complies to install, repair and reassemble machinery in factories and on construction sites. Millwrights usually work on contract and might only be on a job site for a few days or weeks, depending on the type of job,” she says.

Harmse notes that a Millwright relies on precision in their work, following multistep instructions to perform their job correctly. They follow regulations concerning quality and safety and need to adhere to industry regulations.

She mentions that the second block of national technical trades training intakes for 2025 will start on 26 May. “Youth who are interested in an active job that uses skills like problem-solving and technical expertise should seriously consider becoming a Millwright. Learn and practice the necessary skills to become a Millwright, including machinery installation, lubrication and repair. Training also covers math, electronics, welding and basic computer proficiency.”

Harmse is reminding young people who are considering the rewarding career of a Millwright to look out for QCTO and SETA accredited Red Seal qualification at IETI campuses in Cape Town, Roodepoort and Gqerberha. “The full Millwright Artisan qualification can also be completed at Africa Skills GeorgeTech and Africa Skills Pofadder, as well as at VereenigingTech. We also know about the accredited qualification offered by P & T Training in Germiston and Durnacol Skills Hub at Durnacol, near Newcastle.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Jan Greyling – 082 556 8778 / jan@uxi-ad.co.za