Page 11 - EngineerIt March 2021

market needs, to stimulate the growth
and competitiveness of the South
African photonics industry. It further
aims to address the current lack of
commercialised photonics products
in South Africa by providing world
class specialised photonics facilities,
technical support and scarce skills,
such as optics and photonics, as well
as networks needed to facilitate the
development of prototypes.
Photonics applications are pervasive
in all branches of 21st century science
and engineering and everyday life.
These include fibre-optic information
and communication networks and
systems, cameras, sensors and imaging
systems, illumination systems and
displays, applications in the energy
sector such as photovoltaic materials
and systems, and applications in Dr Darryl Naidoo and Dr Hencharl Strauss in the laboratory foyer. Several of the class
manufacturing where photonics plays 1 1000 cleanrooms are behind them.
an increasingly important part as a tool
that supports advanced manufacturing
technology, such as 3D printing. The PPF has capabilities to support:
One of the projects focuses on 1. the design and development of portable photonics-based point-of-care
optical coherence tomography for diagnostics for HIV and TB;
the 3D extraction of finger prints. The 2. the design and development of a range of compact laser sources;
novelty of this finger print acquisition 3. the design and development of laser-based systems for manufacturing, 3D
device is that it is capable of extracting printing and other materials processing applications;
both the internal (sub-dermal) and 4. the development of laser-based devices for detection and illumination
external (surface) finger print, thus applications, specifically lidar and other atmospheric monitoring applications;
removing the possibility of fooling 5. the development of photonics-based sensor products, for application in a
the detection system. It also offers wide range of applications; and
a non-contact approach, which has 6. mechanical, electronics and industrial design capabilities to support
applications that can be used in prototype development.
banks, mortuaries and forensic service
facilities. The prototype has been Speaking at the launch event, the director general of the DSI, Dr Phil Mjwara,
developed and the team has received said the establishment of the photonics prototyping facility is without doubt a
positive feedback from the trials. significant milestone for the CSIR, industry and the national system of innovation
as a whole.
From laser to photonics centre Dr Mjwara added that the setting up of the facility is part of the broader effort
The laser centre has been renamed by the DSI to support industrial and economic development that is driven by
the photonic centre as it more research, development and innovation.
inclusively represents the work we “These initiatives are also key components of our contribution to national
do,” said Darryl Naidoo, who heads development imperatives as set out in the White Paper on Science, Technology
up the centre. “We have built up many and Innovation and the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery
years of experience in researching Plan. Most importantly, they are a fulfilment of our obligation as government to
and developing products for the develop interventions in support of the creation and utilisation of knowledge and
defence sector, which we are now innovation for industrial and economic development.’
applying to industry. Currently we are The CEO of the CSIR, Dr Thulani Dlamini, said the facility has a huge role
involved in three major developments to play in developing and supporting new and existing enterprises in the field of
of local products, partnering with photonics, to improve their competitiveness.
Additive Manufacturing Solutions, Dr Dlamini called on South African scientists, researchers, engineers,
Kutleng Technologies and Uvirco industries, SMMEs as well as entrepreneurs and investors to make use of this
Technologies.” facility to develop photonic-related products. n

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