CSIR setting up a reference smart factory to stimulate local manufacturing

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is going to set up a National Reference Smart Factory on its main campus in Pretoria/Tshwane. This will play a key part in achieving a major CSIR objective – the revitalisation and modernisation of the South African manufacturing industry. “South African manufacturing is at an all-time low,” points out CSIR Manufacturing Cluster Executive Manager Martin Sanne. “There was some growth last year, but that was in agri-processing. The metals industry is really down.”