Posts Tagged ‘Engineering Design’
7 things to know about engineers
Ever wondered what engineers are really like? Let’s take a lighthearted look at these complex problem solvers with some insight from someone who’s been married to a civil engineer for almost 15 years. They can be masters of DIY. This will depend on their field of engineering, but it’s likely that home DIY projects will…
Read MoreWhat does an electrical engineer do?
It’s almost impossible to give a short answer to this question, but if we had to try, we’d say that electrical engineers are the brains behind anything to do with electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. So that’s how it comes to be that power stations, the internet, navigation systems, and telecommunication networks – seemingly very different…
Read MoreWhat does an engineer do?
Engineering is all around us. And we engage with it every day in almost every aspect of our lives. From the smartphone that connects you to your world to the car that gets you from A to B and the office building you work in – all of these require the specialised skills of an…
Read MoreMeet Hannes Van Schalkwyk, civil engineer
Hannes van Schalkwyk was born in Namibia, but with a father who worked as an accountant for a mining company, he spent much of his childhood in South Africa, moving from one small town to another. In 1996, having completed his engineering studies at Technikon Pretoria, he returned to his country of birth and, before…
Read MoreMeet Bartle Rautenbach, Engineering Technician
Bartle Rautenbach (affectionately referred to by his colleagues as Oom Bartle) was born in Usakos, a small town on the banks of the Khan River in the Erongo Region. He joined the Lithon office in Swakopmund (just 140 km away from his birthplace) in January 2009 at the peak of his career – one that…
Read MoreModern marvels of structural engineering
Why do we feel confident taking lifts to the tops of tall buildings or driving through kilometres-long tunnels? Because structural engineers have made it safe for us to do so. These highly skilled professionals take architectural designs and ambitions and make them structurally possible. As the Institution of Structural Engineers explains, they “design the strength…
Read MoreFinding purpose through Lithon Staff Development Programme
Lithon Project Consultants CEO, Gert Maritz, is incredibly excited about the expanding possibilities at the Namibian-based engineering consulting firm. Along with his raft of new responsibilities, he is deeply committed to overseeing and advancing the staff development plan he designed during his tenure as COO. Formally implemented over two years ago, the programme is based…
Read MoreMeet Fred Mudge
Meet Fred Mudge 2021 has been a big year for structural engineer Fred Mudge. Not only does it mark his fourth year as a member of the Lithon team, but he’s also just married his university sweetheart. We chatted with him on his first day back from his honeymoon in Zanzibar to find out…
Read MoreMeet Magretha Vlok, COO of Lithon Holdings
Magretha Vlok isn’t most people’s idea of a typical engineer. Colourful and confident, with a sense of style to match – she firmly believes that “beige isn’t a colour” and has been known on occasion to team tartan with African and animal prints. This newly appointed COO of Lithon Holdings brings energy, experience and a…
Read MoreMentorship: It’s part of the strategy
In 2002, Adriaan and Adri Grobler founded Lithon with a vision of positively impacting people’s lives. Initially, their focus was on making a meaningful difference to nearby communities in need. However, as the business developed, and the team grew, it became clear that they could also realise their vision within the company itself – by…
Read MoreWe’re extending our consulting offering
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on SMEs across the globe, with the United Nations reporting that, “Small businesses, including those run by women and young entrepreneurs, are being hit hardest by the economic fall-out of the pandemic. Unprecedented lockdown measures enacted to contain the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in supply…
Read MoreMeet Gert Grobler, Lithon Executive Director
Gert may be a recent addition to the Lithon team, but already the effect of his creativity, innovative thinking and complex problem-solving skills are being felt by the business. An actuary with a strong financial and business acumen, Gert is energised by those around him and committed to positively impacting the lives of others in…
Read MoreA closer look at job shadowing
You’ll never know until you try – that’s essentially the idea behind job shadowing, where students spend time in an organisation getting hands-on experience and gaining insight into a particular career path. Job shadowing can last anywhere from a day to a few weeks and has benefits not only for students but for companies too. …
Read MoreMeet Scott Richards – Head of Project Management at Lithon
Scott Richards started his journey with Lithon in early 2019 as a project management consultant. Now, almost two years later, he’s a member of the Exco team and is heading up an exciting new project management business unit. We chatted to him to find out about his transition from engineering to project management, his focus…
Read MoreWhy choose a Consulting Engineering firm for your development project
Consulting engineering has gained momentum over the last few decades with the increase in complex, large-scale engineering developments. As a result, firms like Lithon, who are able to manage and execute all aspects of multi-disciplinary projects, have become an increasingly popular choice. If you’re looking to team with a consulting engineering company, here’s what you…
Read MoreEros Airport rehabilitation and expansion
Located approximately 5km south of the Windhoek CBD, Eros Airport is a hub for business travel and tourism, managing around 150 to 200 movements a day. According to Namibia Airports Company (NAC) “In 2016, Eros Airport handled an incredible 74 356 passengers and 17 620 aircraft movements from commercial, private, and scheduled traffic ranging from…
Read MoreQ&A with Set-Son Shifidi – Executive Director: Electrical & Mechanical Engineering
Set-son Shifidi has been a valued member of the Lithon team, making a significant difference to the electrical and energy side of the business, since joining the company in 2015. Passionate about working with and serving people, he was drawn to Lithon’s people-focused approach and commitment to bringing love and hope to communities and organisations…
Read MoreHow a successful CSI programme benefits everyone
In 2019, “companies spent an estimated R10.2 billion on corporate social investment (CSI) in South Africa.” (Trialogue Business in Society Handbook 2019) The retail and wholesale (22%), mining and quarrying (19%) and financial services (16%) sectors made up the top three contributors. While CSI is not to be confused with a company’s purpose, the two…
Read MoreO.R. Tambo Airport – Runway upgrade
OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) is situated in Kempton Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was opened in 1952. According to the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), it’s not only the company’s flagship airport, it’s also the “biggest and busiest airport in Africa.” In March 2018, Lithon Project Consultants was appointed by ACSA to…
Read MoreBuilding leadership capacity at Lithon
Lithon’s purpose has always been clear – to make a positive and significant impact on the lives of people. And while this intention is visible in the work we do and the impact it has on communities, it’s equally important to us that we live out this purpose within Lithon itself. That’s why we focus…
Read MoreMeet Gert Maritz, Lithon Operational Director
While stationed as a full-time supervising engineer on a roads construction project in Oshakati in 2005, Gert met Lithon CEO and Founder Adriaan Grobler. Although Lithon was a young company at the time (founded in 2002), Gert was drawn to its stated purpose – to make a significant and positive impact on the lives of…
Read MoreThe Hosea Kutako International Airport upgrade
Situated about 45km outside of Windhoek, Namibia’s Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) handles all long-haul flights to and from the country. Originally opened in 1965, the airport is the main gateway into Namibia and creates the first impression visitors have of the country. In October 2019, work started on a large-scale upgrade of the airport,…
Read MoreMeet Lithon Founder and CEO Adriaan Grobler
Adriaan Grobler may be an engineer, but he first and foremost considers himself a visiopreneur – a word he coined to describe someone who not only dreams of a better world, but also takes the necessary steps to make it a reality. And his vision – to build a better world – is something he…
Read More5 ways organisations can impact their communities
Most companies these days recognise the importance of giving back to their communities, whether on an ad hoc basis or through fully fledged corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Not only do these initiatives help to uplift people and communities, they also have a positive impact on employees and company culture – particularly if they’re strongly…
Read MoreLithon Holdings: Working together for a better world
Lithon Holdings is a group of companies specialising in innovative engineering and sustainable development. Our highly skilled team offers clients everything from consultation, conceptualisation, research and development planning to seamless project management and efficient execution from our offices in Namibia, South Africa, and Ghana. But more than that, we are a company committed to building…
Read MoreNamcor Hosea Kutako International Airport Fuel Station
Design and construction of a new fuel station, which included the fuel forecourt and a convenience store/shop’s Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical components. New building services required were sewer, storm water, potable water, fire protection, fire booster pump station and water storage tank, air-conditioning & ventilation, refrigeration, LPG, kitchen equipment, access control, cctv and electrical…
Read MoreNew Health Care Risk Waste Treatment Facility for Windhoek
Design, tender procurement, construction supervision and project management for the establishment of site works and infrastructure services for a Health Care Risk Treatment Facility. Planning, design, tendering, construction supervision and project management of all civil, structural, mechanical and electrical work for a modern medical waste treatment complex for the City of Windhoek. Acting as the…
Read MoreNamibBou Housing Scheme Ondangwa
The total size of the project (Phase 1 – Phase 6) includes more than 900 erven to be serviced. The first three phases of the project consisted of servicing +/-450 even with water and sewer reticulation infrastructure, as well as bitumen roads and stormwater infrastructure. Lithon was appointed to conduct a feasibility study for the…
Read MoreKahenge Proper
Description of Project Development of 30 middle-income houses with about 600m2 plots. Starting with phase 1 consisting of 12 plots. House types range from 1 Bedroom House to 3 Bedroom House. Services provided Project Management, Inception, Legal Review (ownership), Concept Planning, Environmental, Feasibility, Sales and Marketing, Legal / Statutory Requirements (including Town Planning), Design, Tender,…
Read MoreMashare Irrigation Scheme Phase
Multi-disciplinary Engineering, Detailed Design, Procurement, Construction Supervision and Project Management for a 372-ha irrigation scheme in the North of Namibia. Multi-disciplinary Engineering, Detailed Design, Procurement, Construction Supervision and Project Management for a 372-ha irrigation scheme in the North of Namibia. Soil Surveys were obtained to identify suitable crops for this area. The scope entails all…
Read MoreNdonga-Linena Irrigation Scheme
Professional services for the design, preparation of tender documents, procurement evaluation and construction supervision and project management of Ndonga Linena Irrigation project Phase Two. Multi-disciplinary Engineering, Detailed Design and Construction Project Support for a 540-ha irrigation scheme in the North of Namibia. The scope entails all infrastructure requirements (river pump stations, booster pump stations, electrical reticulation,…
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