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ESME Focus

This Space Is Free For Advertisement “Striving for the promotion of art, science and

practice of Mechanical Engineering in Ethiopia” A Quarterly Newsletter Published by the Ethiopian Society of Mechanical Engineers

Volume XIII, Issue No.3

June 2019

In this issue ESME News 1-6 GUEST VIEW 7-10 Photo report 11 Company profile 12

Publication council:- - Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam

Chairman - Ato Yeheyes Aseffa

Vice Chairman - Ato Fitiwi G/Nigus

member - Ato Wasihun Diriba member - Ato Teferi Taye

Secretary Editor -in -Chief:- - Sissay Aseffie Graphics and Secretarial work:- - Azeb Akalu

ESME shall not be responsible for statements or opinions advanced in papers or printed in its publications: Editorial correspondence to: Tel.0116293480 Fax 011 6292516 P.O.Box 17626 A.A Ethiopia

Email esme.hulet@gmail.com website:www.esme-ethiopia.org

NEWS IN BRIEF ESME 23rd Annual Conference Success-

fully Accomplished

ESMS’s 23rd Annual Conference with the theme of the year “The Role of

Mechanical Engineering in Improving

Industrial Competitiveness in Ethiopia” was held at Addis Ababa Ghion Hotel, on May 12, 2019. The moderator, Ato Habeneyom Sissay introduced the program of the conference and invited the President, Engineer Abdissa Lemma to present a welcoming message. In his welcoming speech Engineer Abdissa mentioned that in selecting the theme of the year the board had considered the current economic focus area of the government to move from an agricultural led economy to that of industrial led and the focus given to industrial parks as a source of Foreign Direct Investment. Engineer Abdissa further said that based on the new strategic pillars and initiatives of ESME, the board has

launched a new logo as a first step of the new direction and their move forward is advocacy which is a key to bring ESME and its members into the spotlight as a value creator in the industrial development of the country.

Before concluding his welcoming speech, ESME President, Engineer Abdissa appreciated the challenges faced by previous boards in moving ESME forward both financially and operationally.

He also admired the experience shared with Professor Abraham Engeda of Michigan University, USA, who is a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), for his positive input. The opening address was made by Dr. Tesfaye Dama, whom every member of

ESME and Conference participants see him as a father and a leader of Mechanical Engineering in Ethiopia. In his speech Dr. Tesfaye said that

Mechanical Engineers are generalists and

they work on the most diverse range of

projects. He emphasized that mechanical

Engineers are involved in every kind of

physical device such as vehicles,

machines, power systems, engines, ships,

aircraft, physical products and their

manufacturing.

Dr. Tesfaye reminded and advised

participants that the role of professional

associations like ESME becomes

substantial in impacting the expected

results, through interventions on policy,

company and individual levels which

would consequently require that as

professionals they have to continue their

engagements so as to play their part in the

national effort towards industrial

development. He appreciated that the

theme of the year chosen by ESME

becomes both substantial and timely.

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In his opening address Dr. Tesfaye thanked

all the participants for availing themselves

and ESME for organizing the 23rd Annual conference.

After the welcoming speech and the opening

address of Engineer Abdissa Lemma and

Dr. Tesfaye Dama respectively, the next

program of the conference was panel discussion. The panel discussion was

introduced and chaired professionally by

Dr. Wondwossen Bogale, who is also Board

Member and Chairman of Education

Council of ESME.

In the panel discussion, five Mechanical

Engineering related presentations, as

shown below were made with different

titles.

- Design and fabrication of Semi-

Automatic Wall Plastering Machine by Kamil Kerla

- Design and Development of Solar Powered Three-wheeler Car by Adem Siraj

- A Simplified Parametric motion control of

Industrial Robots for Human Robot Collaborative Environment by Tadele Belay Tuli

- Effect and the Salient Features of

Corrosion on the Economic Development of Ethiopia by Yalew Mekonnen

- Design and Development of Pelletizer Machine for various Animal Feed by Dr. Moasunep Jamir

After the presentations, discussions were held by the General Assembly (GA) which

again was chaired by Dr. Wondwossen

Bogale. The participants raised different

questions, gave supplementary ideas and

commented on some of the papers

presented. As it is difficult to mention all the detail questions and suggestions in this

Newsletter, we have focused on some of the

highlights raised by the participants:

- What are the next plan and the role of ESME in helping the plan of the

presenters to be realized?

- Doing prototype is simple, but scaling

up to reach a wider community is very

necessary.

- We members are the ones who should

be involved in the projects carried out in

the universities. - We have to focus on feasibility. The

surface for the Bajaj may not be

realistic to use the design at different

places.

These and other related questions and

comments were raised. The questions, suggestions and comments were addressed

by the panelists and the chairman. Some of

the comments were also noted as

feedbacks.

Panelists and the chairman addressing

the participants’ comments

After a number of questions were raised by

the gathering, and the amicable response of

the panelists and the chairman, group

pictures were taken. At the end of the lunch event, the hotel graciously invited the

participants to cake and traditional coffee

ceremony. ESME is thankful to the hotel for

its praiseworthy invitation.

The afternoon event started with a moment

of one minute silence in remembrance of

the passing away of Engineer Nebiu Elias,

who was a senior member and President of

ESME. Then after, presentation of

“Strategic Pillars and Initiatives” was undertaken, where the President, Engineer

Abdissa projected the pillars as: Branding,

Career Development, Partnering,

Community Building and Business

Development. He gave highlights under these pillars; such as launching of the new

logo of the Society, opening of a twitter

account for ESME, the provisioning of two

Continuous Professional Development

(CPD) trainings, engaging with American

Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), participating in “Ethiopia -2050” initiative,

where comprehensive report for policy

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makers, political and economic leaders,

professionals and various stakeholders

towards formulation of concrete and actionable sets of policies would be the

outcome, the trainings conducted by the

Business Wing of ESME and under

advocacy he said that meeting with the

Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC)

was undertaken. Review of By-Laws, Statues and procedures is under progress.

It was felt that when a new board takes an

office from the old one, almost six months

are required to familiarize with the job. Much work couldn’t be achieved in the

remaining one and half year to continue the

work in the tempo it started. The need to

extend the term of the board to three years

was proposed by Engineer Getachew

Tadesse, one of the board members and Policy Council Chairperson. Other

members suggested the term to be four and

five years. By a majority vote, it was then

decided that the board term be three years.

The need to form pool of experts of ESME

members was presented by Engineer Matias

Taye who is one of the board members and

Vice Chairman of Education, Training &

Outreach Council.

The new ESME Training and Consulting

Service (T&CS) Manager, Engineer Muluken

Melkamu presented the performance brief

and updates of the Business Wing of ESME.

Recognizing the works of Engineer Tigist

Teshome who served the Society as an

Executive Manager and Manager of

Training and Consulting Service was felt

essential. The board decided to present her

an oil canvas painting in front of the GA. In response to the award, Engineer Tigist

thanked the board and said that in big

projects where 60 to 70% of the total work

deals with mechanical engineering, the

project is awarded to civil engineers. She said that this situation has to change in

favor of mechanical engineers.

The next event was awarding of certificates

to panelists, journal papers contributors,

paper reviewers and sponsors.

In culmination of the conference, Engineer

Workneh Delelegn, the guest of honor,

made closing remarks.

In his closing remark, Engineer Workneh

said that ESME is a young association and

we need to agree young must be strong

both physically and mentally.

He also emphasized that the theme of the

year “The Role of Mechanical

Engineering in Improving Industrial Competitiveness in Ethiopia” and on the technical session

the papers presented on various pertinent

issues of Industrial Development and Competitiveness and the involvement of

members to enhance evolved ideas

witnesses that ESME is getting strong.

Engineer Workneh shared his view of the

profession by saying that Mechanical

Engineers play a very vital role in the

advancement of technology, be it in the

state of the art development or technology

transfer.

He said that in the advancement of technology, Mechanical Engineers have to

give much attention to the environment and

the sustainable use of energy in both fossil

and renewable energies which should be

attended carefully.

In conclusion, Engineer Workneh advised

members by saying that each and every one has a responsibility to lift ESME to a safe

ground. He stressed that this can be

achieved by full hearted participation of all

members in ESME’s affairs.

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Finally he thanked all the participants, the

chairman, moderator and ESME Board

members for making the conference successful.

ESME Holds a Meeting with EIC

SME held an engagement meeting

with the Ethiopian Investment

Commission (EIC) on April 2, 2019 at EIC’s meeting room between 11:00 and

12:00 PM. As the Commissioner was out of

the country for a business trip, the Deputy

Commissioner Industrial Parks Division,

Ato Temesgen Tilahun chaired the meeting.

W/rt Lidia was another participant from EIC’s side.

The participants of the meeting from ESME

side were:

1. Engineer Abdissa Lemma, President of

ESME and Board Chairman

2. Dr. Wondwossen Bogale, Board

Member

3. Engineer Getachew Tadesse, Board

Member 4. Engineer Matias Taye, Board Member

5. Engineer Teferi Taye, Executive

Manager of ESME

After introduction with each other the floor

was given to Engineer Abdissa Lemma, President of ESME and Board Chairman to

present a briefing on ESME. Accordingly, he

dealt with the following.

1. What ESME is

2. Who are ESME’s Members 3. Operating Structure of ESME

4. Mechanical Engineers are the Hidden

Hero’s

5. The Challenges ESME Encounters

6. The Current Reality of ESME 7. The Future of ESME

8. Mechanical Engineering, some Areas

and Sub-areas

9. Outreach Passion

10. Industry Specifics

11. ESME’s Current Year Annual Conference Theme

12. Support from EIC.

On the other hand, the Deputy

Commissioner started his briefing by saying

that the Commissioner, Ato Abebe

Abebayehu is currently in China for a

business trip. He then said that EIC is reestablished very recently. It is engaged in

Foreign Direct Investments acquisitions,

processes work permits, and facilitates one

stop shopping. He then said that Ethiopia

focuses on building of light industries with

labor intensive modalities. Accordingly, Ethiopia prefers the building of industry

parks which is believed to be the way

forward for development and export

promotion is highly preferred. He further

said that ways and means have to be in place to align ESME with EIC’s endeavors.

More importantly, he said that ESME’s

capacity has to exceed that of the investors.

Advocacy works to make ESME vocal and

visible is of paramount importance.

Engineer Getachew, who took part in the meeting from ESME, said that ESME is

actively participating and contributing to

address “Ethiopia - 2050 Grand

Challenges and Opportunities” on

identified ten specific areas as steering committee with other professional

associations in the country and interested

Diaspora educators and professionals.

Regarding the benefits that members of the

Society get, Engineer Teferi said that ESME

delivers about three CPD trainings per year to its members free of charge. The Society

publishes quarterly Newsletters and annual

conference journals which are distributed

to both members and conference

participants at no cost.

Finally ESME invited EIC Commissioner to

be guest of honor for the upcoming ESME

conference through the Deputy

Commissioner. On Behalf of EIC, the

Deputy Commissioner promised to support

ESME’s upcoming conference.

ESME T&CS Conducted Series of

Trainings

SME Training and Consulting

Service (T&CS) conducted a couple

of trainings from March 04 – 08,

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2019 which were coordinated by the newly

appointed Manager.

“Industrial Hydraulics for Mechanical

Engineers” was delivered to five trainees; all

of them were from Dangote Cement as a

second batch. It was astonishing to hear

that the trainees were admirably satisfied

by the training coverage as well as the

mode of delivery with the practical lab

assisted explanation. For ESME, there is

nothing more satisfying than hearing the

trainees’ wordless appreciation of the

training. The trainer, Engineer Hairedin

Ismael who is an instructor at the AAiT, has

a practical experience in the industry and

taken a lot of trainings in the area.

While Conducting Industrial Hydraulics

Training

“Fundamentals of Maintenance&

Maintenance Management” was the second

training that was conducted at the MIDI

training hall for 12 trainees who came from

three industries, 8 from Horizon Addis Tyre,

3 from Awash Melkassa Aluminum

Sulphate and the trainer was from FDRE

Leather Industry Development Institute

(LIDI). This training was successfully

conducted since an actual gap analysis was

made priory at the Horizon Addis Tyre

manufacturing company and the training

content was fully customized based on the

actual maintenance gaps discovered. All the

trainees were very happy on the training

and they promised to implement the

knowledge they have gathered during the

training. The trainer, Engineer Matias who

has specialized in Maintenance

Management fields both locally and abroad,

has a vast experience in the field and has

taken much training related to his career.

He was also the main participant in the gap

analysis work.

Training Conducted on Fundamentals of

Maintenance & Maintenance

Management

ESME T&CS has conducted two trainings

from the tailor made program and a

training from the regular program in

March, April & May.

The two trainings were engineering software

trainings called SOLIDWORKS and ANSYS

which were given to the two governmental

institutions who are supporting the

engineering fields to capacitate its

Engineers.

“SOLIDWORKS software Training” was

delivered from March 19 – 26, 2019 to 30

Trainees to the Ministry of Innovation and

Technology (MinT) employees and

researchers at the MinT Incubation Center.

The training was conducted for a half day

introductory session and all the days were

employed to practical working of different

assignments, so as to transfer a practical

knowledge. The response from the trainees

was very satisfactory and it fulfills their gap

which further will let them to work their

designs easily with the software. The

training was given by Ato Bililigne Amare

who is an instructor at the Addis Ababa

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Institute of Technology (AAiT) and he has

an outstanding specialization on the

engineering software especially on the two.

“ANSIS Software Training” was delivered to

10 Trainees from the Metal Industry

Development Institute (MIDI) employees

and researchers at the MIDI training hall

from April 9 – 16, 2019. Even though the

trainees have some knowledge on the

software; they confirmed that the training

has enabled them to fully utilize the

analysis software with full confidence. They

also appreciated the trainer and the

training equivalently with the MinT

trainees. The training was conducted by the

same trainer for SOLIDWORKS.

“Pump Selection, Installation, Operation &

Maintenance” was the third training that

was conducted from May 06 – 10, 2019 at

the MIDI training hall for 9 trainees who

came from five industries, 2 from Bole-Lemi

Industrial Park, 3 from Awash Melkassa

Aluminum Sulphate, 2 from National

Alcohol and Liquor Factory, with one

trainer from Biselex Ethiopia PLC and

another trainer from FDRE Leather

Industry Development Institute (LIDI). The

training was successfully conducted on four

and half days passing on lecturing and

discussion on the practical situations they

have been facing and with a half day

practical visit at MOHA Soft Drinks

Industry S. Co. All the trainees were very

happy on the training and they promised to

implement the knowledge they have

gathered for their industries. The trainer,

Ato Solomon Mekuanint, who has

specialized on pump and boiler areas, has a

vast experience in the field and has taken

much training related to his career.

At the Pump Selection, Installation,

Operation & Maintenance Training and

Visit

On the Closing Day of SOLIDWORK

Training

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“…We should periodically revise our strategic plan and act accordingly.”

Engineer Arefeayne Tadesse

In this issue we have invited Engineer Arefeayne Tadesse as our Guest.

ESME Focus: Would you please kindly tell us

about your profile in brief, that is where

you were born and raised and your

educational background in general?

Engineer Arefeayne: I was born and grown

up in Addis Ababa, particularly in Wollo

Sefer & Nefas-silk areas. After

accomplishing my high school studies in

Nefas-silk comprehensive high school, I

joined the Addis Ababa University (AAU)

in 1997 and graduated with a B.Sc.

degree in Mechanical Engineering. After

graduation, I worked in various

companies for about 10 years. I am now

working in YASART ENGINEERING PLC

as a General Manager (a private

company engaged in the consultancy,

supply and installation, assembly and

manufacturing of electromechanical

engineering products) since 2007 GC.

ESME Focus: What motivated you to join

Mechanical Engineering?

Engineer Arefeayne: Honestly speaking,

while I was in high school, I was

interested in Physics and more in

Electrical Engineering. However, while

joining the University, I became more

interested in the design drawings and

after getting some knowledge from

senior students about the mechanical

engineering profession, I changed my

mind and joined the mechanical

engineering department by my first

choice and I am now really proud of the

profession.

ESME Focus: We know that you are the

shareholder and General Manager (GM)

of an Engineering company. Before you

established your company, where did

you work? Give us your professional

career.

Engineer Arefeayne: After graduation in

1997, I worked for about 10 years in

various engineering disciplines. I have

been working as a mechanical system

designer in the former Building Design

Enterprise, Factory Engineer in MOHA

Bottling Industries (Pepsi Cola Bottlers),

As pre and post risk Boiler Insurance

surveyor in Ethiopian Insurance

Corporation, as Sales Engineer in Gaky

Engineering & Automotive Plc and as

Branch Manager in Hagbes Plc.

ESME Focus: What are your duties and

responsibilities as a General Manager?

Engineer Arefeayne: As you very well know,

to lead an engineering company, there

are various duties and responsibilities

expected from the Manager apart from

the basic engineering skills or

educational credentials what he/she

has. The Manager should have the skill

to plan and coordinate all the required

resources, and to control various

variables affecting the company

products or services (Like delivery time,

quality level of the work, cost of goods or

services, etc.) Moreover, the Manager

must have the skill of understanding

national and international business

laws, understanding of basic marketing

principles, understanding and reading of

financial statements/balance sheets and

also should have the skill of cash flow

management. He/she should also have

the skill of forecasting the market

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potential, and must be ready to capture

any surrounding business opportunity.

My being an employee in various

companies and working in different

positions for about 10 years before

starting this new company, I would say

my working experience gave me an

opportunity to develop my

professional carrier in some sectors

and also to acquire the basic sales

and marketing and management

skills. So in my daily activities I

would say, I am always engaged in

more or less in similar activities I

mentioned above. Now I am in this

position for more than 10 years and

every day, I am learning new things

and will always apply to the benefit

of the company. For me, life and

success is a learning and problem

solving process.

ESME Focus: Would you please kindly tell

us the profile of your company’s

products amount and employees’

size including the number of

Mechanical Engineers employed by

the business?

Engineer Arefeayne: YASART

ENGINEERING PLC, from its

establishment in 2005 (G.C.) is an

electromechanical engineering

company engaged in the supply,

installation and commissioning of

engineering products. (Mainly

pumps, boilers, power generators,

coffee processing machineries, solar

pumping and powering systems,

irrigation system, etc.) Recently the

company is expanding its activities

in the assembly and manufacturing

of some of engineering components

like panel boards, silos and hoppers,

conveyors, etc. We have developed a

good reputation and we are one of

the short listed companies and will

be invited whenever there is a

requirement for water pumps, boiler

supply and installation,

maintenance, coffee machineries,

and solar pumping requirements.

We have 45 employees and among

them 11 are engineers and from

these engineers, five of them are

mechanical engineers.

ESME Focus: What are the most

challenging hurdles to an

entrepreneur like you in setting up

an organization?

Engineer Arefeayne: As our country is

under development stage, there are

lots of opportunities for an

entrepreneur to engage himself in

any preferred sector. At the same

time, there are lots of challenges to

be encountered. Most raw materials,

and finished engineering products

have to be sourced from abroad and

this needs finance and importation

process which directly affects the

business. Our working culture and

discipline need to be improved. Lack

of knowledge in business

environment can also be considered

as a challenge. In my opinion, for an

entrepreneur to sustain his

business and to become stronger in

the sector, the following four

business qualities have to be

developed (Knowledge, Commitment,

Networking, and Capital). The

entrepreneur must have the

knowledge of the business he/she is

doing, and he/she should

continuously update himself/herself

with modern technologies. He/she

should commit himself/herself for

the business regardless of the

retarding social, political and

economic impacts he/she is

confronting in his/her entire life.

He/she must also develop good

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marketing and business networks.

And lastly, he/she must have or

acquire the required capital, from

his own or financial partner. For me,

commitment and business

networking skills are the minimum

criterion that an entrepreneur

should have and the others

Knowledge and Capital could be

outsourced or would be acquired

through time.

ESME Focus: Where are the sources of

your products that you market?

Engineer Arefeayne Tadesse

Engineer Arefeayne: We have different

business partners from the globe;

however, we have developed strong

links with Italian, Brazilian, and

Turkish and Chinese Manufacturing

partners.

ESME Focus: Since the sources of your

products are many and varied, we

are sure that it opens an avenue for

travels abroad. Which countries and

suppliers have you visited and what

lesson did you gain from your visits?

Engineer Arefeayne: Right, because of the

nature of the business, I got the

chance to visit various industries in

different parts of the world, such as

Brazil, USA, Most parts of EU,

Middle East, South Africa, Asian

countries: (India, China and

Thailand). Most of the visits were

mainly for short term trainings and

manufacturing factory visits. I

would say that I got the exposure to

see modern manufacturing

techniques and technologies, and

work disciplines.

ESME Focus: We are very much humbled

to learn that you are an active

member of ESME. Since when did

you start serving the Society and in

what capacities?

Engineer Arefeayne: I became ESME

member while I was a graduating

student. Starting from my

graduation onwards, I am active

member and am serving and willing

to serve ESME in any assignment

given to me to strengthen our

Society. I have served as a board

member for the past five years, twice

as a vice president.

ESME Focus: What are your advices for

Mechanical Engineers who aspire to

be self-employed?

Engineer Arefeayne: Our Engineering

education given in the university is

the bases for us to have the

theoretical aspect of the Mechanical

Engineering profession. As you

know our profession has vast

application sectors, thus we need to

develop and have practical skill at

least in some sectors, so that to be

more successful in the profession; I

strongly advice mechanical

engineers to develop some skill by

working at least for five years in any

sector before becoming self-

employed. This initial experience

helps a lot to develop professional

discipline and to have a wider view

of the profession in the real

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business world. The reason why I

said five years is due to the fact that

they will have a chance to acquire

additional skills apart from the

engineering educational credentials

what they have. Moreover, they will

have a chance to widen their

networks.

ESME Focus: As a long time and active

member of ESME, what are the

mechanisms to make ESME a more

fruitful Society?

Engineer Arefeayne: By the way, I would

like to give special thanks to the

dedicated senior founding members

who did a tremendous work for the

ESME foundation and ESME bylaws

that is why it is considered as one of

the strong professional societies. It

is our members’ responsibility to

strengthen the Society. There are

various things to be adjusted or to

be suited in accordance with the

dynamism of the profession. Hence,

we should periodically revise our

strategic plan and should act

accordingly. Now we have the

business wing, where we can give

consultancy and training services.

We have to consider this as one of

the strength we have and we should

effectively and professionally utilize

this opportunity as it will strengthen

ESME. As our profession is so wide,

I would suggest ESME to develop

focal segments/groups like: Energy,

Manufacturing, Maintenance,

HVAC, Power and Energy

Generation, Railway, Automotive,

Naval, AIRO-SPACE, Mechanical

Standards, Health and Safety etc.

These focal segments would help to

develop a strong link among our

members in the segment, which

subsequently strengthen our

Society.

So that ESME can organize various

trainings and workshops in the

federal and regional level instead of

conducting one or two assemblies

per year. These focal groups would

influence the policy makers at

national level.

Engineer Arefeayne visiting

Subordinates’ Works

The other thing is ESME has to

actively participate and engage in

the National Professional

Certification Process. This will also

contribute a lot as it will create more

members’ participation. We need

also to have our strong media (TV

show/any other strong social media)

where we can address more about

our profession.

The other important thing for me is

that ESME has to plan of setting up

its own auditorium and center of

excellence.

I think if we combine our efforts

with such big vision, we can make

ESME to be one of the strongest

associations, even in Africa.

ESME Focus: Thank you so much for your

time, dedication & exemplary work.

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ESME 23rd Annual Conference Photo Report

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