Excellence Celebrated at SAIF’s 59th Annual Awards Gala — July 11, 2025

Johannesburg, July 11, 2025 — The 59th Annual Awards Gala of the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF) took place at the Country Club Johannesburg in Woodmead. The evening brought together industry leaders, suppliers, foundry members, and innovators to honor outstanding contributions in the foundry sector.

Spotlight: Wessel Watt and the Lauds Technical Award

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Lauds Foundry Equipment Technical Award (formerly known as the Colin Butler Award), awarded to Wessel Watt, founder and CEO of Watt Industries. He was recognized for delivering the best technical presentation of 2024 for the Watt Demand System, of which the latest generation was formally rolled out in 2022.

In his award-winning presentation, Watt detailed how his system enables foundries to actively manage energy demand in real time, significantly curbing peak usage and offering transparency into operational metrics. He also demonstrated measurable savings achieved by clients, notably High Duty Castings, where demand fell by over 20% while production targets remained intact.

Watt Industries: Global Leadership in Demand Management

Under Watt’s leadership, Watt Industries has emerged as the global front-runner in Demand Management for the foundry sector. The Watt Demand System (WDS) integrates advanced metering, data analytics, and dynamic control logic to reduce energy waste, support energy‑efficiency standards like ISO 50001, and deliver operational insights via dashboards and chart visualizations.

Wessel Watt highlighted the broader context of the WDS in South Africa, where load shedding and electricity scarcity have become persistent issues, effective demand management is not just a cost-saving measure, but a critical enabler of foundry competitiveness and continuity.

Gala Evening Highlights

The gala dinner featured fine dining, networking, and a lineup of awards spanning student excellence, lifetime contributions, and industry service. The Lauds Technical Award remains one of the most coveted recognitions—previous winners have included Graham Knight, Andrew McFarlane, and others for technical excellence in presenting innovative solutions.

Wessel Watt accepted the honor with humility, dedicating the award to his team and reinforcing Watt Industries’ commitment to bringing transformative energy solutions to foundries worldwide.

Why This Recognition Matters

• Technical Innovation: The Watt Demand System exemplifies next-gen thinking in energy control—combining real-time monitoring, demand limiting, and process analytics.

• Industry Impact: Major foundries (including High Duty Castings and Viking Foundry) are reporting material reductions in peak demand and operational forecasts, even qualifying for Eskom’s demand‑shift rebates during peak tariff hours.

• Global Reach: Watt Industries is now recognized as a global leader in industrial demand management, with deployment strategies impacting foundry operations across several continents.

Wessel Watt’s recognition at SAIF’s 59th Awards Gala is more than a personal milestone—it reflects a broader transformation in the foundry industry. With the Watt Demand System, Watt Industries is setting new standards for productivity, energy efficiency, and environmental resilience in the metal casting sector.