City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Bob Williamson was born in Kings Lynn, England and studied as a student engineer with UK based Rolls Royce Aero Engines graduating in Production Engineering at the then Derby and District College of Technology (University of Derby).He relocated to South Africa in 1972 and is today a South African citizen. He has had a forty year career in the Tooling Industry at an executive level both within South Africa and internationally specializing in the design and manufacture of high precision assembly and measuring systems for the aerospace and automotive industries Currently he is the President of ISTMA World, the International Special Tooling and Machining Association representing 21 Special Tooling and Machining Associations throughout the world. Collectively ISTMA member associations in turn represent over 8, 000 companies with an estimated combined turnover in excess of 120 Billion U.S. dollars in annual sales. In addition, he is the Executive Chairman of INTSIMBI Future Production Technologies Initiative NPC, a multi-stakeholder initiative established as a partnership between Government (dti) and Industry (PtSA) to implement a turnaround strategy for the distressed South African Tool, Die and Mouldmaking Industry and to facilitate the development of Future Production Technologies.
The International Special Tooling & Machining Association (ISTMA) is an international association representing 21 special tooling and machining Associations throughout the world. Collectively, ISTMA member associations represent over 8,000 companies and over $120 billion U.S. dollars in annual sales. ISTMA World is responsible for the central coordination and organization of all international activities.
Providing operational and strategic guidance to the Tooling Industry along with specialized design support via its Quad Design Services division for Jigs, Assembly Tooling and Gauging
A strategic partnership between the South African Tooling Industry and National Government established as a turnaround initiative to rehabilitate the South African Tooling Sector for the benefit of the Manufacturing Industry
Designers and Manufactures of High Precision Jigs, Tools and Gauges to Aerospace and Automotive Industries. For a period of 10 Years the company was known as Comau Quad Precision a full member of the Comau international group with responsibilities for Southern hemisphere manufacture and integration of final line assembly systems for the Automotive Industry
As part of the original project team Bob's responsibilities were for the planning and introduction of all logistics facilities and systems.