UNDER THIRTY - Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Jandre TerreBlancheAge: 26SigmaTEK Systems LLCCincinnati, OHJandre TerreBlanche is the second generation inSigmaTEK Systems LLC, a company started byhis father, which is a leading provider of CAD/CAM nesting software for laser, plasma, waterjet,oxyfuel and router cutting along with punching, andbending machines.Jandre worked summers and part time while incollege and earned a Bachelor of Science in MechanicalEngineering degree with an emphasis on internalcombustion engines, rocket and gas turbine propulsion,and computational fluid dynamics. Jandre actedas group leader of the engine team in the senior designproject, which involved modifying a naturally aspiratedmotorcycle engine with a carburetor to a fuel-injected,turbocharged system tuned to run on E-85 for FormulaSAE. The program included the use of SolidWorkssoftware, 3D Printing, and rapid prototyping, amongother tools. Jandre continues to see learning as vital tohis long-term objectives and has earned certification asa SolidWorks Associate.“We went from a machine that was somewhatprimitive in its design and capabilities to a state-ofthe-artmachine. The retrofitting that we did, designingcomponents, and tuning were extremely interesting tome. I loved the result and the improvements that wewere able to achieve by applying a little technologyand producing an engine that was twice as powerful,”said Jandre.Jandre has risen through the ranks from ApplicationsEngineer to his current position as TechnicalSupport Manager. Along the way, he accumulatedhands-on experience working internationally anddomestically with manufacturers and cutting machineand software OEMs to identify manufacturing productivityissues and create productivity improvementsolutions. This includes the formation and transfer ofUNDER THIRTYknowledge for best practices and implementation oftechnology as it relates to CAD/CAM nesting along withautomation and productivity improvement.Jandre cut his teeth on providing technical supportand customer service for SigmaNEST software,demonstrating how the nesting software could providequality cutting results from a variety of materials andproviding techniques to improve customers’ efficiencywith software or processes through material yield,decreased cutting time, increased programming efficiencyand ability. Today, his responsibilities are tomanage and build a team of application engineers,develop workflow and standardized procedures to improvedepartment efficiency and customer experience,and maintain a high level relationship with customerson a technical level.His Senior Project piqued Jandre’s interest in thedesign of electronics and mechanics behind modernmachines and the programming required for them.“Human intervention on the scale of precision that isrequired for modern manufacturing is becoming a littleobsolete. Basically, aren’t we headed toward machinesbuilding machines? Who’s going to be responsible forthe programming?” Jandre wonders.And that is the challenge that Jandre recognizesfor the programming and software supplied by SigmaTEK,which serves companies in industries includingindustrial and agriculture, ship and boat building,transportation, aerospace, job shop, and the military."Some customers include major construction equipmentcompanies, as well as Newport News Ship Yardswhere SigmaNEST software is used to cut 100% of theplate steel for the Navy’s newest and most advancedaircraft carrier."Jandre is married with a two-month old son, Ben TerreBlanche,named after his grandfather. METHIRTY UNDER THIRTY PROFILES16 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2013