Johann Dorfling has recently taken over as head of the Dekra Industrial NDT (non-destructive testing) division in the Western Cape area, based at the company’s Cape Town branch. A highly experienced company stalwart and veteran, Dorfling has been working for Dekra Industrial since 2003, and has risen through the ranks since his first appointment as a junior technician. He recently completed the management of Dekra Industrial’s involvement on Eskom’s Medupi power station, when this mega-project finally came to an end.
Dorfling explains: “I am very pleased to work in the non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspections arena. It has always been more than a career path but also a real passion for me, as it reaches across all industries and sectors,” Dorfling enthuses.
“Furthermore, I am proudly aware that I am part of an international parent company with a 97 year track record – the key ethos of which is to be a global partner for a safe world. By being part of the safety and quality analysis and assurance process for our clients - and carrying out thorough NDT inspections – we are ensuring safer equipment and operations, a safer working environment,” he points out.
Dorfling’s on-the-job experience, to date, led to him becoming a very knowledgeable, senior employee and eventually a site manager at several power station projects for Dekra Industrial - including one of South Africa’s largest power generation projects to date - namely Eskom Medupi. In addition to his NDT expertise and experience, he is also experienced in welding and welding inspections. As such, Dorfling understands the vital role of NDT in ensuring weld integrity and safety.
Having worked for some years in Mpumalanga, where many of the country’s power stations are situated, Dorfling explains that he was ready for new challenges when Dekra Industrial’s participation in Eskom’s Medupi project came to an end.
“I believed that there were a number of opportunities opening up in the NDT sector within the Western Cape – and specifically the greater Cape Town area,” he notes, “and as long-standing colleagues within the Dekra Industrial team, I am also very happy to be working closely with our Western Cape Branch Manager, Rudolf Vermeulen. I commenced my new role in January this year,” he adds.
“Rudolf is now overseeing our new corrosion control via rope access service in the region, while I am overseeing the NDT and inspections side. My main responsibilities in this role include overseeing all NDT-related activities and client projects – as well as working hard to grow Dekra Industrial’s profile and footprint as the leading NDT provider in the Western Cape.”
Managing Director of Dekra Industrial in South Africa, Johan Gerber, adds: “Our intention is that Dekra Industrial becomes the ‘go-to’, specialist provider of NDT for our clients in the Western Cape – a province where we see significant opportunities for growth. Johann has 17 years of experience at DEKRA Industrial, and we look forward to seeing how he progresses and grows the business in this new role.”
Dorfling continues: “We are currently in the second phase of the SGR Koeberg nuclear power station project – part of the life extension of the plant. In addition to that, we have been involved in infrastructure maintenance at the plant. We have also recently been awarded the NDT portion of a significant furnace rebuild project; and are currently exploring many exciting opportunities around a number of other industry sectors in the Cape Town and Western Cape region.
With my sound base of NDT skill and experience within the construction and power generation sectors – as well as my focus on strict safety and quality at all times – I am well positioned and very optimistic about working in the multi-spectrum project environment of the Western Cape - and about the multiple opportunities these projects represent,” he concludes.
About Dekra Industrial and Dekra Institute of Learning
With 97 years in the industry through its global parent company, Dekra Industrial SA has established a formidable reputation as a leader in inspection services, non-destructive testing (NDT), material testing, laboratory services, Advanced NDT, and asset integrity services, and offers industry training through Dekra Institute of Learning. With a Group presence in more than 50 countries on five continents, Dekra Industrial RSA provides safety solutions across a multitude of industries, including power generation, oil and gas, construction, petrochemical, manufacturing, fabrication, pulp and paper, rail, mining, steel industry and foundries, within South Africa and pan-Africa.
Dekra Industrial SA is a holistic, ‘one-stop’ services provider of NDT inspection, corrosion control with rope access, lifting and drone inspections, Dekra Industrial SA is Level 3 BBBEE-compliant, with 51 percent black woman ownership.
The company is also RD 0034-compliant, a nuclear safety compliance standard and is one of the few NDT companies locally to hold the ISO 45001 certification.
Dekra Institute of Learning is QCTO-accredited and delivers online learning across all industries, in both public and private sectors, with training pitched to all levels of competency, focusing on HSE, ISO and CPD-aligned courses. Classroom-based and distance learning are also available.
Dekra Industrial strives to be recognised as the ‘heroes of safety’.