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Alex ludick

@alexludick

Commissioning Engineer at Dale Automation who improved industrial bakery equipment designs and designed and validated critical lifting pins.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m seeking to leverage my practical insight and CAD modelling capabilities in a dedicated Design Engineer role.

At Dale Automation Pty (ltd), I identify and implement design modifications that improve equipment manufacturability, assembly, and maintenance. I also commission industrial bakery equipment, from mechanical alignment to pneumatic and steam systems.

I designed critical lifting pins for a heavy dough bucket drop mechanism, then assessed them with FEA stress analysis and first-principles hand calculations. During commissioning, I test equipment performance and work with PLC programmers to validate automation sequences, safety interlocks, and sensor logic.

At Distillique Beverages, I modelled custom mechanical systems, including a bottle rinser and an automated Soxhlet extractor. I also developed parametric FreeCAD models and Python scripts for a tube-in-tube heat exchanger using first-principles fluid dynamics and heat transfer modelling.

Earlier, I produced SolidWorks models and fabrication drawings at Grip-Tech (Pty) Ltd, and programmed a Python data logger for structural load testing at Sling Aircraft. My projects include Assemblr, an AI-coded commissioning web application, and a reduction gearbox designed for human-powered flight.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Commissioning Engineer

Current

Dale Automation Pty (Ltd)

Jan 2024 - Present (2 years 9 months)

Identified, logged and implemented engineering design modifications to improve equipment manufacturability, assembly and long-term maintenance. Conducted factory pre-commissioning and on-site mechanical alignment on industrial bakery equipment.

Mechanical Design DFMA Principles Commissioning Pneumatic Systems Burners Steam Distribution Balancing Valves High Capacity Fans Performance Testing FEA Stress Analysis PLC Integration

Project Engineer

Distillique Beverages

Jan 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 11 months)

Modelled custom mechanical systems in CAD, including a bottle rinser, support structures, pipework layouts and an automated Soxhlet extractor. Developed parametric CAD models and Python scripts from first-principles fluid dynamics and heat transfer modeling.

CAD Solidworks Python Fluid Dynamics Heat Transfer Parametric Modeling 3D Printing Commissioning Piping Layout Equipment Installation

Engineering Intern

Grip-Tech (Pty) Ltd

Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 (11 months)

Produced parametric 3D CAD models and technical fabrication drawings in SolidWorks for vehicle spare wheel anti-theft systems.

Solidworks Parametric Modeling technical drawings CAD

Engineering Intern

Sling Aircraft

Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 (11 months)

Programmed a Python data logging program to record real-time strain gauge data during aircraft component structural load testing according to strict standards.

Python Data Logging Strain Gauge Structural Testing

Engineering Intern

Venter Consulting Engineers

Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 (11 months)

Modelled compressor platform structures and piping network layouts in 3D CAD.

3D CAD Piping Design Structural Modeling

Team Member

Tuks Baja

Jan 2019 - Dec 2022 (3 years 11 months)

Designed, assembled, inspected, and maintained mechanical subsystems (drivetrain, chassis, suspension) for an off-road racing vehicle in university competitions.

Mechanical Design Assembly DriveTrain Chassis Suspension Inspections Maintenance