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MECAD Accelerate Annual Product Launch Conference

South Africa's premier CAD conference

MECAD Accelerate Gauteng brings South Africa’s CAD community together for a full day of live demos, expert sessions, and networking. If you’re an engineer, designer, or technical manager working with SOLIDWORKS, this is the one event you need on your calendar. Registered engineers earn 1 ECSA CPD point (Category 1).

22 October 2026
The Capital Menlyn Maine
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Event Benefits

Why you should attend

MECAD Accelerate Gauteng is a full-day conference built for the people who actually use the tools. Expect practical sessions, direct access to experts, and a room full of professionals who speak your language.

Live Product Demos
Watch the latest SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE features demonstrated by presenters who know the software inside out. See what's changed, ask questions, and figure out what matters for your workflows.
Tips and Tricks
Our Application Engineers run dedicated sessions on the shortcuts, techniques, and workflow improvements that make a real difference to your day. The kind of stuff you won't find in the help files.
Industry Networking
Connect with engineers and designers from across Gauteng and beyond. Swap approaches, talk through challenges, and build relationships with people who understand your work.
Snacks and Lunch Included
Arrive to coffee, break for a proper lunch, and keep the conversations going over snacks between sessions. It's all covered.
Event Speakers

Industry Experts

Featuring a very special appearance by:

Alexandre Labit

CUSTOMER ROLE ENGAGEMENT LEADER — EUROWEST — DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

Alexandre Labit is the Customer Role Engagement Leader for the EUROWEST region at Dassault Systèmes, where he drives sales performance across France, Spain, Portugal, Africa, and the Middle East while managing internal teams and supporting Value Added Resellers.

He has been with Dassault Systèmes for over nine years, previously serving as Sales Director for France, Iberia, Africa & the Middle East, and as Partner Success Manager. His focus is on helping industrial companies and makers get more value from their innovations through SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Alexandre is a regular presence at Dassault Systèmes events, where he shares insights on AI-powered virtual twin technology, cloud adoption, and the evolving role of design engineering in industry.

Freek van den Berg

Director

Freek leads MECAD Systems, guiding the company that has brought SOLIDWORKS and advanced manufacturing technology to South African engineering for decades. In more than 30 years with MECAD, he has shaped its growth from the ground up, while never losing sight of what matters most: seeing customers’ designs come to life on the shop floor. Expect an opening that sets the vision for the day and the year ahead.

Dwayne Burger

Head of Growth at MECAD Technologies

Dwayne began his MECAD Group career as a Business Development Executive at MECAD Systems and today serves as Head of Growth at MECAD Technologies. With a background in marketing and communications and earlier experience at precision tooling manufacturer Gühring, he understands both the shop floor and the business decisions behind it. Expect conversations focused on helping engineering businesses grow with the right technology.
Image of Jonathan Morland.

Jonathan Morland

National Sales Manager

Jonathan joined MECAD in 2012 and today leads the group’s sales and customer success teams as National Sales Manager. Having worked his way up from customer liaison to sales engineer to national lead, he knows the business from the customer’s side of the desk. Expect practical thinking on turning SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE into measurable business value.

Schalk van Dyk

Technical Director

Schalk is Technical Director at Bendet Engineering Services, which has delivered turnkey industrial systems since 1987, from spray booths and curing ovens to conveyor lines. Having worked his way up from design and manufacturing engineering to lead Bendet’s technical team, he knows what it takes to carry a project from first concept to full commissioning. Expect real-world insight into designing and delivering large-scale industrial systems.

MECAD Accelerate Agenda - Gauteng

8:00 – 9:00

Registration with Arrival Snacks

MC: Dwayne Burger

Sign in, grab a coffee, and settle in before the day kicks off.

9:00 – 9:10 General

Welcome & MECAD Group

Freek van den Berg

An introduction to the day and what to expect.

9:10 – 9:40 Keynote

Keynote Address — Dassault Systèmes

Alexandre Labit — Customer Role Engagement Leader, EUROWEST

9:40 – 10:10 Guest Speaker

Customer Guest Speaker: Bendet Engineering Services

Schalk van Dyk — Technical Director, Bendet Engineering Services

Bendet's Technical Director shares how his team designs and delivers turnkey industrial systems, from first concept to full commissioning.

10:10 – 10:40

Tea & Refreshments

10:40 – 11:55 What's New

What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2027 — Design & Assemblies

Application Engineers

A deep dive into the latest design and assembly updates in SOLIDWORKS 2027.

11:55 – 12:40 What's New

What's New — PDM, Data Management & Collaboration

Application Engineers

12:40 – 13:20 Product

AI and Data Management

Andro Venter

13:20 – 14:20

Lunch

14:20 – 15:20 Tips & Tricks

SOLIDWORKS Tips & Tricks LIVE

Application Engineers

Hands-on tips, shortcuts, and techniques from our Application Engineers.

15:20 – 15:40 What's New

What's New — Simulation & Flow Simulation

Application Engineers

15:40 – 16:00 What's New

What's New — Electrical & DraftSight

Application Engineers

16:00 – 17:00

Afternoon Tea & Networking

17:00 General

Official End of Conference

Featured Solutions

Product showcase

Logo Marquee — Gauteng
Logo 1 Logo 2 Logo 3 Logo 4 Logo 5 Logo 6 Logo 7 Logo 8 Logo 9 Logo 10 SOLIDWORKS CAM SOLIDWORKS PDM Logo 1 Logo 2 Logo 3 Logo 4 Logo 5 Logo 6 Logo 7 Logo 8 Logo 9 Logo 10 SOLIDWORKS CAM SOLIDWORKS PDM
Event testimonials

What previous attendees said

Quinton Du Preez
New Identity

MECAD Accelerate is a key event in the annual calendar that is a "must attend" to advance your team and ensure you are using your software to its full potential

Adam Becks
Rham Equipment Pty Ltd.

MECAD Accelerate is always a good refresher and opportunity to see what the latest industry standards are. Thanks

Daleel Samaai
Alu Cab

Good workshop, very informative, provides insight on shortcuts for design.

Etienne Horn
Global Riser

Events such as the MECAD Accelerate Product Conference play an important role in educating the SA Design and manufacturing sector on cutting edge developments that will ultimately ait in its global competitiveness

Momina Malik
Durban University of Technology

Great work and thank you! I was intrigued from the start to end. I'm always fascinated by Brandon's vast knowledge and great ability to teach SW. Your team is great, definitely the cream of the crop. Brillant!

Ayuk Ebot Valerie
Blue Nova Energy

The world is evolving and advancing so to is technology. Thanks MECAD for keeping us informed with new innovations and making us keep up with current and future technologies

DR Eugene Wilsenach
Edenglen High School

“This event was hosted by the industry leader in CAD and should be attended by education leaders in the engineering field as well as the wider engineering management fraternity.”

Jason Wepener
3D Pro Reverse Engineering (Pty) Ltd

“Definitely worth attending: to meet the MECAD team, see what’s new, and networking, all at an excellent venue.”

Riaan de Beer
Vee Plastics

“Very well-planned event, the food was great, all MECAD staff was top notch, information that was available was more than sufficient. It was well worth the time and effort to attend! Well done!!!”

Paul Vermaak
Grid Control Technologies

“It was presented in a very professional manner and by extremely knowledgeable people in their specific fields of expertise”

Zander Lesch
HidroTech Systems

“Event made me aware of what is possible with SOLIDWORKS and associated programs".

Wessel Stapelberg
Fabrinox

"The event is a great opportunity to engage and network with peers from various CAD backgrounds and industries".

Dale Trevor
Global Riser

"Attending the event gave me a lot of insight into what the future holds for SOLIDWORKS and operating within the CLOUD. It also provided a great opportunity to hear how other companies are using the software".

Ivan Marais
Filmatic

"Thank you to you and your team for inviting us. It was a well structured and professionally executed function that I found informative".

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