MECAD Accelerate Western Cape

MECAD Accelerate Annual Product Launch Conference

South Africa's premier CAD conference

MECAD Accelerate heads to the Western Cape for a day of live product demos, hands-on tips and tricks, and face-to-face networking at one of the region’s best venues. Whether you’re a seasoned SOLIDWORKS user or exploring what’s next for your design workflow, this is the day to be there. Registered engineers earn 1 ECSA CPD point (Category 1).

14 October 2026

D' Aria Winery, Durbanville

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Event Benefits

Why you should attend

A full day of sessions, demos, and conversations designed for engineers and designers who want to stay sharp. Here’s what MECAD Accelerate Western Cape has lined up.

Live Product Demos

Get a close look at the newest features in SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE Works. Our presenters run through real workflows so you can see exactly how the updates apply to the kind of work you do every day.

Tips and Tricks

MECAD's Application Engineers share the techniques and shortcuts they use when supporting customers. These are practical, tested methods that help you work faster and avoid common pitfalls.

Industry Networking

The Western Cape has a strong and growing design and engineering community. MECAD Accelerate is where that community gets together in one place to share ideas and make connections.

Snacks and Lunch Included

D'Aria Winery is a great setting for a conference. Arrive to coffee, enjoy a sit-down lunch, and keep the conversations going between sessions.

Event Speakers

Industry Experts

Quintin Burger

Director

Quintin is a Director at MECAD and has been with the group for over two decades. He has a deep understanding of the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem and a track record of connecting customers with the right technology to move their businesses forward. His sessions are grounded in real-world customer experience.

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.

Mike Blyth

Founder

Mike is the founder of Sling Aircraft, a Microlight World Champion and a record-breaking long-distance pilot. When he couldn’t find a Light Sport Aircraft with every feature he wanted, he brought together an engineering team to design his own, taking it from a wish list to a flying prototype by 2008. Expect a session on turning a bold idea into an aircraft that has flown around the world.

MECAD Accelerate Agenda - Western Cape

8:00 – 9:00

Registration with Arrival Snacks

MC: Quintin Burger

9:00 – 9:10 General

Welcome & MECAD Group

Quintin Burger

An introduction to the day and what to expect.

9:10 – 9:50 Guest Speaker

Customer Guest Speaker: Sling Aircraft

Mike Blyth — Founder, Sling Aircraft & Dwayne Burger — Head of Growth, MECAD Technologies

The founder of Sling Aircraft shares how a bold design idea became a locally manufactured aircraft that has flown around the world.

9:50 – 10:20 What's New

What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2027 — Design & Assemblies (Session 1)

Application Engineers

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

10:20 – 10:50

Tea & Refreshments

10:50 – 11:35 What's New

What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2027 — Design & Assemblies (Session 2)

Application Engineers

The design and assembly deep dive continues after tea.

11:35 – 12:20 What's New

What's New — PDM, Data Management & Collaboration

Application Engineers

12:20 – 13:00 Product

AI and Data Management

Andro Venter

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 Tips & Tricks

SOLIDWORKS Tips & Tricks LIVE

Application Engineers

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

15:00 – 15:30 What's New

What's New — Simulation & Flow Simulation

Application Engineers

15:30 – 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 — Western Cape

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".

South Africa's premier CAD conference

Why you should attend

Industry Experts

Quintin Burger

Dwayne Burger

Mike Blyth

MECAD Accelerate Agenda - Western Cape

Registration with Arrival Snacks

Welcome & MECAD Group

Customer Guest Speaker: Sling Aircraft

What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2027 — Design & Assemblies (Session 1)

Tea & Refreshments

What's New in SOLIDWORKS 2027 — Design & Assemblies (Session 2)

What's New — PDM, Data Management & Collaboration

AI and Data Management

Lunch

SOLIDWORKS Tips & Tricks LIVE

What's New — Simulation & Flow Simulation

What's New — Electrical & DraftSight

Afternoon Tea & Networking

Official End of Conference

Product showcase

What previous attendees said

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