Advanced technologies leapfrog traditional cast iron methods in revolutionary approaches to problem-solving
Rewritten Article:
Janet Cotton, the brains behind One Eighty Engineering Solutions, stepped up to the challenge when no one else wanted to weld three antique cast-iron pieces for a sculpture outside Cape Town's Silo Hotel. Her company has a knack for resolving complex problems that others deem impossible - like uncovering why a pink watermelon cocktail's vodka changes color or determining the root cause of a storage tank collapse spilling 50,000 litter of red wine.
Cotton's relentless pursuit of solving intricate issues has been the driving force behind her success. Growing up in Constantia, Cape Town, constantly asking questions about how things worked may have tried others' patience, but it shaped her path. A natural affinity for all things technical led her to study engineering and, at just 28 years old, launch One Eighty in 2002.
"I wasn't the person who would not succeed," she says.
A childhood spent sailing Optimist dinghies on Zeekoevlei fueled her passion for the sport and its technical complexity. Drawn to both the adrenaline and the strategizing, she took to sea sailing and earned her coastal skipper's license at 16. "Sailing is very technical - about systems and strategy. You need to understand the winches, cleats, ropes, knots. It was all so exciting."
Determined to solve real-world issues, she studied engineering at the University of Cape Town and went on to earn a PhD, focusing on a novel high nitrogen stainless steel being developed by Columbus Stainless. Though the alloy was discontinued during the final stages of her thesis, Cotton didn't take it personally and continued to research hot rolling schedule optimisation for companies such as Columbus, Mittal, and Hulett.
But academia wasn't her calling. In 2002, she launched One Eighty Engineering Solutions to tackle complex challenges in various industries like oil and gas, mining, marine, food and beverage, and power generation. Today, her company is recognized as Africa's most widely scoped ISO internationally accredited materials testing lab.
Passionate about raising awareness of materials and metallurgical engineering, Cotton hosted Africa's first root cause analysis conference in 2022. More than engineers, underwriters, asset owners, asset care managers, and lawyers discussed how to prevent failures and their financial consequences.
"If we can examine the failures, maybe we can think about how to prevent them. Nobody cares about prevention until it happens to them," she says. A second conference is planned for 2026.
In the business world, Cotton has faced tough times, including attempts at bribery and sabotage, but she refuses to engage with such activities. "I think these things are all fairly normal in business."
When not immersed in engineering puzzles and expanding her business, Cotton still finds time to sail and clear her mind with wind and sea.
Through her academic leadership, entrepreneurship, and groundbreaking research, Cotton has solidified her position as a leading figure in materials engineering. Her work has advanced nitrogen alloying techniques, developed innovative materials like Cromanite™, and positioned One Eighty as a trusted partner for multinational clients. Moreover, she champions women's participation in STEM and advocates for the development of composite materials, smart polymers, and biomaterials to address future global challenges.
- Janet Cotton, the founder of One Eighty Engineering Solutions, has worked tirelessly in various industries such as mining, oil and gas, marine, food and beverage, and power generation, known for her ability to resolve complex problems that many deem impossible.
- Despite encountering stages like bribery and sabotage in the business world, Cotton remains resolute in refusing to engage in such activities, standing as a beacon of integrity in the industry.
- Cotton's academic pursuits led her to study engineering at the University of Cape Town, where she focused on a novel high nitrogen stainless steel being developed by Columbus Stainless during her PhD studies.
- She has been a strong proponent of advancing technology in the materials engineering field, developing innovative materials like Cromanite™ and advocating for the development of composite materials, smart polymers, and biomaterials.
- In 2002, Cotton launched One Eighty Engineering Solutions, which has since become Africa's most widely scoped ISO internationally accredited materials testing lab.
- Recognizing the importance of understanding the root causes of failures and their financial consequences, Cotton hosted Africa's first root cause analysis conference in 2022, bringing together engineers, underwriters, asset owners, asset care managers, and lawyers to discuss prevention strategies.
- Apart from her professional commitments, Cotton finds solace in sailing and the technical complexity of the sport, having earned her coastal skipper's license at 16 and spent her childhood sailing Optimist dinghies on Zeekoevlei.
