Visionary Reports

As part of its ongoing drive to optimize industrial performance and strengthen operational reliability, the Cameroon Palm Oil Company, Socapalm, organized a high-level capacity-building seminar for its regional technical heads on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at its headquarters in Bonanjo, Douala.The training session, held in partnership with Swedish engineering group SKF, a global reference in bearings, seals and industrial maintenance solutions, alongside its authorized distributor TMC, reflects Socapalm’s continued commitment to placing technical excellence, knowledge transfer and human capital development at the heart of its agribusiness strategy.The seminar brought together around fifteen participants, including experienced field managers and recently recruited engineers. The working atmosphere was both studious and interactive, with discussions designed to encourage practical learning, experience-sharing and the smooth transfer of technical know-how across Socapalm’s production sites.Through this initiative, Socapalm reaffirmed a clear vision of industrial performance: investing in people with the same strategic importance as investing in equipment and infrastructure.The session opened with a corporate briefing by Hossem Houari, SKF Director for West and North Africa, who presented the group’s international footprint, industrial expertise and strategic focus on performance-driven maintenance solutions. He also highlighted SKF’s role in supporting industrial operators through reliable technologies, technical support and lifecycle-based equipment management.The technical modules were led by Jérôme Poulle, an SKF engineer and trainer with 27 years of experience. His presentation focused on the full lifecycle of industrial components, from product selection and implementation to maintenance, monitoring and optimization. The training combined visual presentations, technical demonstrations and individual coursework, allowing participants to connect theoretical knowledge with field realities.Key areas covered included advanced knowledge of component ranges and sealing solutions, precision mounting and dismounting techniques, lubrication best practices, component reconditioning and predictive maintenance. Particular emphasis was placed on installation quality, a critical factor in reducing premature machine failures and improving the lifespan of industrial equipment.

A major highlight of the seminar was the presentation delivered by Sandra Arrey, Service Engineer at SKF Central Africa, on condition monitoring technologies. Through vibration and temperature analysis, Socapalm’s technical teams can detect early signs of equipment anomalies without dismantling machines. This approach supports a gradual shift from corrective maintenance to predictive maintenance, helping to reduce downtime, control operating costs and secure uninterrupted production.For Socapalm’s technical leadership, the value of the seminar lies not only in the knowledge acquired, but also in its capacity to be deployed across the company’s operational network.“The knowledge acquired is not meant to remain individual; it must be shared with the field teams to maximize impact,” said Jospin Mbakop, Technical Department Head at the Kienké site.Guy Ayissi, Technical Department Head at the Mbongo site, also welcomed the initiative, noting that the partnership builds on a long-standing relationship and creates a useful bridge between experienced technical staff and the new generation of engineers.“This partnership creates an environment where the experience of veterans directly enriches the learning of our younger engineering recruits,” he said.By transforming continuous training into a practical operational lever, Socapalm is strengthening the reliability of its industrial facilities, empowering its technical workforce and reinforcing the long-term sustainability of its production model.The initiative also illustrates the company’s broader ambition to build a more resilient, skilled and performance-oriented industrial organization, capable of meeting productivity challenges while maintaining high standards of equipment reliability and operational efficiency.

By VisionaryReports