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Mechanical Engineering Section

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 The Mechanical Engineering Section (MES) is the organization government relies upon to keep its fleet of vehicles, plants and equipment operational, and also for consultancy services and   advice in the field of mechanical engineering.
 
 The MES was established in 1950, at a time when the Public Works Department (PWD) was undertaking major civil engineering works such as construction and maintenance of roads,    bridges, reservoirs etc…
 
 The main function of the Mechanical Engineering Section then was to repair and maintain the vehicles and construction machineries used by the PWD.
 
 When Government adopted the policy of contracting out major civil construction works to private contractors in the eighties, the construction machineries used by the PWD such as rollers, tar sprayers, bull dozers, excavators, etc... were gradually phased out with the result that the   Mechanical Engineering Section is now mainly undertaking repairs and maintenance of vehicles, plants, equipment and offering consultancy services.
  
 The main office and central workshop of the Mechanical Engineering Section are located at Plaine Lauzun Industrial Zone.

 The Mechanical Engineering Section has a staff of about 154 employees, comprising Professional Engineers, Technical Officers, Supervisors, Tradesmen and general staff.

  Click here for the Organisation Chart of the Mechanical Engineering Section 

​  I. Central Mechanical Worshop
 
  The Central Mechanical Workshop of the Mechanical Engineering Section at Plaine Lauzun comprises two main sections, namely, the Automobile Repair section and the Mechanical Repair section. These two sections are described in detail below.

  Automobile Repair Section
 
  This section comprises various units which undertake the following works:

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 Repair of engine, power train, suspension, brakes etc….;
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Calibration of diesel injection pumps/injectors, cleaning of petrol injectors;
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 Engine management diagnosis and emissions control;
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 Panel beating;
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Painting;
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Automotive electrical repair;
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 Automotive air conditioning repair;
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 Vulcanizing work;
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 Wheel alignment.
  Mechanical Repair Section
 
  This section comprises of four units which undertake respectively the following works:

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Fitting;
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 Welding;
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 Turning and Machining;
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 Locksmith.


  II. Services provided by the Mechanical Engineering Section

  The services provided by the Mechanical Engineering Section may be classified in three categories, namely;

v
v
v
 
 
  1. Repairs and Maintenance Works

 ​(a) Repairs and Maintenance of vehicles, plants and equipments

 This is the core activity of the Central Mechanical Workshop at Plaine Lauzun. All Ministries/Departments have recourse to the Central Mechanical Workshop to repair and maintain their vehicles, except the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Police Department, which have their   own workshops.

 The fleet maintained by the Central Mechanical Workshop consists of about 450 vehicles made up of 150 makes/models and utility vehicles such as Pay loader, dumper, skid-steer loader, etc.  Equipment, such as lawn mowers, bush cutters, water pumps and air compressors, are also   repaired at the workshop.  Generators powered by diesel engines, found in hospitals, are also maintained by the workshop.  On an average, some 15 to 20 vehicles call at the workshop for minor repair and servicing everyday.

 (b) Manufacture, Repair and Maintenance of metal works/structure in Government buildings

 The mechanical section undertakes the following works:
 
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Manufacture/repair of cargo box for lorry, frame for tarpaulin cover and simple parts for vehicles;
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 Resurfacing engine block and cylinder head;
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 Manufacture/repair of chimneys for hospital incinerators and generators;
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 Repair of roller shutters, metal doors and windows in government buildings;
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 Manufacture/repair of handrails;
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 Repair of locks and safes;
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Examining locks and safes suspected of being tampered or forced in cases of larceny and submitting report to the Police Department;
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​Repair of plumbing works in fire fighting systems

 2. Supervision of Automotive Repairs effected in private garages and Survey of Damaged Vehicles
 (a) Supervision of Automotive Repairs
 
 About 400 vehicles (mostly BMW and Mercedes) used by Ministers, High Government Officials and other VIP’s are maintained and repaired at the garage of the local agents concerned, under the supervision of Engineers from the Mechanical Engineering Section.  The supervision is done   in three phases namely:

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Ascertaining the fault reported by the car user;
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 Examining the estimate of repair prior to approval to ensure that it is fair, reasonable and relevant to the fault;
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 Certifying the bill for payment after the repair has been effected to the satisfaction of the client.
 It is to be noted that vehicles attached to VIPSU at Vacoas, Police VIP car pool at Line Barracks, ICAC and Government vehicles damaged in road accidents are also repaired in private garages under the supervision of the MES Engineers.

 About 120 cars used by VIP call at the workshop for examination by MES Engineers every month.

 (b) Survey of Government vehicles involved in accidents

 The new regulations concerning “Constat à L’Amiable”, introduced on 1st August 2004, do not apply to government vehicles.   
 
 All government vehicles involved in accidents or damaged by any means other than normal breakdown must be reported to the Police. These government vehicles as well as the vehicles belonging to the private party, if any, involved in the accident are examined by Engineers or   Technical Officers from MES to assess the damage and eventually to inform the Accountant General about the actual cost of repair.  If there is any litigation regarding settlement of claim by the parties involved in the accident, our Engineers have to attend Court to submit their views.

 About 350 accidents involving government vehicles are attended by our Engineers and Technical Officers every year. 
 
 As and when required, especially in case of fatal accident, our engineers also assist police to determine if failure of brake or mechanical part could have been the cause of the accident.
 
 It is to be noted that the Director (Mechanical Engineering) and threee Engineers from MSE are members of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Arbitration Committee.
 
 3. Consultancy services
 
 The consultancy services provided by the Engineering staff of the Mechanical Engineering Section are mostly knowledge-based and require a high level of professional expertise in the fields of mechanical engineering.  These services include, inter-alia, the following:

 (a) Evaluation of tenders for the purchase of vehicles/equipment

 Practically all Ministries/Departments and some parastatal bodies, for example, OIDC, Sugar Planters Mechanical Pool, seek the assistance of the MES Engineers to prepare specifications and evaluate tenders for the purchase of vehicles, plants and mechanical equipment.

 (b) Building Services - Mechanical

 These services include the preparation of scope of work, design, evaluation of tenders, supervision and commissioning of work undertaken by contractors related to:

 

 (i)

hot and cold water system (water storage, solar panel, pipe sizing, pump selection, testing, etc)

 (ii) waste water and sewerage systems
 (iii) installation of gas systems in schools, hospitals
 (iv) fire fighting systems in government buildings

 (c) Other Services

 The Mechanical Engineering Section provides also the following services:

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Advice to Ministries/Departments/Para-statal Bodies on matters related to mechanical  engineering;
 
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Advice to the National Transport Authority;

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​Organising transport for elections (general, municipals and district councils);

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Participating in various Technical Advisory Committee.

 
 ​Contact Information
 The Mechanical Engineering Section may be contacted on the following:
 
(00-230) 208 1871 - 72​

 Fax
          (00-230) 212 8644

 Postal address

        Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development,
        Mechanical Engineering Section, Plaine Lauzun, Mauritius.