The board of directors of the South-ern Africa Stainless Steel Devel-
opment Association (Sassda) has reviewed the operation of the repre-sentative body for the stainless steel industry and is redefining its role as an industry association.

Sassda has decided to place greater emphasis on growing South African interests by focusing on industry devel-opment, which will result in job creation and skills retention.

Sassda now sees its primary purpose as being responsible for the growth and development of stainless steel in South Africa.

“The change in Sassda’s purpose state-ment ensures sustainability of the industry, the country and its people,” says Sassda chairperson Sampie van Rooyen. He adds that this has led to some demanding transitions within the association and will see the organisation operating on a different level.

Sassda will ensure that it supports the full spectrum of the stainless steel industry by engaging all stakeholders. Its marketing strategy is to promote the benefits and uses of stainless steel so that all consumers and end-users will be comfortable in the knowledge that they have invested in a high-quality, proudly South African product.

Interest groups with common causes will be formed to engage with one another and with the relevant participants, so that opportunities can be pursued and issues resolved. Once the aims are achieved, these interest groups will be disbanded. However, the organisation will continue to form other interest groups when required. This flexibility will allow Sassda to be progressive in meeting the demands of its varied members.


Creating Opportunities 
With the current economic slump impacting heavily on the stainless steel industry, Sassda has started a nationwide roadshow with a mobile exhibition unit to stimulate further opportunity for the sector.

“Although we still have a number of key infrastructural projects in the pipeline, we need to work on stimulating further opportunity for the sector,” says Sassda MD Tim Raaff.

The mobile exhibition unit, which will showcase a full resource centre, is a self-sufficient, air-conditioned vehicle with its own fitted kitchen and power supply. The interior is made up of a host of domestic and industrial stainless steel products that include flooring, balustrades and appliances, with marquees being used as exhibition space for sponsors.

Sassda reports that the mobile exhibition will take stainless steel directly to all potential end-users in an effort to market, develop and grow the stainless steel industry. Sassda adds that, as a sustainable material with excellent life-cycle costing models, stainless steel can be used in a number of green building projects.

Sassda says that the mobile exhibition will assist in creating awareness of the numerous skills and development initiatives. These include the memo-randum of understanding with the Food and Beverage Services Sector Education 
and Training Authority, the pending alli-
ance with the Umsombovi Youth Fund 
and the artisan skills project with the oil, gas and chemical manufac-turers’ learnership training programme.

Sassda reports that the mobile exhibition will visit all provinces during the tour. It is encouraging its member base of nearly 600 companies to participate in the roadshow, which started on March 2, 2009, and will run until November 6, 2009.

isitors to the unit will be able to enjoy a hands-on experience of stainless steel, as well as attend training courses, promotions and information sessions. 
Along with showcasing all that the stainless steel industry has to offer, the unit will also provide a platform for credible buyers and sellers to interact with one another.

“It is our intention that this unit will travel the country for the next five years, visiting rural areas to serve as a mobile training centre that will offer training and education courses on the benefits of stainless steel. 
If the need arises, we have the flexibility to ship the unit to other markets around the world. Our intention next year is to tour the South African Development Community region, as well as further our footprint in South Africa,” Raaff concludes.

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