From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. South African medical engineering group Lodox Systems will, later this year, release the fourth version of its digital X-ray screening technology, dubbed the Xmplar-dr, which the company says is “unrivalled” as the world’s only high-speed full-body digital scanning device. Natalie Greve has the story.

Natalie Greve:
Originally developed in the 1990s as a security device to prevent the theft of diamonds by workers at mining giant De Beers’ operations, the Lodox scanner was later adapted for use in medical trauma management to provide an almost instant diagnostic image of a patient’s injuries, as Lodox CEO Pieter de Beer explains.

Lodox CEO Pieter de Beer

Natalie Greve:
The exceptional feature of the Xmplar-dr is that it takes only 13 seconds to produce an accurate full-body overview of injuries and foreign bodies in a patient, as opposed to a conventional X-ray machine, which requires several minutes and various individual X-rays to compile a full-body image.

The technology employs a proprietary linear X-ray beam, which produces fewer harmful scattered X-ray photons than a conventional wide-beam system, while generating an inherently higher image quality and resolution.

In addition, the device emits a radiation dose of 0.12 milligray – up to ten times less radiation than a conventional X-ray system.

Pieter de Beer

Natalie Greve:
To the delight of Lodox, the Xmplar-dr was recently showcased on an episode of US medical drama series ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.

Grey's Anatomy insert courtesy ABC

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Transnet holds its R307.5-billion investment line despite the sluggish economy; and, Hudaco prioritises its resolution to a tax challenge.

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has made only marginal adjustments to its R307.5-billion Market Demand Strategy, despite South Africa’s slower-than-expected economic recovery, a modest growth outlook and softening volumes. It’s also extended the rolling seven-year investment plan by a further year to 2020.

Transnet CEO Brian Molefe

JSE-listed Hudaco was optimistic of resolving its tax challenges, but warned that it was a slow process and could take two to three years. The company was referring to South African Revenue Service slapping it with R1.9-billion in assessments, including interest and 200% penalties, for the financial periods from 2007 until 2011, relating to the group’s 2007 black economic-empowerment structure.

Hudaco financial director Clifford Amoils

Shannon de Ryhove:
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.