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Manufacturing

Company to continue local investment

By: Cameron Mackay 28th May 2021 Minerals processing equipment manufacturer Multotec aims to continue investing in modernising its local manufacturing capabilities. “In the long term, we would like to invest in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to modernise the way we produce. In South Africa, we would rather invest in a... →

Company launches new division

By: Cameron Mackay 28th May 2021 Waterjet cutting service provider MAXJET will launch a new manufacturing division, referred to as MAX LINERS, next month. The division will focus on providing a range of products to prevent wear in the materials handling industry. →

SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING MAXJET’s manufacturing processes, which use waterjet cutting to design, supply and process flat part components, is an environmentally green process

Group outlines positive ‘cascading effect’ of local manufacturing evolution

By: Terence Creamer 28th May 2021 Electrical products supplier Zest WEG aims to continue expanding its South African manufacturing footprint in an effort to improve its market competitiveness and respond to government’s growing demand for higher levels of local content in public procurement. →

JULIANO VARGAS Manufacturing has already grown to represent about one-quarter of yearly revenues

Facilities equipped for custom orders

By: Cameron Mackay 28th May 2021 Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Kwatani’s fabrication jobbing processes are designed to deliver custom-designed vibrating equipment within timeframes similar to those of other OEMs that deliver standard equipment. “Our processes are based on a job-based system, so the entire production... →

RIAAN STEINMANN, KIM SCHOEPFLIN Operations GM at Kwatani, and CEO, respectively

Products adapted for 4IR applications

By: Cameron Mackay 28th May 2021 Abrasive tools manufacturer PFERD has geared many of its products for Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and robotic applications because many customers in the local manufacturing and automotive sectors are automating their processes to increase efficiencies. The company is also focusing on... →

DESIGNED FOR DEMANDING APPLICATIONS A tungsten carbide burr is a cutting tool that is normally used on electric and pneumatic straight grinders

Company improves manufacturing line

By: Cameron Mackay 28th May 2021 Local civil and engineering steel products manufacturer and supplier Stewarts & Lloyds has upgraded certain parts of its high-speed, cut-to-length line, installed last year. Certain modifications have been made to the decoiler to assist in handling coils where the inside diameters of the coil are... →

SERVING A NICHE MARKET The line can process coil in thickness from 0.58 mm to 6 mm and is one of the few local lines able to cut 2-m-wide coils

Indaba aims to encourage sector growth

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 Revitalising and growing manufacturers is the theme of this year’s Manufacturing Indaba, which aims to get the South African manufacturing industry stakeholders together to unpack the way forward towards growing their businesses. This year’s event was originally slated to take place on June 9 and... →

THIS TIME IT’S VIRTUAL This year’s Manufacturing Indaba will be entirely virtual and, therefore, free to attend

Local valve manufacturer first to be marine-certified

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 Valve manufacturer Paltechnologies (Paltech), a subsidiary of holdings company Mokoena Holdings, has become the first South African valve manufacturer to become fully certified to supply valves to the marine industry. Paltech was one of the companies to benefit from the Marine Manufacturing,... →

OPEN AND SHUT Paltechnologies is the first South African valves manufacturer to become marine-certified

NDT company opens shop in Mozambique

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 Quality assurance and non-destructive testing (NDT) company Dekra Industrial RSA has registered a legal entity named Dekra Industrial Inspection LDA, in Mozambique, as a springboard from which to service the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the Cabo Delgado province. “While we have... →

TESTING THE MARKET NDT services will be offered to the Mozambican LNG sector

Counterfeit goods a costly threat to sector

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 An influx of inferior-quality competitive electrical connector products into South Africa is a threat to the local manufacturing industry, owing to their unreliability, says electrical connector supplier Alexander and Poole area manager Juanita Fisher-Hill. “The greatest offenders are companies... →

JUANITA FISHER-HILL Counterfeit parts neither carry a warranty or guarantee nor do they contain any of the inherent safety features

Panel on EIPs to feature at Indaba

By: Darren Parker 27th November 2020 The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) will host a panel at this year’s Manufacturing Indaba on industrial parks, the potential to transform them into eco-industrial parks (EIPs) and leveraging them for accelerated development. This year, the NCPC-SA, United Nations... →

HENRY NUWARINDA The Global Eco-Industrial Park Programme will ensure an added level of quality control and cost-efficiency

Sector’s GDP contribution not what it should be

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 For South Africa’s stage of economic development, manufacturing should be contributing at least double what it currently does to gross domestic product (GDP), states industry body Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth. Manufacturing has declined from 26% of South Africa’s GDP... →

MANUFACTURING SLOWDOWN Employment figures in the manufacturing sector are unlikely to turn around without a sustained improvement in demand to bolster industry activity

Agility needed in sector transformation

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 The world is rapidly changing, with the onslaught of Covid-19 catalysing and concentrating the drivers behind this change. Consequently, manufacturers need to be agile in adapting their systems and processes, remain lean and use digital enablers in a digital transformation to remain relevant and... →

CONNECTING THE DOTS Digitalisation leads to connected plants and connected supply chains, which provides immediate benefits of reliability, stability, immediacy and agility

Manufacturers can use lockdown to fine-tune ERP

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 The priority for many manufacturers amid the Covid-19 lockdown involves “getting back to basics” in terms of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management, says ERP systems provider Syspro professional services head Doug Hunter. “This includes ensuring visibility of what is... →

TAKING STOCK OF THE SITUATION The lockdown has provided a good opportunity for companies to check their ERP systems and ensure that they are being used properly and to their full potential

Manufacturer receives increased interest in face mask concept

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 Mine ventilation equipment and working-face consumables manufacturer Terramin has seen increased demand for its full-head precautionary respiratory protection solution named the Koplap as demand for face masks has increased on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, Terramin CEO Martin van Schoor... →

AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION The Koplap comes in several iterations with the some versions including mesh eye pieces and a non-return valve over the mouth

Precast-concrete manufacturing complements construction sector

29th May 2020 The precast-concrete manufacturing sector is complementing conventional in-situ building methods by helping to accelerate strategic infrastructure projects and reducing construction costs. It is also augmenting the public sector’s drive to use infrastructure projects to create employment and... →

PRECAST PREFERENCE The elements are manufactured in a controlled factory environment and then transported to site where they are assembled

Reindustrialisation of manufacturing critical for growth

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 Measures to stimulate economic growth in South Africa after Covid-19 should include policies and interventions that will result in the reindustrialisation of the manufacturing sector, says industry body Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth. She tells Engineering News that... →

SPARKING SECTOR GROWTH It is critical to implement measures to stimulate the reindustrialisation of the manufacturing sector

Covid-19 an opportunity for better resource management

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2020 The national lockdown because of Covid-19 presents a good opportunity for manufacturing companies to improve their resource and utilities management, says government-funded programme National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) KwaZulu-Natal regional manager Kevin Cilliers. There is... →

KEVIN CILLIERS It is important to have a good management practice in place for utility use while there is time and space to focus on it

Indaba to foster African trade

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 The 2019 Manufacturing Indaba will host several trade and industry Ministers from Africa, with the focus leaning towards facilitating trade between African countries. →

CROSSBORDER TRADE The Manufacturing Indaba will create a space for increased trade with neighbouring countries and facilitate deal-flow

Programme to revive local foundries

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has mandated the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) to align its work stream with that of the National Foundries Technology Network (NFTN) to revive the local foundries sector. →

RELEVANCE
The NFTN facilitates the relevant skills and training projects to transfer knowledge in line with its skills development programme

Photo by Bloomberg
RELEVANCE The NFTN facilitates the relevant skills and training projects to transfer knowledge in line with its skills development programme

NCPC-SA to drive resource efficiency in manufacturing

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 If the South African manufacturing sector wishes to mitigate the effects of rising tariffs and the new Carbon Tax, then it needs to become more resource efficient, according to the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) →

GREEN ECONOMY The manufacturing sector has not been growing because of its mounting challenges

Companies collaborate for competition at Manufacturing Indaba

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 Industry association the Manufacturing Circle will again join forces with management consulting company A.T. Kearny for the international Factory of the Year competition at the 2019 Manufacturing Indaba. →

PHILIPPA RODSETH The Manufacturing Circle will play a fundamental role in coordinating the agenda of the industry

Industry 4.0 presents transformation for African manufacturing sector

14th June 2019 The Manufacturing Indaba 2019 is set to explore the impact on, and opportunities associated with disruptive and revolutionary technologies that are transforming the global manufacturing sector. Despite its status as a developing continent, Africa’s manufacturing space stands the opportunity to... →

CAPITAL IMPACT The ultimate concern is how African manufacturers can capitalise on Industry 4.0 while simultaneously mitigating the accompanying risks

Atlas Copco

By: Yolande Botes 14th June 2019 The Atlas Copco group is an international enterprise with a global reach spanning 180 countries. The company’s products and services focus on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics aimed at increasing customers’ productivity and competitiveness, while benefiting society and... →

Reliable Transformers

14th June 2019 From humble beginnings in 1982, Reliable Transformers (RT) has grown into a leading manufacturer of transformers and related magnetic components, with customers across Southern Africa and beyond. In its 4000 m2 custom-built factory in Benoni, South Africa, RT uses advanced computer numerical... →

DTI forges ahead with product standardisation task

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 Following Mining Charter III’s call to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to develop a “Standardised Coding and Product Identification System in the Mining Supply Chain” whereby products can be identified using a unique name and code, the department has established a multistakeholder... →

INDUSTRY GROWTH The DTI looks forward to exchanging lessons and experiences to unpack challenges and identify solutions for growth across the manufacturing sector

Indaba will create intra-Africa trade opportunities

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 With the 2018 Manufacturing Indaba’s focus being on the development of intra-Africa trade, event organiser Siyenza Management MD Liz Hart says the event will bring key stakeholders together to create opportunities for engagement and dialogue. She tells Engineering News that Africa has many of... →

EXPANDING EXHIBITION Siyenza Management aims to expand the Manufacturing Indaba – the larger the event, the more companies to engage with and to explore added business opportunities

AI can optimise manufacturing processes; awareness needed

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 Artificial intelligence (AI), data and automation tools can aid manufacturers in enhancing and optimising their processes, says Cape Town-based machine learning startup DataProphet cofounder and MD Frans Cronje. The company specialises in developing AI solutions for the manufacturing industry,... →

FRANS CRONJE Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool for taking skills, knowledge and experience, and sharing it among new workers entering the world of employment

Company can save manufacturers years in R&D

8th June 2018 The world of augmented reality (AR) offers manufacturers a solution that can save them years in research and development, says information and communications technology provider T-Systems manufacturing and automotive sales and service management head Dereshin Pillay. AR can also save... →

DERESHIN PILLAY AR can also save manufacturing companies money spent on building, testing, rebuilding and retesting prototypes

Balance between mechanisation, job creation must be maintained

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 Specialist equipment supplier Multotec believes that a balance between the mechanisation of manufacturing operations and job creation must be maintained, says COO Jannie de Jonge. He tells Engineering News that it is something Multotec believes and practices. →

LABOUR RELATIONS The manufacturing industry is labour intensive – it employs almost two-million people locally and sound labour relations, as well as policies, are crucial in this industry

Companies moving towards emerging technologies

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 There is strong indication that manufacturing companies will in the short term start using emerging technologies. This is according to ‘The Mobile Corporation in South Africa 2018’ report, based on research conducted by research organisation World Wide Worx, in partnership with enterprise... →

DEIRDRE FRYER Using the most suitable technology in the right areas can give rise to large cost reductions for businesses

Effective control of substance abuse in industry crucial

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 There is a need for effective control of substance abuse in the manufacturing industry as it is a major issue, says drug and alcohol testing equipment supplier Alco-Safe MD Rhys Evans. Alco-Safe has more than 4 000 clients using its services, across industries, including mining, construction,... →

RHYS EVANS Using Alco-Safe’s solutions, some of our clients have shown a 60% reduction in substance abuse in their companies

Industry pursuing better management of energy use

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 There has been a growing trend among South African manufacturing plants to pursue energy reduction and manage its use better, says energy training services provider the Energy Training Foundation (EnTF) training manager Yolanda de Lange. She explains that significant hikes in electricity rates... →

YOLANDA DE LANGE The Energy Training Foundation is looking forward to expanding further into West Africa

Local manufacturing crucial for economic growth

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 Providing locally manufactured goods and supporting local manufacturing are massively important for the growth of the South African economy, says plastic conveyor components manufacturer IRP Engineering Plastics MD Kris Kibble. “Supporting international supply over local manufacture and supply... →

KRIS KIBBLE IRP Engineering Plastics places a large focus on local manufacture and it is an issue that we as a company constantly reiterate to our market

S Africa must maintain cost-competitive sector

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 8th June 2018 It is vital for South Africa to maintain a manufacturing sector that is internationally cost competitive and can produce quality end-products, says Germiston-based material transfer solutions provider Weba Chute Systems MD Mark Baller. “The manufacturing industry has been under a lot of... →

LATEST TECHNOLOGY Weba Chute Systems uses the latest techniques and technologies to ensure optimum accuracy during the design and engineering phases, which also facilitate improved efficiencies

Zest to enter renewables market

By: Shannon de Ryhove 8th June 2018 Local manufacturer of large electrical equipment and supplier of motors, drives and switchgear Zest WEG Group Africa has announced exclusively to Engineering News that it has recently restructured its business to include the renewable-energy industry. This move is strategically aligned with the... →

The fourth industrial revolution, an African perspective

8th June 2018 New and emerging technologies are fundamentally changing the world in ways that were previously unimaginable. Technology driven innovation has always caused business models to go extinct. Some companies could not evolve and went out of business while others adapted, seized opportunities and... →

Initiative addresses barriers to expand aerospace manufacturing

By: Nica Schreuder 23rd June 2017 The aerospace industry has, among others, two important international players – Airbus and Boeing. This applies to local aerospace as well as international aerospace manufacturing industries, all competing to be part of the global supply chain. Aerospace manufacturing in South Africa is dependent... →

TO INFINITY European aircraft manufacturer Airbus plays an important role in the world’s aerospace manufacturing industry

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