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Manufacturing News

Trading remains positive for Mondi as macroeconomic uncertainties remain

By: Simone Liedtke Updated 6 hours ago While macroeconomic uncertainties remain, trading is positive for paper and packaging manufacturer Mondi, which expects to see the full impact of the price increases implemented to date and the continued contribution from its capital investment projects during the second half of this year. →

Mpact remains ‘firmly anchored’ in making a difference on the back of robust interim results

By: Simone Liedtke Updated 6 hours ago South African paper and packaging business and recycler Mpact remains “firmly anchored” in its purpose of making a difference by providing customers with sustainable packaging and giving effect to the circular economy through its integrated business model. CEO Bruce Strong said on August 5 that... →

Pic of Mpact Polymers recycling in Wadevil.=le.

Mpact's Bruce Strong and Brett Clark give Engineering News some more insight on the company's results, and some external factors that had an impact. Video: Recorded on Zoom. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Business seeks to nudge localisation debate beyond import substitution

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2021 Business is aiming to progress ongoing negotiations on the use of local-content regulations to revive manufacturing in South Africa beyond calls for blanket import substitution by identifying specific products or sectors where the country has the competitive advantages in place to increase... →

From a coal-to-gas conversion to a microgrid factory, Eskom builds Komati’s just energy transaction case

By: Terence Creamer 3rd August 2021 State-owned electricity utility Eskom is hoping to transform the workshops at the Komati power station – identified as the flagship site for the piloting of a broader ‘just energy transition’ programme that couples decarbonisation with social upliftment – into a factory capable of manufacturing... →

A file photo of the Komati power station, which has generated electricity since 1961

Soaring aluminum drives up cost of everything from beer to foil

By: Bloomberg 3rd August 2021 For consumers and economists hoping commodities inflation will soon subside, the aluminum market delivered some discouraging news on Monday. The world’s second-largest brewer, Heineken, said the rising costs of freight and the metal used in beer cans will have a “material effect” on profit next... →

Gearboxes ensure increased safety

By: Theresa Bhowan 30th July 2021 Engineering solutions provider BMG supplies the local railway sector with custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes. Design customisations are adjusted according to the demand and physical requirements of the application. →

BMG’s Dinamic Oil gearbox in a warehouse

CARRYING THE WORLD BMG supplies the local railways sector with custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes

Production surplus meets growing rail industry demand

By: Theresa Bhowan 30th July 2021 Although stainless steel supplier Columbus Stainless can meet South Africa’s stainless steel material demands in all sectors, including the railroad industry, the apparent stainless steel consumption is too low to fulfil the mill’s total production capacity, says Columbus Stainless market... →

3CR12 grade steel train wagon transporting coal

STRONG AND STURDY Ferritic stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium

Revitalisation vital to economic recovery

30th July 2021 South Africa’s transport sector is central to trade, and modernising and revitalising it is critical to the country’s recovery from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic, says railroad equipment supplier Gibela CEO Hector Danisa. The country's economy went into its deepest recession in a century... →

A front view of an operational train set in a warehouse

VITAL FOR SURVIVAL The transport sector’s importance to South Africa’s economy was underlined by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s 2021/22 transport budget vote

Company steers through Covid-19 challenges

By: Theresa Bhowan 30th July 2021 Railroad equipment supplier and manufacturer Gibela has not been immune to the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly those presented by the third wave. “We have experienced a rise in cases within our company, which is impacting on operations. Most of our suppliers were also affected by... →

Gibela procurement executive Colette Yende stands outside in front of a train set at Gibela's premises

COLETTE YENDE What Covid-19 has taught us is to have and implement an alternative plan

Sumitomo Rubber loses 70 000 tyres to looters

By: Irma Venter 30th July 2021 Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), manufacturer of the Dunlop tyre brand, has warned consumers that goods stolen at its KwaZulu-Natal warehouse are currently being advertised for sale on social media and online classifieds sites. SRSA says that its Durban Westville warehouse was invaded and... →

SAPVIA calls for clarity on local content requirements

By: Creamer Media Reporter 28th July 2021 The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) is calling for immediate clarity from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) about its approach to localisation, specifically in the South African solar photovoltaic (PV) sector. The DTIC and the National Treasury have... →

An image of solar PV panels being installed

South African company to manufacture hemp product machinery in the Eastern Cape

By: Schalk Burger 27th July 2021 Local hemp products development company Quattro-Canna Holdings has signed a licence agreement with hemp processing equipment developer Canadian Greenfield Technologies to manufacture the HempTrain decorticator plant, which is designed for mass-processing of hemp straw-bales into bast fiber, hurd... →

Busa welcomes easing of restrictions, others caution of damage already done

By: Donna Slater 26th July 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa’s July 25 address to the nation and the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions from adjusted Alert Level 4, to adjusted Alert Level 3, has been welcomed by Business Unity South Africa (Busa), while the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba) has expressed concern... →

Insurers advise on claims related to civil unrest

By: Donna Slater 23rd July 2021 Following the looting that took place during the civil unrest of mid-July in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, insurance experts advise that claimants ensure they have proof of damage or loss or destruction of stock, to ensure they are able to submit claims within the 30-day threshold. During a webinar... →

Biovac/Pfizer vaccine partnership will boost mRNA hub – Nzimande

By: Sane Dhlamini 23rd July 2021 The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande has congratulated the Biovac Institute for its partnership with Pfizer and its German vaccine partner BioNTech which will see the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine being manufactured in South Africa for distribution within... →

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande

Hybrid solar installation completed in Zimbabwe

By: Halima Frost 23rd July 2021 The active partnership between South Africa-based solar solutions provider Blockpower SA and German-managed microgrid integrator Dhybrid has resulted in the completion of a 1.4 MWp, 1 MVA, 480 kWh hybrid solar system at an agriculture estate, in Zimbabwe. The Tanganda Tea Company, which operates... →

Large solar plant at an agriculture estate Zimbabwe

OFF GRID The hybrid solar installation installed by Blockpower SA and Dhybrid was tailor made for the client in Zimbabwe

World-class Africa factory nearing completion

By: Halima Frost 23rd July 2021 The construction of drive components manufacturer SEW-EURODRIVE’s R200-million South Africa head office and factory in Aeroton, Johannesburg, is proceeding to plan and on schedule, says SEW-EURODRIVE MD Raymond Obermeyer. “Despite the slowdown in the local economy, we believe that it is critical... →

Large building, construction site with steel fabrication SEW Eurodrive HO

MAKING GROUND The construction of SEW EURODRIVE's new South African head office is progressing well

Navara built in Africa for Africa

By: Claire O'Reilly 23rd July 2021 The first Nissan Navara vehicles produced in Africa have rolled off the production line at the new Nissan plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria this month. →

HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE First Nissan Navara vehicle manufactured in South Africa

Alcohol industry asks govt to allow legal liquor trade to resume from July 26

By: Schalk Burger 22nd July 2021 Five industry associations in the alcohol industry is calling on government to release the scientific data it uses to justify the repeated bans on the sale of alcohol. They also request that legal liquor trade be allowed to resume from July 26. →

LG commits itself to moving entirely to renewable energy by 2050

By: Donna Slater 21st July 2021 Electronics manufacturer LG Electronics has announced its commitment to transition completely to renewable energy by 2050. The announcement, made in LG’s sustainability report, follows an earlier promise to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 through its Zero Carbon 2030 initiative, in which the... →

Pet food supplier expands its pawprint

By: Simone Liedtke 21st July 2021 Pet food supplier Montego Pet Nutrition continues to make strides in the premium pet food industry, with its acquisition of an existing 3 000 m2 pet food production facility, in Rosslyn, Pretoria – a move that is expected to boost the company’s production capacity by 25%. “Montego’s Monty & Me... →

Montego's Rosslyn Factory

Rolls-Royce Power Systems eyes climate-neutrality of products by 2030

By: Donna Slater 20th July 2021 Power systems engineering company Rolls-Royce Power Systems plans to cut its greenhouse-gas emissions by 35% by 2030, compared with a 2019 baseline, through the use of new net-zero and zero-carbon technologies. This near-term target plays a significant role in the Rolls-Royce group’s ambition to... →

Report shines light on empowerment of women in green industry

By: Donna Slater 20th July 2021 The virtual launch of a assessment report on the Empowerment of Women in the Green Industry Policy on July 20 has been welcomed by Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina, who delivered an address at the event. The report is the result of the collaboration between the... →

Coca-Cola Beverages makes two key appointments ahead of stock exchange listings

By: Simone Liedtke 19th July 2021 Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has made two key appointments to the company’s executive committee as it prepares to list as a publicly traded company and accelerates its sustainability strategy. The Coca-Cola Company and CCBA announced in April that Africa’s biggest Coca-Cola bottler would be... →

Recovery remains the focus at the end of South Africa’s unrest storm, says SAB

By: Simone Liedtke 15th July 2021 The South African Breweries (SAB) says it is saddened by the violent looting and protests that have spread throughout parts of the country in recent days, which saw violence and the destruction of businesses, homes and the loss of lives. Considering that this has created a dark chapter in the... →

IoT use in South Africa to grow by 14% a year to 2025

By: Schalk Burger 15th July 2021 The use of Internet of Things (IoT) in South Africa is expected to grow by 14% a year from 2020 to 2025, says information and communications technology market research firm IDC Middle East, Africa and Turkey associate VP for sub-Saharan Africa Mark Walker. He notes that IoT adoption is expected... →

Zikalala warns of increased unemployment as protests continue, factories destroyed

By: Yvonne Silaule 14th July 2021 KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has warned that the ongoing protests and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng will dampen investor confidence and derail economic recovery efforts. “The social costs of the damage might come in the form of increased unemployment and poverty in years to come,”... →

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala

Seifsa tables three-year wage offer

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th July 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has tabled, on behalf of its 19 affiliated employer organisations, a wage offer to trade unions. The unions, including Solidarity, Uasa, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the Metal and Electrical... →

Manufacturing output up 35% y/y in May

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th July 2021 Manufacturing output increased by 35.3% year-on-year in May, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports. The largest contributors to the increase in output were motor vehicles, parts and accessories, growing by 215% and contributing 8.9 percentage points; and basic iron and steel, nonferrous... →

Drone and NDT firm join forces

By: Halima Frost 9th July 2021 Materials testing and inspection service provider Dekra Industrial has joined forces with aerial solutions and drone services company Sky Africa Drones to offer a drone inspection service that combines the technologies of high scope non-destructive testing (NDT) systems with the manoeuvrability... →

SKY HIGH The use of drones to conduct non-destructive testing on taller installations and hard to reach areas is even more possible

Vibration meter serves industries

9th July 2021 Testing technology provider Comtest offers its Fluke 805 vibration meter which measures overall vibration, bearing vibration and temperature simultaneously for clients such as frontline mechanical troubleshooting teams and machine operators of high-end process facilities.... →

FEELING THE VIBE The new Comtest vibration meter picks up vibration in mechanical and high end processing facility applications

Dartcom to distribute Longi solar panels in South Africa

By: Schalk Burger 2nd July 2021 Telecommunications and power equipment company Dartcom has signed an agreement with solar power equipment manufacturer Longi Solar to distribute its panels in South Africa. The deal will result in Dartcom importing, warehousing and distributing various product ranges of Longi Solar panels in bulk. →

Fraunhofer Institute to further research manufacturing IT vulnerability

By: Schalk Burger 2nd July 2021 After having determined that manufacturing companies that network their machines and systems are particularly at risk from security vulnerabilities and attacks on their information technology (IT) infrastructure, research organisation the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) wants... →

Tongaat warns of a headline loss of up to R863m

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd July 2021 JSE-listed sugar manufacturer Tongaat Hulett expects its earnings for the financial year ended March 31 to be substantially higher than the prior year, mostly owing to a R3.3-billion profit realised on the disposal of its Starch business. Headline earnings, however, will be lower than the prior... →

Company achieves milestone

By: Theresa Bhowan 2nd July 2021 Rapidly growing demand in the industrial sector, has seen nitrogen generation equipment supplier Nitralife recently achieving the milestone of having supplied more than 100 customised Nitracut generators to the fabrication and industrial sector over the past four years. “With each new sector and... →

NEXT GENERATION While Nitralife’s nitrogen generators have similar designs for various applications, it adjusts each variation according to customer's specifications

Service, product offering expansion creates market opportunities

By: Theresa Bhowan 2nd July 2021 Cutting and precision tool manufacturer and distributor First Cut has recently expanded its cutting and grinding range of product and service offerings to include welding solutions. This expansion was prompted as the welding process is the next natural step that follows the cutting process in the... →

ANDREW POOLE Forming the backbone of the broader South African economy, the steel, fabrication and metal processing sectors are essential

Optimal welding solutions and products supplied by service provider

2nd July 2021 Integrated gas and welding distributor Unique Welding, through its national branch network, comprehensive product range, global partnerships and over 40 years of expertise is uniquely able to assist fabricators reduce welding costs, improve productivity and reduce weld safety risks in the... →

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