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Manufacturing News

KAP grows interim revenue

By: Schalk Burger 12th February 2019 JSE-listed KAP Industrial Holdings grew its revenue by 16% to R13.29-billion in the interim period to the end of December, up from R11.48-billion during the first half of 2018, the company reported on Tuesday. The diversified industrial firm, however, posted lower headline earnings of... →

Electrical equipment group aims to penetrate new markets with integrated offering

By: Terence Creamer 12th February 2019 Electrical products manufacturer Zest WEG Group has added an integrated-solutions offering to its products-oriented sales strategy in a bid to penetrate market segments in which there is a growing appetite for all-encompassing solutions. The South African company is the fifth largest branch... →

Zest WEG Group CEO Siegfried Kreutzfeld in conversation with Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer on the group's growth strategy. Camera Work & Editing: Darlene Creamer.

What needs to be done to make SA’s buildings fire safe

By: Natasha Odendaal 8th February 2019 In the wake of a deadly fire at the Bank of Lisbon building, in Johannesburg last year, along with a spate of fires at other buildings, questions have been raised about the safety and compliance of South Africa’s high-rise buildings. In September, a fire broke out on the 23rd floor of the... →

Steel group to approach Nersa for power-tariff relief

By: Terence Creamer 7th February 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it will submit site-specific applications to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to secure tariff relief from Eskom for its operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. The submissions will be made in line with... →

AMSA CEO Kobus Verster on the threat posed by power hikes and on the group's plan to approach the regulator for relief. Camera Work & Editing: Darlene Creamer. Recorded: 7.2.2019

Brimstone second-guesses Clover deal following BDS outcry

By: Nadine James 7th February 2019 JSE-listed Brimstone Investment Corporation is reviewing its participation in the proposed buyout of Clover Industries, following an outcry by human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation BDS South Africa. Clover and Brimstone separately reported on Monday that Milco SA – a new company... →

Solar Mining Services helps to boost the Mpumalanga economy

By: Kim Cloete 7th February 2019 Solar Mining Services, a manufacturer and supplier of explosives, accessories and blasting services for the mining industry, has made strides in growing its business in South Africa. It has created more than 100 jobs and invested R500-million in South Africa since setting up in the country in... →

Solar Mining's Charles Hurly discusses the company's product offerings and its growth plans, while CEO Desmond Pillay talks about the company's impact on the Mpumalanga economy. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

New graphite factory bolsters mining, foundry product offerings

By: Schalk Burger 7th February 2019 A new graphite facility, Graphite Freezeline Solutions, was opened last month on industrial engineering firm Thos Begbie’s manufacturing campus, in Middelburg. It will reduce the time to manufacture products that include graphite components, especially for the mining and foundry industry, says... →

GFS FACILITY OPENING Hercules van der Merwe at the Graphite Freezeline Solutions facility opening

Tribunal confirms Alcon Marepha’s settlement and R1.37m fine

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th February 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Wednesday confirmed, as an order, a settlement agreement between power cable supplier Alcon Marepha and the Competition Commission, with Alcon to pay an administrative penalty of R1.37-million. Alcon admitted to collusive tendering through the submission of cover... →

AMSA reports first profit since 2010 on back of higher steel prices

By: Terence Creamer 7th February 2019 Following years of sustained losses, steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) reported a full-year profit in 2018, on the back of a 12% rise in average realised prices and a 5% increase in sales volumes, supported by a 21% rise in export sales. The company last reported a full-year profit... →

New AMSA CFO Desmond Maharaj on the contribution made by the sale of Macsteel International Holdings to AMSA's net borrowings. Camera Work & Editing: Darlene Creamer. Recorded: 7.2.2019

Sappi delivers strong Q1 performance despite difficult operating environment

By: Simone Liedtke 6th February 2019 Despite a difficult operating environment, diversified woodfibre company Sappi’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by 15% year-on-year and its profit by 29% year-on-year in the quarter ended December 31. Profitability for the first quarter of the... →

Sappi CEO Steve Binnie

Absa PMI falls in January as business activity slips

By: Reuters 1st February 2019 South Africa's seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell in January as four out of five measures of factory performance declined, led by slumps in new orders and business activity, the survey showed on Friday. The index, which gauges manufacturing activity in Africa's most... →

AMSA expects to swing to FY18 profit

By: Simone Liedtke 1st February 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) expects to report headline earnings a share of 84c to 94c for the year ended December 31. This compares with a headline loss a share of 203c in 2017. →

Industrial firms moving to integrate artificial intelligence with ERP systems

By: Schalk Burger 1st February 2019 Agility has become a key requirement for industrial companies that need to make decisions more quickly and accurately, and is a key trend in 2019, says industrial enterprise resource planning (ERP) multinational Syspro Africa product manager Deidre Fryer. “Industrial companies will look to... →

DEIRDRE FRYER ERP systems fed with unstructured data from connected devices provide a more accurate overview of businesses

Next generation of ‘smart lighting’ to be showcased at Taiwan expo

By: Simone Liedtke 1st February 2019 Energy efficiency is critical to sustaining smart cities, especially amid increasing urbanisation. Subsequently, the lighting industry’s focus seems to have shifted from replaceable lighting to special niche lighting, which includes aspects of smart lighting and the use of light-emitting diodes... →

Photo by Simone Liedtke
ON DISPLAY Industrial lighting company ShinyU Lighting Company puts its products on show

Tribunal prohibits merger of steel drum makers Rheem and Greif

By: Schalk Burger 31st January 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Thursday announced that it had prohibited the proposed merger between industrial packaging companies Rheem and Greif, in which Greif would have acquired a majority interest in Rheem. International Greif and local Rheem are suppliers of industrial packaging products,... →

ARB expects lower H1 earnings

By: Natasha Odendaal 30th January 2019 JSE-listed ARB Holdings on Wednesday said it expects to report lower earnings per share (EPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ended December 31. In a trading update to shareholders, the company noted an expected 35% to 40% decline in EPS and HEPs to between 22.62c and... →

Automotive sector to prioritise local, specialised component manufacturing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th January 2019 Vehicle manufacturer Toyota South Africa (Toyota SA) on Tuesday pointed to localisation and specialised component manufacturing as the top priorities in the five-year Automotive Sector Business Plan. Toyota SA president and CEO Andrew Kirby presented the plan on behalf of the automotive sector at... →

Toyota SA president and CEO Andrew Kirby addresses the Business Economic Indaba. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Acquisition of German company confirmed

25th January 2019 The acquisition of Germany-based planetary drives producer O&K Antriebstechnik GmbH by Italian gear motors, drive systems and planetary gearboxes producer Bonfiglioli and Italian transmission systems producer Carraro has made Bonfiglioli the sole owner of O&K Antriebstechnik GmbH. The process,... →

BONFIGLIOLI AS GLOBAL LEADER The company's goal is to continue expanding into heavy construction, mining machinery, marine, port and airport equipment markets

Company focused on agriculture

By: Cameron Mackay 25th January 2019 The agricultural sector is set to become a significant focal point for leading bearings and power transmission product distributor Bearings International (BI) in 2019, as it expands its portfolio of agricultural application products in the first quarter of this year. “There are a few product... →

AGRI-SMART SOLUTION The joint venture will bring the most essential spare products closer to farmers, in order to satisfy their maintenance needs for bearings and agricultural products

Expanded products portfolio leads to new opportunities

By: Cameron Mackay 25th January 2019 New markets and opportunities have arisen after technical solutions provider BMG expanded its products portfolio with the addition of Fenner conveyor belting products last year. “BMG decided to sign a long-term agreement in 2018 with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) solid woven conveyor belting products... →

FENNER PRODUCT GROUP 2018 The extended scope has put BMG in a position to deal with conveyors clients

Motor Scan beneficial for various sectors

By: Cameron Mackay 25th January 2019 With leveraging digital technology said to be key to participation in the next wave of economic growth, the launch of the WEG Motor Scan has become a reality for South African companies in various sectors, says motors and controls manufacturer Zest WEG Group rotating machinery sales manager... →

WEG MOTOR SCAN The sensor measures the vibration, temperature and operational hours of electric motors to detect irregularities

Flowtite launches impact-resistant pipe solution as it marks fiftieth anniversary

By: Schalk Burger 25th January 2019 Multinational glass fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipes manufacturer Flowtite celebrated its 50-year anniversary with the local launch of its impact-resistant Grey-brand pipes last month. The pipes facilitate rapid, easy installation for heavy-duty water uses and the use of native backfill and... →

Tripartite expo to cater for bigger PVP audience

By: Cameron Mackay 18th January 2019 The Pumps, Valves & Pipes Africa (PVP) 2019 international trade exhibition and conference is expected to welcome more than 10 500 industry professionals at this year’s event. The 2019 PVP Africa event, which will take place from June 11 to 13, in Johannesburg, at Gallagher Convention Centre, is... →

OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING New partnership opportunities in a range of industries will create more opportunities for growth in the relevant sectors

HAW expands hose offering in South Africa

18th January 2019 Hydraulic and Automation Warehouse (HAW), a subsidiary of Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group Company, has expanded its hose crimper offering with the addition of the Uniflex UG32 grease crimper to its range. With orders ready for delivery in December last year, the UG32 launch was preceded with the... →

UNIFLEX UG32 AND UG2O GREASE CRIMPERS Owing to product demand and our role in the fluid power market, the decision to supply a crimper unique to HAW was made

Sappma pleased with results after increasing audit frequency

By: Cameron Mackay 18th January 2019 Last year, more factory audits of plastic pipe producers and manufacturers who are members of the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) showed promising results leaving much hope for the future of the plastic pipes industry, says the quality regulator’s CEO, Jan Venter.... →

SAPPMA From an environmental point of view, we can do a lot more for the same amount of money and materials

Group Five to sell Everite, Sky Sands subsidiaries for R480m

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th January 2019 Construction firm Group Five will sell its Everite and Sky Sands subsidiaries to a consortium comprising Trinitas Private Equity and Agile Capital for R480-million. The subsidiaries form part of the firm's manufacturing cluster. →

Transnet to pursue ‘just and equitable’ settlements with rail OEMs awarded ‘unlawful’ contracts

By: Terence Creamer 17th January 2019 Having determined the procurement of 1 064 diesel and electric locomotives to be “irregular and unlawful”, Transnet has communicated its intention to review contracts awarded to four original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2015. The State-owned freight logistics group has also indicated that... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Transnet chairperson Dr Popo Molefe

There’s a tiny plastic enemy threatening the planet’s oceans

By: Bloomberg 11th January 2019 Environmentalists have identified another threat to the planet. It’s called a nurdle. Nurdles are tiny pellets of plastic resin no bigger than a pencil eraser that manufacturers transform into packaging, plastic straws, water bottles and other typical targets of environmental action. →

Manufacturing production up 1.6% y/y in November

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th January 2019 Manufacturing production increased by 1.6% year-on-year in November, Statistics South Africa reported on Thursday. The largest positive contributions were made by the food and beverages; and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment sectors. →

Aspen says on track to dispose of baby milk business

By: Reuters 14th December 2018 Aspen Pharmacare said on Thursday it expected the conditions for the sale of its infant formula business to be in place by the first quarter of 2019. The drugmaker's shares tumbled 35% within a week after it announced the sale of its infant formula business in September to French company Lactalis... →

Enforcing local procurement rules would help offset weak demand

By: Terence Creamer 14th December 2018 Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) wants government to take decisive action in 2019 to ensure that departments and State-owned companies (SoCs) honour their obligations to purchase designated steel products from domestic manufacturers. The organisation is also... →

Seifsa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba reflects back on 2018 and offer insight into prospects for the metals and engineering sector n 2019. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd

Taking a profitcentric approach to navigation of energy transition

By: Schalk Burger 14th December 2018 With the expected implementation of the Carbon Tax Bill in 2019 amid rising energy prices, companies must develop new energy strategies to curb their energy consumption, says financial advisory firm PSG Group subsidiary Energy Partners engineering head Barry Drotsche. The ideal strategy to... →

Attracting investors to green technology in the Atlantis SEZ

By: Kim Cloete 7th December 2018 The Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which has been launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has already attracted R680-million in investment and created 312 jobs. A large slice of the investment was contributed by wind tower manufacturer Gestamp Renewable Industries. →

Local manufacturer supplies backup power to new Sandton development

By: Shannon de Ryhove 7th December 2018 Local manufacturer Zest WEG Group’s Cape Town-based generator set (genset) division is in the process of commissioning two 11 kV, 2 000 kVA gensets for a mixed-use property development in Sandton, Gauteng. The full scope of work includes the design, manufacture, complete installation and testing... →

Artisan training moving to high technology

By: Schalk Burger 7th December 2018 Artisans are receiving training on cyberphysical systems, which are hallmarks of modern industrial systems and are becoming commonplace in industry to prepare for employment in Industry 4.0 companies, says industry training college Colliery Training College (CTC) MD Johan Venter. For example,... →

Stakeholder development support aids growth in WC

By: Thabi Madiba 7th December 2018 Continued development support offered by Western Cape organisations will aid manufacturing growth in the Western Cape, says event organiser Siyenza MD Liz Hart. These organisations comprise the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, Wesgro;... →

ON DISPLAY Manufacturers exhibited their products during the Manufacturing Indaba

Ramaphosa launches Atlantis SEZ

By: Kim Cloete 6th December 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Western Cape, with the goal of making it "a launching pad for economic growth" in the region. “A combined R1.8-billion is expected to be invested in the SEZ by 2022. In the short to medium-term, the... →

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