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DeepMind grants first postgraduate AI scholarships at Stellenbosch University

By: Schalk Burger 11th August 2020 London-based artificial intelligence (AI) research and application company DeepMind has awarded eight scholarships for postgraduate studies in the fields of applied mathematics, statistics, electrical and electronic engineering and computer science at Stellenbosch University (SU). The DeepMind... →

Seifsa urges companies to buy from local suppliers as manufacturing struggles continue

By: Donna Slater 11th August 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has reiterated the devastating impact of the national lockdown on the country's manufacturing output. Seifsa chief economist Dr Michael Ade says the Statistics South Africa data published on August 11, which reflects a... →

Offering diversified with new crop input solution

By: Tracy Hancock 7th August 2020 Environmental management company I-CAT will soon launch agricultural and forestry input solution Cyflo, as part of its product offering, targeting existing and potential clients, says I-CAT Planting Business Unit head Rachelle Botha. The product was developed by diagnostic agronomist Charl Marais... →

ENHANCED EFFECT Cyflo effects cellular permeability of agricultural remedies and fertilisers, and significantly improves their efficacy

Sector welcomes bearing distributor’s new products

By: Tracy Hancock 7th August 2020 Demand for the agriculture-specific products offered by Southern Africa bearings and power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) is slowly picking up now that lockdown restriction have eased, says agriculture business development leader Gerhard Pienaar. In addition, there... →

HANDY RANGE Bearings International has seen a huge increase in demand for its range of Grippaz hand gloves and has increased its stockholding

Furnace company to capitalise on increased gold price

By: Cameron Mackay 7th August 2020 Despite unfavourable local market conditions, furnace-related services provider Custom Furnaces South Africa intends to capitalise on a gold price that has been increasing this year. Custom Furnaces project engineer Nicholas Lucas says the improved gold price has instigated a “rebirth” in the... →

GOLDEN TARGET The company is looking to improve its offering in the local gold sector, focusing on its carbon regeneration kilns and ancillary equipment

‘Soil conditioner’ production keeps manufacturer bustling

By: Tracy Hancock 7th August 2020 The processing facility of manufacturer and minerals producer Pratley has been significantly busy producing Pratley Vulture Creek Clino during the national lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, as the product is mainly supplied to the agriculture sector and, therefore, classified as essential,... →

PRODUCTIVE PROPERTIES More farmers are experiencing improved crop yields when using Vulture Creek Clino, owing to its cation-exchange and slow-release fertiliser properties

Seifsa says high court ruling in favour of the DTIC ‘gives hope’

By: Simone Liedtke 6th August 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has welcomed the High Court ruling in favour of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in a procurement matter, saying that it will boost struggling local businesses amid the pandemic-induced economic... →

Kingsgate Clothing adds localised isolation gown to PPE line-up

By: Irma Venter 6th August 2020 The Kingsgate Clothing Group has expanded its personal protective equipment (PPE) production line-up to include isolation gowns, used by hospital personnel. The group already produces cloth masks for the commercial and corporate market. →

The localised isolation gown

Transnet signs deal to supply 300 freight rail wagons to Mozambican rail operator

By: Donna Slater 6th August 2020 State-owned rail engineering company Transnet Engineering (TE) and Mozambican State-owned railway operator Caminhos De Ferros De Mocambique (CFM) have signed a rolling stock supply agreement valued at more than R400-million. Under the terms of the agreement, TE will supply 300 freight wagons to... →

Representatives from Transnet Engineering and Caminhos De Ferros De Mocambique sign the 300 wagon deal

PPE scandal highlights need to modernise public procurement – National Treasury

By: Terence Creamer 5th August 2020 The National Treasury has halted the emergency procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and reverted to open procurement processes amid a normalisation of supply and growing allegations of corruption, which Finance Minister Tito Mboweni acknowledged on Wednesday had led to a breakdown... →

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni

Creecy extends public comment on compulsory proposed manufacturer recycling regulations

By: Donna Slater 5th August 2020 Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy, on August 5, granted a 30-day extension for public comment on proposed regulations regarding extended producer responsibility with regard to the management of waste post the consumer stage of a product’s lifecycle. Members of the... →

Mpact ensures business continuity as electricity, Covid-19 challenges persist

By: Simone Liedtke 5th August 2020 Paper and plastic packaging manufacturer Mpact managed to ensure business continuity, alongside the safety and health of employees, over the past six months, especially as the period, which ended on June 30, began with persistent external electricity supply interruptions across South Africa,... →

Mpact CEO Bruce Strong speaks to Engineering News following the release of the company's results on August 5. Camerawork: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Manufacturers need to embrace Covid-19 opportunity, be ‘less reliant’ on global value chains

By: Simone Liedtke 4th August 2020 Despite positive indications, such as seen in various recent Purchasing Manager’s Indices, Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth is urging South Africa to take hold of the opportunity presented by Covid-19 in becoming less reliant on global value chains and single-source... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth

Alcohol industry welcomes positive response from Treasury on excise tax deferment

By: Simone Liedtke 4th August 2020 The alcohol industry has welcomed the positive response from the National Treasury to its request for a deferment of excise tax on alcoholic beverages. In response to the industry’s request, Treasury has proposed a 90-day deferral for the payment of excise taxes on alcohol to be made in August... →

SAB reconsidering capex projects worth billions amid alcohol sales ban

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd August 2020 South African Breweries (SAB) has cancelled R2.5-billion of scheduled investments that were earmarked as part of its yearly capital and infrastructure upgrade programme. These funds were previously scheduled as part of its capital allocation programme for this financial year, while an additional... →

SKF targets full carbon-neutral manufacturing by 2030

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st July 2020 Bearing manufacturer SKF is aiming to have its factories carbon neutral by 2030, the Swedish group has announced. The company has already decreased its manufacturing carbon footprint by 36% since 2015 and is operating two carbon-neutral factories. →

Business for South Africa issues call to action on local procurement

By: Donna Slater 31st July 2020 Business for South Africa (BSA) has issued a call to action for corporate South Africa to undertake four actions to assist local procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic. The BSA, an alliance of the main business groups, is calling on companies to review their procurement practices and to give... →

Lower selling prices for intermediate goods put metals and engineering under further strain

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st July 2020 The drop in the selling prices of domestic intermediate products will put a further strain on companies in the metals and engineering (M&E) sector, given the direct implications of these prices on their margins and profits, says Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa... →

Montego says solar plant investment yielding returns

By: Schalk Burger 31st July 2020 Pet food manufacturer Montego Pet Nutrition's R22-million investment in a dedicated solar energy plant last year is yielding returns. Marketing manager Wilfred Cawood says that, as a result, the company's carbon dioxide emissions have decreased by 300 t to date this year. →

Coega Development Corporation to implement Tshwane auto SEZ

By: Irma Venter 31st July 2020 The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), the developer and operator of the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ), has been appointed as the implementing agent to develop and operate the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ). The CDC, as a public entity, is the implementing agent of... →

Efficient wagon handling lowers operational costs

31st July 2020 The safe and efficient offloading of materials from both rail wagons and road trucks improves efficiencies, lowers operating costs and protects product integrity during bulk handling, says materials handling company Specialised Container Agencies (SCA). “SCA focuses on the design of containerised... →

ON TRACK TIPPER The use of containerised bulk materials handling solutions ensures safe and efficient offloading in road and rail hauling

Specialised steel extends life of ore wagons

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Stainless steel manufacturer Columbus Stainless advocates that the much longer life span of ore wagons achieved using 3CR12, makes it clear why stainless steel is the cost-effective choice for equipment in ore-handling processes. “Owing to its excellent properties in wet sliding conditions, the... →

UP ORE DOWN Wagons manufactured by Columbus Stainless using 3CR12 transport ore for substantially longer with less degradation than those made of mild steel or other materials

Manufacturer obtains welding certification

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholdings (TMH) Africa, which acts as the centre of excellence for narrow-gauge rolling stock within the TMH Group, announced in March that it had been awarded the ISO 3834 welding certification. The certification was awarded to the company by the Southern... →

ACCREDITED FUSION Transmashholdings Africa have been awarded an International Standards Organisation 3843 welding certification which will help draw in new clients for the company

Workshop conversion back on track

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Although the conversion of railroad equipment supplier Gibela Rail Transport Consortium’s training centre into a traction motor manufacturing workshop has been delayed because of Covid-19, the project is again on track for completion by the end of the year. The company says that the electrical... →

KEEP MOTORING Although setbacks have been faced Gibela is back on track to start manufacturing its traction motors by year end

Seifsa welcomes Nersa's appeal to High Court ruling

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th July 2020 The Steel and Engineering Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has welcomed the decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to appeal the High Court judgment that set aside Nersa’s decision on Eskom’s fourth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD4) for the 2019/20, 2020/21... →

AMSA implements large-scale, but ‘flexible’, labour reorganisation as Covid-19 bites

By: Terence Creamer 30th July 2020 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which reported a loss of R2.6-billion for the interim period to June 30, warned on Thursday that it expected steel demand to remain subdued for the foreseeable future and indicated that it was pushing ahead with a large-scale labour... →

ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Kobus Verster presenting a slide on market conditions in South Africa during the group's interim results presentation. Video by: Nicholas Boyd & Kutlwano Matala.

SAVE-P signs contract for 2 000 ventilators, looks to assist India, rest of Africa

By: Irma Venter 30th July 2020 The Solidarity Fund has concluded a contract with the South African Emergency Ventilator Project (SAVE-P) to produce 2 000 new ventilators that will be donated to the national Department of Health. SAVE-P is a Durban-based nonprofit organisation (NPO) started by local businessman Justin Corbett... →

The CPAP 100

Without infrastructure and manufacturing, AfCFTA will fall short – senior African policymaker

By: Terence Creamer 28th July 2020 An Ethiopian senior minister and special adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has cautioned that, without major infrastructure investment and the development of manufacturing capacity, African countries will not be in a position to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade... →

Dr Arkebe Oqubay speaking during virtual TIPS 2020 Fourm meeting

Approvals for Gazetted list of infrastructure projects valued at R360bn to be fast-tracked

By: Terence Creamer 27th July 2020 The Presidency’s Investment and Infrastructure Office head Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa reported on Monday that the publication of an initial list of 50 Strategic Integrated Projects and 12 Special Projects in the Government Gazette is motivated by a desire to ensure that the approval processes... →

Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa

CSIR rolls out local ventilator as part of Covid-19 response

By: Irma Venter 24th July 2020 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with a number of local partners, has completed work on a local ventilator to be rolled out nationwide to patients showing respiratory distress in the early phase of Covid-19 infection. The development forms part of... →

Auto repairs without a workshop

24th July 2020 Local manufacturer and supplier Pratley offers a wide range of flexible and cost-effective do-it-yourself adhesive products that are ideal for “quick, on-the-spot automotive repairs” where engineering workshops are often unavailable, such as in rural and informal settlements. To repair engine... →

ON-THE-SPOT REPAIRS Pratley offers a range of products, such as Pratley 1-2-3, that can be used where engineering workshops are often unavailable

Variable demand requires new strategy

By: Tracy Hancock 24th July 2020 Uncertain demand in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket environments, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, is impacting on short- to medium-term capacity management decisions to meet variable demand, says automotive parts manufacturer GUD Holdings CEO Chris Haworth. “However,... →

CAPACITY CUT GUD’s plants have reopened under conservative conditions to about 60% of normal capacity

Lower human activity limiting tyre sales

By: Tracy Hancock 24th July 2020 Every business is going to face the consequences of lower human activity and, thereby, commercial activity, as South Africans consume less or differently, owing to Covid-19, says automotive tyre manufacturer and supplier Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Sumitomo Dunlop) CEO Riaz Haffejee. Tyre sales... →

REBOUNDING DEMAND Demand for Sumitomo Dunlop’s tyres is increasing since the restrictions of lockdown have eased

AfDB approves R5bn loan for South Africa's Covid-19 fight

By: Donna Slater 23rd July 2020 The African Development Bank (AfDB) board has approved a loan of about R5-billion ($288-million) to the government of South Africa, as the country battles one of the largest Covid-19 caseloads in the world. The loan forms part of the AfDB’s $10-billion Covid-19 Response Facility and will finance... →

Commission asks for maximum penalty against hygienic goods maker

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd July 2020 The Competition Commission has referred to the Competition Tribunal, for prosecution, Johannesburg-based wholesale distributor and manufacturer of medical productions, LevTrade International, trading as Burnshield, for alleged excessive pricing. The commission says its investigation has found... →

Business networking platform for South Africa launched

By: Donna Slater 21st July 2020 Founded by South African born businesswoman Jessica Whitcutt Fagan, a new virtual business networking community – Business Networking SA – was launched on July 12, offering South African businesses affected by Covid-19 a much-needed resource to help them continue trading. Business Networking SA... →

Four manufacturers receive approval to produce 20 000 CPAP devices

By: Schalk Burger 17th July 2020 Four local manufacturing companies have received South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approval to produce 20 000 non-invasive Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, with funding secured for 10 000 units, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)... →

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