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Pandemic prompts supplier’s tech aspirations

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 Industrial valves supplier Process and Allied Contracting Equipment (Pace Valves) plans to embrace the technological developments that will be prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa to sustain its supply growth. →

Valves maintenance still a challenge

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 Although demand for valves has increased over the past five years, maintenance costs, efficiency and valve service life are some of the challenges that companies face yearly, says coating technology specialist Thermaspray’s laser cladding manager Jordaan Lourens. →

IRREPLACEABLE SOLUTIONS The initial coating of new valves as well as their efficient repair results in fewer valve replacements

Seals company introduces bearing seal combo

15th May 2020 Advanced materials and product supplier Freudenberg Sealing Technologies introduced a machine component that combines a plastic rotating bearing with a seal in a single, precisely matched unit which the company says is an innovation first. Introduced in February, the design offers significant... →

DYNAMIC DUO The bearing and seal combination introduced by Freudenberg has been validated through extensive testing

Sappi announces €250m senior notes offering

By: Donna Slater 14th May 2020 Pulp and paper company Sappi is offering €250-million of senior notes, due 2025. The notes will be issued by Sappi Papier Holding, a subsidiary of Sappi. →

PwC finds most businesses are considering operational changes as they reopen

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th May 2020 A Covid-19 CFO Pulse survey conducted by consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed a sense of optimism among finance leaders about their companies’ ability to safely reopen, as Covid-19 restrictions slowly start to lift in some countries. PwC says most businesses in Africa, similar... →

Fitch Solutions expects most metal markets to move into a surplus this year

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 Most metals markets are expected to move into a surplus this year, says research firm Fitch Solutions, noting that consumption is likely to decrease more than the decreases in production capacity, as a result of the spread of Covid-19. Although some operational hurdles, owing to government... →

DTIC incentives to be calibrated to maintaining South Africa’s industrial base post-Covid

By: Terence Creamer 11th May 2020 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) indicated on Monday that a significant portion of its industrial-financing resources were likely to be redirected to firms and industries that were now in distress as a result of the country’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.... →

Photo by Creamer Media
DTIC director-general Lionel October

ViroGOLD launches back-to-school label design competition

By: Simone Liedtke 11th May 2020 ViroGOLDSchool, a range of hypochlorous acid products developed specifically for schools, has launched a back-to-school label design competition and is calling on learners from across the country to participate and stand a chance to win cash for themselves and product for their schools.... →

Samed urges vigilance in acquiring quality PPE

By: Donna Slater 11th May 2020 The outbreak of Covid-19 in South Africa and the consequent rapid requirement for bulk personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, has led to an influx of PPE products from many suppliers and distributors, thereby raising quality and functionality concerns by the healthcare industry and, in... →

Business adaptation key to post-Covid-19 success − Kearney

By: Donna Slater 8th May 2020 As Covid-19 restrictions and fear put a strain on businesses and the economy, management consulting firm Kearney Africa MD Theo Sibiya believes the survival of many companies is going to depend on their capacity to build resilience in order to remain sustainable. In its sixth week of lockdown,... →

Paramount Group donates face masks to SANDF

By: Donna Slater 8th May 2020 Aerospace and defence company Paramount Group has donated 1 000 facial masks to the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of its continued effort to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to those working on the front lines of the international fight against the Covid-19... →

Fasken unpacks the legalities for companies switching to ventilator production

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th May 2020 The shortage of ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic has seen many manufacturing companies move from their traditional industries to the life sciences industry and, specifically, the manufacture of ventilators. International business law firm Fasken says that, for traditional industries... →

Sapma appeals to government to allow paint contractors to resume business

By: Donna Slater 8th May 2020 The South African Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) urges the government to allow paint contractors to not only carry out emergency projects, but also other contracts for external surface renovations and coatings. In terms of Level 4 stipulations, paint producers and coatings raw material... →

New label can improve consumer education

By: Tracy Hancock 8th May 2020 The next challenge for the South African domestic appliance industry is the migration to a new energy efficiency label under the Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (S&L) programme to improve consumer education. The label will simplify energy classes and provide explanations of... →

ON PAR The energy efficiency of domestic appliances in South Africa is generally of a high standard

Local energy not managed efficiently

By: Tracy Hancock 8th May 2020 South Africa is not using its world-class renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiency, says independent conservation organisation World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) urban futures project manager Louise Scholtz. “If we were, South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan 2019... →

TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS The decreasing cost of renewable-energy technologies, such as rooftop solar photovoltaic, are one of the developments transforming South Africa’s energy market

FNB supports ProfitShare’s small business aid

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th May 2020 Financial technology business ProfitShare Partners has received R25-million in funding from First National Bank’s (FNB) Vumela Fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in need of capital to supply essentials to combat the spread of Covid-19. Since the start of the lockdown in... →

Small business survey points to major relief only being likely at lockdown Level 2 or 1

By: Donna Slater 6th May 2020 Findings from the Covid-19 National Small Business Survey, which was conducted after the Level 5 lockdown was eased to Level 4, point to continued stress experienced by small businesses coming out of Level 5 of the lockdown. The survey, which was released by the National Small Business Chamber... →

International oil, gas industry in unchartered waters – Norton Rose Fulbright

By: Donna Slater 6th May 2020 The oil and gas industry is experiencing a “truly historic moment”, with prices having dropped below zero for a barrel of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments likely to be halted in the near future, says law firm Norton Rose Fullbright US oil and gas practice head Julie Mayo. She... →

Current conditions ideal for exports, local production, says Jammine

By: Irma Venter 6th May 2020 The weak rand has created a “marvelous situation for exporters”, if they can sell their product, says Econometrix director and chief economist Dr Azar Jammine. “The currency is as cheap as anything.” →

Coronavirus lockdown pushes South African PMI to record low in April

By: Reuters 6th May 2020 South African private sector activity fell to a new record low in April, a business survey showed on Wednesday, as company closures due to a nationwide coronavirus lockdown led to a collapse in demand. Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) tumbled to 35.1 in April from 44.5 in March, its... →

Common Covid-19 framework being developed for clothing, textile industries

By: Simone Liedtke 5th May 2020 Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel and representatives from the retail - clothing, textile, footwear and leather (R-CTFL) sector will develop a common framework for the implementation of Covid-19-ready workplaces that can serve as a guide for the industry. The agreement follows as the... →

Ford dealers contribute R1m to face shield initiative

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th May 2020 Ford dealers in South Africa, through the Ford National Dealer Council, have stepped up to support the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s (FMCSA’s) face shield manufacturing initiative by contributing R1-million to the project. Ford suppliers and business partners, including Absa, have... →

Cape Town company joins global efforts to develop plant-based Covid-19 test kits

By: Donna Slater 5th May 2020 Cape Bio Pharms, a spin-off company of the Biopharming Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, has partnered with international biotechnology companies to address the international problem of accessibility to affordable reagents and rapid Covid-19 serology testing, with the launch of its... →

Local cloth mask copper drop-in filter launched to combat Covid-19

By: Donna Slater 5th May 2020 Local face mask manufacturer Aeris Mask has launched a new patent pending mask design for existing cloth masks, which feature a filter insert incorporating porous copper materials that it says provide antiviral properties. Aeris is a subsidiary of Somerset West-based energy research and... →

Maitland appointed administrator for Green Outcomes Fund

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th May 2020 The recently launched Green Outcomes Fund has appointed global corporate services firm Maitland as its corporate trustee and trust administrator. The R488-million fund was launched in April by the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund and nonprofit organisation GreenCape to help grow “green” small,... →

Rolls-Royce freely releases digital training courses to the world

By: Rebecca Campbell 4th May 2020 UK-based leading industrial technology company Rolls-Royce has announced that it is granting free access to its world-class digital skills training programme. This is to assist businesses and people all over the world to get ready for the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a recovery that could... →

Company eyes mining sector growth

By: Mamaili Mamaila 1st May 2020 Hydraulic hoses and fluid components supplier Hydroscand South Africa (SA) is looking to increase its market share in the mining sector through partnering with initiatives in the local communities where the mines which it supplies are located. →

LARGE FOOTPRINT Hydroscand South Africa is the approved supplier to some of the very large global original-equipment manufacturers operating in sub-Saharan Africa

Components provider launches new hydraulic electric pumps

By: Mamaili Mamaila 1st May 2020 Engineering components provider BMG has launched a new range of portable hydraulic electric Enerpac E-pulse pumps, which are critical to all 700 bar and 10 000 psi pound-force operating hydraulic systems. →

ALWAYS ON POINT The E-Pulse pump range features a new interactive pendant that delivers visual and tactile feedback

KwaZulu-Natal vital for bearing distributor growth

By: Mamaili Mamaila 1st May 2020 Power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) has earmarked KwaZulu-Natal as a key growth area for its business going forward. →

POWERING ON Bearings International’s Durban branch stocks a range of bearings, electric motors, gearboxes, lubricants, seals, tools and power transmission products for several industries

Incentives needed to aid local energy tech

By: Mamaili Mamaila 1st May 2020 While there is an increased focus on local content across several South African industries, government could do more in terms of incentivising local manufacturing, says energy solutions company i-G3n co-founder and director Sydney Phakathi. →

NO FUSS WHATSOEVER i-G3n offers standard solutions that it can also tailor to suit the specific needs of every client

Water heating now a sustainable solution

By: Theresa Bhowan 1st May 2020 Power management technology supplier PowerOptimal manufactures products that are specifically designed to provide more sustainable energy solutions in South Africa. →

RICHARD FEARON The PowerOptimal Elon solar photovoltaic (PV) water heater allows for the direct connection of solar PV modules to a standard South African electric geyser

Inaugural Brics Manufacturing Group Conference to review progress in priority projects

By: Rebecca Campbell 30th April 2020 One of the focus areas of the first Brics Manufacturing Conference will be progress achieved in priority projects identified by sub-clusters of the Brics Manufacturing Working Group (MWG), following its establishment. The MWG is a working group of the Brics Business Council, which was set up in... →

Vivo Energy reports Covid-19-related slump in demand for its products

By: Donna Slater 30th April 2020 Pan-African fuel and lubricant retailer and distributor Vivo Energy has reported a first-quarter gross profit of $179-million, up 6% from the first quarter of 2019, with a strong available liquidity position of $1.6-billion. The company experienced strong trading in January and February,... →

Atomised airborne disinfectant useful to fight workplace spread of Covid-19

By: Donna Slater 30th April 2020 The atomising and making airborne of fine droplets of disinfectant can be used to sterilise vast workplaces in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, says explosion suppression, automatic fire suppression and dust suppression systems supplier, as well as sanitisation solutions provider... →

The V12SO indoor turbine

Patel offers insight into Level 4 balancing act as South Africans smart over irrational restrictions

By: Terence Creamer 30th April 2020 Amid growing opposition to some of the restrictions to be imposed as part of South Africa’s Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown, which begins on May 1, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has sought to outline the philosophy underpinning the country’s evolving approach to working during... →

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel on the philosophy behind South Africa’s Level 4 lockdown, which begins on May 1, and the implications for manufacturing and construction. Recorded:29.04.2020. Source: GCIS. Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

PPE supplier agrees to pay R6m fine, R5m Solidarity Fund contribution

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th April 2020 The Competition Tribunal is reviewing a consent agreement referred to it by the Competition Commission against a distributor of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) that it said had implemented excessive price inflation. In terms of the consent agreement, Matus agreed to pay an... →

Productivity SA proposes economic recovery plan

By: Donna Slater 29th April 2020 Employment growth and productivity promotion agency Productivity SA has drawn up a document to potentially address economic shortcomings brought about by the spread of Covid-19 and economic disruptions resulting from the national lockdown. Productivity SA chairperson Professor Mthunzi Mdwaba... →

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