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Materials & Equipment News

Design consideration critical for efficiency of power tools

3rd April 2020 With choosing the right motor for an industrial power tool being no trivial task, designers must consider the unique operating profile of the tool as well as operating life, product weight, user comfort and energy efficiency, particularly if the tool is to be battery operated, says motion... →

Supplier offers advisory service for equipment

3rd April 2020 Industrial equipment supplier BMG’s tools & equipment division supports its range of quality-branded equipment with a technical-advisory service, assisting customers throughout the country with the selection of the correct tools for assembly, manufacturing and maintenance. “Our extensive range of... →

HANDS ON FASTENING BMG’s extensive range of Ingersoll Rand fastening tools for heavy equipment assembly and maintenance, extends from basic tightening devices to high-tech assembly equipment

Power tools innovation leads to industry growth

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 3rd April 2020 The power tools market is on the rise and there are “exciting trends and innovations’ emerging” in the industry, says power tools and hardware wholesaler Matus marketing manager Candice Knipe-Tlhotlhalemajoe. Some of these innovative trends include cordless power tools, battery switches and... →

FREEDOM OF POWER This innovative product allows users the freedom of a 36 V cordless power tool with the power of alternating current and the freedom of direct current

Equipment supplier awarded contract to supply tool kits

3rd April 2020 The Colliery Training College (CTC) in Emalahleni has awarded industrial equipment supplier INDUSTRI Tools & Equipment the 2020 contract to supply tool kits, which are used during mining- and engineering-related skills training. “The CTC, initially established specifically for the mining sector,... →

Company unveils cordless metal cutting circular saw

3rd April 2020 Heavy-duty, portable electric power tools and accessories manufacturer Milwaukee Tools has developed the industry’s first cordless 20.3 cm metal cutting circular saw. The M18 FUEL 20.3 cm metal cutting circular saw will be available this month and will ship with one of the company’s new metal... →

New tech needs consulting engineers buy-in

By: Darren Parker 3rd April 2020 Construction connection technology company Peikko is working to raise awareness among consulting engineers in South Africa of the potential that its bolted column connection technology and associated solutions could have to transform the construction industry. The Finnish company entered the... →

BUILDING TRUST Peikko's technology has been adopted to some success in a few projects since entering the country

Company adds new steel cutting tool for its machines

3rd April 2020 Remote-controlled demolition machines manufacturer Brokk offers a new steel cutting tool for mid-size Brokk machines. The MC300 Multi Cutter – which is manufactured by Brokk’s sister company equipment supplier Darda – offers the highest cutting force with low weight. →

Versatile application The mid-size Brokk 200 and 300 remote-controlled demolition machines can use the Darda MC300 Multi Cutter attachment to cut steel material, utility lines and cables in a variety of industries

GlobalData revises full-year copper output growth forecast lower

By: Simone Liedtke 1st April 2020 Global copper production is expected to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with data analytics and consulting company GlobalData now forecasting output growth of just 1.9% to 21-million tonnes for this year. This compares with its previous forecast of 3.4% year-on-year growth in global copper... →

Caterpillar says pandemic hits supply chain, demand

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 27th March 2020 The continued spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is beginning to impact on construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar's supply chain, a possibility the company previously disclosed in February. The US-based company indicated on Thursday that it was monitoring the situation closely... →

LafargeHolcim warns on profit as coronavirus hits building sector

By: Reuters 27th March 2020 LafargeHolcim ditched its profit forecast for 2020 and announced spending cuts to counter the downturn in construction caused by the coronavirus, the world's biggest cement maker said on Friday, adding it was not planning job cuts for now. The Swiss company said it was trimming capital... →

Dual-purpose building solution benefits mines

By: Halima Frost 27th March 2020 Formwork solution provider Moladi not only offers a fast and effective housing solution to African and South African mines but also uses mining slag as construction material sustainably. The solution entails a reusable, patented, recyclable, lightweight plastic injection moulded formwork system.... →

TOP FORM The formwork system from Moladi allows for a full structure to be completed in under 24 hours

Cape Town commercial building showcases pioneering use of ecobricks

By: Kim Cloete 19th March 2020 A new building under construction at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront has become among the first commercial buildings in the world to use ecobrick technology. Recycled beverage bottles, including the typical ‘Coke’ 2 litre bottles, are being used as ecobricks in the construction of The Ridge, a... →

PPC says business is picking up, while intensive DRC restructure talks continue

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th March 2020 JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC on Wednesday said its trading performance in Southern African is starting to stabilise. In an operational update for the 11 months from April 1, 2019, to February 29, this year, PPC stated that the Southern African businesses had stabilised in terms of cement... →

Civils sector lifts its head after sharp contraction

By: Irma Venter 17th March 2020 Collectively, in nominal terms, the nine listed contractors on the JSE have lost “a staggering” 80% of their value since before the start of the financial crisis, says construction market intelligence firm Industry Insight senior economist David Metelerkamp. “This is absolute destruction of an... →

Company reaches new heights with award

By: Cameron Mackay 13th March 2020 Height management solutions providers Skyriders received an award from a major petrochemicals producer in December last year for achieving significant reductions in its maintenance costs and boosting health and safety at one of the producer’s refineries, in Mpumalanga. The award was for a... →

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Skyriders created a methodology and risk assessments for this maintenance project, including a trial run finished last October, and the actual maintenance undertaking in November

Consultancy predicts potential downcycle for petrochemicals industry

13th March 2020 Chemicals consultancy group Wood Mackenzie predicts the start of a downcycle in China’s petrochemicals industry. A supply overhang has hit the country’s paraxylene (PX) market, with olefins and polyolefins markets almost certain to follow. →

Photo by Bloomberg
TURBULENT MARKETS Weak global economic growth, the US-China trade war, a decrease in automobile production and a booming electronic-commerce industry influenced China’s polyolefins market last year

Construction sector sheds jobs as it faces late payments, community mafias

By: Irma Venter 11th March 2020 Around 90 000 formal jobs have been lost in the South African construction industry from June 2018 to September 2019, says construction market intelligence firm Industry Insight. Employment in the sector now stands at around 600 000 people, says CEO Elsie Snyman. →

A recycling plan to clear wind turbine blades from landfills

By: Bloomberg 9th March 2020 It’s difficult to recycle a gigantic wind turbine. The blades are built to withstand extreme weather, from scorching desert heat to hurricane-like winds, and that means their life almost always ends in a landfill. In Europe alone, about 3,800 blades will be removed every year through at least... →

Digitalisation can rapidly mobilise equipment

By: Tracy Hancock 6th March 2020 Digitisation is playing a limited role in the procurement and mobilisation of construction equipment for capital projects, University of Pretoria (UP) project and quality management senior lecturer Dr Giel Bekker tells Engineering News. “Apart from built-in equipment information and tracking... →

DIGITAL ENTERPRISE Local construction equipment suppliers are being more enterprising with regard to digital tools compared with renters

Localisation to boost industries

By: Cameron Mackay 6th March 2020 Government’s intention to increase demand for locally manufactured content to at least 60% across industries will have a positive impact on the local casting, forging and machining sector, says nonprofit entity the Casting, Forging and Machining Cluster (CFMC) of South Africa project leader Steve... →

CLUSTER COLLABORATION The CFMC is a development purposed vehicle which will enable companies to work together to achieve what could not be achieved individually

No growth expected amid low govt spend

By: Tracy Hancock 6th March 2020 Government spending is the main drive for construction and/or civils spending, but, as the budget is exceptionally tight, construction equipment supplier HPE Africa MD Ross Collard does not expect any growth this year. Last year, there were limited development opportunities for the company’s... →

HAPPY WITH HYUNDAI Hyundai excavators and wheel loaders are a key construction equipment brand in Pera Plant & Civils’ fleet

Online purchasing first for South Africa

By: Tracy Hancock 6th March 2020 US construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar’s mini excavators will be one of the first Cat product lines to be sold online through its Southern Africa dealer, Barloworld Equipment, this year. Following the launch last year, there is growing excitement around the Cat Next Generation mini... →

SOUTH AFRICAN INFLUENCE Air conditioning has also been introduced as an option on all Cat Next Generation mini excavator model sizes in response to direct feedback from South African customers

Sephaku expects cement market to remain subdued as it reports fall in 2019 sales

By: Terence Creamer 3rd March 2020 JSE-listed building and construction materials group Sephaku Holdings expects the South African building materials market to remain subdued in 2020, following a difficult 2019 financial year, characterised by increased competition from blenders and cement imports. The company, which holds a 36%... →

WBHO (almost) shakes off nightmare Aussie roads project

By: Irma Venter 3rd March 2020 Wilson Bayley Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) saw a strong recovery in the six months ended December 31, as it turned a R2-million profit for the comparative period in 2018 into a R264-million profit. It seems the construction group is shaking off the effect of a botched roads project in Melbourne,... →

Germany moves into hydrogen with lessons from Opec, Russia

By: Bloomberg 3rd March 2020 Germany is taking its first steps to build an economy based on hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, seeking to deliver both green growth and to avoid being trapped by a small cartel of suppliers. Ministers have been quietly lining up deals with nations including Nigeria that might produce hydrogen... →

Association battles to attain curriculum accreditation

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 In its efforts to generate a full curriculum for the broader spectrum of flooring installation over the last seven years, Flooring Industry Training Association (Fita) has had difficulties with the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO), as the qualifications process seemed to take much... →

FLOORED Training and accreditation in the flooring industry has taken a knock because of delays in the accreditation process

Construction changes affect flooring quality

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 Changes in materials and construction methods in the built environment have led to an increase in problematic subfloors, which lead to poor end-results, says flooring distributor Polyflor SA CEO Tandy Coleman. These changes include the addition of chemical additives in concrete manufacturing, the... →

PICTURE PERFECT The recipe for a perfectly fitted vinyl floor starts with a well laid self-leveling screed

Flooring company to start green project

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 Flooring contractor KBAC Flooring will handle a 1 400 m2 external raised paving installation project in Centurion for M&T Development, set to start in April 2020. The project is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa using a unique locally manufactured product. KBAC Flooring will... →

UPLIFTING Raised flooring allows for increased aesthetic appeal and accesses to hidden building services

Dangote Cement to start exports from Congo after Nigerian export woes

By: Reuters 27th February 2020 Dangote Cement said on Wednesday it planned to start exports from its Congo Republic plants to neighbouring States after its Nigerian exports fell 41% in 2019 when Nigeria's government closed its borders. Nigeria shut its land border in August to curb the smuggling of rice to neighbouring states... →

LafargeHolcim sees 3% to 5% sales growth in 2020 despite China slowdown

By: Reuters 27th February 2020 LafargeHolcim reported slightly better-than-expected net profit during 2019, the world's largest cement maker said on Thursday, saying it expected solid market conditions in most countries this year except China. The building materials maker said net income rose by nearly 50% to 2.25-billion... →

Chemists develop process to turn rubbish into graphene

By: Schalk Burger 21st February 2020 Rice University laboratory chemists, led by James Tour, have in the science journal Nature introduced a process by which almost any source of carbon can be turned into graphene flakes, the university said. The gram-scale bottom-up flash graphene synthesis process is quick and cheap and can... →

FLASH GRAPHENE Undergraduate intern Christina Crassas, chemist James Tour and graduate students Paul Advincula and Duy Luong turn carbon black into graphene in a flash

Kenyan cement firms want protection from surging imports

By: John Muchira 21st February 2020 Cement manufacturers in Kenya are pushing for tough interventions intervention by government to stem the influx of imports, which are threatening the competitiveness of local producers. National Cement Company chairperson Narendra Raval said this month that Kenya had enough clinker to meet local... →

Products reduce construction time

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 14th February 2020 Two products of construction connection technology supplier Peikko South Africa – the bolted column connections and DELTABEAM slim floor structures – contributed to reducing overall construction time at a project of food manufacturer Continental Brands, in Johannesburg. By using DELTABEAM, the... →

Peikko South Africa MD Daniel Petrov discusses the company’s latest innovations in the civil engineering and construction sector.

South African contractors feeling the pinch amid delayed shipments from China

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th February 2020 Law firm MDA Attorneys says local construction projects are being negatively impacted on by indefinitely delayed shipments of construction materials from China, as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus. Consequently, South African contractors are sharpening up on the terms of their... →

Demand for Condra crane components abroad

By: Tracy Hancock 10th February 2020 Component sales remain strong at South African crane manufacturer Condra’s Johannesburg works, which has been manufacturing complete cranes since 1971, says Condra MD Marc Kleiner. “Currently 12% to 15% of our business is made up of component sales, but we do see this as a major growth market.... →

Rocky political climate hinders conveyor industry growth

By: Darren Parker 7th February 2020 The “turmoil” of South African politics has engendered a decline in investment currently and doubt over possible future investment in the mining industry, Conveyor Manufacturers Association of South Africa (CMASA) chairperson Jay Pillay tells Engineering News. Typically, mine expansions, new... →

BUMPY RIDE The health of the local conveyor manufacturing industry directly depends on the health of the mining industry ealth mining industry

Excavation and loading fleet adds new machines

By: Darren Parker 7th February 2020 Mining contractor WEGO Africa added another SANY SY500 excavator to its pre-existing fleet of four, in addition to acquiring two new SANY SY956 front-end loaders, at the end of last year. The new equipment was transported by road from Johannesburg, in Gauteng, to an iron-ore and manganese mine in... →

CAN YOU DIG IT A fifth SY500 excavator has been added to the mining contractor’s fleet

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