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Materials & Equipment News

Supplier reports record sales year

By: Halima Frost 23rd July 2021 Construction equipment supplier Putzmeister South Africa – a subsidiary of Germany-based Putzmeister Concrete Pumps – registered a record sales year in 2020 despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Putzmeister sub-Saharan Africa head Rudy Myburgh attributes this partly to the Putzmeister range of machines... →

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

Seifsa encouraged by uptick in building material sales, but fears its derailment

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th July 2021 Wholesale trade sales data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shows an increase in sales of 31.3% year-on-year in May, to R158-billion in constant terms. Month-on-month, sales increased 6.3% from April. Year-to-date, wholesale trade sales have increased by 14.5%. →

Tilt meters to tilt favourably in project’s way

By: Halima Frost 9th July 2021 Geotechnical service provider Terra Monitoring has been selected to assist in supplying and installing eight Geosense micro electromechanical systems (Mems) in-place tilt meters for a project in Zambia. The meters will be used to monitor changes in the inclination of a grain silo construction... →

INCLINED TO WORK The Mems tilt meters being used in the silo construction project will monitor if any inclination does occur

PPC to reappoint Anthony Ball as nonexec director

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd July 2021 Construction materials company PPC has reappointed Anthony Ball as nonexecutive director with effect from July 1, to supervise, manage and assist the company to achieve certain key milestones regarding the restructuring and refinancing of the group. PPC is now in the implementation phase of its... →

Despite Q1 dip, Afrimat Construction Index four-quarter average shows consolidation of recovery

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2021 JSE-listed industrial minerals, commodities and construction material openpit mining company Afrimat has released the findings of the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) for the first quarter of the year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity in the building and construction... →

Hardware, building material markets more buoyant but difficult conditions linger in building sector

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2021 After slipping to 27 in the first quarter of the year, the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index increased to 39 in the second quarter. Even though this is the highest level the index has reached since the first quarter of 2018, at the current level, more than 60% of respondents say they are still... →

UFS working on developing green concrete using geopolymer binders

By: Schalk Burger 25th June 2021 The University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Engineering Sciences' green concrete project aims to produce user-friendly geopolymer concrete by eliminating aggressive alkali activator additives from the mixtures, says lecturer and project leader Dr Abdolhossein Naghizadeh. The potential... →

UFS Department of Engineering Sciences lecturer Dr Abdolhossein Naghizadeh

Sephaku records R20m full-year profit

By: Donna Slater 25th June 2021 JSE-listed building materials company Sephaku has posted a group net profit of R20-million for the financial year ended March 31, with headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 6.09c. Sephaku’s group of companies include Sephaku Holdings, Métier Mixed Concrete and Dangote Cement South Africa (SepCem). →

Pilot Crushtec, Metso extend partnership to provide security for customers

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th June 2021 Mining and quarrying equipment specialist Pilot Crushtec has renewed its distributorship with minerals and metals processing technology company Metso Outotec in Southern Africa for five years, building on a successful five years of representing the company. Speaking to Engineering News & Mining... →

Pilot Crushtec sales and marketing director Francois Marais

Price volatility affecting pipe manufacturing

By: Darren Parker 25th June 2021 Price volatility in the plastics industry has been extreme over the past year, owing to the impact of Covid-19 on the supply of input chemicals, such as alcohol. Moreover, the subsequent lockdown, as well as load-shedding, interruptions in water supply, price hikes over the past few months, and... →

THE RIGHT STUFF It is important for clients to ensure that they purchase quality products from reputable suppliers

Macsteel settles safeguard-duty case with DTIC and secures two-year reprieve

By: Terence Creamer 23rd June 2021 Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and Macsteel have reached a legal settlement in a case brought by the steel merchant after government extended the implementation of safeguard duties on hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports in August last year. The case was settled in the High Court,... →

Afrimat Construction Index sees consolidation of recovery trend

By: Irma Venter 22nd June 2021 Afrimat, the JSE-listed industrial minerals, commodities and construction material openpit mining company, has released the findings of the Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) for the first quarter of the year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and... →

PPC mulls several low-carbon opportunities as it shows signs of business stabilisation

By: Terence Creamer 21st June 2021 Cementitious products manufacturer PPC is considering several initiatives aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of its operations and products as its far-reaching organisational and financial restructuring begins yielding results and creates space for the JSE-listed group to start focusing on... →

PPC CEO Roland van Wijnen

AECI Much Asphalt, Origin Materials partner to create low-carbon bitumen

By: Simone Liedtke 18th June 2021 US carbon negative materials company Origin Materials and Southern African commercial asphalt manufacturer AECI Much Asphalt have launched a programme to create a novel low-carbon bitumen. Origin Materials produces low and negative carbon materials, with the mission to enable the world’s... →

AECI Much Asphalt's plant in Benoni, South Africa.

Sephaku Group expects to report higher full-year earnings

By: Simone Liedtke 18th June 2021 Headline earnings a share for cement manufacturer Sephaku Group – which comprises SepHold, Metier Mixed Concrete and Dangote Cement South Africa (SepCem) – are expected to be between 5.79c and 6.39c for the financial year ended March 31. Earnings a share are expected to be between 7.44c and 8.22c... →

ABT used to build new house

18th June 2021 It is refreshing to encounter a home owner that is confident enough to specify alternative building technology (ABT) for building their new house. Home owner Donald Keys appointed light steel frame construction company Futurecon as the turnkey contractor to build his 647 m² double-storey house,... →

PRECISION IS KEY Light steel framing is faster than masonry building and results in a lot less waste, while being dimensionally accurate, and providing neater finishes

Steel shortage delays building projects

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 18th June 2021 The shortage of steel and an increase in the steel price have led to delays in projects for the light-steel-frame building and roofing sector, says construction materials supplier Izinga Roofing director and owner Jerred Micholson. →

EVERY LAST DETAIL A truss has certain details, such as the edge distance, design and specifications, which engineers use to guide them when assembling trusses

Aspasa hopes to have concerns heard via online meetings with the DMRE

By: Simone Liedtke 15th June 2021 Surface mining industry association the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has compiled its “big four” priorities to address problems and opportunities in the industry. The association has been mandated by its members to approach the with the Department of... →

Aspasa director Nico Pienaar

Buoyant hardware, building material markets push up confidence index

By: Irma Venter 14th June 2021 After slipping to 27 in the first quarter of the year, the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index has increased to 39 in the second quarter of the year. Even though this is the highest level of the index since the first quarter of 2018, at the current level, more than 60% of respondents says they are... →

Siphamandla Mkhwanazi

John Deere showcases construction, forestry equipment for sub-Saharan Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th June 2021 Agricultural equipment giant John Deere has introduced its range of construction and forestry equipment to the sub-Saharan African market. Customers across the region can now benefit from the size and scale of the John Deere construction and forestry equipment line-up, including its motor grader... →

Collaborative effort needed to reignite sector

By: Halima Frost 11th June 2021 To address the effects of the lack of infrastructure projects in South Africa, cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) MD Njombo Lekula has called for industry and government to work together to mitigate the knock-on effects on the cement sector. “We urgently need an agile and... →

PLANT POWER PPC has invested substantially in improving its various plants technologies and infrastructure to maximise efficacy

Contracts awarded on strong foundation work

By: Halima Frost 11th June 2021 Concrete foundation specialist Gauteng Piling’s most recent projects have showcased the company’s diverse capabilities in the concrete piling industry. Gauteng Piling contracts manager Keoatlaretse Tema tells Engineering News that two of the projects include the installation of concrete piling... →

CONCRETE SUPPORT A total of 32 concrete piles were needed on the Mbombela Fresh Produce Market project

Producers under pressure

By: Halima Frost 11th June 2021 South Africa’s concrete and cement additive suppliers are under severe production pressures, owing to a global shortage of many of the primary raw materials used in the chemicals industry essential to produce concrete and cement admixtures, says additives and admixtures specialist Chryso Southern... →

IN THE MIX Admixtures and additives used in the manufacture of cement is is short supply globally

Projects, tariffs could boost sector demand

By: Halima Frost 11th June 2021 Although the local cement and concrete sector is experiencing its lowest production and supply levels in years, industry body Cement and Concrete South Africa (CCSA) CEO Bryan Perrie says earmarked infrastructure projects and import tariffs, if implemented, will be instrumental in boosting the... →

NEW DAWN
The implementation of proposed infrastructure projects will uplift the much needed demand of cement and concrete in South Africa

Cement & Concrete South Africa CEO Bryan Perrie discusses the current state if the industry, as well as the formation of the CCSA.

PPC sells Botswana aggregates business, expects to report higher full-year earnings

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th June 2021 JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC has signed a binding sale and purchase agreement with a Botswana-based construction and mining company, which will buy PPC’s 100% shareholding in PPC Aggregate Quarries Botswana. The transaction is valued at 47.5-million Pula, equivalent to R60-million, and... →

Aspasa helps compile new material specifications for road builders

By: Simone Liedtke 8th June 2021 Surface mining industry association the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has partnered with the Committee of Transport Officials (Coto) and other role-players to hammer out standards for different types of materials to be used on South African roads. This will... →

Barry Pearce

New tech to increase boiler inspection accuracy

By: Anna Moross 4th June 2021 Material testing and inspection services specialist DEKRA Industrial’s new non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection service – using the Fast Scanning Thickness- (FST-)Gage inspection technology – will place the company in a strong position as the leader in boiler and burner inspection in... →

FTS-GAUGE ON-SITE INSPECTION FST-Gage inspection technology is a high-priority initiative from DEKRA’s global Industrial Inspection Service division

Local service provider to supply machine for Beitbridge project

By: Halima Frost 4th June 2021 Bulk earthworks, demolitions and civil engineering service provider Icon Group has been awarded a contract to supply its three-sided impact roller to the expansion project at the Beitbridge border post, in Zimbabwe. The three-sided impact roller will be used to compact in-situ and construct bulk... →

TRIPLE POWER The three-sided impact roller will be used to compact in-situ and construct bulk earthworks

Brikor grows profits despite revenue decline

By: Schalk Burger 31st May 2021 Building materials manufacturer and supplier Brikor increased its profit after tax to R12-million for the financial year ended February 28. That compares with the profit after tax of R1.5-million reported for the prior financial year. →

Cabinets for use in multiple industries

28th May 2021 Electrical equipment and wire accessories company Legrand’s Atlantic stainless steel cabinets have been designed for safe use in corrosive conditions and in areas requiring a high level of hygiene. These enclosures are designed for maximum safety and the ordered arrangement and optimum protection... →

TIGHT FIT These enclosures are designed for maximum safety and the ordered arrangement and optimum protection of electrical components

Iron-ore price contributes to Afrimat’s ‘best ever’ financial position

By: Marleny Arnoldi 27th May 2021 JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat’s diversification strategy, along with a particularly strong iron-ore price, have supported the company’s overall profitability and ability to generate cash, despite impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the financial year ended February 28. The group... →

Macsteel confirms court challenge against ‘unlawful’ extension of safeguard duties

By: Terence Creamer 27th May 2021 Opposition to the extension of safeguard duties on steel imports is intensifying, with the country’s leading merchant challenging the extension of the duties in court and with others even questioning the economic benefits of sustaining a primary steel producer in the form of ArcelorMittal South... →

Barloworld's Southern African, Eurasian order books strong

By: Donna Slater 24th May 2021 Industrial processing, distribution and services company Barloworld reports that its industrial equipment and services division performed well in the six months ended March 31, despite challenges. Barloworld’s Equipment Southern Africa division delivered a solid performance despite lower mining... →

Barloworld group CEO Dominic Sewela

Tata International Africa to distribute John Deere products in Zambia

By: Irma Venter 21st May 2021 Tata International Africa has signed an agreement to distribute and support John Deere products in Zambia. “We are very proud to have been given this opportunity. We are also grateful to John Deere for showing confidence in us to represent the brand in another country on the continent,” Tata... →

Direct cement sales to industry drop

By: Darren Parker 21st May 2021 About 30% of cement sales in South Africa are going directly to the construction industry for construction projects, which is down from about 50% being sold directly to the construction industry about ten years ago, says cement manufacturer AfriSam sales & marketing executive Richard Tomes. “We... →

CONCRETE ASSURANCE Quality is not only about the product delivered but also the entire value chain

Sustainable construction ethos prioritised by manufacturer

By: Darren Parker 21st May 2021 Cement additive manufacturing company CHRYSO Southern Africa has installed a solar electricity generating system at its Jet Park manufacturing facility, in Gauteng; this forms part of the company’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint. The installation was completed in January and consists of... →

ENERGY EFFICIENCY The solar installation provides about 70% of the facility’s energy requirement

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