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PPC makes ‘positive progress’ on restructuring, finance project

By: Simone Liedtke 15th September 2020 JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC Cement has made positive progress on its restructuring and finance programme, with the objective of implementing a sustainable capital structure. PPC has received funding confirmation from South African lenders, who the company says will provide various short-... →

Afrimat Construction Index tanks in Q2, but predicts ‘strong performance’ ahead

By: Irma Venter 10th September 2020 The second-quarter (Q2) Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has dropped sharply on the back of the national lockdown regulations imposed between April and June to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat produces industrial minerals, bulk commodities and construction materials. →

Proper ventilation a key tool to prevent the spread of Covid-19

By: Simone Liedtke 7th September 2020 Indoor ventilation is an important tool to prevent the viral transmission of the Covid-19 virus when correctly applied. Conversely, poor ventilation promotes viral transmission, Engen industrial hygiene specialist Garth Hunter warned during the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and... →

Two specialists discuss the importance of proper ventilation as a tool to prevent the viral transmission of Covid-19. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Heavy equipment demobilised after project completion

4th September 2020 Heavy equipment lifting and transporting company Mammoet recently began demobilising equipment it had deployed at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical complex in Lekki Free Zone, in Nigeria. The demobilising of the equipment began in July. →

BIG DELIVERIES The components for the refinery project consisted of multiple shipments delivered to the purpose-built Dangote Quay Lekki in Lagos

Digital platforms used for lectures

By: Halima Frost 4th September 2020 The Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) launched online learning for students at its Cape Town and Durban welding schools in April after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions prevented students from attending lectures. The students join lectures taking place in Johannesburg through digital... →

Southern African Institute of Welding executive director John Tarboton and business development manager Etienne Nell discuss welding students’ use of simulation and digital training.

HVAC system safety highlighted in the time of Covid-19

By: Donna Slater 2nd September 2020 Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems play a key role in mitigating the spread of airborne pathogens in an enclosed office environment, especially that of offices with few or no windows that can open, said HVAC systems services company SFI Group founder and CEO Edward Hector.... →

PIC further decreases stake in PPC to 9.5%

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd September 2020 The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has reduced its shareholding in JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC Cement from 13.98% to 9.52%. The State-owned fund manager in June reduced its shareholding from 25% to 19.9% and has continued to reduce its shareholding since then. →

Cashbuild reports lower revenue, declares dividend

By: Schalk Burger 1st September 2020 Building materials retail chain Cashbuild has declared a final dividend of 272c a share for the financial year ended June 28. This brings its total dividend for the year to 702c a share – a 17% decrease compared to the prior year. Revenue for the year decreased by 7% to R10.09-billion.... →

Investing in infrastructure now will boost economy

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 Now is the time to invest in infrastructure projects to ensure that the industry does not hit a lull when the economy fully reopens after the lockdown regulations are lifted, urges multinational engineering firm Aecom client and government sector Africa director Fadzai Nyamasve. “The industry... →

FADZAI NYAMASVE The industry cannot afford to wait for the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to subside

Aspasa takes action against dodgy concrete lab test results

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th August 2020 The Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of South Africa (Aspasa) has hosted an urgent meeting of its technical committee to address inaccurate and procedurally incorrect laboratory tests that are costing the sand and aggregate industry millions of rands every year. Aspasa director Nico... →

Aspasa director Nico Pienaar

PPC delays full-year results publication, restates FY19 earnings

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2020 JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC has advised that the publication of its financial results for the year ended March 31 has been delayed to the end of September. It had initially been scheduled for release by the end of August, but the impact of Covid-19 on the year-end audit process has been... →

Women’s network growing steadily

By: Darren Parker 14th August 2020 The Protea Network – for women working in the predominantly male-dominated steel and other market sectors – is growing steadily and organically since its launch in April, says steel fabrication company Betterect MD Nicolette Skjoldhammer. She launched the network to provide women in the industry... →

NICOLETTE SKJOLDHAMMER The objective of the Protea Network for this year is to encourage and facilitate online forum membership, where members can engage on a daily basis

Steel awards go virtual

By: Darren Parker 14th August 2020 The South African Institute for Steel Construction’s (SAISC’s) yearly Steel Awards will be judged and hosted virtually through a dedicated application (app) this year. This comes on the back of efforts to mitigate restrictions on social gatherings and take advantage of the digital marketing... →

VIRTUOSITY ASSESSED Small teams of judges attend sites physically, observing Covid-19 health and safety protocols, while others attend site visits virtually

Greater collaboration needed in steel supply chain

By: Darren Parker 14th August 2020 To ensure security of steel supply, the South African Institute for Steel Construction (SAISC) is calling for greater collaboration among all players in the local steel supply chain, from upstream producers to downstream merchants. Local steel demand was low before the Covid-19 pandemic, which... →

Photo by Adobe
RELIABLE ROLLOUT? The security of steel supply is a key concern for downstream merchants and fabricators

Market disruption expected to continue after Covid-19

By: Darren Parker 14th August 2020 The world will most likely never revert to pre-2020 norms, says steel grating and related products supplier Vital Engineering director Glen Pringle. He tells Engineering News that he expects continued market disruption and the rethinking of various elements of the market, including supply chains. →

GRATE CHANGE AHEAD Vital Engineering needs to ensure that it is as agile as possible to take advantage of the ever-changing status quo

PPC progresses restructuring initiatives

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th August 2020 In reiterating the objective and current status of its restructuring and refinancing project, JSE-listed cement manufacturer PPC on August 13 said it remained on track to reach the necessary agreements for sustainable capitalisation of the company across the geographies that it operates in. The... →

Chinese national killed at Zijin mining camp in Congo, company says

By: Reuters 13th August 2020 A Chinese national was killed during an attack on a mining camp run by Zijin Mining Group in the early hours of Tuesday in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, a report on the company's website said. The employee was shot at the Carrilu cement and limestone mine in Lualaba province as camp... →

New duties another dose of 'slow poison' to steel industry, says Neasa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th August 2020 The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) has reiterated its dissatisfaction with government's approval of an extended 8% safeguard duty on hot rolled coil, bringing the total duty payable on this product to 18%. This follows after Neasa launched an urgent application in the... →

Bell Equipment dismisses takeover offer rumour

By: Marleny Arnoldi 31st July 2020 Listed industrial group Bell Equipment on Friday dismissed rumours that it had received an offer for a shareholding in the company. Bell was responding to an article that appeared in financial daily Business Day, which reports that the group had received a takeover offer from Chinese firm... →

Sector looks forward to working with govt

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 31st July 2020 Industry organisation, The Concrete Institute, is highly encouraged by the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (Sidssa) and looks forward to partnering with government to turn words and policies into actionable and investable projects as identified in Sidssa’s new... →

BRYAN PERRIE The South African cement sector is ready, willing and able to meet the infrastructure and build requirements of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa

Construction rubble is functional, says demolition expert

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 31st July 2020 While a large proportion of demolition and construction rubble is allocated to registered landfill sites, it is critical to note that this material is often used to rehabilitate the landfill sites, says demolition solutions provider Jet Demolition contracts manager Kate Bester. She explains... →

GETTING IT SORTED The majority of construction materials can be sorted and cleaned mechanically either before or during demolition activities

Online courses upgrade skills in concrete technology

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 31st July 2020 The School of Concrete Technology is offering ten online courses to assist those in the concrete industry, and concrete-related industries, in upgrading their skills. The courses are offered on the school’s online platform and are supplemented with online lectures that are used to explain... →

UPSKILLED AND EDUCATED The courses are also designed to enable a student to advance in a staged approach to higher levels of education and knowledge in concrete technology

Steely resolve, innovation continue despite lockdown

By: Darren Parker 31st July 2020 Although production came to a halt over the past two months, light-steel-frame building materials supplier Etex South Africa – formerly known as Marley Building Systems – continued planning and innovating throughout the Covid-19 lockdown so that it would be well positioned to take advantage of... →

MULTIPLE USES Light-steel-frame buildings can be repurposed, modified or moved to a new location with relative ease

Hempcrete advantageous for construction

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 31st July 2020 Hempcrete provides several advantages when used for the construction of a building, says Cape Town-based architecture firm Wolf and Wolf Architecture founder and principal Wolf Wolf. Hempcrete is a fully biodegradable material that comprises hemp hurds – the woody core removed during processing... →

Photo by Wolf
SUPERIOR BENEFITS Hemp boasts several characteristics that make it superior from an ecological and economic perspective

Lower demand drives decrease in Sephaku's full-year earnings

By: Schalk Burger 28th July 2020 Building and construction materials company Sephaku Holdings expects its earnings a share for the financial year ended March 31 to be between 7.67c and 9.37c and its headline earnings a share to be between 6.72c and 8.41c. This compares with earnings a share and headline a share of 21.08c... →

Covid-19 forces changes to standard construction contracts, says MDA

By: Irma Venter 28th July 2020 Specialists in construction law MDA Attorneys say disruptions to business and operations owing to Covid-19 are no longer unanticipated, which means that all new contract negotiations have to take the possibility of this happening into account. “Initially, force majeure notices were being issued... →

Barry Herholdt

Use of integration platforms increases in sector

By: Halima Frost 24th July 2020 The role, development and deployment of collaboration tools and integration platforms in the project management sector have accelerated during the past six months, says University of Pretoria (UP) lecturer and Construction Industry Institute African Chapter director Dr Giel Bekker. “The... →

TECH TAKE-UP Lockdown regulations have forced organisations to take up collaborative tools and integrated platforms

EPC firm suggests experienced team is key factor

By: Halima Frost 24th July 2020 Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Lesedi Nuclear Services says using an experienced project management team remains one of the key factors that needs to be applied when managing, identifying and accounting for project risks in South Africa. “Our environment is unique and... →

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON Having an experienced project management team allows Lesedi Nuclear Services to maintain clients such as State-owned power utility Eskom’s Medupi power station

New technology offers effective communication

By: Halima Frost 24th July 2020 Blockchain solution provider DoshEx’s newest offering, Sherlock blockchain, is adapted for project managers and engineers to effectively communicate within a communal ecosystem. DoshEx CEO Alex de Bruyn explains that the Sherlock network combines the Internet of Things (IoT), distributed document... →

DoshEx CEO Alex de Bruyn discusses the use of its Sherlock blockchain solution in the project management sector. Camerawork: Halima Frost. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 25.06.2020

Afrimat continues pursuit of UCP

By: Schalk Burger 23rd July 2020 Industrial minerals and construction materials company Afrimat on July 22 announced its firm intention to acquire Unicorn Capital Partners (UCP). UCP’s business comprises of mobile crane hire, exploration drilling services, drilling and blasting, opencast and underground mining and earthmoving... →

PPC warns of lower full-year earnings

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd July 2020 JSE-listed PPC expects its basic earnings a share and headline earnings a share for the year ended March 31 to have decreased by more than 20% compared with the basic earnings a share of 16c and the headline earnings a share of 20c reported for the prior financial year. These movements take into... →

Brick supplier completes Gauteng school project

By: Mamaili Mamaila 17th July 2020 Face brick supplier Corobrik has completed the supply of its bricks for the construction of Noordgesig Primary School’s administration block and hall. →

WINTER SEASON BENEFITS The Corobrik clay face brick offers enhanced thermal comfort by retaining warmth in winter

MBA North welcomes infrastructure strategy, but warns implementation is key

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2020 The Master Builders Association (MBA) North has broadly welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s vision of infrastructure spending as the flywheel of South Africa’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Speaking at the inaugural Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa, held on... →

South Africa its own biggest enemy in infrastructure roll-out

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2020 South Africa keeps on tripping itself up when it comes to infrastructure project development and implementation, says New Development Bank (NDB) Africa regional office director-general Monale Ratsoma. The NDB is a multilateral development bank established by the Brics States, namely Brazil,... →

Home automation add-on launched

10th July 2020 Global electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand has launched its Arteor-with-Netatmo which is a simple home automation solution that uses traditional house wiring and is controlled through WiFi. The company explains that it expanded on its Arteor range of wiring devices,... →

PLUGGED IN Legrand has add to its home automation solutions that use traditional house wiring and is controlled through WiFi

S Africa crucial for centre’s growth into SADC

By: Cameron Mackay 10th July 2020 South Africa is vital for inter-country trade organisation the Competence Centre for Mineral Resources’ (CCMR’s) goal of expanding its network into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, according to CCMR head René Zarske. “South Africa is an important gateway for this, and the... →

VITAL ECONOMIC PARTNERS Last November the CCMR invited eight South African companies to Germany to liaise with equipment suppliers, with follow-up delegations planned once travel restrictions are lifted

New piezometer boosts existing safety standards

By: Halima Frost 10th July 2020 The installation of South Africa’s first Slimline vibrating wire piezometer, which is distributed by geotechnical service provider GeoGroup, is set to take place when the current Covid-19 lockdown regulations allow. The company says the piezometer will be instrumental in ensuring accurate... →

GeoGroup director Grant Rijsmus discusses the company’s Slimline Vibrating Wire Piezometer. Camerawork: Kutlwano Matala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 10.06.2020

MacLean Engineering and Maestro Digital Mine bring underground connectivity to the MacLean Research and Demonstration Facility

How to address the “New Normal” of Factory Automation in Food Manufacturing

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