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Metals News

Production set to grow

22nd October 2021 Global stainless steel production is expected to grow to 54-million tons in 2021 with an improvement in economic activity and stainless steelmaking capacity in parallel, especially in Indonesia, which is forecast to have a greater output than many developed nations, according to a report released... →

Company first stainless steel producer to earn certification

22nd October 2021 Stainless steel producer Aperam’s Stainless Europe operations in September were successfully certified to be operating at the ResponsibleSteel Standard by independent auditors the Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR). The ResponsibleSteel initiative is the first global sustainability... →

Association supports resilient industry through master plan

By: Cameron Mackay 22nd October 2021 Despite the impact of Covid-19 and a weak economy, the local stainless steel sector has shown its resilience, as the South African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) continues to support industry through initiatives such as the Steel Master Plan. “When the Steel Master Plan was... →

Image of a stainless steel production process

LOCALISATION FOCUS Cocal companies have had challenges sourcing products from abroad, emphasising the need for localising the manufacturing of stainless steel products

Suppliers vital to supply chain

By: Cameron Mackay 22nd October 2021 The current shortages of raw materials, which are required for stainless steel fabrication, have highlighted how stainless steel raw material suppliers are vital for the company’s supply chain and economical efficiencies, says water-jet cutting service provider MAXJET director Preeshan Naidoo.... →

Image of Shanghai financial centre, Physical Vapor Deposition stainless steel in rose gold

ALLEVIATING CONSTRAINTS Naidoo argues that during these challenging times, companies particularly in stainless steel need to better analyse markets, trends and deliverables

Company offers diverse conveyor chains

22nd October 2021 Engineering solutions provider BMG’s comprehensive range of power transmission components incorporates chain manufacturer ZMC industrial conveyor chains, which offer dependable service in diverse applications, especially for use in food production. BMG product manager Gavin Kirsten explains that... →

FOOD-GRADE SOLUTIONS BMG’s specialists advise customers at food and beverage plants to only invest in conveyor components manufactured in food-compliant materials - like stainless steel

Range for maintenance extended to Zambia

22nd October 2021 Industrial products provider BMG has extended its integrated engineering solutions services in Zambia to include the supply and support of a comprehensive range of personal protection equipment (PPE). The range includes BMG’s advanced welding systems, designed to create a healthy, clean and safe... →

PPE plan crucial to employee safety

22nd October 2021 Hi-tech protective clothing manufacturer Charnaud stresses that the safety of all employees depends on the creation and strict implementation of a personal protective equipment (PPE) plan. Elaborating on how to create a PPE management plan and put it into action, the company stresses that... →

A Charnaud stand at an event with Hazmat suits, Reflective clothing, corporate clothing, gloves, goggles and boots

ALL THE RANGE The range of Charnaud's PPE offerings should be incorporated into a company's PPE management plan

Neasa recommends its members implement 5% increase for nonstriking workers

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th October 2021 The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) has recommended that its members in the metal and engineering sector implement a 5% increase, across the board, for employees who are not currently on strike. Although the association’s recommendation is not binding on employer... →

Seifsa urges members to implement final offer for employees

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has strongly suggested that affiliated member companies start implementing a new, final wage offer proposed by the federation earlier this week. Seifsa decided to endorse an improved offer to metalworker unions, in... →

Transnet restores some operations at Richards Bay after fire

By: Reuters 19th October 2021 South African monopoly port operator Transnet said on Monday it had restored many of its operations since a fire broke out at its Richards Bay terminal last week, but that it still needed to ensure affected areas where safe before resuming others. Richards Bay Bulk Terminal, Africa's largest coal... →

Seifsa proposes new wage offer amid violent strike action

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th October 2021 After taking stock of the extent to which violence and intimidation has occurred amid striking metals union workers for the last ten days, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has decided to endorse an improved offer to settle. The strike follows a... →

While metals help ‘greenify’ industry, the industry itself needs cleaning up

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th October 2021 While global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 5.8% in 2020 owing to Covid-19 lockdowns globally and therefore lower energy demand, Dutch multinational banking corporation ING says it is only a matter of time before they hit record highs again. International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that... →

Govt speeding up plans to designate Sedibeng as SEZ

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th October 2021 Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Fikile Majola says government is working "with great speed" towards designating the whole of Sedibeng into a special economic zone (SEZ) to be named the Vaal SEZ. Majola was speaking at the Sedibeng Investment Conference, hosted in Vanderbijlpark,... →

Steel demand expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year

By: Schalk Burger 15th October 2021 This year has seen a stronger-than-expected recovery in steel demand, leading to upward revisions in the World Steel Association's (worldsteel's) forecast across the board except for China. "Owing to this vigorous recovery, global steel demand outside China is expected to return to its... →

US revises EU steel proposal as tariff-hike deadline looms

By: Bloomberg 13th October 2021 The US has submitted a new proposal to the European Union to solve a Trump-era dispute on steel tariffs, offering more-generous terms, according to people familiar with the matter. The updated proposal involves so-called tariff-rate quotas that Bloomberg reported last month, but provides for a... →

Iron-ore tumbles as China steel curbs are back in focus

By: Reuters 12th October 2021 Iron-ore futures were under pressure on Tuesday, with the Singapore benchmark retreating nearly 7% after a four-day rally and Dalian contracts erasing early gains, as investor focus shifted back to steel production controls in China. The steelmaking raw material's most-active November contract on... →

Seifsa names new board

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th October 2021 Industry organisation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has named its new board members. EICO Engineering CEO Elias Monage, who is also a member of the Steel Master Plan Oversight Council and chairperson and founder of the Steel Industry Compliance and... →

ArcelorMittal slaps surcharge on some steel as energy costs bite

By: Bloomberg 8th October 2021 Europe’s biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal has slapped a surcharge on some products due to surging power prices, according to a person familiar with the matter. Long steel products sold by ArcelorMittal in Europe will be subject to a €50 ($58) a ton surcharge, said the person, who asked not to be... →

FDA-compliant pumps benefit multiple industries

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 8th October 2021 Engineering solutions provider BMG’s range of Ingersoll Rand ARO fluid management equipment comprises of Food and Drug Administration- (FDA-) compliant, air-operated, diaphragm pumps that provide solutions for the food and beverage sector, as well as in pharmaceuticals and cosmetic pumps... →

BMG's ARO SD Series pump against a white background

SD SERIES BMG’s ARO SD series features a quick knock-down compression clamp system to facilitate easier cleaning and maintenance

Valve components meet application specifications

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 8th October 2021 Water-jet cutting service provider Maxjet Global has used its extensive experience in the manufacturing of pump and valve components to produce components that are specified for their application. “All our valve components are produced using stainless steel 304, 316, 310 and especially duplex... →

STRONG AS STEEL MaxJet valve components are made from stainless steel 304, 316, 310 and duplex stainless steel grades

Global metals, mining demand ‘tepid at best’ – WoodMac

By: Simone Liedtke 6th October 2021 With the global metals and mining markets having faltered under the weight of Covid-19 pandemic-driven lockdowns, demand outside of China was “tepid at best and in freefall at worst”, says global research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac). From a mined commodities perspective,... →

NUM gets behind Cosatu strike on October 7

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th October 2021 The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has decided to join the October 7 national strike launched by Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu). The NUM has, therefore, issued a call to its members in the mining, energy construction and metals sectors to join planned activities across the... →

Fortescue sets Scope 3 targets, hopes green hydrogen will help

By: Esmarie Iannucci 6th October 2021 Iron-ore major Fortescue Metals this week announced a target to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040, addressing emissions across its entire global value chain, including crude steel manufacturing which accounts for 98% of the company’s Scope 3 emissions. The company told shareholders... →

Image shows Fortsescue's iron-ore operations

Strike threatens nascent recovery under way in metals sector, Seifsa warns

By: Terence Creamer 30th September 2021 A protracted strike in the metals and engineering sector would severely undermine the nascent recovery under way in the industry following what was a deep Covid-linked slump in 2020, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) warned on Thursday. Speaking at the... →

The 2014 Numsa strike cost the industry R300-million directly

EU trade chief says time running out to fix US steel dispute

By: Bloomberg 28th September 2021 The European Union’s (EU's) trade chief warned that only about a month remains to resolve a metals dispute with the US, and failure to do so means new EU tariffs will hit American products on Dec. 1. “Allowing for internal decision-making procedures in the EU, we really need an agreement already... →

Rare earth elements discovered

24th September 2021 Last month, mining company Australian Bauxite Limited (ABX) confirmed its discovery of rare earth element (REE) accumulations within its bauxite tenement in northern Tasmania that are enriched in the strategically important REE metals neodymium and praseodymium, along with terbium and dysprosium. →

HybroHeat furnace technology developed

By: Anna Moross 24th September 2021 With the development of the HybroHeat furnace technology, plant supplier SMS group underlines once again its position as world market leader for aluminium extrusion plants. →

An image of the hybroheat furnace technology

HYBROHEAT FURNACE TECHNOLOGY HybroHeat furnace technology combines the advantages of cost-efficient preheating of log material in a gas furnace and precise temperature setting

ArcelorMittal South Africa responds to Itac’s termination of safeguard probe

23rd September 2021 Earlier this month, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) recommended that an investigation be terminated into the imposition of safeguard duties on certain steel sections manufactured at the Highveld Structural Mill. The application was lodged in June 2020 by... →

Photo by Creamer Media
The Highveld Structural Steel Mill

Engineering sector strike looms as wage talks deadlock

By: Donna Slater 21st September 2021 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Tuesday announced that it would embark on a national strike in the engineering sector from October 5, after wage talks deadlocked. Numsa has deadlocked with employer associations in engineering, namely the National Employers... →

AMSA appoints Suretha van Wyk as interim CFO

By: Schalk Burger 20th September 2021 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has appointed its statutory reporting senior manager Suretha van Wyk as interim CFO with effect from October 1. Van Wyk is currently part of the finance team and reports to outgoing CFO Desmond Maharaj, who has resigned as CFO and executive... →

Steel prices to normalise but remain strong, says Moody’s

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th September 2021 The worldwide supply/demand imbalance for steel will return in 2022 and steel prices will gradually decline toward their historical averages from the unusual highs of this year, says Moody´s Investors Service in a new report. The report indicates that steel demand will ebb as buyers replenish... →

Opinion: Steel Master Plan needs refining if it is to help revive downstream industry

15th September 2021 In this opinion article, Duferco MD Ludovico Sanges argues that the Steel Master Plan is a good start, but that certain key issues still need to be addressed if the embattled downstream steel industry is to be revived. →

Duferco MD Ludovico Sanges

Numsa inches closer to strike in the metals and engineering sector

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th September 2021 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has called for the issue of a certificate of non-resolution amid its deadlock with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa). The parties have been meeting with other trade unions and the Metal and... →

Outlook for metals improves – Moody’s

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th September 2021 Credit rating business Moody's Investors Service’s outlook for the global metals and mining industry changed to stable from positive with high prices expected to fade out throughout 2022. In a new report covering iron-ore, steel, coal, aluminium, gold, silver, nickel, copper and zinc, Moody's... →

ArcelorMittal to triple iron-ore production in Liberia

By: Reuters 13th September 2021 ArcelorMittal signed an agreement on Friday to stay for at least 25 more years in Liberia, where it will at least triple its iron-ore production and invest an additional $800-million, the company's executive chairman and Liberia's president said. Annual production will increase to 15-million... →

An image of heavy haul trucks operating in Liberia.

Iron-ore set for second weekly loss on China demand collapse

By: Reuters 10th September 2021 Iron-ore futures in top steel producer China dropped on Friday to head for a second consecutive weekly loss, with the benchmark Dalian price hovering near its lowest in seven months on fears of more steel production curbs. The most-traded January iron-ore on the Dalian Commodity Exchange ended... →

Steel handling made easier

10th September 2021 Mobicon container handlers have been used in the global steel industry for over 15 years, to enhance the efficiency and safety of handling components like steel reinforced bars. These versatile machines are used efficiently in many industries, including transport and logistics, food and beverage... →

Mobicon straddle carrier standing in a warehouse lot

CARRY THE LOAD Mobicon straddle carriers provide a safe, convenient and cost-efficient solution to alleviate the problems of handling reinforced steel

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