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Metals & Engineering News

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... →

Paradigm shift can address unemployment

By: Anna Moross 10th September 2021 Increasing awareness of the skills required to advance civil engineering education in South Africa is integral to unlocking employment opportunities, specifically within the country’s municipal sector, advocates South Africa Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) CEO Vishaal Lutchman. →

An image of Vishaal Lutchman, the CEO of SAICE

VISHAAL LUTCHMAN The country needs to find a balanced approach to promote both artisanal trade qualifications and qualifications received from universities

Changes required to deal with municipal issues

By: Anna Moross 10th September 2021 The dismal performance of municipalities in infrastructure and service delivery in South Africa can be attributed to the lack of technical capacity and competency within municipalities, says association Consulting Engineers South Africa CEO Chris Campbell. →

An image of Chris Campbell, the CEO of CESA

CHRIS CAMPBELL While municipalities are facing many challenges, there is great opportunity to create change now.

Company involvement in municipal project well under way

By: Anna Moross 10th September 2021 Engineering consultant Zutari has completed several aspects of Phase 1 and Phase 1A of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ), for which it provided civil and structural engineering services associated with bulk and internal infrastructure. →

An image of the construction site of the TASEZ project

ZUTARI TASEZ DEVELOPMENT The TASEZ is a key driver for economic growth in the City of Tshwane and in Gauteng

Infrastructure upgrades for eThekwini municipality

10th September 2021 Consulting engineers Bosch Projects and financial institution Bosch Capital – members of the Bosch Holdings group of companies – work closely with municipalities nationally to assist with upgrading infrastructure. →

Company uses innovative ideas in municipal project

By: Anna Moross 10th September 2021 Consulting engineers Knight Piésold completed the design and construction supervision of the 25 ML rectangular reinforced concrete reservoir at the Emoyeni site for the eThekwini municipality Water and Sanitation Unit in February 2021. →

An image of the construction of the concrete reservoir project

CONCRETE RESERVOIR The project represents creative design elements that exceeded the expectations of both the client and the community

Tech key to transform water systems

By: Anna Moross 10th September 2021 The global water and wastewater treatment market is driven by rapid population growth and urbanisation and it is, therefore, critical for water boards and municipalities to break down the ‘silo mentality’ for better management of resources, says information technology company Rockwell Automation... →

An image of Sagren Govender the sales manager and Europe, Middle East and Africa water industry coordinator for Rockwell Automation

SAGREN GOVENDER Using technology in the development of water plants allows for intellectual knowledge to be shared between water boards and municipalities

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

President Hichilema raises fresh hope for Zambia’s mining industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th September 2021 Hakainde Hichilema's triumph over incumbent President Edgar Lungu in last month's general elections has kindled much optimism that better fortunes are in store for Zambia's copper-heavy mining industry, which had a stunted performance under the previous administration. Africa Practice CEO Marcus... →

Australia and Canada to benefit from green steel revolution - Fitch

By: Esmarie Iannucci 8th September 2021 Australia, Canada and Brazil all stood to benefit from the emergence of a green steel market, researcher Fitch Solutions said. Speaking at the Hydrogen in Mining virtual conference, Fitch Solutions head of commodities analysis, Aurelia Britsch said on Wednesday that not only would low carbon... →

Military unit seizes power in Guinea, dissolves constitution

By: Bloomberg 6th September 2021 A group of soldiers seized power in Guinea and dissolved the nation’s constitution, according to a statement broadcast on state television. The announcement came hours after heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in the capital, Conakry, earlier on Sunday morning. Agence France-Presse... →

CSIR develops polymer composite for steel pipe maker for push-fit applications

By: Schalk Burger 3rd September 2021 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a polymer composite solution for, and in partnership with, steel pipe manufacturer Hall Longmore. The solution advances Hall Longmore's aim to offer the South African water industry a localised push-fit application for... →

Metals, engineering industry wage negotiations deadline extended to Sept 14

By: Donna Slater 3rd September 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) reports that its affiliated employer associations – the National Employers Association of South Africa and the South African Engineers and Founders Association, have agreed to extend the deadline for concluding wage... →

Seifsa CEO Lucio Trentini

Company issued with prohibition notice for flouting health, safety regulations

By: Donna Slater 3rd September 2021 The alleged flouting of various health and safety regulations, and non-reporting of a major and serious incident, has resulted in a prohibition notice being issued by Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) inspectors to Coega Steel, in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. The discovery of... →

Acquisition improves manufacturing capability, export ability

By: Cameron Mackay 3rd September 2021 Industrial equipment supplier Fabchem Mining entered into a written agreement to acquire original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) VULA Drilling last month. Fabchem will complete the acquisition once all conditions are fulfilled. Fabchem Mining manufactures, distributes and supplies underground... →

Welding solutions supplied by service provider

3rd September 2021 Integrated gas and welding distributor Unique Welding, through its national branch network, comprehensive product range, global partnerships and over 40 years of expertise is uniquely able to assist fabricators reduce welding costs, improve productivity and reduce weld safety risks in the... →

Hulamin continues turnaround, despite pandemic

By: Simone Liedtke 31st August 2021 Aluminium supplier and exporter Hulamin continued with its turnaround actions for both its rolled and extruded product segments, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, for the period ended June 30. In the six-month period, Hulamin’s rolled and extruded product sales increased by 43% and 58%,... →

Hulamin CFO Mark Gounder presents for the first time as he discusses the company's interim financial results. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Russian iron-ore miner urges industry to pursue cleaner operations

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th August 2021 The current trend in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in ferrous metallurgy will become clear with the transition from blast furnace production to the metallisation process in steel production, and with the use of direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI), says iron-ore and HBI... →

Hulamin expects to report higher interim earnings

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th August 2021 JSE-listed aluminium products supplier Hulamin has advised that its earnings a share for the six months ended June 30 will be between 137% and 140% higher year-on-year at between 28c and 30c. Normalised headline earnings a share will amount to between 8c and 10c – which is a year-on-year... →

Green Steel? look to hydrogen as the answer, BNEF says

By: Bloomberg 25th August 2021 Hydrogen made from clean power will be the cheapest way to bring emissions from steel production near zero by 2050, according to a BloombergNEF report. While making green steel with hydrogen requires a price premium now, the process will likely be cheaper than coal- or natural gas-based... →

Numsa starts nationwide demonstrations amid wage deadlock

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd August 2021 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has started with nationwide demonstrations, while wage negotiations with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) are ongoing. Seifsa says this action has, so far, involved peaceful demonstration and... →

DMRE confirms 102 solar and wind bids as renewables procurement resumes

By: Terence Creamer 20th August 2021 The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) has released the project names and technologies bid in response to Bid Window 5 (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the bid deadline for which was August 16. The list released shows that 63 solar... →

South32 posts higher manganese, aluminium output from South African operations

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th August 2021 Diversified miner South32 has posted a 21% year-on-year increase in manganese output from its South African mines to 2.26-million tonnes for the year ended June 30. The JSE-, ASX- and LSE-listed miner has a 44% interest in two manganese mines – Mamatwan and Wessels – in South Africa, based in... →

Hillside Aluminium, in Richards Bay

Proven performance of zinc for structural longevity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th August 2021 Amid a global wave of stimulus programmes and resultant construction activity, the International Zinc Association (IZA) deemed it opportune to demonstrate the proven performance of zinc to protect steel from corrosion in the built environment. In a webinar on August 12, IZA Africa Desk manager... →

Hot dip galvanized structural steel

Seifsa says Numsa picketing over wage deadlock would be premature

By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th August 2021 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has served notice that it intends to start picketing following failed wage negotiations with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa). The federation says it views this notice as “premature,... →

Change drives steel supplier forward

By: Anna Moross 13th August 2021 The significant steel shortages have been a huge challenge for steel supplier Stewarts & Lloyds since the start of the pandemic; however, through active in-house changes, the company has created opportunities to benefit from inceased volumes of product. Stewarts & Lloyds branch manager of steel... →

Steel supply at a Stewarts & Lloyds branch

STEEL SUPPLY The market has changed, and we have managed to grow our tonnages and do better than previous years overall

Steel construction learning reinvisioned

By: Anna Moross 13th August 2021 Nonprofit organisation the South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) is evolving its technical learning sessions for steel construction to a digital platform. The SAISC has been offering technical sessions for engineers since early March and, according to SAISC marketing director... →

An image of Amanuel Gebremeskel the technical director of SAISC.

AMANUEL GEBREMESKEL The weekly technical sessions are the first step towards the future of structural steel training courses available to SAISC members

Coolers manufacturing for smelting furnace successfully completed

By: Theresa Bhowan 6th August 2021 Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie recently completed the manufacture and supply of specialised coolers for a platinum producer’s smelting furnace site in Rustenburg, in the North West. The company’s scope of work included the manufacture and supply of cast copper coolers, drill-and-plug... →

Thos Begbie sales manager Jurgsen Dercksen seated

JURGEN DERCKSEN The end walls of the furnace take most of the hammering during the smelting process and will be replaced more frequently than the rest of the furnace

Pin gear drives used in kilns

6th August 2021 Engineering solutions provider BMG’s comprehensive range of Tsubaki power transmission components encompasses pin gear drive units that replace conventional gear rack systems, with typical applications being in rotary kilns, casting lines, drives for large transporters, handling robots and pallet... →

BMG pin gear drive unit on a white background

FIRM GRIP Pin gear drive units replace conventional gear rack systems

Business seeks to nudge localisation debate beyond import substitution

By: Terence Creamer 4th August 2021 Business is aiming to progress ongoing negotiations on the use of local-content regulations to revive manufacturing in South Africa beyond calls for blanket import substitution by identifying specific products or sectors where the country has the competitive advantages in place to increase... →

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