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Metals & Engineering News

AMSA welcomes move to Level 3 in nationwide lockdown

By: Simone Liedtke 25th May 2020 Steel company ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country will be moving to Level 3 in the risk-adjusted approach to the easing of the nationwide lockdown. At Level 3, AMSA will be able to operate with 100% of its workforce, but... →

Global steel production down 13% y/y

By: Donna Slater 22nd May 2020 World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) decreased by 13% year-on-year to 137.1-million tonnes in April. Africa's output decreased by 55.7% year-on-year to 603 000 t, with South Africa's output having decreased by 99.5%. →

Pandemic, economic challenges to shape industry direction

By: Mamaili Mamaila 22nd May 2020 Industry trends are likely to take a new direction because of the global Covid-19 pandemic and a severely constrained local economy, says steel and value-added steel products merchandiser and distributor Macsteel. →

MIKE BENFIELD The construction and steel sectors – including the larger manufacturing industry – are “hand-in-glove”

Macsteel merges fluid control, pipes divisions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th May 2020 Steel and value-added steel products supplier Macsteel has merged its fluid control division with its pipes, fittings and flanges division. The vertical merger forms part of the company’s focus on increasing operating efficiency and strengthening its position in the challenging economic climate. →

Jubilee relocates chrome plant to maximise earnings

By: Simone Liedtke 19th May 2020 Aim- and AltX-listed metals processing company Jubilee Metals will relocate its fine chrome operation from the Dilokong chrome mine (DCM) to the group’s larger Inyoni or Windsor operations in South Africa. Jubilee on May 19 said the move would optimise group earnings. →

Kibo Energy inks power purchase agreement with Baobab Resources

By: Donna Slater 18th May 2020 Africa-focused Kibo Energy has signed a binding term sheet with mining company and steelmaker Baobab Resources to supply 200 MW of energy to Baobab's Tete Steel and Vanadium (TSV) project, in Mozambique.    Recognised as a key development project in Mozambique, the TSV project is about 36 km from... →

New isolation gasket offers improved leakage rates

15th May 2020 Early this year, engineering components provider BMG launched its Evolution fully-coated isolation gaskets which was designed to meet the demand for sealing and isolation products in the oil and gas sector. BMG’s Evolution isolation gaskets have been developed by fluid sealing products... →

EVER EVOLVING BMG has launchd its Evolution fully-coated isolation gaskets which offer improved leakage rates and safe and reliable performance in high-pressure applications

Steady increase in gasket sealant sales

By: Halima Frost 15th May 2020 Since the launch of adhesive manufacturer Loctite’s 518 gasket sealant pen in South Africa last year, local distributors have shown a steady increase in sales. The Loctite 518 gasket sealant pen was developed to complement the previously launched Loctite 518 flange sealant. →

PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD The Loctite 518 gasket sealant pen combines the leak-fighting properties of 518 flange sealant with a roll-on applicator

Leading seal brand rebranding

15th May 2020 Bearing and rotation specialists SKF has introduced a new packaging design for its vehicle aftermarket products, more so its sealing solutions provider Chicago Rawhide seals. Inspired by Chicago Rawhide’s 140th anniversary in 2018, SKF decided to relaunch the Chicago Rawhide seals brand as a pure... →

NOWHERE TO HIDE The new branding on Chicago Rawhide seals stays true to SKF's traditional blue colour for bearings and green colour for seals

Valves maintenance still a challenge

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th May 2020 Although demand for valves has increased over the past five years, maintenance costs, efficiency and valve service life are some of the challenges that companies face yearly, says coating technology specialist Thermaspray’s laser cladding manager Jordaan Lourens. →

IRREPLACEABLE SOLUTIONS The initial coating of new valves as well as their efficient repair results in fewer valve replacements

Fitch Solutions expects most metal markets to move into a surplus this year

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 Most metals markets are expected to move into a surplus this year, says research firm Fitch Solutions, noting that consumption is likely to decrease more than the decreases in production capacity, as a result of the spread of Covid-19. Although some operational hurdles, owing to government... →

Packaging industry likely to face dramatic changes, says MetPac-SA

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th May 2020 Industry organisation MetPac-South Africa (MetPac-SA) says the five-week national Level 5 lockdown in South Africa had constrained the usual material recovery processes and will impact on the recovery rates of metal packaging, and post-consumer packaging material in general, for the rest of the... →

Kogi appoints Nigerian contractor to start trial iron-ore mining

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th May 2020 ASX-listed Kogi Iron and its Nigerian subsidiary KCM Mining have started small-scale trial mining at the Agbaja Cast Steel project, in Nigeria. The companies have appointed a local Lokoja-based civil engineering contractor to start the trial mining on a 30 m by 30 m by 5 m deep pit, owing to... →

Seifsa postpones awards ceremony, extends submission deadline

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th May 2020 Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, national federation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has moved its sixth Annual Excellence Awards ceremony from May 28 to July 23. The postponement of the ceremony has also resulted in Seifsa extending the deadline for the... →

3D printed glove remover improves hygiene in hospitals

By: Simone Liedtke 6th May 2020 Zurich-based creative agency Atoll has developed a nonprofit three-dimensional (3D) printed glove remover to assist with improving hygiene practices in hospitals. The glove remover comprises a piece of curved plastic that is placed over a waste bin and, thanks to a modular fastening system, it... →

Steel production likely to stagnate or decline this year, says Roskill

By: Simone Liedtke 5th May 2020 Steel production in developed economies is likely to either stagnate, or decline completely, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to influence and impact on the global economy, consultancy Roskill steel alloys principal consultant Erik Sardain said on May 5. Speaking in a webinar, he explained... →

Roskill steel alloys principal consultant Erik Sardain discusses the impact of Covid-19 on the global steel industry. Video: Creamer Media's Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Hudaco lists on A2X

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th April 2020 JSE-listed engineering consumables supplier Hudaco has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets and will start trading on May 5. A2X CEO Kevin Brady says Hudaco is a company with a remarkable 125-year history. “Such longevity is not easily achieved and its listing on A2X is... →

Even essential industries have suffered reduced demand

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th April 2020 Leading up to the phased reopening of the economy that South Africa will undertake from May 1, research institute Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips) says data on the overall economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet available, but the economy will undoubtedly suffer owing to... →

Mobile sewage cleaning unit available locally

By: Halima Frost 24th April 2020 Local high-pressure pump supplier Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment has joined forces with sewer cleaning equipment manufacturer Baroclean to supply South Africa’s first rapid response vehicle for sewage cleaning operations. Werner has imported a high-pressure jetting and vacuum pump unit... →

HOT WHEELS The bakkie mounted high-pressure jetting and vacuum pump unit is a compact solution to hard to reach sewage projects

Steel downturn evident in global production figures for March

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd April 2020 World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) decreased by 6% year-on-year to 147-million tonnes in March. The association says the global steel industry is being impacted on by factory shutdowns, disrupted supply chains, collapsing... →

EU reviewing steel imports in view of possible glut - trade chief

By: Reuters 22nd April 2020 The coronavirus crisis could lead to massive stockpiling of steel that could then flood the European Union when demand returns, the EU trade chief said on Tuesday, adding this was something the bloc would seek to guard against. The EU put in place safeguards in 2018 to control incoming steel to... →

Tenova reorganises businesses

By: Donna Slater 20th April 2020 As part of metals and mining company Techint Group, Tenova has reorganised its businesses and reviewed its governance structures, with the appointment of former metals division CEO Roberto Pancaldi as Tenova CEO. Former Tenova CEO Andrea Lovato has been appointed CEO of Tenova's Takraf business. →

Hulamin expects Covid-19 to negatively impact on earnings

By: Simone Liedtke 17th April 2020 South Africa’s national lockdown is a significant disruption to JSE-listed Hulamin’s operations and has resulted in a decrease in demand for its products, particularly in the general engineering and automotive sectors. Consequently, Hulamin expects this to negatively impact on its earnings before... →

Organisation calls for govt assistance to ‘reshape’ steel industry post-lockdown

By: Simone Liedtke 17th April 2020 The decision to put South Africa under lockdown as part of its response to Covid-19 “has put further pressure on the steel industry”, says research organisation Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips). In a policy brief, it elaborates that, depending on the length of the lockdown and the... →

Modular power solutions increasing in Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 17th April 2020 In most power plants across Africa, clients prefer to install modular-type solutions, also known as containerised solutions or e-houses, and dry-type transformers fit “perfectly” within this scope, says transformer supplier and specialist Trafo Power Solutions MD David Claassen. The preference... →

DAVID CLAASSEN Trafo also designs and customises its transformers according to client specifications and requirements

Business is booming for supplier

By: Darren Parker 10th April 2020 Stainless steel vessels and tanks supplier Metal Tank Industries has noted a definite market upswing in the past eight months, particularly in the food and beverage sector, as well as in the industrial sector, in terms of mineral oils, petroleum oils, chemicals and agrochemicals production.... →

MAKING IT WORK Metal Tank Industries’ streamlined production processes has helped it become more competitive in terms of costing

Hulamin to delay release of full-year results

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th April 2020 JSE-listed Hulamin has indicated that it will use a two-month extension granted by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) to finalise its results for the year ended December 31, 2019; however, it will endeavour to release these as soon as possible. The company indicates that it will... →

Moody’s cuts outlook for steel industries further

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th April 2020 Ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service already had negative outlooks for steel industries across the world, largely based on weak fundamentals in 2019, but the Covid-19 outbreak has made conditions worse and prompted the agency to cut the outlook for steel industries further. Moody’s says the... →

Kogi Iron sees ongoing interest in Nigeria-based cast steel project

By: Simone Liedtke 7th April 2020 ASX-listed Kogi Iron is seeing ongoing interest from potential new investors in its Agbaja cast steel project, in Nigeria, where Kogi is starting to see global capital flows to the commodity sector. Owing to the rapid escalation and global impacts of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, Kogi and KCM... →

A location map of Kogi Iron's Nigerian cast steel project.

Global GDP to contract 1.9% this year, spark commodity oversupply, says Fitch

By: Simone Liedtke 6th April 2020 Owing to unprecedented lockdown in much of Europe, the US and across the globe, the world is currently experiencing considerably lower economic activity, which in turn significantly reduces commodity consumption, says ratings agency Fitch Ratings. As a result, it expects global gross domestic... →

Seifsa highlights health and safety through yearly awards ceremony

By: Donna Slater 6th April 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) is awarding companies that invested in protecting the lives of their employees, through the sixth edition of the yearly Seifsa Awards for Excellence to be held in Gauteng on May 28. “Employees are, without a doubt, the... →

BMG gets go ahead to operate during lockdown

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd April 2020 Engineering solutions company BMG has been authorised as an essential service to provide its components and support services during the remainder of South Africa’s lockdown period ending at midnight on April 16. The BMG team is on hand and its distribution centre in Johannesburg is stocked to... →

Hulamin finalises acquisition of rolling slab business from Isizinda venture

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd April 2020 JSE-listed aluminium supplier and exporter Hulamin says all conditions have been fulfilled around the transaction between its subsidiary Hulamin Operations (Hulamin Opco) and Bingelela Capital to acquire the rolling slab business from Isizinda Aluminium company. The Isizinda company owns the... →

Self-sanitising coatings may help curb the spread of Covid-19 in hospitals

By: Donna Slater 1st April 2020 An innovative antimicrobial coating innovation developed locally by the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) researcher and inventor Michael Lucas, could provide a supplementary sanitising solution to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus in hospitals and other medical facilities. The... →

Michael Lucas

Fitch Solutions says volatility to continue driving metals prices lower

By: Simone Liedtke 30th March 2020 Research agency Fitch Solutions expects volatility to continue playing to the downside for metal prices in the coming weeks owing mainly to bearish investor sentiment on the back of the widespread Covid-19 pandemic. The agency notes that metal prices started the year on a strong footing as the... →

South32 cuts expenditure as operations are adjusted

By: Esmarie Iannucci 27th March 2020 Diversified miner South32 has announced a $160-million cut to capital expenditure over the next 15 months, with the miner also announcing a number of operational changes in response to COVID-19. In response to a 21-day lockdown in South Africa, Soutnh32’s manganese assets in that country, along... →

South32 CEO Graham Kerr

Aveng says all operations in South Africa, some abroad, closed

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th March 2020 Construction company Aveng has taken various measures aligned with restrictions amid the global Covid-19 outbreak at its operations in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. “These events are highly complex, present significant uncertainty and... →

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