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Metals & Engineering News

AMSA slumps to R3.3bn loss amid ‘exceptionally difficult’ conditions

By: Terence Creamer 6th February 2020 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) slumped to a R3.3-billion headline loss in 2019, which the JSE-listed group described as an exceptionally difficult one for the South African economy and also the most challenging for the world steel industry since the global financial crisis of... →

Coronavirus hurts base metals, iron-ore prices

By: Simone Liedtke 5th February 2020 The outbreak and contagion of a new strain of the coronavirus – which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December – has contributed to renewed concerns over economic growth prospects, particularly in China. China, which is a major supplier and consumer of base metals as well as a major... →

Hudaco performs well, despite economic downturn

By: Simone Liedtke 31st January 2020 Automotive, industrial and electrical consumable products supplier Hudaco managed to grow its headline earnings a share for the financial year ended November 30, 2019, by 5.1% year-on-year to R13.55. The company said this was “an achievement” given the tough business environment in South Africa,... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Hudaco CEO Graham Dunford

Fallout from coronavirus expected to have a ripple effect on coal, iron-ore

By: Kim Cloete 31st January 2020 The fallout from the coronavirus in China is expected to have a ripple effect on many sectors in the Chinese economy, slow down its economic growth and impact on its coal industry and imports. Coal trader Noble Resources research head Rodrigo Echeverri says the impact had been severely... →

South Africa will caution Trump against ‘premature’ trade review

By: Bloomberg 29th January 2020 South Africa’s government will tell President Donald Trump’s administration that its review of a preferential trade agreement that could put as much as $2.4-billion in exports at risk is premature and potentially damaging for both economies. The US Trade Representative will start public hearings... →

Global crude steel output increased 3.4% in 2019

By: Schalk Burger 28th January 2020 Global crude steel production increased by 3.4% year-on-year to 1.87-billion tonnes in 2019, despite output having contracted in all regions, except Asia and the Middle East, industry association, the World Steel Association (worldsteel), reports. Asia produced 1.34-billion tonnes of crude steel... →

Averda secures three-year AMSA contract

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 27th January 2020 End-to-end waste management company Averda has been awarded a three-year contract by steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) for the collection, transportation and disposal of several complex waste streams including sludge, coal tar, oil and grease, effluent, borax and phosphates,... →

Commission recommends tribunal approve Barnes Reinforcing buyout

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th January 2020 The Competition Commission has recommended to the Competition Tribunal that it approve a proposed transaction whereby Barnes Group Holdings intends to acquire Barnes Reinforcing (BRI). Barnes Group manufactures steel tubes, pipes, black galvanised wire, and fencing posts and gates, as well as... →

Brother Group gets go ahead to buy Lanxess CISA, chrome tanning salts business

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th January 2020 The Competition Commission has approved the proposed merger whereby Brother Industrial South Africa (Brothers SA) wants to acquire Lanxess CISA and the chrome chemicals business of Lanxess SA. Brothers SA was established by the Brother Group to effect the transaction. The group is involved in... →

Ramaphosa presents sustainability award to casting producer

24th January 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa presented local automotive casting producer Atlantis Foundries with the prestigious Best Brownfield / Expansion Project award at the 2019 Investment Conference in Sandton held in November. The award is in recognition of the company’s efforts towards its continued... →

CREATING LOCAL VALUE The award is in recognition of automotive component manufacturers in SA who create value in South Africa and contribute to exports and GDP

Component manufacturer ‘gears up’ for new automotive business

24th January 2020 Local chassis manufacturer KLT Automotive and Tubular Products South Africa is the only independent chassis manufacturer in Africa, supplying chassis frames and other high-tech components to motor vehicle manufacturers. It is also one of eight automotive component manufacturers which, according... →

STEELY PARTNERSHIPS Allied Steelrode's steel processing equipment allows the company to supply a wide range of products and sizes to the automotive component manufacturing sector

Local supplier grows through development programme

By: Cameron Mackay 24th January 2020 Local automotive tool manufacturer and supplier Naicker Toolmakers has benefited from completing nonprofit organisation Automotive Supply Chain Competitiveness Initiative’s (ASCCI’s) Black Supplier Development Programme (BSDP). Naicker Toolmakers began its involvement in the programme in May... →

DEVELOPING LOCAL SUPPLIERS The BSDP aims to drive transformation and skills sharing in the automotive sector by facilitating access to markets for component manufacturers like Naicker Toolmakers

Global sights set for export association

By: Mamaili Mamaila 24th January 2020 Steel industry association the Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa (Steasa) and some of its members will participate at the national pavilion at the International Wire and Tube Trade Fair 2020. →

SOARING HIGHER Exports of high-carbon and low-alloy steel tubes and pipes remain on an upward trajectory and are resilient amid export competitiveness challenges

AMSA warns of big 2019 loss, as it sheds more than 1 000 jobs

By: Terence Creamer 23rd January 2020 JSE-listed steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) warned on Thursday that it would swing back into a large lossmaking position following an “exceptionally difficult” 2019 financial year, which the company described as the most challenging for the steel industry since the Global... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Wind-down of Saldanha Works (pictured) anticipated to be largely completed by the end of the first quarter

First group of MSI welder trainees graduate

By: Yvonne Silaule 22nd January 2020 More than 20 aspiring welding entrepreneurs have graduated after completing a training course under the Mpumalanga Informal Welders Recruitment Programme, which was organised by the Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (MSI), the Small Enterprise Development Agency and the Manufacturing, Engineering... →

Iron-ore demand to slow, while seaborne supply rises

By: Simone Liedtke 21st January 2020 Slower demand growth, especially in China, and a decent recovery in seaborne supply is expected to continue to feature prominently in the iron-ore industry this year, says global energy, chemicals, renewables, metals and mining research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac). Prices are... →

World risks 'disaster' as reuse of natural resources declines

By: Reuters 21st January 2020 The proportion of raw materials the world is reusing has fallen, researchers said on Tuesday, warning of a "global disaster" as annual consumption of natural resources rose to 100-billion tonnes for the first time. Just 8.6% of the 100-billion tonnes of materials – including minerals, metals,... →

South African chrome firms warn of more than 1 200 job cuts

By: Reuters 21st January 2020 South African chrome firms on Monday warned of more than 1 200 potential job cuts, citing power cuts, rising electricity tariffs and increased competition from overseas. The potential layoffs highlight the risks posed to Africa's most industrialised economy by struggling state power utility... →

Glencore, Merafe to retrench Rustenburg Smelter employees

By: Simone Liedtke 17th January 2020 Global miner Glencore Alloys and Merafe Resources have started a Section 189A process. The companies confirmed on Friday that written notice had been given to its employees at its joint venture (JV), the Rustenburg Smelter, in the North West. →

Seifsa welcomes lower repo rate

By: Simone Liedtke 17th January 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has welcomed the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB’s) decision to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points, thereby “providing another boost to the stagnant economy”. The federation’s economist Marique Kruger is of the... →

Company expands into boiler manufacturing

By: Cameron Mackay 17th January 2020 Boiler management, consulting, engineering and quality-assurance services provider GM Boiler and Steam Consulting Engineering (GMB) will continue to expand its business this year to include the manufacturing of boilers and boiler components for plant and production industries. Last year, the... →

BOILER UPKEEP The company’s knowledge and expertise in refurbishment services has become vital for the maintenance of second- and third-hand boilers

Despite IRP gaps, the outlook for solar in SA has strengthened

By: Terence Creamer 17th January 2020 One of the first questions posed to Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe after Cabinet finally approved the 2019 edition of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) in October related to the ongoing capacity addition gaps for solar photovoltaic (PV). While the IRP 2019 envisages... →

ELB to restructure Engineering Services business

By: Simone Liedtke 8th January 2020 Engineering services company ELB plans to restructure its Engineering Services business, downsize its head office function and possibly sell its Australian equipment business, ELB Australasia. This is in response to a depressed trading environment, as well as the losses incurred on the Gamsberg... →

Ebrahim welcomes potential Saldanha Steel buyers

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th December 2019 Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel outlined, in a Parliamentary reply this week, the efforts taken by government to help make a positive case for why steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) should not close down its Saldanha Steel Works operation. Patel said four potential... →

Top gold sector investor demands more action on carbon emissions

By: Reuters 11th December 2019 South Africa's biggest money manager has written to 22 gold mining companies asking them to disclose data on the emissions they cause, adding to pressure on the resources sector to tackle climate change. Investec Asset Management, which manages around £111-billion, including over $1-billion in... →

Edenville inks two key coal supply contracts

By: Simone Liedtke 11th December 2019 Aim-listed Edenville Energy has signed two new significant contracts to supply washed coal from the company’s flagship Rukwa coal project, in western Tanzania. The two contracts are for the supply of up to 6 000 t and up to 3 000 t, respectively, of washed coal a month to industrial customers in... →

Afarak warns of retrenchments at South African subsidiaries

By: Simone Liedtke 9th December 2019 Specialist alloy producer Afarak has said two of its South African subsidiaries – Afarak Mogale and Ilitha Mining – might retrench some employees. The subsidiaries have issued a notice, in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, to start to a 90-day period of consultations with workers... →

Apple buys first carbon-free aluminium from Alcoa, Rio Tinto JV

By: Simone Liedtke 6th December 2019 Technology company Apple has bought the first-ever commercial batch of carbon-free aluminium from a joint venture (JV) between two aluminum suppliers. The metal is being made by Elysis, the Montreal-based JV of Alcoa and Rio Tinto. The JV was established last year, with $144-million in funding... →

Local component supplier celebrates half-century

6th December 2019 Automotive aftermarket supplier Autobax is celebrating its fiftieth year in operation since its beginnings as an engine parts agency, selling mainly pistons but also other components. “Notably, Autobax was the first acquisition of wholesale and retail bearing and transmission equipment company... →

ABOVE THE BELT Autobax supplies quality-branded automotive parts from belts and chains to bearing kits and allied products

Manufacturers join forces for sector development

6th December 2019 In the spirit of Kyodo, automotive manufacturers Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) and Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) have joined forces to create a black supplier development programme for local manufacturer Algoa Components Manufacturers (ACM). When ACM reported concerns about the future... →

'COMPONENT' SOCIAL INVESTMENT Both Toyota and Isuzu have undertaken the responsibility of developing an beleaguered local manufacturer

Positive outlook promotes investment in sector

6th December 2019 In light of the positive industry outlook for major automotive manufacturers such as Nissan, steel distributor Allied Steelrode has invested in process technology to assist its predominantly automotive component sector clients. Allied Steelrode's suite of steel beneficiation equipment ranges from... →

STEELY INVESTMENT Allied Steelrode CEO Arun Chadha and automotive sales GM Lee-Ann Geyser hope to meet customer expectations through investing in new equipment

Silicone gasket maker well received

By: Halima Frost 6th December 2019 Since launching its RTV Silicone Gasket Maker, industrial products and adhesives manufacturer Pratley says there has been a positive uptake by the automotive component and maintenance sectors. The gasket maker is an aftermarket product aimed at vehicle mechanics who repair automotive components... →

STICK IT Pratley's silicone gasket maker has been well received by the automotive sector

Govt delaying AMSA’s inevitable demise, says Neasa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th December 2019 The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) says government is not helping anyone by endeavouring to keep ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) Saldanha Steel Works plant open. “Over and above the 20% duties preventing the downstream steel industry from importing cheaper and... →

Expressions of interest received for AMSA’s Saldanha Steelworks

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd December 2019 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has received expressions of interest from two parties that may want to buy the Saldanha Steelworks from ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA). AMSA last month announced that it would close Saldanha Steel following an operational review of its... →

New initiatives to support customers begin

29th November 2019 Vertically integrated filtration company Donaldson Filtration Solutions is embarking on new initiatives to further streamline the company’s offerings to the market and effectively support customer expectations. “We took a strategic decision to source our modular equipment directly from our... →

Heat exchangers market value to grow by 2026

29th November 2019 The global heat exchangers market accounted for revenue of about $16.62-million in 2018 and is anticipated to generate about $29.31-million by 2026, according to a report published by global market research firm Allied Market Research. The market is projected to grow at a compound yearly growth... →

South Africa must prepare for post-AMSA dispensation – Neasa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 27th November 2019 The downstream steel industry cannot be the “saving grace” of struggling steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), National Employer Association of South Africa (Neasa) CE Gerhard Papenfus has said. Engineering News Online this month reported that AMSA would undertake an orderly and... →

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