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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... →

Vale to shutter Mozambique coal operations for three months

By: Bloomberg 27th November 2019 Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, plans to place its Mozambican coal operations on maintenance for three months, essentially closing the tap on about one-third of the southeast African country’s export earnings. The move could have severe implications for the country’s balance of payments and... →

Crude steel output slumps globally in October

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th November 2019 Global crude steel production decreased by 2.8% year-on-year in October to 151-million tonnes. World Steel Association reported on Tuesday that China’s production was 0.6% lower year-on-year at 81.5-million tonnes, while India’s production was 3.4% lower year-on-year at 9.1-million tonnes. →

Climate risk widely acknowledged, but rarely incorporated into strategy

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th November 2019 The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) says that although the majority of South African corporate companies recognise climate change as an already occurring and imminently worsening risk, they are slow to mitigate and manage these risks, at least according to publicly accessible information.... →

Newcastle mill now firmly in ArcelorMittal South Africa’s restructuring crosshairs

By: Terence Creamer 25th November 2019 The focus of steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) strategic asset footprint review has shifted to its Newcastle mill, in KwaZulu-Natal, following the completion of the first phase of the review, which resulted in a decision to close the Saldanha Steel operation in the Western... →

Vanderbijlpark, pictured, may become AMSA's only liquid-steel producer should company decide to halt Newcastle production

Anglo American joins ResponsibleSteel initiative

By: Creamer Media Reporter 25th November 2019 Diversified miner Anglo American has become a member of ResponsibleSteel, a nonprofit organisation and the steel industry's first global, multi-stakeholder standard and certification programme. ResponsibleSteel covers the entire steel supply chain, from raw material supply through steel... →

Cloud-based software anchors steel construction design

By: Halima Frost 22nd November 2019 Construction industry services and technology provider Hilti South Africa’s new, fully cloud-based steel anchor design software Profis has been well received in the South African construction sector. Launched in July, Profis Engineering is customised software used in the design of steel anchor... →

HARD JOB The new cloud-based software makes the design of steel erections, stiffeners and welding associated with the connection easier

Industry boasts third positive year despite global downturn

By: Halima Frost 22nd November 2019 Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) chief economist and commercial executive Dr Michael Ade says the local metals and engineering (M&E) industry has thus far had a third ‘good year’ in a row. This is in spite of the current challenge of increasing intermediate... →

BRIGHT FUTURE Improved trade to to the Southern African Development Community brings with it a positive outlook for the steel construction industry

Large contracts taking up fire rated cladding

By: Halima Frost 22nd November 2019 South African steel supplier Stalcor has successfully negotiated to supply its Alubond mineral core (A2) noncombustible façade cladding panels for State-owned Airports Company South Africa’s Western Precinct development, which is currently under way. “This is the fourth notable project where the... →

PRETTY LADY The A2 cladding on the Katherine towers is not only aesthetically pleasing but also noncombustible

Welding safety extends to petrochem industry

By: Theresa Bhowan 22nd November 2019 Welding fumes are known to be particularly poisonous and a contaminant to the surrounding air, which is why welding solutions provider Unique Welding focuses on advanced welding safety, particularly in the petrochemicals industry for companies such as integrated chemicals and petrochemicals... →

BREATHING EASY The powered, air-purifying respirator system not only eliminates welding fumes, but also petrochemical fumes

Alcoa joins the ICMM

By: Creamer Media Reporter 21st November 2019 US-headquartered bauxite, alumina and aluminium products producer Alcoa has become the twenty-seventh company to become a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), which brings together companies and regional and commodities associations to strengthen the mining industry's... →

Iron-ore futures reverse losses as steel prices extend gains

By: Reuters 19th November 2019 Chinese iron ore futures recouped early losses to extend their rally into a sixth straight session on Tuesday as steel prices stretched gains amid shrinking inventories and possible fresh output restrictions to curb air pollution. Dalian Commodity Exchange's most-traded iron ore contract , with... →

Shanghai rebar extends rally as steel margins recover

By: Reuters 18th November 2019 Rebar futures in China rose for a fifth consecutive session on Monday amid improving steel margins in the world's top producer of the construction and manufacturing material. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most-traded contract for the construction material, for delivery in January 2020, ended... →

Fuel for rockets, Zeppelins points toward green heat solution

By: Bloomberg 18th November 2019 It’s the most nettlesome problem in the quest to ditch fossil fuels: how can you get thousand-degree heat used in factory furnaces without pumping billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere? Heat-intensive processes like steelmaking and oil refineries are the starting point for... →

The Enel Fusina hydrogen plant near Venice, Italy.

Quality gratings can reduce maintenance and costs

By: Darren Parker 15th November 2019 Grating, stair treads, expanded metal and handrail manufacturer Vital Engineering has supplied its Vitex expanded metal range of raised expanded metal walkway gratings and the Vitex flattened range, for safety guarding applications, to various mining and process plants in the last six months. The... →

GRATE JOB All products supplied by Vital Engineering are produced in compliance with local and international safety standards

Modular installation systems fitted in abattoir

By: Darren Parker 15th November 2019 Multinational construction services company Hilti designed and supplied the modular installation systems to support wet services for chicken producer Early Bird Farms, in Olifantsfontein. Early Bird Farms has been refurbishing and refitting its operations as part of Project Phoenix, which... →

CRIZETTE VAN DEN BERGH The modular installation system is beneficial in terms of maintenance because of reduced downtime

Refurbished building boasts new materials

By: Darren Parker 15th November 2019 Shared workspace provider WeWork will officially open its newly refurbished 155 West street building, in Sandton, next month. The building, which is more than 25 years old, was previously occupied by health insurance provider Discovery before it was overhauled. →

NOT JUST A PRETTY FAÇADE The interior of the refurbished building includes upgraded safety features and improved facilities

Failing cities stymie South African bid to revive growth

By: Bloomberg 14th November 2019 South African municipalities’ inability to provide consistent power is exacerbating supply disruptions by the debt-stricken state electricity utility, hobbling efforts to revive the nation’s economy. While State-owned Eskom Holdings has subjected the country to controlled, timed blackouts... →

Mergence acquires controlling stake in Lasercraft

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th November 2019 Laser cutting company Lasercraft has completed a shareholder transaction with black-owned Mergence Group, enabling the company to obtain a Level 2 black economic empowerment rating. The transaction will provide the necessary capital for Lasercraft to continually invest in metal laser cutting,... →

Anglo upbeat on bulk commodities performance; Kumba cuts sales guidance

By: Simone Liedtke 12th November 2019 Following ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) decision to wind down its steel operations at Saldanha Works, in the Western Cape, Kumba Iron Ore has reduced its iron-ore sales guidance for the full year to between 41.5-million and 42.5-million tonnes. Initial guidance was set at between... →

Inaugural Africa wire, cable and tube conference gets under way in Jhb

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th November 2019 Research and consulting company CRU and the Southern Africa–German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), along with global trade shows, Wire & Tube as lead sponsor, on Monday kicked off the inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, which is being held until November 13 in Johannesburg.... →

CRU Wire and Cable head Michael Finch details the conference, and speaks briefly about the markets

Patel suggests AMSA sell Saldanha plant to avoid loss of industrial capacity

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th November 2019 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has expressed its disappointment at the decision by steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to retrench nearly 1 000 workers across the company and to put its Saldanha Works plant on care and maintenance. This followed after AMSA... →

Iron-ore output to show modest growth to 2028 – Fitch Solutions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th November 2019 Mine expansions in Brazil and increasing output from India, offset by declining output in China, will result in modest growth for global iron-ore production up to 2028, said research agency Fitch Solutions. Fitch Solutions on Tuesday published its global iron-ore mining outlook, stating that... →

AMSA to put Saldanha Works on care and maintenance

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th November 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has decided to undertake an orderly and commercial wind-down of steel operations at its Saldanha Works, with the intent to place the operation on care and maintenance. This follows the completion of the first phase of a review of the operational... →

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