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Metals & Engineering News

Seifsa says high court ruling in favour of the DTIC ‘gives hope’

By: Simone Liedtke 6th August 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has welcomed the High Court ruling in favour of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in a procurement matter, saying that it will boost struggling local businesses amid the pandemic-induced economic... →

Penguin guano seen from space leads to discovery of new colonies

By: Bloomberg 5th August 2020 Satellite-mapping technology that detects stains on the ice from penguin droppings has revealed there are nearly 20% more Emperor colonies than previously identified in fast-warming Antarctica. Eleven new colonies of the species were found, taking the census to 61 across the polar continent,... →

Neasa approaches High Court to stop new steel import duties

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd August 2020 The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) has filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court to stop the implementation by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) of a 10% import tariff and custom duties on coated flat-rolled products.... →

Treasury invites comment on Itac metal export tax rates recommendations

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd August 2020 The National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (Sars) have published, for public comment, the various draft taxation documents, including the proposed introduction of an export tax on scrap metals. This follows after Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel issued a... →

Steely resolve, innovation continue despite lockdown

By: Darren Parker 31st July 2020 Although production came to a halt over the past two months, light-steel-frame building materials supplier Etex South Africa – formerly known as Marley Building Systems – continued planning and innovating throughout the Covid-19 lockdown so that it would be well positioned to take advantage of... →

MULTIPLE USES Light-steel-frame buildings can be repurposed, modified or moved to a new location with relative ease

Efficient wagon handling lowers operational costs

31st July 2020 The safe and efficient offloading of materials from both rail wagons and road trucks improves efficiencies, lowers operating costs and protects product integrity during bulk handling, says materials handling company Specialised Container Agencies (SCA). “SCA focuses on the design of containerised... →

ON TRACK TIPPER The use of containerised bulk materials handling solutions ensures safe and efficient offloading in road and rail hauling

Specialised steel extends life of ore wagons

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Stainless steel manufacturer Columbus Stainless advocates that the much longer life span of ore wagons achieved using 3CR12, makes it clear why stainless steel is the cost-effective choice for equipment in ore-handling processes. “Owing to its excellent properties in wet sliding conditions, the... →

UP ORE DOWN Wagons manufactured by Columbus Stainless using 3CR12 transport ore for substantially longer with less degradation than those made of mild steel or other materials

Manufacturer obtains welding certification

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholdings (TMH) Africa, which acts as the centre of excellence for narrow-gauge rolling stock within the TMH Group, announced in March that it had been awarded the ISO 3834 welding certification. The certification was awarded to the company by the Southern... →

ACCREDITED FUSION Transmashholdings Africa have been awarded an International Standards Organisation 3843 welding certification which will help draw in new clients for the company

Workshop conversion back on track

By: Halima Frost 31st July 2020 Although the conversion of railroad equipment supplier Gibela Rail Transport Consortium’s training centre into a traction motor manufacturing workshop has been delayed because of Covid-19, the project is again on track for completion by the end of the year. The company says that the electrical... →

KEEP MOTORING Although setbacks have been faced Gibela is back on track to start manufacturing its traction motors by year end

AMSA seeks import protection on hot-rolled coil and heavy beams

By: Terence Creamer 30th July 2020 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has submitted two separate applications to the International Trade and Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) requesting import protection on hot-rolled coil (HRC) and heavy structural beams respectively. The HRC application seeks to... →

Agbaja trial mining progresses, albeit slowly

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th July 2020 ASX-listed Kogi Iron says it has continued with reduced activities in Nigeria throughout June and July, owing to limited interstate and international travel. Trial iron-ore mining at the company’s Agbaja project is also only progressing slowly owing to heavy rains and travel restrictions. →

AMSA implements large-scale, but ‘flexible’, labour reorganisation as Covid-19 bites

By: Terence Creamer 30th July 2020 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which reported a loss of R2.6-billion for the interim period to June 30, warned on Thursday that it expected steel demand to remain subdued for the foreseeable future and indicated that it was pushing ahead with a large-scale labour... →

ArcelorMittal South Arica CEO Kobus Verster

ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Kobus Verster presenting a slide on market conditions in South Africa during the group's interim results presentation. Video by: Nicholas Boyd & Kutlwano Matala.

Seifsa warns of impact of higher electricity tariffs on metals, engineering sector

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 29th July 2020 Industry organisation, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) says it is “disappointed” about the recent court judgment against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The judgment stated that Nersa had acted unfairly in the Multi-Year Price... →

Company presents new SmartBalancer ECO

17th July 2020 Unbalances on rotors are the cause of at least half of all faults on machines and systems. With the new SmartBalancer ECO from testing solutions provider Schenck RoTec, service and maintenance technicians can identify these unbalances easily and directly at the location where they occur. The... →

FIXING FAULTS With the SmartBalancer from Schenck RoTec, service technicians and maintainers easily identify unbalances which cause faults on machines at the location they occur

Centre’s expertise can improve asset testing

By: Cameron Mackay 17th July 2020 The Centre for Asset Integrity Management (C-AIM Consult), a business unit of research organisation Enterprises University of Pretoria (UP), can serve the local industry with key capabilities through its expertise in vibration-based condition monitoring and structural health monitoring. “These... →

SPECIALIST TESTING CAPABILITIES C-AIM provides engineering consulting services to assist industry in optimally managing the structural integrity of physical assets over their life cycles

SA’s ferrochrome retreat points to steady erosion of competitiveness

By: Nadine James 17th July 2020 The local chromium industry is ostensibly being cut out of global ferrochrome production, owing to its eroding competitiveness and the comparatively ‘low-hanging fruit’ of supplying chromite. While it is seemingly economically expedient at present, the continued decline in local ferrochrome... →

AMSA warns of increased interim loss

By: Creamer Media Reporter 16th July 2020 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) expects its headline loss for the six months ended June 30 to increase by at least R2-billion. It said in a trading update on July 16 that its loss for the period would increase by at least R1.7-billion. →

IZA publishes ‘Essentials of Galvanizing’ booklet

By: Simone Liedtke 16th July 2020 The International Zinc Association (IZA) has published its newest guide on the ‘Essentials of Galvanizing’, the primary purpose of which is to be a key reference for engineers and designers globally. Speaking during the booklet’s virtual launch on July 15, IZA’s Simon Norton explained that the... →

Solidarity welcomes DTIC’s move to investigate scrap metal supply

By: Simone Liedtke 14th July 2020 Trade union Solidarity has welcomed Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel’s trade policy directive, which proposes an investigation into measures to help support the South African metals industry, which is facing significant challenges. The directive, which was published last month, follows... →

Kobe, Vale and Mitsui team up on low CO2 iron-making

By: Creamer Media Reporter 13th July 2020 Japanese steelmaker Kobe Steel is collaborating with the iron-ore major Vale and global trading and investment company Mitsui on providing low carbon dioxide (CO2) iron metallic and iron-making solutions. Kobe says the direct reduction iron-making technology of its US subsidiary, Midrex... →

Direct reduced iron is a raw material for steelmaking made by reducing iron-ore.

Monitor for food and beverage industry launched

10th July 2020 Process automation company Endress + Hauser launched its innovative Liquitrend QMW43 device that helps ensure food safety and increases food quality in March. “This compact multivariable device can be used to detect the continuous build-up of liquids and can also be used to measure conductivity,”... →

German foam proportioner brought to local market

By: Cameron Mackay 10th July 2020 The latest Generation III foam agent proportioners of German fire-protection systems provider FireDos GmbH is in the final stages of certification and release to the global market. As exclusive suppliers of the product in Southern Africa, special risk fire-protection equipment supplier DoseTech... →

GERMAN SOLUTIONS IN SA 255 proportioner units with all model flow options have been delivered to South Africa to date

Hulamin becomes first aluminium semi-fabricator to achieve emissions milestone

By: Donna Slater 9th July 2020 Aluminium products manufacturer Hulamin reports that it has become the first global aluminium semi-fabricator to have a greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi mobilises companies to set science-based targets and boost their... →

South Africa's manufacturing output down 49.4% on Covid-19 impact

By: Simone Liedtke 9th July 2020 South Africa's manufacturing production decreased by 49.4% year-on-year in April. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports that the largest contributors to this decline was the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment sector, where output decreased by 98%... →

Saisi supports govt’s step towards export tax on scrap metal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th July 2020 The South African Iron and Steel Institute (Saisi) has welcomed government’s directive for the scrap metal supply chain to be supported. Saisi believes it is of national importance that the viability of the ferrous scrap and steel sectors be maintained. →

PSV business rescue plan presentation delayed

By: Simone Liedtke 8th July 2020 The business rescue practitioners handling industrial holding company PSV Holdings’ business rescue process have extended the date for presentation of the business rescue plan to July 13. More than 50% of PSV’s creditors had agreed to the extention. →

Getting it right: Kogi Iron

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th July 2020 Mining Weekly incorrectly reported on July 7 that ASX-listed Kogi Iron had received a large investment from European funds management company Torridon Investments Research to develop its Agbaja cast steel project, in Nigeria. However, Torridon, which is a European funds manager with billions of... →

Correction: Kogi Iron

By: Schalk Burger 7th July 2020 Mining Weekly incorrectly reported on July 7 that ASX-listed Kogi Iron had received a large investment from European fund management company Torridon Investments Research to develop its Agbaja cast steel project, in Nigeria. However, Torridon, which is a European fund manager with billions of... →

Seifsa eagerly awaits scrap metal industry relief

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th July 2020 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has welcomed government's announcement that it has tasked the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) of South Africa to look into measures to support the metals and engineering (M&E) sector. Seifsa says it... →

Patel directs Itac to look into scrap metal price preference system

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd July 2020 Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has issued a trade policy directive to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) to urgently look into measures to help support the scrap metals industry. Patel said the industry was facing severe challenges owing to... →

ECSA suspends four Satellite Centres in light of Covid-19

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd July 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged and shifted the premise upon which the Engineering Council of South Africa’s (ECSA’s) Satellite Centres were introduced, leading to the suspension these four centres, says ECSA acting strategic services executive Millicent Kabwe. In email correspondence to... →

Get going with galvanizing: new book for engineers from IZA

By: Shannon de Ryhove 3rd July 2020 The International Zinc Association (IZA) will launch its new publication, The Essentials of Galvanizing, during a webinar hosted by Creamer Media Contract Publishing on July 15, 2020. The publication offers the civil engineering and construction industry valuable insights into the importance of... →

New approach adopted in uncertain steel market

By: Darren Parker 3rd July 2020 Steel merchant Macsteel has been re-evaluating its business strategy, owing to a steady decline in steel consumption over the past five years, with 2019 being a “new low” and the start of 2020 faring just as poorly – a situation that has been exacerbated by the lockdown because of Covid-19.... →

BUILDING THE RIGHT WAY Macsteel aims to build its market share through strong, well-established and sustainable relationships with customers

New digital technologies improve manufacturing capabilities

3rd July 2020 Metallurgical plant supplier SMS group has developed digital technology called the X-Pact MES 4.0, along with the Safety Locator Suite system, which both aid in the digital transformation of organisations and help to gain faster insights and more informed management decision-making, with the... →

Automation reduces costs, increases productivity

By: Darren Parker 3rd July 2020 With companies that invest in technology and automation showing signs of being more adaptable and strategically well positioned to take advantage of an inevitable upswing in the economy, local manufacturer and supplier of cutting and welding equipment consumables as well as distributor of steel... →

ANDREW POOLE Companies which take the risk and invest are more agile, more productive and better positioned to diversify and access new markets

Plant productivity could be increased by virtual support

3rd July 2020 Metallurgical plant supplier SMS group aims to increase the technical resources of its clients’ plants by using local service teams from SMS Group with virtual support from global experts around the world using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. The aim is to improve... →

Future order book to relieve pressure for fabricator

By: Darren Parker 3rd July 2020 Although the strategic decision to continue to pay employees full salaries during the Level 5 lockdown in April put pressure on its cashflow, steel fabricator and erector Betterect believes a healthy order book of projects for the next 18 months should ensure that the pressure will be relieved.... →

NICOLETTE SKJOLDHAMMER
The ‘Team Africa’ mindset has been embraced by several industry stakeholders since its inception

Betterect MD Nicolette Skjoldhammer discusses the company’s strategic decisions, facility upgrades and the concept of ‘Team Africa’. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 12.06.2020

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