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Metals News

Metals, engineering sector set to grow amid challenges

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 1st March 2019 Despite continuous challenges in recent years, the local metals and engineering sector is expected to show moderate growth of 1.8% this year. The various subsectors will register varied levels of growth, with some expanding and others contracting during the year. This is according to the Steel... →

NDT equipment analyses, measures carbon content in alloys

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 1st March 2019 Vereeniging-based nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment provider GammaTec NDT Supplies is currently introducing the SciAps Z-200 C+, which is the only handheld analyser on the market capable of analysing carbon content in alloys, to the African market. GammaTec is the official distributor for... →

SCIAPS Z-200 C The equipment analyses carbon content in carbon and stainless steels using the technique of a handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Global crude steel production increases 1% y/y – worldsteel

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th February 2019 World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 146.7-million tonnes in January – 1% higher year-on-year. China’s crude steel production for January was 75-million tonnes, an increase of 4.3% compared with January 2018. →

Aveng outlines piecemeal sale process being pursued at Grinaker-LTA

By: Terence Creamer 26th February 2019 JSE-listed construction and engineering group Aveng says the disposal process for Grinaker-LTA is well advanced, but has also confirmed that the company will not be sold as a single going concern. The R95-million sale of Aveng Water has already been agreed and newly appointed CEO Sean Flanagan... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Aveng executive chairperson Eric Diack and CEO Sean Flanagan

Now is the time to focus on Industry 4.0 – CEA chairperson

By: Shannon de Ryhove 22nd February 2019 With 2019 ushering in new executive leadership at employer and employee representative association, the Constructional Engineering Association of South Africa (CEA), chairperson Rajen Govender believes that it is the ideal time to focus on the association and industry’s readiness for the Fourth... →

CEA chairperson Rajen Govender speaking about the future of the association and the impact of Industry 4.0 on the metals and engineering industry. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Linhleko Projects, FLSmidth partner to boost Waterval chrome production by 20%

By: Nadine James 21st February 2019 Black-owned fabrication and mining installations company Linhleko Projects this week officially launched its cooperation agreement with FLSmidth – a 50/50 profit sharing agreement in which Linhleko uses FLSmidth’s REFLUX Classifier (RC) technology to enhance chrome recovery from... →

Another fuel levy increase lies ahead, carbon tax to be implemented

By: Simone Liedtke 20th February 2019 A carbon tax on fuel of 9c/l on petrol and 10c/l on diesel will become effective from June 5, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said on Wednesday. Further, the general fuel levy will increase by 15c/l for petrol and diesel from April 3, while the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy will be increased by... →

Retrenchments at South32’s Hillside smelter could affect up to 500 jobs – Solidarity

By: Nadine James 19th February 2019 Trade union Solidarity on Tuesday said it had received a retrenchment notice from South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter, in Richards Bay. The trade union stated that the retrenchment process could impact the lives of up to 30 000 people and, consequently, the entire Richards Bay area. →

Nampak marks 50 years on JSE amid moves to streamline and reduce environmental footprint

By: Terence Creamer 19th February 2019 Packaging group Nampak, which celebrated 50 years on the JSE on February 19, is a markedly different business from the one that has its roots in a cardboard box-making factory established by John Herzberg in Waterkant Street, Cape Town, in 1918. Rising levels of automation across a portfolio of... →

Constitutional Court upholds Aquila’s Gravenhage manganese mining right

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th February 2019 The Constitutional Court has upheld a High Court judgment granting China-based Baowu Group subsidiary, Aquila Steel, a mining right over its Gravenhage manganese deposit, located in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. Aquila’s planned development of Gravenhage has been delayed for several... →

Pan African’s Elikhulu project ups production

14th February 2019 African-focused metals producer Pan African Resources’ Elikhulu operation, which is located in Evander, Mpumalanga is achieving a better-than-expected production performance, investors and media were told during a site visit last month. Nadine James tells us more. →

Pan African’s Elikhulu project ups production

Metals, engineering sector set for third consecutive year of growth – Seifsa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th February 2019 The metals and engineering sector is set to grow for the third consecutive year in 2019, despite the past year having been generally challenging for both the global and domestic economies. This is according to the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), which... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa chief economist Dr Michael Ade

Steel group to approach Nersa for power-tariff relief

By: Terence Creamer 7th February 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it will submit site-specific applications to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to secure tariff relief from Eskom for its operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. The submissions will be made in line with... →

AMSA CEO Kobus Verster on the threat posed by power hikes and on the group's plan to approach the regulator for relief. Camera Work & Editing: Darlene Creamer. Recorded: 7.2.2019

New graphite factory bolsters mining, foundry product offerings

By: Schalk Burger 7th February 2019 A new graphite facility, Graphite Freezeline Solutions, was opened last month on industrial engineering firm Thos Begbie’s manufacturing campus, in Middelburg. It will reduce the time to manufacture products that include graphite components, especially for the mining and foundry industry, says... →

GFS FACILITY OPENING Hercules van der Merwe at the Graphite Freezeline Solutions facility opening

AMSA reports first profit since 2010 on back of higher steel prices

By: Terence Creamer 7th February 2019 Following years of sustained losses, steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) reported a full-year profit in 2018, on the back of a 12% rise in average realised prices and a 5% increase in sales volumes, supported by a 21% rise in export sales. The company last reported a full-year profit... →

New AMSA CFO Desmond Maharaj on the contribution made by the sale of Macsteel International Holdings to AMSA's net borrowings. Camera Work & Editing: Darlene Creamer. Recorded: 7.2.2019

Hudaco maintains FY18 dividend despite economic headwinds

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st February 2019 JSE-listed engineering consumables supplier Hudaco Industries maintained its final dividend for 2018 at 380c apiece, despite having experienced an “especially challenging” year. The company reported a 3% year-on-year decrease in operating profit to R655-million. →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Hudaco CFO Clifford Amoils and Hudaco CE Graham Dunford

AMSA expects to swing to FY18 profit

By: Simone Liedtke 1st February 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) expects to report headline earnings a share of 84c to 94c for the year ended December 31. This compares with a headline loss a share of 203c in 2017. →

Tribunal prohibits merger of steel drum makers Rheem and Greif

By: Schalk Burger 31st January 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Thursday announced that it had prohibited the proposed merger between industrial packaging companies Rheem and Greif, in which Greif would have acquired a majority interest in Rheem. International Greif and local Rheem are suppliers of industrial packaging products,... →

Global crude steel increased by 4.6% in 2018

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th January 2019 Global crude steel production reached 1.81-billion tonnes in 2018 – 4.6% year-on-year increase, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) reported on Friday. Worldsteel pointed out that crude steel production had increased in all regions, except for the European Union (EU), which recorded a 0.3%... →

Boiler relocation project near completion

By: Thabi Madiba 25th January 2019 Boiler maintenance and installations provider Boiler and Industrial Plant hopes to complete the boiler relocation project it has been working on for manufacturer United National Breweries (UNB), commonly known as Ijuba breweries, by the end of this month. The project, valued at R2-million,... →

MAINTENANCE The installation of a pumped condensate system and a refurbished pressure control system at the Majola Tea project were completed

Integrated engineering supply chains require small and large firms

By: Schalk Burger 25th January 2019 Large firms are key to transforming the South African engineering sector as part of a business ecosystem that includes smaller, agile and large entities driving industry to be more innovative, diverse and responsive during fluid and volatile times, says multinational engineering consultancy... →

Acquisition of German company confirmed

25th January 2019 The acquisition of Germany-based planetary drives producer O&K Antriebstechnik GmbH by Italian gear motors, drive systems and planetary gearboxes producer Bonfiglioli and Italian transmission systems producer Carraro has made Bonfiglioli the sole owner of O&K Antriebstechnik GmbH. The process,... →

BONFIGLIOLI AS GLOBAL LEADER The company's goal is to continue expanding into heavy construction, mining machinery, marine, port and airport equipment markets

Expanded products portfolio leads to new opportunities

By: Cameron Mackay 25th January 2019 New markets and opportunities have arisen after technical solutions provider BMG expanded its products portfolio with the addition of Fenner conveyor belting products last year. “BMG decided to sign a long-term agreement in 2018 with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) solid woven conveyor belting products... →

FENNER PRODUCT GROUP 2018 The extended scope has put BMG in a position to deal with conveyors clients

Motor Scan beneficial for various sectors

By: Cameron Mackay 25th January 2019 With leveraging digital technology said to be key to participation in the next wave of economic growth, the launch of the WEG Motor Scan has become a reality for South African companies in various sectors, says motors and controls manufacturer Zest WEG Group rotating machinery sales manager... →

WEG MOTOR SCAN The sensor measures the vibration, temperature and operational hours of electric motors to detect irregularities

ArcelorMittal's Essar bid delays planned JV with SAIL -official

By: Reuters 23rd January 2019 ArcelorMittal's prolonged bid to buy debt-ridden Essar Steel is delaying the world's biggest steelmaker's joint venture with state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), India's steel minister and SAIL's chairman said. India's biggest state-owned steel company SAIL and billionaire Lakshmi... →

AMSA extends water treatment contract with Veolia Water Technologies

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd January 2019 Veolia Water Technologies South Africa has been re-awarded the operational and chemical water treatment contract for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) Vanderbijlpark Works operation. Veolia has operated the facility’s water-related infrastructure and supplied and managed its chemical dosing... →

The thermal desalination plants ensure optimum salinity of the water cycle at the main water treatment plant

Tripartite expo to cater for bigger PVP audience

By: Cameron Mackay 18th January 2019 The Pumps, Valves & Pipes Africa (PVP) 2019 international trade exhibition and conference is expected to welcome more than 10 500 industry professionals at this year’s event. The 2019 PVP Africa event, which will take place from June 11 to 13, in Johannesburg, at Gallagher Convention Centre, is... →

OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING New partnership opportunities in a range of industries will create more opportunities for growth in the relevant sectors

Group Five to sell Everite, Sky Sands subsidiaries for R480m

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th January 2019 Construction firm Group Five will sell its Everite and Sky Sands subsidiaries to a consortium comprising Trinitas Private Equity and Agile Capital for R480-million. The subsidiaries form part of the firm's manufacturing cluster. →

Transnet to pursue ‘just and equitable’ settlements with rail OEMs awarded ‘unlawful’ contracts

By: Terence Creamer 17th January 2019 Having determined the procurement of 1 064 diesel and electric locomotives to be “irregular and unlawful”, Transnet has communicated its intention to review contracts awarded to four original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2015. The State-owned freight logistics group has also indicated that... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Transnet chairperson Dr Popo Molefe

EU countries clear steel import curb until July 2021

By: Reuters 16th January 2019 The European Union (EU) will limit imports of steel into the bloc following US President Donald Trump's imposition of metals tariffs after EU governments backed the plan in a vote on Wednesday. It means that all steel imports will be subject to an effective cap until July 2021 to counter concerns... →

China starts new recycling drive as foreign trash ban widens

By: Reuters 15th January 2019 China plans to launch 100 new large-scale recycling "bases" by the end of next year, part of a campaign to make better use of its resources after extending a ban on foreign trash imports. A long manufacturing boom has saddled China with millions of tonnes of waste, much of which is buried in... →

China to focus on improving steel capacity structure – assn chief

By: Reuters 14th January 2019 China's steel industry will shift its focus to optimising capacity structure, including products, location and ownership, in 2019, from reducing overall capacity, said an executive of the country's iron and steel association on Monday. China is entering the fourth year of its supply-side reform... →

Mazda develops world’s first cold-stamped parts using 1 310 MPa-class steel

By: Irma Venter 10th January 2019 Mazda Motor Corporation, working separately with Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation and JFE Steel Corporation, has developed the world’s first cold-stamped vehicle body parts made from 1 310 MPa-class high-strength steel. The parts are used in Mazda’s new-generation Skyactiv vehicle... →

EU expected to clear steel import curb after Trump tariffs

By: Reuters 9th January 2019 European Union countries are expected to next week approve a scheme to limit imports of steel into the bloc following US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium entering the United States. The vote on Jan. 16 would put in place an effective cap on steel imports for... →

Enforcing local procurement rules would help offset weak demand

By: Terence Creamer 14th December 2018 Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) wants government to take decisive action in 2019 to ensure that departments and State-owned companies (SoCs) honour their obligations to purchase designated steel products from domestic manufacturers. The organisation is also... →

Seifsa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba reflects back on 2018 and offer insight into prospects for the metals and engineering sector n 2019. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd

South Africa's manufacturing output jumps, boosting rand

By: Reuters 11th December 2018 South Africa's manufacturing output rose more than expected in October to its highest level since June 2016, data showed on Tuesday, lifting the rand as the economy showed further signs of recovering from recession. Africa's most industrialised economy slipped into recession after contractions in... →

3D printing surging globally and South Africa is making its mark

By: Rebecca Campbell 7th December 2018 The global take-off of Additive Manufacturing (AM, popularly called 3D printing), it is now apparent, took place some six years ago. "2012 was a turning point in AM, globally," consultancy Wohlers Associates President Terry Wohlers tells "Engineering News". "The technology really gained... →

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Aluminium Business Engineering Export Flow Hulamin Manufacturing Packaging Compressor Design Electrical Energy Eskom Fire Gas Generators Industrial Installation Instrumentation Logistics Mining Nuclear Power PROJECT Project Management Projects Pumps Safety Stainless Steel Storage ... more

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