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Metals sector in costly battle to turn green

By: Reuters 25th October 2019 Metals producers, from miners to smelters, are grappling with increasingly tough and costly environmental demands imposed by banks seeking cleaner investments. While the transition may prove overwhelming for smaller producers, larger companies are playing a long game, casting ahead to a period... →

Mining, metals companies partner with WEF on responsible sourcing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th October 2019 Seven mining and metals companies have partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to support the responsible sourcing of raw materials using blockchain technology. The Mining and Metals Blockchain Initiative was founded by diversified miners Antofagasta Minerals, Eurasian Resources Group... →

Correct use of consumables makes a good weld

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Branded welding supplier Unique Welding has significantly upgraded its range of stainless steel consumables to improve weld performance to combat a market flooded with low-quality imported stainless steel welding consumables, Unique Welding CEO Nazmi Adams tells Engineering News. In addition,... →

IMPORTANT ROLE The welding of stainless steel can be successfully achieved if the welder adheres to the industry rules and standards

Medium-term investment buoying stainless steel industry

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Despite a marked downturn in the global stainless steel industry, there are a few medium-term developments on the horizon for Southern Africa, notes research institute Afriforesight Commodities chief commodity economist Nathan Musson. “There are glimmers of hope in terms of investment in Southern... →

SPARKING INTEREST The stainless steel albeit somewhat stagnant offers a few sparks of investment interest

New membership structure set for stainless steel sector

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 The Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) is at a turning point in its history as it gears up for the future with the introduction of a new tiered membership model that will launch in March 2020, says Sassda acting executive director Michel Basson. As opposed to a... →

HOT TOPIC The restructuring of Sassda’s membership model aligns each member based on individual needs

Trio makes for steely supply

By: Halima Frost 25th October 2019 Three of South Africa’s most prominent companies in the stainless steel supply chain are completing a substantial supply to a gold mine in the Southern African Development Community. The project entails the supply of 250 t of grade 2304 stainless steel for the manufacture of ten tanks – the... →

RECOIL The knock-on effects of local supply were seen across the project in costs and time saved

SA exporting jobs and importing goods, Lasher Tools warns

By: Schalk Burger 25th October 2019 Human capital is the cornerstone of any successful commercial venture and is the foundation of economies, but South Africa must insist on fairness and parity of imports to ensure that local businesses are not lost to cheaper and lower quality imports, says local tools maker Lasher Tools marketing... →

Labour department to host iron, steel indaba

By: African News Agency 23rd October 2019 The Department of Employment and Labour said on Wednesday it would this week host an iron and steel forum in Durban to reflect on the progress made since the signing of an accord on occupational health and safety in 2013. In a statement, it said the meeting would focus on regulations and... →

Kumba lowers full-year sales guidance as sales to AMSA fall

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd October 2019 Lower iron-ore sales to steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) in the third quarter has prompted Kumba Iron Ore to lower its full-year sales guidance to between 42-million and 43-million tonnes of iron-ore, compared with the previously expected 43-million to 44-million tonnes. The... →

French cement company sells promise of greener future in IPO

By: Bloomberg 21st October 2019 A tiny French cement company sold shares on the Paris exchange with a big promise: to shake up global production and reduce carbon emissions. Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies pitched to investors a “disruptive” manufacturing process based on changing the composition of cement so that it no... →

Plastic bottles vs aluminium cans: who'll win the global water fight?

By: Reuters 17th October 2019 Global bottled water giants are ramping up trials of easily recyclable aluminium cans to replace plastic that pollutes the world's seas. Sound like a slam-dunk for the environment? Not entirely. Aluminium cans might indeed mean less ocean waste, but they come with their own eco-price: the... →

Despite headwinds, global steel demand continues to grow

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 15th October 2019 Global steel demand will grow by 3.9% to 1.78-million tonnes this year and by 1.7% to 1.81-million tonnes in 2020, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) estimates in its latest Short Range Outlook (SRO). “The current SRO suggests that global steel demand will continue to grow this year, more... →

2019 Steel Awards showcases greater diversity

By: Simone Liedtke 11th October 2019 The South African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) Steel Awards attracted not only a record number of entries and sponsors this year, but also greater diversity, CEO Paolo Trinchero says. He points out that this year’s entries encompass a wider range of stakeholders in the greater built... →

China's Chalco delays Boffa bauxite mine launch to 2020

By: Reuters 10th October 2019 Aluminum Corp of China, also known as Chalco, has delayed the launch of its Boffa bauxite project in Guinea until at least the first quarter of 2020, a company official said on Thursday. Construction on the project, expected to produce 12-million tonnes of the aluminium ore a year, would be... →

Incoming top EU climate official pledges to tax polluting imports

By: Reuters 9th October 2019 The European Union (EU) will start work immediately on a tax on polluting foreign firms to shelter EU businesses striving to meet a goal to be climate neutral by 2050, the senior official set to take responsibility for climate in the new European Commission said on Tuesday. Frans Timmermans, who... →

Insimbi achieves decent interim growth

By: Simone Liedtke 8th October 2019 Despite a challenging local and global economic environment, metals supplier Insimbi on Tuesday reported an 11% increase in its headline earnings a share from R8.47 to R9.42, while earnings a share saw a 4% increase from R9.12 to R9.48, for the six months ended August 31, 2019. Revenue for the... →

Japan Oct-Dec crude steel output forecast to slip

By: Reuters 8th October 2019 Japan's output of crude steel in the October-December quarter is forecast to fall 0.1% from a year earlier as trade tensions and uncertainty over China's economy curb exports, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said on Tuesday. Crude steel output is estimated at 25.69 million... →

Outlook for wind energy in SA improving, despite headwinds

By: Terence Creamer 4th October 2019 After stalling last year, global renewable energy capacity additions are expected to recover strongly in 2019, supported by a solid rebound in onshore wind deployments and ongoing solar photovoltaic (PV) growth. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects almost 200 GW of renewables capacity to... →

Robor goes into liquidation

By: Creamer Media Reporter 2nd October 2019 Steel tube and pipe manufacturer Robor has been placed into voluntary liquidation. Investment holding company Tiso Blackstar, which owns 47.61% of Robor, on Wednesday reported that the decline of the South African economy over the past three years, the margin-eroding effect of cheaper Chinese... →

If the health system is corruptible, we all suffer – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 1st October 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday said if South Africa’s health care system is marred with unauthorised expenditure, the entire country would suffer the consequences. Ramaphosa was speaking at the launch of the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, which is expected to fight the scourge of... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

WTO slashes forecast for trade growth as conflicts mount

By: Reuters 1st October 2019 The World Trade Organization (WTO) cut its forecast for growth in global trade this year by more than half on Tuesday and said further rounds of tariffs and retaliation, a slowing economy and a disorderly Brexit could squeeze it even more. The WTO said it now expected global merchandise trade to... →

Photo by Reuters
WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo

Transnet reports dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49bn

By: Terence Creamer 30th September 2019 State-owned freight logistics utility Transnet received yet another qualified audit for its 2018/19 financial year and also announced a dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49-billion, after locomotive contracts valued at R41.5-billion where added to the figure, which stood at R8-billion at... →

Transnet acting CEO Mohammed Mahomedy outlines the reason for the group receiving yet another qualified audit during the 2018/19 financial year, as well as the dramatic rise in irregular expenditure to R49-billion. Camerawork and editing: Darlene Creamer 30.9.2019

Extrusion press concept for aluminium sector developed

By: Halima Frost 27th September 2019 As a global service partner for clients, metallurgical industry plant and integrated systems provider, SMS group has developed a concept for extrusion presses offering significant flexibility and efficiency for the steel and aluminium industries. “SMS group service technicians are specifically... →

KEEP ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING A cold rolling production line supplied to an international client by SMS group

Demand growth continues to outweigh production growth

27th September 2019 Last month, macroeconomic researcher Fitch Solutions – a unit of the Fitch Group –reported that the global aluminum market will see a number of deficits over the coming years as solid demand growth, driven by the construction and autos sectors, outpaces production growth. Notably, the global... →

BUILDING SPEED The construction and automotive sectors have seen solid demand growth which has outpaced production growth

Company launches recycled bicycle

27th September 2019 Global food and beverage company Nestle Global’s brand Nespresso has announced the launch of its fully recycled aluminium bicycle the RE:CYCLE – part of its drive to remain at the forefront of a circular economy and demonstrating its commitment to recycling. Aluminium is one of the world's most... →

THINK BIKE For every Vélosophy bike sold a second bike will be donated to a developing country in an effort to aid poverty relief

Global steel output rises 3.4% y/y in August

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th September 2019 World crude steel production was 156-million tonnes in August, which was a 3.4% increase compared with August last year. Global industry organisation, the World Steel Association (worldsteel), reports that China produced 87.3-million tonnes of crude steel in August, which was a 9.3%... →

AMSA to undertake strategic asset review

By: Creamer Media Reporter 25th September 2019 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa on Wednesday announced that it would review the operational and financial sustainability of certain of its major operating sites, individual plants and production areas. The review would, however, exclude its commercial market coke operations and would... →

India's steel industry wants 25% duty placed on imports -JSW Steel exec

By: Reuters 23rd September 2019 India's steel industry wants a 25% safeguard duty placed on all steel imports as steel products sourced from countries with whom India has a free trade agreement (FTA) have risen substantially, a senior executive from JSW Steel said on Monday. "India's imports from FTA partners rose 77% (in the... →

One battery material sector is cheering for lower prices

By: Bloomberg 19th September 2019 Lower prices of vanadium, a metal mainly known for strengthening steel, are key in the drive to increase its use in the booming battery sector, according to the developer of an Australian mine. The metal’s retreat from a price spike in 2018 is being welcomed – rather than lamented – by producers... →

Govt looking to create 'certainty' in local steel, manufacturing industries

By: Simone Liedtke 13th September 2019 Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Phumulo Masualle on Friday said the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) was looking to create “a sense of certainty” in the local steel and manufacturing industries by leveraging investments from State-owned entities (SOEs). This, he told delegates at the... →

Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Phumulo Masualle discusses measures being implemented by government to create more certainty for the domestic steel and manufacturing sectors. Video: Kutlwano Matlala; Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

4IR, AfCFTA to 'reshape' South African business, says Patel

By: Simone Liedtke 13th September 2019 South Africa’s steel industry will need a Steel 4.0 plan to adequately harness and respond to the pressures presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said at the Metals and Engineering Indaba, in Sandton, on Friday. He explained that the... →

Master plans needed to expand productive South African sectors – Patel

By: Simone Liedtke 13th September 2019 To grow South Africa’s economy and expand its productive sectors, master plans will need to be developed for each of those sectors, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Friday. Speaking on the second day of the Metals and Engineering Indaba, in Sandton, on Friday, the Minister... →

Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel discusses some of government's initiatives in rebuilding the South African economy, alongside the steel and manufacturing sectors, at the fifth iteration of the Metals and Engineering Indaba, in Sandton. Video: Kutlwano Matlala; Editing Nicholas Boyd.

CSIR setting up a reference smart factory to stimulate local manufacturing

By: Rebecca Campbell 13th September 2019 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is going to set up a National Reference Smart Factory on its main campus in Pretoria/Tshwane. This will play a key part in achieving a major CSIR objective – the revitalisation and modernisation of the South African manufacturing industry.... →

Laser technology expands company’s service offerings

By: Theresa Bhowan 13th September 2019 Coating technology specialist Thermaspray has recently launched and installed its new laser cladding system, which has broadened the scope of the industries it serves. →

LASER PRECISION Thermaspray’s laser cladding system was launched at its Olifantsfontien facility

Partnership provides value to fabrication industry

By: Theresa Bhowan 13th September 2019 Local nitrogen generator manufacturer NitraLife’s partnership with Swiss steel processing original-equipment manufacturer Bystronic is adding significant value to end-user customers in the fabrication sector. →

NITROGEN GENERATION The NitraCut system was specifically designed for the laser cutting market

CSIR calls for proposals from the public to use its photonics facility

By: Theresa Bhowan 13th September 2019 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is calling for proposals from anyone who wishes to turn a demonstrated idea into a working prototype using the photonics prototyping facility at the CSIR, in Pretoria. →

PHOTONIC TECHNOLOGY The photonic prototyping facility was designed for individuals or organisations who wish to design photonics products

Acquisition benefits cutting equipment supplier company

By: Theresa Bhowan 13th September 2019 Taking over plasma and large format laser equipment supplier Messer Cutting Systems’ South African operations has enabled local capital equipment and consumables supplier First Cut to access new products and expand its offering. →

HIGH-QUALITY ELECTRODES First Cut ensures that South African fabricators can buy high-quality Messer electrodes at a very reasonable price

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