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Stainless Steel News

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.... →

New booster for industry

By: Darren Parker 3rd July 2020 Nitrogen generation equipment manufacturer and supplier NitraLife has introduced a booster for its NitraCut nitrogen generator product, which ‘bolts’ onto the company’s NitraCut nitrogen generator, to increase its nitrogen delivery pressure and therefore also increase the thickness of steel it... →

NitraLife MD Tom Sowry discusses the new NitraCut booster. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 11.06.2020

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

Future order book to relief 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.... →

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

Metso Outotec can drive industries towards responsible use of natural resources

By: Marleny Arnoldi 1st July 2020 Metso Minerals, a subsidiary of global industrial company Metso, has officially merged with Finnish-listed technology company Outotec. The merger has formed a leading process technology, equipment and services company serving the minerals, metals and aggregates industries. The combined company... →

Cables for corrosive conditions

By: Tracy Hancock 26th June 2020 Industrial equipment supplier BMG’s extensive portfolio of Tsubaki Kabelschlepp cable carrier systems and safety cables includes S/SX steel cable carriers, which have been designed to carry heavy mechanical loads in harsh environments, including corrosive conditions. “The S/SX series comprises... →

OPTIMISED GEOMETRY The link design of the S/SX series allows contaminants found in harsh environments to fall through the system when the cable carrier is in motion

Metals, engineering sectors to ‘walk the tightrope’ to economic recovery

By: Simone Liedtke 24th June 2020 The road to the metals and engineering (M&E) sector’s post-Covid-19 recovery will be long and will require extraordinary and targeted policies to walk the tightrope towards an economic reboot, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) chief economist Dr Michael Ade... →

AMSA considering large-scale restructuring, jobs to be lost

By: Simone Liedtke 18th June 2020 While the full extent of the Covid-19 pandemic still remains uncertain as the economy slowly reopens within government’s risk-adjusted approach to easing lockdown restrictions, JSE-listed steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has advised that it is considering a large-scale... →

Covid-19 compounds challenges in Africa

By: Tracy Hancock 12th June 2020 The legislation put in place amid the Covid-19 pandemic is compounding the “exceptionally challenging” business environment already faced by companies when operating in Africa, where each country presents its own challenges, says Macsteel Exports senior branch manager Adrian Isemonger. He... →

AFRICAN REACH Macsteel Exports supplies sub-Saharan Africa with the broadest range of carbon steel, stainless steel, specialty steels, aluminum products and value-added processes to all industry sectors

Pandemic dashes hopes for a domestic steel sector turnaround

By: Simone Liedtke 12th June 2020 The international Covid-19 outbreak, which has disrupted the South African and the global economy, has thrown another “a spanner in the works” for the already embattled domestic steel sector and could seriously hamper, or even prevent, a recovery. The pandemic has already ruined any hopes of a... →

Worldsteel says demand will contract by 6.4% this year owing to Covid-19

By: Simone Liedtke 4th June 2020 The World Steel Association (worldsteel) expects global steel demand to contract by 6.4% this year, as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. In its Short Range Outlook (SRO) for 2020 and 2021, released on June 4, the industry body states that steel demand is, however, expected to increase by 3.8%... →

R&D on hold to keep doors open

By: Tracy Hancock 29th May 2020 Stainless steel cylinder manufacturer Jooste Cylinder & Pump Company has implemented various measures, such as delaying research and development (R&D) projects, to assist staff as much as possible and “keep the doors open” amid the Covid-19 crisis. “Jooste re-invests much of its income in new... →

Local tanks on track for delivery to Zim mine

29th May 2020 Ten large steel tanks for diversified miner RioZim’s Cam and Motor gold mine, in Zimbabwe, are on schedule to be installed by South African stainless steel fabrication and erection specialist Betterect, as part of the mine’s gold processing plant expansion. This is notwithstanding inherent... →

SIGNIFICANT SUPPLY Columbus Stainless supplied 250 t of grade 2304 duplex steel for the RioZim steel tank fabrication project being undertaken by Betterect

Lockdown further strains stainless steel recycling

By: Tracy Hancock 29th May 2020 Prior to the national lockdown, South Africa’s stainless steel recycling industry was under strain, facing a dramatic drop in available recycling material and increasing input costs, says Johannesburg-based stainless steel recycler Cronimet director Bernard Maguire. The stainless steel recycling... →

SIGNIFICANCE OF SCRAP The cost of recycled stainless steel is much less than that of virgin primary alloys

Expedited change in stainless steel industry expected

By: Tracy Hancock 29th May 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic will have long-term ramifications, including permanent change in the South African stainless steel industry, Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) acting executive director Michel Basson tells Engineering News. “The stainless steel industry could... →

ADDED STRESS The national lockdown has compounded the challenges faced by the already stressed stainless steel industry

AMSA welcomes move to Level 3 in nationwide lockdown

By: Simone Liedtke 25th May 2020 Steel company ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country will be moving to Level 3 in the risk-adjusted approach to the easing of the nationwide lockdown. At Level 3, AMSA will be able to operate with 100% of its workforce, but... →

Global steel production down 13% y/y

By: Donna Slater 22nd May 2020 World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) decreased by 13% year-on-year to 137.1-million tonnes in April. Africa's output decreased by 55.7% year-on-year to 603 000 t, with South Africa's output having decreased by 99.5%. →

Pandemic, economic challenges to shape industry direction

By: Mamaili Mamaila 22nd May 2020 Industry trends are likely to take a new direction because of the global Covid-19 pandemic and a severely constrained local economy, says steel and value-added steel products merchandiser and distributor Macsteel. →

MIKE BENFIELD The construction and steel sectors – including the larger manufacturing industry – are “hand-in-glove”

Fitch Solutions expects most metal markets to move into a surplus this year

By: Simone Liedtke 13th May 2020 Most metals markets are expected to move into a surplus this year, says research firm Fitch Solutions, noting that consumption is likely to decrease more than the decreases in production capacity, as a result of the spread of Covid-19. Although some operational hurdles, owing to government... →

Organisation calls for govt assistance to ‘reshape’ steel industry post-lockdown

By: Simone Liedtke 17th April 2020 The decision to put South Africa under lockdown as part of its response to Covid-19 “has put further pressure on the steel industry”, says research organisation Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips). In a policy brief, it elaborates that, depending on the length of the lockdown and the... →

Business is booming for supplier

By: Darren Parker 10th April 2020 Stainless steel vessels and tanks supplier Metal Tank Industries has noted a definite market upswing in the past eight months, particularly in the food and beverage sector, as well as in the industrial sector, in terms of mineral oils, petroleum oils, chemicals and agrochemicals production.... →

MAKING IT WORK Metal Tank Industries’ streamlined production processes has helped it become more competitive in terms of costing

Kogi Iron sees ongoing interest in Nigeria-based cast steel project

By: Simone Liedtke 7th April 2020 ASX-listed Kogi Iron is seeing ongoing interest from potential new investors in its Agbaja cast steel project, in Nigeria, where Kogi is starting to see global capital flows to the commodity sector. Owing to the rapid escalation and global impacts of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, Kogi and KCM... →

A location map of Kogi Iron's Nigerian cast steel project.

Fitch Solutions says volatility to continue driving metals prices lower

By: Simone Liedtke 30th March 2020 Research agency Fitch Solutions expects volatility to continue playing to the downside for metal prices in the coming weeks owing mainly to bearish investor sentiment on the back of the widespread Covid-19 pandemic. The agency notes that metal prices started the year on a strong footing as the... →

Stainless steel growth unlikely in 2020

By: Mamaili Mamaila 28th February 2020 The level of activity in the local stainless steel sector’s value chain has dwindled in the past decade, mainly owing to international competition, low steel prices and the slow growth of the local economy. →

FULL OF VIGOR Stainless steel is one of the youngest industrial materials globally, managing to positively change people’s lives

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... →

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... →

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... →

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... →

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

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

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

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