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Sugar Growers, Millers and Refiners

Sugar master plan signed and good to go

4th December 2020 The virtual signing of the much-anticipated Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan 2030 has been welcomed by all stakeholders of the South African sugar industry, according to a statement issued by the South African Sugar Association (Sasa) last month. “This is a momentous occasion for the industry... →

New female vice chairperson for sugar association

4th December 2020 The South African Farmers Development Association (Safda) said in statement issued last month that it “welcomes and congratulates” the appointment of new South African Sugar Association (Sasa) vice chairperson Joanmariae Fubbs. Fubbs was nominated by Safda and voted in at a special meeting of... →

Business restructuring anchors producer as sugar master plan gives hope

By: Darren Parker 4th December 2020 The business restructuring efforts of sugar producer Tongaat Hulett over the past few years have enabled it to enter the Covid-19 outbreak as a “leaner, fit-for-purpose organisation” better able to weather the pandemic, says Tongaat Hulett sugar operations MD Simon Harvey. “The Covid-19 pandemic... →

A NEW HORIZON The sugar master plan seeks to create a diversified and globally competitive, sustainable and transformed sugarcane-based value chain

Tough times ahead despite better yields

By: Darren Parker 4th December 2020 Data gathered by the South African Canegrowers Association (SA Canegrowers) indicate that sugar cane crop yields in the current season are expected to be an improvement on those of the past year, owing to “perfect” to weather to date. Moreover, canegrowers have also put much effort into... →

ABUNDANT HARVEST A large yield and constrained sugar milling capacity means that some sugar cane will not be processed this year

Rail link planned for small-scale cane growers

By: Darren Parker 4th December 2020 Sugar producer Tongaat Hulett is partnering with the South African Farmers Development Association, and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to establish a sugar cane rail transport system, in KwaZulu-Natal, between Makhathini cane growers in northern Zululand and... →

LOWERED HAULAGE COSTS The project will result in a 50% reduction in transportation costs for growers

Digital agriculture to assist sugar growers

By: Darren Parker 4th December 2020 The South African Sugar Research Institute (Sasri), a division of the South African Sugar Association (Sasa), is focusing its research and technological development on digital agriculture to support canegrowers in decision-making, in their choice of cane varieties, to establish more accurate crop... →

PESKY PROBLEM The Eldana saccharina larvae bore into sugar cane and can ruin entire crops

Distributor’s experience makes for sweeter projects supply

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 With more than 60 years of servicing the sugar industry, power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) has gained meaningful expertise, which enables the company to continue being a “dependable supplier” in the industry. →

SWEET RIDE Bearings International supplies the complete drive chain – from the feeder tables where the sugar cane arrives from the farm to the pack house where the product gets distributed

Equipment design vital for sugar industry

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 A critical aspect of servicing the sugar industry is equipment design, says integrated engineering technology and project management company Bosch Projects sugar sector director Steve Rosettenstein. →

DIVERSE OFFERING For the sugar industry, Bosch Projects provides front-end cane offloading, cane preparation, juice extraction, sugar processing, sugar drying and refining equipment

Mechanised systems gaining momentum

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 Manual harvesting currently dominates sugarcane harvesting operations. →

CANE MECHANISATION Any change towards a fully mechanised harvesting system involves many disciplines and affects all aspects of cane production

Components provider extends offering for sugar industry

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 Engineering components provider BMG has extended its range of power transmission components to include its recently upgraded Fenagrid Premium range. →

SOAKING UP BMG’s new Fenagrid Premium taper grid steel flexible couplings absorb considerable torque overloads, achieving smoother running, with consequent reduction of wear and tear on machinery

Mill equipment advances essential for industry

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 With the local sugar industry being more than 150 years old, advances in equipment critical to the milling process add “immense value”, as they improve the operational efficiency potential of the sugar mills, says industrial equipment supplier Verder Pumps MD Darryl Macdougall. →

ALLEVIATING THE DEFECTS Sucrose losses can be significantly reduced – if not mitigated altogether – if the correct advanced and integrated pumping solution is used

Company transforming amid difficulties

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 JSE-listed sugar producer Tongaat Hulett is striving to reconstruct its business to be innovative, resilient and cost effective. →

TRANSFORMATION IN SIGHT The three main shareholders in Uzinzo hold 65%

Mill closures, continued market decline a concern for growers

By: Mamaili Mamaila 27th March 2020 With two sugar mills closing down and being mothballed for the 2020/21 season, growers are concerned that the remaining 12 mills might potentially struggle to successfully complete this season’s harvest, says the South African Canegrowers’ Association (SA Canegrowers). →

THE NUMBERS GAME The South African cane-growing sector comprises 21 500 cane growers – of which 20 200 are small-scale growers, producing about 20% of the 19-million tons of cane a year

Effective drones well received by farmers

By: Tracy Hancock 6th December 2019 Local sugarcane farmers have responded positively to South Africa’s first licensed crop-spraying drone at a time when the industry is tackling a significantly challenging financial climate, says farmer-owned organisation Precision Agricultural Systems (PACSys) CEO Tim Wise. “Unfortunately, the... →

ANALYSE THIS DJI and PACSys are undertaking research and development to integrate crop health and/or management analytics with drone spraying systems to allow for “spot-spraying” applications

Eldana challenge continues, bat study under way

By: Tracy Hancock 6th December 2019 Eldana remains one of the sugar industry’s major challenges, says South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) biosecurity manager Rowan Stranack. The African sugarcane borer is commonly found throughout the West, Central, East and Southern Africa. →

GROWING NUMBERS The Eldana populations have increased over the years in the Midlands, where growers prefer integrated pest management strategies that rely on spraying as a last resort

Industry 4.0 advancing in local sugar milling

By: Tracy Hancock 6th December 2019 All South Africa’s sugar mills are now using the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analytical technology developed by centralised scientific organisation Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI), says SMRI research and development manager Steve Davis. The SMRI-NIRS technology – which SMRI... →

SUGAR 4.0 The potential value derived from Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC’s near-infrared spectroscopy analytical technology is only just beginning to be explored

Local sugar industry critical, master plan being developed

By: Tracy Hancock 6th December 2019 The local sugar industry is in decline and could be described as “being in the intensive care unit”, says South African Sugar Association (SASA) executive director Trix Trikam. Subsequently, SASA is discussing the development of a sugar industry master plan with government and downstream users... →

SWEET ESCAPE To ensure sustainable development of the sugarcane sector, there needs to be diversification into sugar ethanol fuel and other cane-derived products

Sugar giant transforming business amid turmoil

By: Tracy Hancock 6th December 2019 In addition to its plans to exit sugar farming in South Africa, embattled agroprocessing business Tongaat Hulett expects to conclude a transaction to establish a transformative milling, refining and sugar marketing business by the end of this year. The developments are part of a strategic review... →

FELIXTON MILL The initial assets of Tongaat Hulett’s transformative milling, refining and sugar marketing business have an installed capacity to produce more than one-million tons of sugar a year

Welding Alloys South Africa

6th December 2019 Crushing hammers, cane knives, washboards, shredders, trash plates and mill roll arcing are a few areas within a sugar mill that experience significant wear. In most cases, demand on throughput outweighs the need to do regular and ongoing maintenance. It is vital to extract the most value out of... →

Company leads in advancing sugar technology

29th March 2019 Offering a comprehensive service globally, with over 55 years of experience in the sugar sector, multidisciplinary engineering company Bosch Projects has recently developed the Lamella Clarifier, which uses a series of inclined plates for fast, effective particle separation and settling. “Our... →

NEW DEVELOPMENTS Bosch projects has developed the Lamella Clarifier, that uses a series of inclined plates for fast, effective particle separation and settling

Company provides solutions to enhance production in sugar sector

29th March 2019 Technical solutions provider BMG works closely with chief engineers in the sugar industry, providing engineering solutions and technical services, to enhance production efficiencies at every mill and refinery. “The company’s extensive range of quality branded components, engineering solutions and... →

HEAVY DUTY COUPLINGS The Timken Quick-Flex and Vulkan GBN heavy industrial couplings are designed for efficient performance, low maintenance and extended service life

Trade and Industry committee attends to industry challenges

29th March 2019 Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry is well aware that the South African sugar industry is experiencing various challenges as it has been engaging the industry for over a year to alleviate the plight of local sugarcane farmers. Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry... →

Photo by Creamer Media
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS The committee acknowledges that factors such as bio-fuels and cogeneration may require legislative changes

Industry asks government to intervene in crisis

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 29th March 2019 The sugar industry has called on government to act immediately to prevent the industry’s collapse, as the industry has lost R1.3-billion in only one season since the implementation of the sugar tax in April last year. South African Canegrowers’ Association chairperson Graeme Stainbank says... →

GRAEME STAINBANK The South African Canegrowers’ Association believes that government should acknowledge the damage that a sugar tax has had on the economy and the sugar industry

Commitment to transform rural communities

29th March 2019 Sugar producer llovo Sugar South Africa (Illovo SA) is firmly committed to transformation and building sustainable enterprises, especially in rural communities where it operates, says Illovo Sugar SA MD Mamongae Mahlare. “In the 2017 financial year, Illovo SA’s total economic impact on the local... →

Photo by Creamer Media
SHARING THE SWEETNESS Illovo Sugar South Africa makes an economic impact working with small retailers who sell its products within South Africa

Kilombero Sugar Company relinquishes land to create forest reserve

29th March 2019 Following the declaration to establish the Magombera Nature Forest Reserve sugar company Kilombero on whose land part of the reserve has been established, extends its appreciation to the government of Tanzania and the many other stakeholders involved in this successful outcome. The Magombera... →

Photo by Creamer Media
PRESERVING NATURE Local communities, representatives of the Tanzania government and the TFCG decided that the Magombera Forest be declared a nature forest reserve

Vibrating equipment ensures effective sugar processing

29th March 2019 Owing to its large footprint in KwaZulu-Natal, vibration-equipment manufacturer Vipro Vibrating Products caters to the front-end, back-end and packing processes in the sugar processing plant. The front-end comprises the receiving and processing of raw material, the back-end the extraction of... →

PIETER UYS The vibrating equipment is made out of stainless steel, which decreases the chances of the sugar being contaminated

New tech helps mills improve factory control

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 29th March 2019 During this year’s sugar season, centralised scientific organisation Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) says South African sugar mills will use its Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analytical system to improve their sugar production and profits. Through the SMRI-NIRS system installed at... →

Photo by Creamer Media
NEW TECHNOLOGY Sugar mills can use the SMRI-NIRS system to obtain information that can help to better understand and control factory processes

Local sugar industry struggles to stay afloat

By: Paige Müller 7th December 2018 The survival and sustainability of the labour intensive sugar industry is under severe threat owing to the flood of sugar imports and the resultant inability by industry bodies to recover costs, according to South African Sugar Association executive director Trix Trikam. “The local sugar industry... →

UNBALANCED TRADE The world sugar market is distorted by producer country incentives, resulting in production that is surplus to demand

Delays in biofuel framework hinder industry

By: Paige Müller 7th December 2018 Despite the local sugar industry championing a bioethanol fuel subsidy as a potential method to relieve the burden on sugar through demand diversification, Ethanol Producers Association of Southern Africa secretary, Alf Stevens, suggests that this may not have the timely impact that the local... →

Photo by Bloomberg
SLOW PROGRESS Even if the Biofuels Regulatory Framework is attractive, the first ethanol for biofuel would only reach the petrol blenders by the end of 2021 at the earliest

Partnership for land tenure rights mutually beneficial

By: Paige Müller 7th December 2018 Sugar producer Illovo Sugar Africa has been partnering nongovernmental organizations, governments and global donors to transform the landscape of tenure rights in its operating countries, says Illovo Sugar Africa Group MD Gavin Dalgleish. “Africa has the highest proportion of agricultural land... →

Photo by Bloomberg
WOMEN IN SUGAR More than 65% of those who have benefited from the Illovo Maragra plantation partnership to date have been women

Welding Alloys South Africa

7th December 2018 Crushing hammers, cane knives, washboards, shredders, trash plates and mill roll arcing are a few areas within a sugar mill that experience significant wear. In most cases, demand on throughput outweighs the need to do regular and ongoing maintenance. It is vital to extract the most value out of... →

OLI South Africa

7th December 2018 OLI is the first choice in the supply and distribution of electric and pneumatic industrial vibrators and flow aids, as well as frequency convertors and vibrators used in the concrete industry. Making business simpler for customers while supplying world-class products has established OLI as a... →

Sugar dumping remains a crisis for industry

By: Paige Müller 7th December 2018 While national government has shown a willingness to protect the sugar industry against corrosive trade-dumping practices, nonprofit anti-dumping organisation FairPlay founder Francois Baird emphasises that government’s ineffective administrative processes have made its previous attempts at... →

Anti-dumping organisation FairPlay’s Lebogang Chaka discusses the impact of sugar dumping on the local industry. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd

Short retention time silo installed in Thailand

30th March 2018 A recent milestone for project manager and equipment designer Bosch Projects, in conjunction with its technology partners in Thailand, was the development of a new short retention time (SRT) refined sugar conditioning silo, designed to significantly reduce conditioning time and capital investment... →

NEW TECHNOLOGY The newly developed short retention time refined sugar conditioning silo enables reduced residence time of 16 hours, compared with the standard period of between 65 and 72 hours

Polymer offering diversified into US beet sugar industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th March 2018 Thermoplastic producer Vesconite Bearings is expanding its polymer offering to the US beet sugar market, building on its experiences and success in the local and US sugar cane industries. Vesconite Bearings began supplying its locally-produced polymers to the South African sugar industry in 2009... →

PROCESS SWEETENER The HiTemp 150 hanger bearing is an abrasive-resistant material, ideal for applications that are wearing on traditional materials such as bronze

Insufficient tariff requires urgent intervention

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th March 2018 The current sugar import tariff of South Africa is insufficient to regulate imports, which makes it imperative that the tariff be increased, says South African Sugar Association (Sasa) executive director Trix Trikam. “There are various systems to implement tariffs, with South Africa employing a... →

PROBLEMATIC The Health Promotion Levy currently being pursued will have an adverse effect on the local sugar market

Battling threat of sugar tax, excessive imports and low price

By: Victor Moolman 8th December 2017 The large amount of sugar being imported into South Africa has caused the country’s sugar industry, which may soon be further compromised by the introduction of a sugar tax, to start exporting sugar at world market prices to offload excess sugar, which it is unable to sell locally. While opposing... →

Photo by Victor Moolman
DEDICATED TO SUGAR CANE Large parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, about 360 000 ha, are dedicated to growing sugar cane

Strand jacks an effective option for sugar mills

By: Robyn Wilkinson 12th April 2017 Machine moving and rigging specialist Lovemore Bros is adding four 70 t strand jacks to its service offering, providing an effective heavy-lifting alternative to conventional cranes for many industries, including the sugar industry. →

EFFECTIVE USE OF SPACE Strand jacks are particularly useful in operations with limited space available, such as in sugar mills, which are generally very congested

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