https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com

Localisation key to welding industry growth

15th September 2017

By: Nica Schreuder

Journalist

     

Font size: - +

Promoting local manufacturing in South Africa creates opportunities for the local welding industry, says South African science institution Agricultural Research Council and Agricultural Engineering (ARC-AE) renewable energy, agricultural infrastructure and agroprocessing research team manager Petrus Britz.

“With South Africa being in a recession, replacing imports with locally manufactured products will not only stimulate job creation but subsequently also grow the local manufacturing and fabrication industry.”

The welding industry will benefit, as welding is a critical technology for the manufacturing sector, Britz points out.

“Like any other metal manufacturing process, good welding techniques are important for strength and stability.”

Moreover, Britz highlights that, owing to increased agroprocessing in rural areas, the agriculture sector has the biggest potential to help grow the welding industry, as there is a need for the construction of agroprocessing factory structures and the manufacturing of agroprocessing equipment.

“Many engineering items in agriculture and agroprocessing require corrosion resistance and food-grade stainless steel, which is a specialised form of welding.” ARC-AE has skilled artisans to manufacture its prototype designs.

He states that it is essential for everyone in the welding industry to acknowledge and understand the importance of “good, strong welding and the required skills for good weld penetration”.

If good welding standards are not adhered to, failures, “usually caused by ignorance” are inevitable, often with catastrophic results, Britz concludes.

Edited by Zandile Mavuso
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comments

 

Latest Multimedia

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (12/12/2025)
12th December 2025 By: Martin Creamer
 

Showroom

SABAT
SABAT

From batteries for boats and jet skis, to batteries for cars and quad bikes, SABAT Batteries has positioned itself as the lifestyle battery of...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 10 December 2025
Magazine round up | 12 December 2025
12th December 2025

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.233 0.481s - 202pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now