The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), in partnership with the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa), hosted the yearly Metals and Engineering Sector Awards for Excellence, in Randburg, on November 17.

“We believe that, notwithstanding the many challenges faced by the sector, there are companies within the metals and engineering (M&E) sector that are doing fantastic, innovative work that must be recognised and celebrated,” Seifsa CEO Lucio Trentini said.

He added that companies in the sector have innovated and fostered good relations with employees, suppliers, customers and the communities around their operations.

“While most of our members form part of the steel value chain, their products and services are specifically aimed at meeting the needs of the mining industry, with its own unique and complex requirements,” Memsa CEO Lehlohonolo Amos Molloyi commented.

He said the pandemic and related lockdowns presented a test to the South African mining equipment sector’s ingenuity and resilience. 

“It is in the midst of these challenges that we witnessed some excellence in innovation, structuring of work and manufacturing processes, and we are proud to report that not one Memsa member company, which was actively manufacturing for the mining industry, permanently closed its doors during or since the pandemic,” Molloyi said.

International Steel Fabricators of South Africa and Structural Steel Export Cluster chairperson and International Trade Administration commissioner Kobus de Beer was awarded the Lifetime Contribution to the Industry Award.

Fire assay crucibles manufacturer Keegor South Africa group FD Michelle Austin was named Business Woman of the Year.

Bearings manufacturer Vesconite Bearings won the Business Resilience of the Year in Responding to Covid-19 Award.

"Pandemics are actually normal. What is not normal is that there was about 100 years since the last one. It will happen again, so let's be prepared for the next one," Vesconite CEO Dr Jean-Patrick Leger said.

Keegor also received the Workplace Health and Safety Award, which was sponsored by Rand Mutual Assurance. The company avoided having any Occupational Health and Safety Act contraventions since COO Marno Jacobs was appointed in 2019.

“When I started at Keegor, I noticed that the leadership team was very engaged with health and safety, and this helped a lot. We know that our biggest asset is our employees, so we invest a lot in training and ensuring they are kept safe, as one injury is too many,” Jacobs said.

The Memsa Member Manufacturer of the Year Award, to recognise excellence in local mining equipment manufacture, was awarded to original-equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment.

For the first time in the history of the Seifsa Awards for Excellence, an in memoriam section was included to remember those who passed away throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trentini also acknowledged the Seifsa Sponsored Graduate Class of 2021, as well as Bursar of the Year Karina Sewsunker, who is completing a BSc in mechanical engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Other awards that were presented at the ceremony include:

• Best Customer Service Award: Macsteel
• Most Transformed Company of the Year: Pamodzi Engineering.
• Environment Stewardship Award: MSC Technical.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Electrolux South Africa
• Young Entrepreneur of the year Award: Caleisle Ngwenya – director at CeeWay Engineering.
• Industry Apprenticeship Award: ArcelorMittal South Africa.

Other awards presented by Memsa include:

• Customised Customer Service: ProProcess Engineering 
• Localised Supply Chain: Buraaq Mining Services and Rham Equipment
• Manufacturing Solutions: NTGR Engineering Projects