Producer has positive platinum outlook

Platinum-group metals (PGMs) remain a positive investment, as there is improved sentiment in the platinum market, and platinum exchange-traded fund (ETF) prices remained stable in the first half of... 

Tyre management project yields positive results for producer

A tyre management project under way at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) Mogalakwena platinum mine, in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, aims to increase hauling days without tyre failures to... 

Cooperation needed to save PGMs industry

Owing to the lower overall platinum group metals (PGMs) price, platinum producers have started to review opportunities to work together through joint ventures.  

Algae-free irrigation systems to save money for farmers

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has estimated the rand value of the impact of algae pollution in the Berg river, near Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape. The calculation... 

SA farmers hope for enough rain after winter

The next five months and the following planting season will be critical for farmers who have been affected by the devastating drought which crippled the agriculture sector recently. According to... 

Partnership expands range for sector

South Africa-based fertiliser company Advanced Agri has expanded its fertiliser range by introducing two specialised products for various farming disciplines.  According to Advanced Agri director... 

Wine farm has its ducks in a row

About 1 000 Indian runner ducks have been employed by Stellenbosch-based wine farm Vergnoegd Wine Estate to eradicate white dune snails and other insects which inhabit and feed on the vines in the... 

Stability and cohesion a way forward for African rail sector

Companies are under pressure from government and the public to embark on new projects while there are still projects that need to be completed. The countless delays across the rail expansions are... 

Inspection device to provide safety in rail operations

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a prototype survey and inspection device (SID) to survey and inspect South Africa’s railway lines, which is intended to... 

Possible change in NDT training

The harmonisation of second and third part assessment certification schemes found in the South African non-destructive testing (NDT) industry could result in continuous skills development and... 

New technology for NDT technicians in South Africa

South African non-destructive testing (NDT) technicians can possibly look forward to the global influx of new technology, following the completion of the nineteenth World Conference on NDT held in... 

Sustainable roof tile set to revolutionise market

Pretoria-based start-up company Thevia has introduced a sustainably manufactured roof tile that should “revolutionise” the roof tile market owing to its unique design, says Thevia FD Martin... 

WasteCon 2016 to highlight local waste legislation

The changing face of waste management in South Africa will be the main theme of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa’s (IWMSA’s) biennial waste management conference and exhibition... 

Good-quality waste necessary for increased mechanical recycling

The South African plastic industry requires a constant stream of clean, high-quality plastic waste to maintain and increase the level of mechanical recycling in South Africa. While there has been... 

Separation at source to improve recycling standard

Nonprofit polyolefin recycling company Polyco is focussing renewed attention on building strong value-chain partnerships with recyclers, converters and brand owners by providing funding support for... 

Danish valves producer boosts local production with new factory

Danish valves producer AVK Valves, which acquired local valves company Premier Valves in 2014, is nearing completion of a brand new valve manufacturing facility located in Alrode in Gauteng. The... 

Incremental mine development key for gold sector

In the face of global capital constraints, gold mining companies have been forced to look into alternative options for the development of mines. The gold mining industry is known traditionally for... 

Gold recovery expert working with government to uplift staff

Local mining and raw material processing firm Ncamiso Mining is currently working closely with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to train and develop staff through short courses based on... 

Higher gold price ensures stable South African sector

The record high gold price has proven to be a stroke of luck for South African companies functioning within the global gold sector. According to professional services firm KPMG gold commodity lead... 

South African problems pose difficulties for German companies

German companies aiming to enter the South African market in the near future will face several adversities, including visa regulations, a weakening currency and stringent regulations, says the... 

Drives company envisions new developments

The depressed economy and tightened budgets have not diminished the need for quality products, but rather increased demand for German-made products, notes German industrial drives and motors... 

Local company awarded German welding agency

The acquisition of the South African agency for German tooling manufacturer Orbitalum Tools will allow Dowson & Dobson (D&D) Industrial to provide welding solutions for industries that require tube... 

Equipment supplier strengthens bonds with German companies

The continued quality of German products has allowed Boksburg-based capital equipment and consumables provider Elquip Solutions to thrive in a challenging local market. According to Elquip... 

Vacuum solutions provider assists diamond industry

Heavy-duty industrial vacuum systems designer, manufacturer and supplier Hencon Vacuum Technologies is testing an automated, remote-controlled dual-vacuum unit at diamond miner Petra Diamonds’... 

Venetia takes safe approach to building major underground operation

Anticipating and prioritising the additional challenges and potential hazards of implementing underground mining operations at the Venetia diamond mine requires putting the necessary enablers and... 

Tricky hydro scheme checks completed

Difficult-to-complete inspections, high up at a water-storage scheme, in KwaZulu-Natal, were easily completed within the allotted time using  rope access.  Rope access solutions provider Skyriders... 

Rainwater harvesting key for drought-stricken SA

Owing to constant water supply not being guaranteed, aggravated by the prolonged drought, South Africans have become more proactive in saving water by creating emergency back-up systems and systems... 

Water and sanitation priority at WISA 2016

African cities are developing rapidly and existing water management systems cannot keep up, leading to a projected quadrupling in demand for water over the next 25 years, said ICLEI - Local... 

Calls to reuse water treatment waste take centre stage at WISA 2016

While the cost-effective and environmentally compliant disposal of water treatment residue (WTR) is a challenge for water treatment practitioners worldwide, WTR management has taken centre stage in... 

Piano key weir solutions investigated at ICOLD 2016

The investigation into the structural behaviour of piano key weirs was put under the spotlight at the 2016 annual International Commission on Large Dams Meeting (ICOLD), which was held at the... 

Leakage system provides solutions in Johannesburg

Water-leak detection and control systems provider AquaTrip South Africa has reasserted its focus on conserving water with the installation of its electronic valve, which monitors water flow at... 

Industries benefit from high-pressure steam valves supply

Mpumalanga-based valve suppliers Bilfinger Intervalve Africa, a subsidiary of Bilfinger Power Africa based in Rivonia, is supplying high-pressure (HP) steam valves to the power, and petrochemicals... 

New manifold series launched and locally produced

Along with the start of local production later this year, global pneumatics technologies manufacturer SMC Pneumatics has boosted its local range with the redesigning of its SY series of valve... 

Call for pinch valve regulation

The operational safety of pinch valves has been brought under the magnifying glass with companies calling for regulation to be implemented in the manufacturing and testing process. Germiston-based... 

Nuclear project affordability a concern for industry

Owing to the current global economic climate, South Africa’s nuclear procurement deal has had several industry professionals questioning whether the country will be able to afford the projected... 

Safety prioritised at Niasa workshop

Safety culture across the nuclear value chain was in the spotlight at the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (Niasa) workshop, held at the Country Club Johannesburg on April 8.  Although... 

Economic status hinders nuclear developments

The development of the proposed nuclear energy project in South Africa could become increasingly difficult to complete, should the economy be downgraded to junk status by credit rating companies.... 

Nuclear energy obvious solution to SA power problems

The nuclear new build programme, which is projected to supply the South African grid with 9.6 GW, will be a major step towards resolving South Africa’s power problems, says Russian State Atomic... 

Emphasis on opportunities in harsh business climate

The West African Mining & Power Exhibition (Wampex) 2016 will showcase the opportunities that still exist in the challenging African market, says events company and organiser dmg-ems Africa VP... 

West Africa fraught with challenges in tough mining times

While political instability, corruption and the global commodities price crunch have had adverse effects on the West African mining sector, other factors such as a lack of infrastructure, power...