IMO regulation a hurdle for local oil refineries

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2020 regulation has prescribed for a large reduction in the maximum sulphur content of bunker fuels which presents a challenge for South African oil... 

Company to use virtual reality to enhance offering for refineries

Spray technology distributor Monitor Engineering is currently ordering a virtual reality system that will enable the company to show clients how its spray nozzles and spray systems operate in their... 

Cleaner-fuels upgrades a top priority for African refineries

With the January 2020 International Marine Organization deadline for further reductions in sulphur in marine fuels looming, continued advances in emissions monitoring in new vehicles and the... 

Sibanye-Stillwater intensifies PGMs presence

International precious metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater (Sibanye) has, through the recent acquisition of platinum-group metals (PGMs) producer Lonmin, increased its role in and authority in... 

Uncertainty clouds prospects of recovery for PGMs sector

Southern Africa’s current position as a leading platinum group metals (PGMs) producer is certain, with more than 90% of global reserves situated in South Africa and Zimbabwe, says specialist... 

Company to increase PGMs footprint through MQi instrument

Minerals processing solutions company Blue Cube Systems plans to increase its market share in the South African platinum group metals (PGMs) sector through its Blue Cube Mineral Quantifier Inline... 

M&E Indaba focuses on Industry 4.0

For its fifth annual indaba in September, the Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba (M&E Indaba) will focus on Industry 4.0, as it affects the metals and engineering (M&E) sector. 

More membership enquiries for Saisc in challenging environment

The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) has witnessed a marked increase in membership enquiries and applications this year, amid challenging market conditions impacting on its... 

Institute aims to lead in transitioning to 4IR

The steel construction sector has an important role to play in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) aims to lead the charge on... 

Sasfa aims to increase LSFB market share locally

The Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (Sasfa) aims for light steel frame building (LSFB) to be used for at least 10% of all new building projects in South Africa. 

Steel crucial in Africa’s industrialisation aspirations

South Africa and Africa more broadly are attempting to develop their economies through industrialisation and steel forms the basic material of choice for this economic transformation, says the... 

Improving efficiency, safety and profits with specialised equipment

There is a big opportunity to improve safety, efficiency and cost savings when it comes to kiln maintenance, says cement kiln equipment and bricking-machine manufacturer Bricking Solutions MD... 

Skyriders intensifies presence in industry

Industrial rope access company Skyriders Access Specialists continues to offer various maintenance and repair solutions to aid key sectors – such as the furnaces industry – locally and abroad while... 

Increased representation for women in mining, challenges remain

The number of women working in the South African mining sector has increased significantly over the past 17 years, from 11 400 in 2002 to more than 53 100 to date. This represents about 12% of the... 

Rigorous technology uptake could aid SA iron-ore market

The integration of technology into the iron-ore industry will reduce costs and improve the overall competitiveness of the sector in South Africa, suggests analysis and consultancy company Fitch... 

Producer to invest $1-billion in Brazil port

Diversified natural resources producer Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) plans to invest about $1-billion in the Porto Sul project, in Brazil, during the construction period. The port will be able to... 

Reduced output leads to increased iron-ore price

The iron-ore price has been on the rise since the end of last year, mainly because of production shortages, as miners have reduced their output over the past few years, says international... 

Kumba leading production output in South African iron-ore sector

Diversified mining major Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore is dominating the local iron-ore sector, says research and consulting company Roskill. Kumba’s 2018 iron-ore production was 43-million... 

Sector still affected by economic downturn

Owing to the global economic crisis which started in late 2008, a structural break occurred in the metals and engineering (M&E) sector, which had hitherto recorded the highest production figure of... 

Seifsa intensifying role in metals and engineering sector

Seventy-six years later, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has made major inroads in intensifying its role and impact in the metals and engineering (M&E)... 

Pre-eminent representation reaffirmed by Seifsa

Owing to the country’s precarious socioeconomic outlook, it is critical for the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) to reaffirm its position as the preeminent... 

Awards for excellence encourage industry innovation

With the metals and engineering sector having shed thousands of jobs, companies in the sector have to be more innovative to survive, says Steel and Engineering Industries of Southern Africa... 

Federation looks forward to salary negotiations

With the end of the three-year main agreement last month, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation (Seifsa) looks forward to restarting salary negotiations with other industry stakeholders. 

Federation committed to small business growth

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) Small Business Hub (SBH) was created specifically to address the needs of small, medium-sized and microenterprises... 

Company service offering geared for juniors

While mining majors often have in-house exploration experience, juniors lack this experience and thus engineering consulting company SRK Exploration Services (ES) is increasingly providing advisory... 

Association to sponsor tubular category at steel awards

The Association of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers (ASTPM) is the sponsor of the tubular category in the upcoming South African Steel Awards which will take place in October 2019. 

Stakeholder collaboration can ensure cleaner air in SA

The transition to an environmentally sustainable and healthier South Africa, ultimately, comes down to collaborative inputs by government, industries and citizens, says air pollutants control and... 

Stringent standards raising bar on emission reduction tech

There is now more pressure on local industries than ever before to reduce local emissions to meet stringent environmental standards. 

Low carbon economy requires policy overhaul

To enjoy cleaner air, South Africa’s policies need to change, says Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries air quality chief director Dr Thuli Khumalo. 

Solutions provider to improve air monitoring service offering

Environmental consultant Rayten Engineering Solutions is acquiring South African National Accreditation System accreditation for stack emissions monitoring and dust fallout monitoring to improve... 

John Thompson’s clean air solutions for emission abatement systems

Machining manufacturer John Thompson, which is a division of electro-mechanical equipment manufacturer Actom, is well positioned to assist industry in reducing emissions to comply with the... 

Company to continue distribution of smart air quality monitoring system

Environmental monitoring company SI Analytics continues being the regional distributor of the AQMesh pod system – a small sensor-based unit for air quality monitoring. 

Countdown to pipes conference under way

The countdown to the 2019 PIPES XII Conference – which is hosted by industry body the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) – has begun.  

First customer day at new location hosted

Engineering firm Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies held its first customer day last month at its new location, named Hytec United By Bosch (HUBB), in Kempton Park, Gauteng. 

Asian imports putting industry under pressure

A notable increase in welded small-bore tubes and seamless pipes from Asia is exacerbating the pressure which South Africa’s steel tube and pipe industry has been under during the past three years,... 

Hose company supplies sector amid challenges

Although hoses manufacturer Astore Keymak supplies 80% of its hoses to the local mining industry, business development director Malindi Nkambule says there are a number of challenges – in the main... 

Programme to revive local foundries

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has mandated the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) to align its work stream with that of the National Foundries Technology Network... 

NCPC-SA to drive resource efficiency in manufacturing

If the South African manufacturing sector wishes to mitigate the effects of rising tariffs and the new Carbon Tax, then it needs to become more resource efficient, according to the National Cleaner... 

Companies collaborate for competition at Manufacturing Indaba

Industry association the Manufacturing Circle will again join forces with management consulting company A.T. Kearny for the international Factory of the Year competition at the 2019 Manufacturing... 

DTI forges ahead with product standardisation task

Following Mining Charter III’s call to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to develop a “Standardised Coding and Product Identification System in the Mining Supply Chain” whereby products...