New scaffolding innovation to assist mining companies

Access platform provider Boom Access states that its newest innovation could assist mining companies in improving health and safety performance, while offering time and cost savings. The Monkey... 

SA seventh-largest iron-ore producer

South Africa’s position as the number-three supplier of iron-ore to China emphasises the strategic importance of the iron-ore deposits in the country and its importance as a significant iron-ore... 

Liberia regains status as iron-ore exporter after conflict

A return to political stability and prudent macro-economic management have enabled Liberia to resume its status as an iron-ore exporter by attracting foreign direct investment, states Good... 

Space mining of iron-ore not viable for local markets

The supply and demand of iron-ore and precious metals is globally well balanced; therefore, the mining of these metals in space for use on earth is not viable, notes Council for Scientific and... 

Demand exceeding capacity at Port of Durban

The Port of Durban is already under pressure to develop new capacity to meet container handling and storage demand, State-owned logistics group Transnet’s Durban dig-out port programme director... 

SAPS to up game against copper cable theft

A training manual, which will assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in combating nonferrous metal theft more effectively, will be utilized to train SAPS members across the country from... 

Technology adds value to health and safety protection

Lighting and surge protection specialist Surgetek believes that its lifeline cable- cutter technology can improve a company’s health and safety record, as it offers increased protection to... 

Company acquiring new technologies

Heavy diesel engine and remanufactured component provider Metric Automotive Engineering is awaiting the delivery of a new RTM575 crank shaft grinder from Italy, which will enable the company to... 

Company manufactures record number of mobile manufacturing units

Developer, producer and supplier of commercial explosives AEL Mining Services manufactured twenty one mobile manufacturing units (MMUs) in 2012 – a record number for the company. AEL Mining... 

Demand for surface mining equipment increasing with development

Work opportunities and infrastructure development are increasing across South Africa, resulting in increased activity across the quarry industry and a growing demand for earthmoving and surface... 

Company receives positive response to equipment launch

Construction equipment supplier High Power Equipment (HPE) Africa notes that industry response to the launch of its Hyundai-9 Series has been positive, with increasing sales across sectors. The... 

Bulk earthworks industry’s potential hampered

The bulk earthworks industry has the potential to perform much better than it currently does, but a lack of industry development and strikes at South Africa’s major mining companies have hampered... 

Lack of skills might promote future imports

South Africa’s future as a fastener manufacturer could be problematic, says fastener solutions supplier Impala Bolt & Nut MD Derek Cohen, adding that, while the country has the skills to... 

Company feeding tooling skills base

A growing demand for tooling manufacturer Hilti’s on-site and in-office training courses is evident across the fastener and surrounding industries, as the courses facilitate safety practices and... 

Imports continue to curb industry potential, despite antidumping duty

Fastener imports continue to outweigh locally manufactured products, as South Arica produced 13 146 t of standard hexagon steel bolts, set screws and nuts in 2012 and imported 30 800 t of the same... 

Association encourages local innovation

Unlocking available funds to realise new local tooling initiatives remains challenging, despite adequate support from government to ensure a growing fastener and tooling industry being evident,... 

China overtaking African infrastructure development

Traditionally, African countries sought skills from South Africa for infrastructure development, but a gradual shift to employing Chinese services is evident, as the Asian country is establishing... 

Company positions itself to supply new Transnet and Prasa projects

Subsidiary of defence company BAE Systems South Africa, Land Systems South Africa’s Gear Ratio division, aims to use the opportunities presented by Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR’s) and the Passenger... 

SA’s infrastructure second in sub-Saharan Africa

This year, South Africa ranked second in logistics solutions provider DHL’s yearly Global Connectedness Index (GCI) report, which analyses the state of globalisation and connectedness levels, based... 

Energy a major hurdle to Africa’s infrastructure development

Energy shortages across Africa are hindering the continent from improving its infrastructure, notes advisory firm KPMG global infrastructure and projects group director De Buys Scott. He explains... 

Outdated infrastructure limiting Mozambique’s potential

Advisory law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc (ENS) aims to be continuously involved in infrastructure improvement in Mozambique and continues to play an advisory role in existing and new gas and... 

Fuel efficiency driving composites demand

The global weight–saving revolution and the move towards increased fuel efficiency and environment friendliness in the automotive sector have resulted in increased demand for composites, notes... 

Weight-saving reinforcement coming to SA

Sweden-based spread-tow fabric (STF) carbon reinforcements provider Oxeon AB is finalising an agreement with a South African distributor for the supply of its TeXtreme product, owing to growing... 

Mobilising SA’s composites industry

The use of composites is booming worldwide, owing to their unique properties. In South Africa, however, a shrinking market is evident, with composites being used mainly in niche markets such as the... 

Company launches glass-reinforced plastics manufacturing plant

In response to the lack of local fibreglass manufacturing facilities and a growing demand for fibreglass equipment and piping, Industrial Water Cooling, IWC, officially launched its new... 

New tyre handler forklift to assist copper mine

Limpopo-based copper miner Palabora Mining Company (PMC), has taken delivery of a new heavy-duty TCM 13.5 t tyre handler forklift truck, designed for demanding materials handling tasks on mines,... 

Mining industry can ill afford ongoing fuel increases

The need to mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs through cheaper alternatives can result in businesses taking decisions that will have a negative impact in the long term, states Blue Strata’s... 

Robotics to take over manual labour – Sapics

The move towards automation across industries will reduce the dependency on manual labour and increase the capacity of the materials handling sector, while placing even more pressure on... 

Air chartering company broadens service offering

Air charter solutions provider Chapman Freeborn Airchartering secured a new strategic cooperation agreement earlier this year with cargo carriers Lufthansa Cargo, states Chapman Freeborn cargo... 

World’s biggest motorised pulley to be installed at coal mine

Mining giant Anglo American’s 73%-owned Kriel colliery, situated 45 km south of eMalahleni, in Mpumalanga, will become the first operation in Africa to adopt a 250 kW Rulmeca motorised pulley,... 

Simulation software provider named 2013 leading global entrepreneurial company

Materials handling is one of the most asset- and energy-intensive segments in the mining space, which has led to companies turning their focus to the performance and reliability of bulk... 

Company tendering for Phase 2 of Moatize project

Open cast mining and underground solutions, and materials handling equipment supplier Tenova Takraf, is tendering and negotiating for a contract to supply materials handling machinery and services... 

Company aims to introduce wireless gas- and flame-detection technology

Safety products manufacturer MSA Africa says MSA has products in development, which incorporate wireless technology devices for gas- and flame detection in mines and industrial plants and other... 

Company assisting semiliterate mineworkers to improve health and safety

Communication specialist for semiliterate audiences Jincom, says it aims to assist in improving the mining safety statistics in 2013 by educating and uplifting workers in South Africa’s mining... 

System helps curb illegal mining and improves safety

Illegal mining is problematic across Africa, with between 20 t to 40 t of the 100 t of gold mined on the continent each year by artisanal miners, extracted through illegal means, and possibly... 

Skills shortage threatening mine safety

The frequency and the duration of training in the mining industry is under pressure, owing to a declining skills base, notes information technology and solution provider Dimension Data Middle East... 

CCTV used to manage theft and safety on Botswana mine

Security solutions provider Tyco Integrated Fire and Security has supplied a fully integrated security solution to a diamond mine, in Botswana, with closed-circuit television (CCTV) – a first in... 

Noise-induced hearing loss worrying – CoM

The Chamber of Mines (CoM) states that it is not making the desired progress with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which is a major occupational health concern, as it finds that NIHL rates across... 

Eradication of production bonuses to increase safety – 2014

Better and faster implementation of the Tripartite Action Plan on Health and Safety, negotiated in 2008 by the Chamber of Mines (CoM), unions and government through the Mine Health and Safety... 

Drug-resistant TB threat among mineworkers

African mineworkers are at significant risk of becoming resistant to tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and those that are can be counted among the 650 000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR...