Rail maintenance designer preserves investment in SA

Despite challenges, such as uncertain future business prospects, in the South African rail industry, heavy on-track maintenance machinery designer and manufacturer Plasser South Africa maintains a... 

Government rail network targets global recognition by 2019

The country’s rail infrastructure networks are set to receive significant boosts in investment, owing to government’s target of having the fifth-largest railway network in the world by 2019, says... 

Sustainable transport key to economy

A well-functioning economy starts with putting in place a good transport infrastructure before any other primary infrastructure development, says professional services firm KPMG global... 

SA company keeps abreast of pantograph technology

South Africa-based engineering company Pamodzi Unique Engineering has signed a technical agreement with international pantograph manufacturers to remain up to date with the latest pantograph... 

Consistent efficiency and safety improvements key for rail industry

To ensure a safer and more efficient rail network, railway engineering company Wictra Holdings says consistent improvements in materials and safety procedures are needed. 

Local rifle manufacturing multibeneficial for economy

Precision rifles designer and manufacturer Truvelo believes that manufacturing its rifles locally encourages foreign currency influx and alleviates unemployment. “We contribute to job creation and... 

Cooling solution benefits outdoor industrial processes

Companies operating in hot and harsh environments are benefiting from Germany-headquartered engineering electronic instruments protection company Intertec’s active cooling solution for small... 

Australian coolers suitable for SA environment

Owing to the hot and dry conditions in South Africa, evaporative cooling company Air-Dale Engineering notes that the Cool Breeze evaporative coolers are well-suited for local use, as these... 

Restricted mainstream energy supply leads to LPG growth

Shortcomings in sustainable energy supply from State-owned power utility Eskom are regarded as a big contributor to the substantial growth of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market, says gas... 

Plastics industry expects 300 delegates at conference in March

Industry association Plastics SA expects about 300 role-players and decision-makers to attend its Second Plastics Industry Conference, themed The Triple Bottom Line and the Plastics Industry, to be... 

Conference to address water woes in Africa

Water use and preservation will be a strong focus for the sixteenth African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and trade exhibition that will be held on May 17 to 19 at the Cape Town... 

Event puts planning in the spotlight

Along with the discussions and debates expected from the planning fraternity, special focus on planning as a career path, as well as creating special exposure to planning for university-level... 

Need for manufacturing of biofuel-fired boilers steadily increasing

Owing to the price of biofuels becoming more competitive than that of traditional fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, the need for biofuel-fired boilers is steadily increasing, says Cape Town-based... 

Recycled oil refined for use as fuel in furnace burners

Recycling and refining recycled oil into fuel for furnace burners is a cost- effective solution and encourages recycling, says energy and fuel burning company Technoburn sales and marketing manager... 

Platinum major eyes clean power expansion opportunities

Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) could increase the capacity of clean power production at its Waterval smelting complex in Rustenburg, in the North West, which might result in an... 

Maintenance stressed when facing tough market

With the platinum sector currently battling because of low platinum prices, miners are forced to deal with tight budget constraints and are, therefore, unwilling or unable to spend money on... 

Iron-ore project among the ‘highest quality, lowest cost’ in Africa

Iron-ore developer Core Mining’s Avima iron-ore project, in the Republic of Congo, is the most significant project in the Central Africa region, says company spokesperson Lauren Austin-Harvey. “The... 

Major producer trying to save costs amid lower iron-ore price

The iron-ore sector is facing challenging times and the declining market is likely to continue having a significant impact on business, says iron ore supplier Kumba Iron Ore corporate... 

Company expects increased demand for grate kiln, eyes Africa

Next year might see increased demand for the grate kiln systems, used for iron-ore pelletising, produced by Hong Kong-based machinery and technical services company Mallchine, says company GM Cathy... 

3D blasting method achieves safe and effective results

Stereo photogrammetry has proven its value in the mining industry as an easy and cost-effective way to profile rock faces for blast design and characterisation, says blast engineering and... 

New blasting company MD to focus on customer engagement

A continuous focus on customers to better understand their requirements and include their voice in in-house decision-making processes will be the main strategy of newly appointed explosives supply... 

Mines must consider postblast fume problems

Mines should try to create conditions that reduce the risk of toxic-fume production during blasting, says business consulting service company Kilmorie Consulting. The company notes that, in most... 

Solid foundation key to running a successful wine farm

Undertaking a comprehensive soil and climate research project before establishing a wine farm is necessary to limit risk when dealing with the unpredictability of nature, including climate change... 

Room for growth of craft beer market in SA

Despite craft beer sales accounting for only a fraction of the South African beer market, there is still significant room for growth in the market as consumers become more educated about craft... 

Brewing by-product put to good use

While most breweries dispose of any waste produced through their brewing processes by selling it to livestock farmers – or buying their own livestock to feed their waste to – Boksburg-based brewery... 

Consumer education imperative for growth of craft beer in SA

For craft beer to grow in popularity in South Africa, consumer education is important, as it will ensure that craft beer is on every restaurant’s menu, says Hate City Brewing Company. Consumer... 

Green Wine Awards renew focus on sustainable winemaking

This year’s Nedbank Green Wine Awards, which took place last month in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, re-emphasised the industry’s imperative to produce local wine in an environment-friendly manner.... 

Brewery brings beer to wine-prominent area

Being the first brewery to open in the Western Cape’s Worcester region, at the Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve, has benefited local brewery Mountain Brewing Company (MBco) significantly, as it is now... 

Company to launch underground mining machines

Ultralow-profile mining machinery and equipment supplier Centre For Machine Technology and Innovation (CMTI Consulting) will launch two underground mining machines next month. CMTI Consulting MD... 

Mechanised support solution enhances safety

Safety in the mining industry has to be the number one priority if South Africa is to be a world-class and globally competitive destination for mining investment, says underground safety support... 

Mining sector looking to automation to increase profits

Automation is becoming one of the leading focus points to increase profits in the mining sector, says automated robotic solutions company Robotic Innovations (RI) co-owner Marlyn Mostert. She says... 

CCS can decrease CTL CO2 emissions

The 30-million tons a year of concentrated carbon dioxide (CO2) released by the South African synthetic fuel industry can effectively be reduced through the carbon capture and storage (CCS)... 

SA’s liquid-fuels economy to be sustained for next 40 years

The coal-to-liquids (CTL) industry is going to be a core part of South Africa’s liquid-fuels economy for the next 40 years, says global management consulting firm AT Kearney principal Martin... 

African mining requires lightweight tools

Lightweight and field-portable devices are the most suitable for African mining conditions, as they enable exploration teams to easily navigate the mostly rough terrain, says field-portable... 

Exploration company expands projects

The Benin government’s award of exploration rights to mineralised tantalum and gem bearing pegmatites to multi-commodity mining and natural resource company Premier African Minerals, in April,... 

Phosphate project to get under way

The prefeasibility study at mineral exploration and development company Montero Mining and Exploration’s phosphate project, in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, is expected to start soon, with the goal... 

Company launches ERP system for explorers

Business improvement and technology company Barnstone will, at the end of this month, release its Barnstone Exploration Solution enterprise resource planning (ERP) system aimed at enabling... 

Company updates exploration technology

Mining software, hardware and services provider Maptek updated its I-Site 8200 three-dimensional laser scanning technology in August. The technology allows for fast and accurate data capturing and... 

Obtaining approvals a challenge for mine development

Obtaining the necessary statutory permitting approvals and licences to operate in a timely and cost-effective manner is a major challenge to mine development in South Africa, says multicommodity... 

Preventing material build-up and spillage key to well-performing transfer point

Preventing excessive material build-up and spillage is a necessity for a well-performing transfer point, as blockages and plugging can lead to a process line running below capacity, or even being...