Imports threaten competitiveness, sustainability

Despite being a surplus-sugar-producing country, South Africa is facing an escalating import crisis that poses “a serious threat” to the industry’ competitiveness and long-term sustainability, says... 

Bioeconomy unit drives sugarcane product diversification

Following a combination of economic, environmental and strategic imperatives, research organisation the Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) has created the Sugarcane Bioeconomy Unit (SBU)... 

Digitalisation enhances project efficiency, quality

Advancements in digital design tools, improved technologies and the shifting dynamics of the steel supply chain have helped to enhance project efficiency, safety and quality, South African... 

Exploration dependent on global factors

The pace of iron-ore exploration and project development across Africa will depend largely on future price levels, which, in turn, are influenced by global supply and demand dynamics, according to... 

Shared safety tech improves systems integration, use

To ease the management and improve the usability of its graders and articulated dump trucks (ADTs), heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment’s use of shared technology – such as proximity... 

Digital 3D scanner improves volume calculations

To address challenges of traditional bulk density measurement methods, such as those used for friable materials, mine equipment supplier Veracio’s volumetric bulk density (VBD) system improves the... 

Mill filling levels influence performance – experts

Under pressure to expand throughput, many mines' semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills often become the bottleneck, with the increase in ball filling and mill filling either negatively or positively... 

Voice amplifiers reduce respirator removal

Safety equipment supplier Dromex has launched its voice amplification respiratory protection to address the challenge of standard respirators hindering communication. Respirators muffle speech,... 

Maternity PPE provides full protection

Engineered to provide full protection and comfort throughout pregnancy, iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore’s maternity personal protective equipment (PPE) initiative combines safety compliance with... 

Automation increases empowerment

As the narrative regarding robots in the manufacturing sector changes to one of collaboration, technology company GridRaster says this shift forms a part of the Industry 5.0 paradigm, which focuses... 

Association sets 2030 export growth vision

As a part of its 2030 vision for the stainless steel industry, industry body the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) envisions playing an increasing role in the export... 

Organisation boosts skills development, entrepreneurship

To address the skills gap and costly infrastructure challenges, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), through its Seifsa Training Centre and Metal Incubation... 

Infrastructure gaps stall recycling

Biodegradable, compostable and recyclable are terms that denote a “straightforward” understanding, but waste management company Interwaste says they actually imply “vastly different” end-of-life... 

QR codes, digital printing advance traceability

While barcoding has been a staple in packaging, food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak Southern Africa suggests that the sector’s future lies in advanced traceability systems... 

Wind industry bottlenecked by grid, transmission delays

The most urgent challenge for the wind industry is unlocking grid capacity, but the complete unbundling of State-owned transmission company the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA)... 

Centre installs new HVAC system

The installation of a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system has begun at the Bedford Centre shopping mall, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, to meet the operational needs of a new... 

Updated rating tool facilitates more comprehensive ‘green outcomes’

The Green Star New Buildings and Major Refurbishments version 2 (Green Star New Build V2) tool, developed by non-profit Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), incorporates updated... 

Association drives HVAC-R standards, sustainability

As urbanisation drives increased demand for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) in developing countries, the industry faces the challenge of balancing growth with... 

Tyre solution gains traction in Zim mines

The growing problem of sending big volumes of waste to landfill and general waste issues associated with used tyres is intended to be addressed through tyre filling solutions provider Carlisle... 

Miner undertakes smelter, solar expansion

With the commissioning of a $360-million smelter expansion project and the first 35 MW phase of its $37-million solar PV power programme having been finalised, platinum mining company Zimplats has... 

Bladder reservoir offers portable, large capacity water storage

Across the agricultural and commercial sectors – particularly where water supply can be unreliable or interrupted – the Damsak bladder reservoir by liquid storage manufacturer Damsak Reservoirs is... 

Supplier promotes electric equipment to support ESG shift

Despite the stagnation of South Africa’s construction sector in general and its lagging behind globally, the country is expected to follow the global shift towards sustainability and environmental,... 

Onsite crushing helps tackle embodied carbon

Although the construction industry has traditionally focused on reducing operational energy use through improvements in lighting and insulation, embodied carbon has long “flown under the radar”,... 

Association encourages road-rail integration

South Africa’s over-reliance on road transport is unsustainable, particularly for long-haul, high-volume freight, says trucking industry trade association Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin... 

Infrastructure gaps hinder mineral supply chains

While initiatives to modernise Southern Africa’s mineral logistics corridors and improve cross-border cooperation are gaining traction, the pace of reform is still too slow to match the rising... 

Performance vehicles paying off for services provider

Driven by a foundational need to address the inherent complexities of bulk materials handling in the mining sector, end-to-end logistics and supply chain solutions provider Unitrans has adopted... 

On-site gas generation provides direct control

As global logistics and energy markets become more volatile, oxygen equipment supplier O2Africa offers locally manufactured, on-site gas generation systems that enable steel manufacturers to have... 

Association futureproofs artisanal careers

In direct response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for future-proofed skills and increased artisan production through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, the Steel... 

Strategic partnerships strengthen steel industry

Strategic partnerships between steel fabricators and hot dip galvanizers provide invaluable opportunities to improve efficiencies and quality control, states industry trade association, Hot Dip... 

SAIW reframes welding as driver for growth

While welding is “the backbone of infrastructure”, it has remained largely invisible to the public because it has been positioned as a support function rather than a driver of growth, says industry... 

Laser welding powered by on-site nitrogen

South Africa’s first locally manufactured nitrogen generator system NitraWeld, developed by nitrogen generator supplier Nitralife, allows for a “new level of flexibility and efficiency in... 

Digital precision enhances welding efficiency

Introducing a level of digital control traditionally only seen in fully automated systems, welding technology provider Fronius’ WeldCube Navigator is being implemented by fastener specialist Bolt... 

Corrosion inhibitors boost sustainable preservation

A “comprehensive, efficient and sustainable” way to preserve valuable assets on a large scale, vapour phase corrosion inhibitors (VpCI) save time, labour and money while ensuring equipment remains... 

Reliability, innovative solutions key to entering sector

Offering reliable and innovative solutions, such as bulk materials handling contracts, to the mining sector is key for small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) operating in the demanding... 

Programme to enhance timber competitiveness

The University of Pretoria (UP) Solid Timber Competitiveness Programme aims to develop design processes and wood products that will enhance the competitiveness of the South African timber sector,... 

Political party opposes proposed amendments

In its opposition to the draft amendments to the Private Security Regulations, proposed by regulatory body the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority last month, political party the... 

Penetration testing service grows with rising security demands

As the volume and complexity of cyberthreats continue to grow, many organisations are now adopting Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) – a model that supports more frequent, flexible and... 

Coal developer reinforces rehabilitation of opencast mine

To reinforce its commitment to responsible opencast mining, coal explorer and miner Canyon Coal – a subsidiary of diversified mining company Menar – is implementing rigorous environmental planning,... 

Certification redefines mine planning, execution

As new investments are being made in the Nigerian mining sector and professional frameworks are put in place, nonprofit organisation the Project Management Institute’s Construction Professional... 

AI “hallucinations” increase legal obligations

As AI becomes more embedded in legal work, the ethical obligations deepen. Law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) says lawyers must understand the tools they use and stay updated on their...