http://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Follow @EngNewsZA

Manufacturing News

SA committed to increasing trade with Zambia, says DTI minister

By: African News Agency 21st July 2017 South Africa was committed to increasing trade and addressing the trade imbalance with Zambia. This was according to South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, ahead of a two-day Outward Trade and Investment Mission to Lusaka, Zambia, from 24-25 July. →

Arteor Exclusive developed for global projects

21st July 2017 Global electrical and digital building infrastructures specialist Legrand’s range of Arteor wiring devices now encompasses the new ‘Arteor Exclusive’ portfolio, which has been developed for projects globally. Legrand highlights that these demand more than standard electrical fittings. The range... →

IMPRINTED Legrand’s Tattoo collection, with intricate patterns, is the inspiration of urban culture

Exhibition facilitates industrial growth in KZN

By: Robyn Wilkinson 21st July 2017 This year’s KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition (Kite) will provide businesses in the province with an ideal access route to the key resources required to ramp up their operations in line with government’s extensive and ongoing investment in new manufacturing endeavours. →

Photo by Bloomberg
GROWING ECONOMIC HUB Government investment in the Port of Durban will support trade stemming from the ramp-up of manufacturing activites in KZN

Industrial cybersecurity resilience in focus as attacks increase

By: Schalk Burger 21st July 2017 Effective industrial cybersecurity protection improves the resilience of industries, defends investments in automation and control systems and becomes an asset to manage industrial systems, risks and business continuity, a range of industrial cybersecurity specialists explain. The increased... →

Nakambala sugar mill expansion project completed

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 21st July 2017 During the third quarter of 2017, project management and equipment design company Bosch Projects completed the implementation of the Nakambala Product Alignment and Refinery project in Mazabuka, Zambia. Bosch Projects sugar sector director Steven Rosettenstein, who was the project manager for the... →

NAKAMBALA SUGAR MILL Illovo Sugar appointed Bosch Projects as engineering, procurement and construction management consultants for the mill’s expansion

New model for estimating risk proves effective in case studies

21st July 2017 Massachusetts-based business school MIT Sloan School of Management have presented new research about a new model that estimates risks and extends gate review analysis beyond “go” and “no go” options. “Today, most technical development projects go through a phase-gate process, with each gate... →

Photo by Bloomberg
CASE STUDY Researchers at MIT showed how their gate decision analysis method works with a case study at producer of oil and natural gas BP, in Houston

Otis relaunches training academy to build skills, expertise in industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 21st July 2017 Elevator and escalator manufacturer Otis South Africa earlier this month relaunched its training academy in line with its skills development programme, which is designed to create technical and functional expertise in African markets. “Building skills and expertise through the Otis training... →

ESCALATED OFFERING The training academy will now offer programmes that include service and maintenance, installations, as well as quality, environment health and safety

Solution provides protection on north coast

21st July 2017 Nonwovens supplier Fibertex SA’s geosynthetic sand containers (GSC-Bags) will ensure the protection of the natural environment in the construction of a revetment structure at uMdloti beach, on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast. →

SPECIALLY ENGINEERED Fibertex offers a lightweight, durable and workable geosynthetic substitute for traditional revetment systems

Sugar industry to make the most of yield recovery

By: Robyn Wilkinson 21st July 2017 As KwaZulu-Natal’s sugar cane growers start to recover from the effects of the drought, the South African Canegrowers’ Association (SA Canegrowers) is urging the industry to remain resilient and look for opportunities to diversify their operations. →

BOUNCING BACK The SA Canegrowers board of directors is optimistic about the 2017/18 season, with improved rainfall set to improve production levels

Ellies to narrow FY loss

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th July 2017 Electronic products manufacturer Ellies expects to narrow its loss a share to between 38c and 47c for the financial year ended April 30. The company posted a loss a share of 87.78c in the prior financial year. →

Numsa warns ‘intransigent’ employers in engineering sector of possible strike

By: African News Agency 18th July 2017 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Tuesday slammed “intransigent” employers in the engineering sector and warned of a “total shutdown” in the industry. This comes after Numsa declared a dispute with employers in the engineering sector following deadlock in wage... →

Impending strike could lead to more retrenchments in steel industry, Solidarity warns

By: Anine Kilian 17th July 2017 Trade union Solidarity on Monday said the impending strike in the steel industry would have a negative impact, both on the domestic steel industry and the country’s economy, as well as on job opportunities in the sector. This comes after the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) had... →

Massmart reports a slow 0.5% increase in H1 sales

By: Anine Kilian 17th July 2017 Massmart’s sales for the six months ended June 25, grew by 0.5% year-on-year to R42.5-billion. Comparable store sales decreased by 1.6% and product inflation was estimated at 3.2%. →

Seifsa appoints new economists

By: Anine Kilian 17th July 2017 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has appointed Dr Michael Ade chief economist and Marique-Mari Kruger economist with effect from July 17 and August 1, respectively. Ade will join Seifsa from the South African Revenue Service where he is capacity director... →

Australian products showcased at event

By: Robyn Wilkinson 14th July 2017 Following the establishment of Australia-based industrial solutions provider HMA Group’s South African subsidiary, the company is looking forward to showcasing its diverse offering at this year’s POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa. →

POWER PRODUCTS Fireye’s strong footprint in the African power generation sector will be further bolstered through its partnership with the HMA Group

Fast, affordable power key for oil and gas producers

14th July 2017 Given the financial constraints facing the oil and gas industry, the ability to rapidly access affordable power generation that does not tie up capital could be what is needed to jump-start exploration and development activities across Africa, says energy solutions provider APR Energy regional... →

FLEXIBLE POWER SOURCE Fast-track power plants are scalable, which allows generating capacity to easily expand as a project moves from exploration to production

Greener rotary compressor can deliver savings exceeding 20%

14th July 2017 Compressor engineering firm Lontra founder Steve Lindsey devised a more efficient, oil-free rotary compressor that offers a greener solution to traditional compression technology, able to deliver energy savings of more than 20%. His efforts gained recognition of the European Patent Office (EPO)... →

STEVE LINDSEY The founder of Lontra was nominated and shortlisted as a finalist at the 2017 European Inventor Awards

Hudaco remains cash generative in tough economic environment

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th July 2017 Despite a difficult economic and trading environment, JSE-listed industrial products provider Hudaco remains cash-generative, with operations having generated net cash of R247-million for the six months to May 31. Hudaco CEO Graham Dunford emphasised that the results were reported during a... →

Industrial products provider Hudaco CEO Graham Dunford discusses the group's results for the six months ended May 31, and provides an outlook for the second half of the year. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd

New pumps suited to packaging, food and beverage industries

14th July 2017 In May, sustainable productivity solutions provider Atlas Copco announced that it had extended its range of variable speed drive (VSD) vacuum pumps with the addition of three models offering flow rates up to 5 004 m3/h. The new GHS 3800-5400 VSD+ rotary screw pumps are particularly suited for... →

GHS VSD ROTARY SCREW PUMP The range provides significantly higher performance levels and reduced maintenance, noise and heat emissions compared to conventional oil-sealed and dry vane vacuum pumps

New variable-speed drive showcased at European expo

14th July 2017 Last month multinational industrial machinery manufacturer Voith exhibited power industry solutions at the POWER-GEN Europe 2017 conference and exhibition, and one of the main features was its new variable speed drive (VSD), the VECO-Drive, intended to enhance the efficiency of rotating... →

DRIVING FORCE The VECO-Drive increases input speed and generates a high output speed for compressors or pumps

Smartphone adoption expected to drive investment in Africa

By: David Oliveira 14th July 2017 Driven by significant growth in smartphone adoption, Africa is poised to become the skills pool for the world, underpinned by innovation solutions derived from trends, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics, making the continent an attractive target for international investment.... →

Troubleshooting device eases, enables priority maintenance

14th July 2017 The Fluke 810 – manufactured by industrial testing equipment manufacturer Fluke – is one of the most advanced troubleshooting instruments available for vibration testing, enabling maintenance teams to rapidly collect data and diagnose and solve mechanical problems. Fluke, represented locally by... →

FLUKE 810 The Fluke 810 uses a set of advanced algorithms to produce a plain-text diagnosis of the machine with a recommended solution

Seifsa and Neasa in war of words as metals sector strike looms

By: Terence Creamer 12th July 2017 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has described suggestions that it is only representing the interests of large employers in the metals and engineering sector as malicious “propaganda”, arguing that it “fights hard” to represent both small and big... →

SAB invests R2.8bn in expanding Gauteng breweries

By: Anine Kilian 11th July 2017 Multinational beverage and brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB-InBev) subsidiary South African Breweries (SAB) will invest R2.8-billion into brewery expansions, including two new packaging lines for returnable glass bottles, at its Alrode and Rosslyn breweries, in Gauteng. During a media... →

AB-InBev Africa president Ricardo Tadeu

Dawn signs nonbiding MoU for potential disposal of shares

By: Samantha Herbst 11th July 2017 JSE-listed branded hardware, sanitaryware and civil products manufacturer Distribution and Warehousing Network (Dawn) has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the controlling shareholders of Grohe Dawn Watertech (GDW) for the potential disposal of Dawn’s 49% shareholding to GDW.... →

Manufacturing output down 0.8% y/y in May

By: Reuters 11th July 2017 South Africa's manufacturing output fell 0.8% year-on-year in May, contracting less than expected, after falling by 4.2% in April, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast manufacturing volumes would contract by 4.5% year-on-year in May. →

Jaycor sells 53% stake to black-owned equity firms

By: Creamer Media Reporter 7th July 2017 Provider of specialised cables, connectors, infrastructure and related active components Jaycor International has sold a 53% stake in the company to black women-owned investment company Moshe Capital and private equity investment firm Sanari Capital. Jaycor founders and executive directors own... →

AMSA unveils first phase of incubation hub to support emerging industrialists

By: Natasha Odendaal 7th July 2017 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) on Friday unveiled the completed first phase of its new 1 600 m2 steel industry incubation hub, in Vanderbijlpark, which has been set up to help develop industrialists to be absorbed into its procurement supply chain. The R30-million Matlafatso... →

Numsa warns of imminent metals, engineering industry strike

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 7th July 2017 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Friday warned of an imminent strike in the local metals and engineering sector, after the latest round of negotiations reached a deadlock on Thursday. The union is demanding a two-year 15% wage increase across the board, based on the... →

CSIR collaboration leads to the first locally manufactured aluminium valve

By: Creamer Media Reporter 7th July 2017 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) collaboration with local butterfly valve manufacturer Paltechnologies (Paltech) has resulted in the successful development of a standard 80 mm diameter aluminium butterfly valve for use on electrical power transformers. The Paltech... →

Commissioning activities under way at pipeline

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2017 Packaging company Nampak Glass in May commissioned a 1-km-long, high-pressure underground gas pipeline that was constructed by multidisciplinary corporation Saiyl. →

NAMPAK STATION This underground pipeline ties into the newly constructed Nampak Pressure Reduction Station in Germiston

Control system minimises dust escape during grab discharge

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2017 Materials handling equipment supplier BLT South Africa’s Samson travelling Eco-Hoppers have an effective dust control system that minimises the escape of dust during the grab discharge cycle. →

DUST CONTROL The grab discharge cycle includes transferring materials down the line using handling systems

Digitalisation evolution, not revolution

7th July 2017 Efficient plants, machinery and services solutions company SMS group has developed strategies to promote digitalisation in the steel industry, in light of Internet 4.0, digitalisation, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing becoming dominant themes in the industry. According to the SMS... →

DIGITAL SALES Electronic spare parts catalogue in an eService module, which would be used by sales departments as digital tools to facilitate pricing and delivery transparency

Filter standard replacement to occur over 18-month transition period

7th July 2017 The new test standard for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 16890, for filter testing and assessment, replaced European Standard (EN) 779 as of January this year, with a transition period of 18 months. →

SHIFTING PARADIGM This new method for the evaluation of air filter elements represents a paradigm shift

Lack of contractual commitments hindering solar-geyser manufacturing growth

By: David Oliveira 7th July 2017 The current economic climate and a lack of mid- to long-term contractual agreements from the Department of Energy (DoE) has slowed plant expansion and capacity increases by local solar water heater (SWH) manufacturers. Local manufacturer Satchwell Controls, a division of electro-mechanical... →

Manufacturing to be changed by digital systems, Endress+Hauser avers

By: Schalk Burger 7th July 2017 Digital technologies, the automation of processes and the changes to business models will be some of the main areas to be affected by digitalisation and connection of industrial systems, says industrial automation multinational Endress+Hauser VP supervisory board and German Electrical and... →

Need for accurate designs of dosing systems

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2017 The designs for dosing systems in the gas and fumes industries have to be accurate to ensure safety, says chemical dosing and pumping applications supplier Packaged Metering and Pumping Solutions (PMPS) technical director David O’Neill. →

Packaged Metering and Pumping Solutions’ David O’Neill talks about the company’s strategies with regards to the fracking process. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Company Post

Quality Enclosures on Sale

more

Latest News

New association launched to support emerging truck operators

With drought threatening food security, farmers turn to drip irrigation

Hulisani invests in global wind tower producer

FNB economists welcome interest rates cut

Moratorium infers intention to circumvent agreement – Leon

Telkom injects R200m into educational programmes

South Africa makes surprise recovery in 2017 reputation index

Icasa number portability report shows room for improvement