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Manufacturing News

Industrial IoT helping to streamline complex operations

By: Schalk Burger 16th June 2017 Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions are helping to reduce the complexity and management of industrial automation systems and making industrial operations more visible, controllable and resilient, says industrial systems availability firm Stratus Technologies Africa and Middle East... →

PPC Imaginarium Awards 2017 winners announced

By: David Oliveira 16th June 2017 South African art and design competition PPC Imaginarium Awards announced its overall winner, category winners and runners-up at a gala event hosted last month at the University of Johannesburg’s Art Gallery in Auckland Park. The winners were selected from the 55 finalists who submitted their... →

Several Green trends expected to emerge this year

By: Simone Liedtke 16th June 2017 As the green-building groundswell takes hold globally, construction materials supplier AfriSam says industry can expect to several trends emerge this year. →

VICTOR BOUGUENON Trends include South Africa’s property and construction players committing to greener practices

South African timber industry could become net importer amid supply pressures

By: David Oliveira 16th June 2017 While the short-term outlook for South Africa’s timber industry looks positive, with positive supply and demand figures, the medium term outook for the industry is under pressure owing to a potential looming timber shortage, as the total area under plantation in South Africa is not expanding in... →

South Africans more conscious of greener ways of living

By: Simone Liedtke 16th June 2017 With South Africans being more aware of greener ways of living, multidisciplinary engineering consultancy WSP regional director and sustainability consultant Alison Groves says this has led to green building becoming integral in the design and construction of buildings. →

INITIAL FOCUS The rating system developed by the Green Building Council of South Africa was initially only focused on new buildings

‘Not one’ CSR locomotive made in South Africa, economic research group claims

By: Terence Creamer 14th June 2017 Research commissioned by independent economic research institution Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has found that, despite local-content obligations, not one of the China South Rail (CSR) locomotives being procured by Transnet has been assembled in South Africa and that all have... →

General Electric bets big on digital

By: Natasha Odendaal 13th June 2017 While the industrial ecosystem lags the productivity gains seen in the consumer economy as a result of digital disruption, General Electric (GE) is betting its future on digital industrial transformation and the powerful gains that will emerge from fully leveraging what the Internet of Things... →

State defence group Denel could be transferred from Public Enterprises to Defence

By: Keith Campbell 9th June 2017 Pre-Cabinet level discussions are under way within the government about transferring State-owned defence industrial group Denel from the aegis of the Department of Public Works to that of the Department of Defence (DoD). This was stated by Defence Secretary Dr Sam Gulube at a function marking the... →

Photo by Duane Daws/Creamer Media
Secretary of Defence Sam Gulube

Company introduces new cost effective technology in line with 2020 target

By: Nica Schreuder 9th June 2017 With increasing pressure to conform to the 2020 Air Quality Act, industrial equipment supplier Heaton Valves Africa have introduced Zeeco Combustion equipment’s GB single-jet burner into the Southern African Market in order to minimise oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. During fuel combustion,... →

Industry trends shift towards efficient, intelligent strategies

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th June 2017 The main feature of global demand for energy is a shift to maximising efficiency through delivering energy at the lowest cost per kilowatt per hour, says independent process industry consultant Santosh Gunpath. He tells Engineering News that this was evident from his interactions with industry... →

Photo by Bloomberg
EFFICIENCY PRIORITISED With energy integral to every process, the objective should be to maximise the efficiency of delivering the necessary energy at the lowest cost per kilowatt per hour

Lean technology approach helps mattress manufacturer remain competitive

By: Dylan Slater 9th June 2017 Langlaagte-based sleep products manufacturer the Bravo Group’s Sleep Factory attributes its lions’ share of the domestic premium sleep products market to an adoption of low technology processes, low levels of automation and, instead relying on a large labour-intensive workforce and refined... →

Photo by Duane Daws
LOW-TECH APPROACH The Sleep Factory relies on a highly-skilled workforce, capable of easily switching between the manufacture of many different types of sleep products

System positions company in good stead in South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th June 2017 Global electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand is using its lighting and motion management systems to position itself in the South African energy efficiency market. “We have seen a positive response from the South African market to these systems, with a pleasing... →

SEEING THE LIGHT Legrand’s sensors improve the energy efficiency of buildings by automatically reducing the amount of time if lighting is left on unnecessarily

University mulls project for manufacture of affordable prosthetics

By: Irma Venter 9th June 2017 The North-West University (NWU) has started a project that may culminate in the manufacture of affordable artificial limbs. The NWU’s Faculty of Engineering, in Potchefstroom, is trying its hand at designing and manufacturing prosthetic limbs, with the aim of selling them at a fraction of the... →

Solidarity to approach Labour Court for assistance to save MEIBC

By: Anine Kilian 8th June 2017 Trade union Solidarity will on Friday request the Labour Court to place the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) under administration in a bid to save the bargaining council from bankruptcy. About 340 000 employees and 10 000 companies fall under the MEIBC. →

Afrox appoints new CFO

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th June 2017 JSE-listed African Oxygen (Afrox) has appointed Matthias Vogt CFO and executive director, effective August 1. He will succeed Dorian Devers, who will step down as CFO on July 31. →

Numsa ‘dismayed’ with employers’ proposals in metal and engineering sector talks

By: African News Agency 8th June 2017 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said on Thursday that it was “dismayed” with proposals made by employers in the engineering sector during the two-day wage talks. This comes after Numsa tabled its demands for a 15% wage increase across the board to the employers in the... →

Manufacturing Circle concerned by decline in the sector

By: Anine Kilian 7th June 2017 Industry body, the Manufacturing Circle, is concerned by the 3.7% contraction in the manufacturing sector during the first quarter of the year. “This figure is troubling, as is the disconcerting news that South Africa is now in a recession,” Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa... →

Numsa to demand 15% increase in engineering sector wage talks

By: African News Agency 7th June 2017 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has said it would demand a 15% wage increase across the board as wage talks in the metal and engineering sector begin on Wednesday. The metal sector wage talks are brought about as the current wage agreement lapses at the end of this month. →

Ford invests R125m in conveyor system for Silverton plant

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 6th June 2017 While concerns were raised about the state of investment into the local vehicle manufacturing industry, after General Motors’ decision to exit the country in May, the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has invested more than R125-million to upgrade its 3 000-m vehicle conveyor system... →

IDC raises black industrialist funding target to R7.4bn for FY18

By: Terence Creamer 5th June 2017 The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is budgeting to pick up the pace of lending to black industrialists during its 2017/18 financial year, during which it aims to increase approvals to around R7.4-billion, from R4.7-billion in 2016/17. Divisional executive for agro, infrastructure and... →

Divisional executive for agro, infrastructure and new industries Lizeka Matshekga

Italian group invests R200m in local railway wheel plant

By: Irma Venter 2nd June 2017 Italian forged railway product manufacturer, Lucchini RS, on Friday officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Germiston, Ekurhuleni. The R200-million investment sees the company evolve from importer into local manufacturer. →

Seifsa, Manufacturing Circle welcome rebound in PMI

By: Anine Kilian 2nd June 2017 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) and the Manufacturing Circle have welcomed the rebound in the Absa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) to 51.5 index points in May, up from the 44.7 index points recorded in April. Seifsa senior economist Tafadzwa Chibanguza... →

Cape Town to host supply chain jamboree

By: Dylan Slater 2nd June 2017 Supply chain operations management association Sapics will focus on ‘Business Unusual’ for its upcoming yearly Sapics conference and exhibition for supply chain professionals, whereby delegates will be equipped to meet challenges linked to factors such as poor infrastructure and political... →

MUNGO PARK The impact of poor infrastructure, political uncertainty and a skills shortage crisis require supply chain management to be acknowledged at executive level

Coatings increase turbine efficiency

2nd June 2017 Thermal barrier coatings can significantly increase the turbine efficiency of turbomachinery by allowing higher firing temperatures while reducing component thermal fatigue, warpage, oxidation and cracking, says thermal spray coatings supplier Thermaspray. →

SPRAY BOOTH The company has a top-loading spray booth that can handle shafts of 5 500 mm in length

Continuous improvement concept to increase productivity

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd June 2017 As part of the company’s commitment to stay relevant through innovation, local stainless steel and aluminium cookware manufacturer Hendler and Hart is implementing a substantial two-year re-engineering process, based on the concept of continuous improvement, at its Boksburg manufacturing plant. →

Hendler and Hart gives a tour of their aluminium and stainless-steel factory facility, in Boksburg. Video Cameraperson: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva.

Full range of corrosion control products available in Southern Africa

2nd June 2017 Corrosion control product supplier JST International’s (JST’s) cathodic protection and impressed current cathodic protection systems and corrosion resistant pipe supports product ranges have been expanded to include the full range of corrosion control coatings and wrappings in Southern Africa. →

Photo by Duane Daws
CORROSION CONTROL JST has several products that can be used to control the corrosion of wood, steel and concrete

Members lament impact of imported products on local industry

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd June 2017 n April, the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (sassda) conducted a Short Track Survey that gave an account of the state of the stainless steel industry, compared with this time last year, which had Sassda members lamenting the negative impact of imported stainless steel... →

JOHN TARBOTON Stainless steel finished product imports grew 44% in 2016 compared with 2015

Ring main unit launched to cater for increased renewables output

By: David Oliveira 2nd June 2017 Electrical engineering firm Lucy Electric launched its modular Aegis36 ring main unit at Africa Utility Week, which took place in Cape Town last month. The unit is designed for switchgear of up to 36 kV installed in secondary distribution networks and particularly for renewable-energy projects. →

South African industries show interest in new flexible borescope

By: Schalk Burger 2nd June 2017 South African technical industries are showing interest in the new Gradient Lens Corporation’s Hawkeye V2 flexible borescope to conduct nondestructive testing and inspections of machines, products and components, says local reseller GP Agencies sales manager Lesley Scott. The flexible borescopes... →

FLEXIBLE BORESCOPE Flexible borescopes are used in the aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy and wind-generation industries

Industry teams up to craft road map for ‘a million new manufacturing jobs’

By: Terence Creamer 29th May 2017 Manufacturing associations across a range of subsectors, including plastics and packaging, chemicals, agroprocessing and steel have endorsed a Manufacturing Circle-led initiative, designed to find ways of creating an additional one-million manufacturing jobs in South Africa. Manufacturing Circle... →

Manufacturing Circle chairperson André de Ruyter explains the ‘Map-to-a-Million’ initiative. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

2017 a watershed year for Insimbi

By: Natasha Odendaal 29th May 2017 Insimbi Refractory and Alloy Supplies is no longer the company it was a year ago, with significant changes undertaken in a year described as watershed for the Johannesburg-listed group. During the year ended February 28, the Fred Botha-led company underwent significant changes in its market... →

Clover sees earnings dip owing to drought, rand volatility

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 29th May 2017 The prolonged drought and rand volatility, which resulted in above inflation input costs that could not be recovered through revenue increases, owing to subdued consumer sentiment and aggressive competitive pricing in the first half of the financial year, will be largely disruptive to branded... →

Finance Minister Gigaba continues to oppose Denel Asia deal

By: Keith Campbell 26th May 2017 The National Treasury on Friday reaffirmed, in a press release, that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba continues to oppose the proposed joint venture between the State-owned Denel defence industrial group and VR Laser Asia, intended to create a company called Denel Asia. The press release was issued... →

Durban port takes delivery of Umbilo tug

By: Shirley le Guern 26th May 2017 “Made for Durban in Durban” is how Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) CEO Richard Vallihu described the Umbilo, the latest tug to be launched in Durban, on Friday. The sixth to roll off the South African Shipyards’ (SAS’s) production line, the Umbilo will be the first tug to be based at its... →

New range of drives and motors available in SA

26th May 2017 Technical solutions provider Bearing Man Group (BMG) has a new range of drives and motors that includes newly launched products from hoisting and power transmission solutions provider Dinamic Oil. →

New torque limiter sizes added to developer’s range

26th May 2017 Power transmission component developer KTR has extended its line of lightweight torque limiters overload couplings by adding two new sizes. →

New tube-bending machine launched at MTA 2017

By: Mia Breytenbach 26th May 2017 In collaboration with international tube-bending technology specialist BLM Group, cutting consumable and capital equipment supplier First Cut launched the latest version of the E-TURN32 tube-bending machine at trade exhibition Machine Tools Africa 2017, held in Johannesburg, earlier this month.... →

The E-TURN32 as it is a fully electric, computer numerically controlled machine, with all axes using Siemens drive technology and servo-motors. It can bend in 15 axes movements, roll and punch different sizes of tube up to 50.8 mm in diameter, and in any material, such as ferrous, non-ferrous and specialty metals, except plastic

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