Safety up but costs hamper industry uptake

Safety is improving in the local metal fabrication sector as more companies realise the importance of having stricter safety protocols in place, says local blades and electrodes manufacturer, and... 

Mining tops demand for IPS Fibreglass Mouldings products

The mining industry continues to represent the greatest demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic for the fibreglass products, such as belt guards, produced by fibreglass moulds and mouldings solutions... 

Industry body submits plastic-waste guidelines to govt

South African plastics industry representative Plastics SA along with industry body Packaging SA and producer responsibility organisations (PROs) of various packaging waste streams submitted... 

South Africa should ramp up e-waste recycling

The level of e-waste recycling in South Africa is extremely low. While 6 kg/y to 7 kg/y of e-waste is generated for every South African citizen only 360 000 t/y of e-waste is placed on the market.... 

IS programme gaining momentum

The Industrial Symbiosis (IS) programme of the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA), a division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, will play a significant... 

Demand for BBO’s poultry and juice processing solutions skyrockets

The poultry and fruit juice processing equipment manufactured by Free State-based agroprocessing equipment manufacturer Basils Business Opportunities (BBO) is in high demand, says owner Basil... 

Green hydrogen requires renewable projects separate from the grid

There should be a clear distinction between renewable-energy projects for the grid under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and renewable-energy... 

Hydrogen filling stations brought to African market

Pressure equipment specialist Superior Pressure Solutions (Spress) has introduced hydrogen technology from German high-pressure systems supplier Maximator to the African market, offering local... 

Local green methanol synthesis making headway

The Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Infrastructure Centre of Competence (CoC), co-hosted at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and North-West University, is designing a... 

Backsaver Farming Equipment is helping plant crops across Africa

Free State farmer and inventor Michris Janse van Rensburg has supplied hand planters to more than 10 000 farmers across Africa to date and intends to become the John Deere of small-scale farmers.... 

Rolling ahead with railway wheel repairs

Rail components manufacturer Bakara Engineering has completed repairs to railway wheels for a private rail operator and is working on a similar project for Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa... 

Council adapting to Covid-19 chokehold

The South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC) is adopting new technological solutions to meet its goals of growing its membership and exports this year despite the Covid-19 outbreak,... 

HVAC specialist launches new tech

Three prototypes of a new modular mobile cool-air-drying system for agricultural use will be launched at the end of this year by Pretoria-headquartered multidisciplinary engineering company... 

World-first heat pump to launch at Electra

Krugersdorp heat pump manufacturer EMS Holdings will officially launch its world-first 200 ℓ low-pressure, integrated heat pump alongside its official distributor, ACDC, at Electra Mining Africa... 

Local smoke vent fan gets green light

Cape Town-based industrial fan design and manufacturing company CFW Industries has received certification for its 400 °C powered emergency smoke exhaust fans, which will add to its basket of... 

Wireless valve bank available locally

The EX600-W wireless valve bank module from industrial automation technology company SMC is officially available in the South African market, says SMC senior technical sales engineer Wade Holland.... 

Localisation key to economic recovery

Localisation should be the main driver of South Africa’s economic recovery following the Covid-19 outbreak, says diversified engineering company Pamodzi Unique Engineering CEO Sindi Dlamini. The... 

More local laser R&D needed

South Africa is not placing enough focus on laser research and development (R&D), especially in the private sector, but there is hope, says the director of the Laser Research Institute (LRI) within... 

Laser tech key to developing economy

It is vital that South Africa has an in-depth understanding of the impact photonics-based technologies will have on its economic development, as they underpin the communication systems and sensors... 

Increased demand for laser marking

Identification and traceability company Traceability Solutions has seen an increase in enquiries for laser-marking systems despite the national lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, says MD... 

Ensuring productivity in tough conditions

Platinum group metals (PGMs) strata present some of the most unforgiving digging conditions imaginable for earthmoving equipment attachments, says earthmoving mining equipment and attachments... 

PGMs recovery under way, but uncertainty remains

Many geographic regions active in the platinum group metals (PGMs) sector are in the early stages of recovery, following the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with platinum, palladium and... 

Foundry company ensuring safe platinum smelting

Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie expects to finalise production of the Phase B coolers for platinum producer Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) Anglo Converter Plant (ACP) in... 

PGMs producer navigating Covid-19 market disruption

‘Business unusual’ is expected to characterise much of the 2021 financial year, owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, says platinum group metals producer Impala Platinum (Implats).    The company expects... 

Pump Optimiser is Shockwave’s solution to remote-controlled efficiency

The national lockdown to curb the Covid-19 outbreak in South Africa has provided smart farming agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider Shockwave Engineering dedicated time to... 

‘Soil conditioner’ production keeps manufacturer bustling

The processing facility of manufacturer and minerals producer Pratley has been significantly busy producing Pratley Vulture Creek Clino during the national lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19,... 

Sector welcomes bearing distributor’s new products

Demand for the agriculture-specific products offered by Southern Africa bearings and power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) is slowly picking up now that lockdown... 

Agricultural engineers are an endangered species

The agricultural industry remains key to the development of South Africa and addressing the country’s prevalent unemployment issues, but local agricultural engineers are a scarce breed, says South... 

New interface’s mobile version coming soon

Data-driven agricultural solutions provider SupPlant has launched a new user interface for its decision support system (DSS), with a mobile version to follow, enabling farmers to keep an eye on... 

Offering diversified with new crop input solution

Environmental management company I-CAT will soon launch agricultural and forestry input solution Cyflo, as part of its product offering, targeting existing and potential clients, says I-CAT... 

Pump rentals effective contingency plan to ensure food security

When a pump used for agricultural applications fails, it poses a significant risk to the food production cycle, revenue generation and, ultimately, the food supply chain during a time when South... 

Stanfra answers need for local quarter-turn segmented ball valve

Meyerton-based valve manufacturer Stanfra Abrasive Solutions is exposing South Africa’s first 100% locally manufactured quarter-turn segmented ball valves to extreme testing in the pulp and paper... 

Local zero-plastics amenities range developed for City Lodge Hotel Group

Hotel chain City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) is believed to be the first in South Africa to introduce a zero-plastics bathroom amenities range, which includes a hair and body bar and hand bar made... 

High-mileage drive belt introduced locally

Automotive parts supplier Autobax extended its range of Gates automotive components in March this year by introducing drive belts specifically designed for high-mileage cars. This involved a soft... 

Lower human activity limiting tyre sales

Every business is going to face the consequences of lower human activity and, thereby, commercial activity, as South Africans consume less or differently, owing to Covid-19, says automotive tyre... 

Variable demand requires new strategy

Uncertain demand in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket environments, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, is impacting on short- to medium-term capacity management decisions to... 

Positive mining developments halted by Covid-19

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, major mining companies indicated that, for the first time in many years, government and the mining industry were having meaningful dialogue that could realise positive... 

Moma to move 7 000 t plant along newly built road

The construction of a purpose-built, 23-km-long, 66-m-wide road for the relocation of wet concentrator plant (WCP) B and its dredge at the Moma titanium minerals mine, on the north-east coast of... 

Less demand for outsourced labour

There has been a sharp decline in demand for labour for mining-related construction projects amid the Covid-19 outbreak, with some projects on hold, as mines focus on their core business. This is... 

Food-waste composting aid manufacturer Bokashi Bran eyes US market

With more local residential and commercial kitchens using the Bokashi Bran food-waste composting system and the product readily available from building material retail outlets Builders Warehouse...