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Steel

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... →

Domestic steel demand forecast to grow despite industry challenges

7th July 2017 While domestic demand for steel and steel products is expected to grow by 1.2%, forecasts South African trade union Solidarity deputy general secretary Marius Croucamp, he adds that the steel industry is facing serious challenges, both at a primary steel producing level and in the downstream... →

Locally produced engineering steel declining

By: Nica Schreuder 7th July 2017 It has become cheaper to import finished products manufactured overseas than to manufacture engineering steel in the country, which has resulted in more than half the country’s foundries closing down, laments specialised steel and industry expertise company Special Steels MD Byron Ferguson. He... →

HIGH PROFILE Hydraulic cyclinder components being cut from a 300 mm carbon steel plate at Special Steels

Steel remains invaluable commodity, despite decline

By: Nica Schreuder 7th July 2017 Despite the decrease in demand in the local steel industry, the industry remains invaluable to South Africa’s economy, says local provider of high-quality global electrical, automation, mechanical, consumable and capital equipment products, Elquip Solutions MD Mike Cronin. He explains that steel... →

DYNAMIC AUTOMATION Tooling and machinery company Elquip Solutions’ dynamic bandsaw, the Behringer HBE 312

Tight market conditions put demand for LSFB under pressure

By: Nica Schreuder 7th July 2017 The light steel frame building (LSFB) industry is experiencing the same hardship as the building and construction industry. According to Statistics South Africa, the area of buildings completed during 2016, excluding additions and alterations, matched that of 2015, meaning that no growth was... →

A 12-storey office block in Summit Place, Pretoria. The building’s external façade consists of light steel frame

Steel-related products’ safety emphasised

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 Owing to the use of cheaper, often lower quality steel products, which are copies of high quality products, across industry, serious consequences, and even lead to fatalities, can result, says manufacturer of gratings, flooring and hand railing, Vital Engineering. →

MEDUPI POWER STATION Vital Engineering supplied grating and hand railing products for the Medupi power station

Sasfa marks ten years of LSFB developments in SA

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 In celebrating its tenth anniversary, the South African Light Steel Frame Building Association (Sasfa), has decided to compile an informative ten-year anniversary publication to highlight the significant achievements and developments in the light steel frame building (LSFB) industry to date. →

JOHN BARNARD The light steel frame building industry continues to grow even in trying times

Automation a game changer in fourth industrial revolution

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 Automation in the steel industry is one of the top ten game-changers of the fourth industrial revolution, says South African capital equipment and cutting consumables distributor First Cut MD Andrew Poole. →

BYSTRONIC MOBILE BENDING CELL Automated, multi-shift operation with the minimum staffing requirement is possible

Projected sector growth to provide relief for steel industry

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 Following its announcement in Janurary of a 1.4% growth projection for 2017 in the metals and engineering sector, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) believes that the local steel industry will probably use this bottoming of the trend as an opportunity to... →

Call for entries for Steel Awards 2017

3rd March 2017 The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) is calling for entries for the thirty-sixth annual Steel Awards scheduled to take place simultaneously on September 13 in Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and the Western Cape. →

EASTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE The overall winner in 2016 was the Eastgate phase two redevelopment

Solidarity protects local steel industry

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 Following the National Treasury’s instruction last month that State-owned entities must use 100% locally manufactured structural steel last month, trade union Solidarity says it will act as a watchdog to ensure that this happens. →

SAVE OUR STEEL Solidarity emphasises the importance of the local steel industry to be protected by policy

Modernisation allows for entry into new markets

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd March 2017 Among various projects planned for this year, metallurgic processing plant supplier SMS group says it will continue to promote new installations of small unit modernisation plants for steelmaking and rolling, to supply local construction industry markets with steel. →

ROLLING MILL As part of its modernisation, SMS Group's rolling mill improves production lines and efficiency

New earth roll conveyor for stainless steel recovery

1st July 2016 Global separation technologies provider Eriez unveiled its rare earth roll conveyor at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ 2016 Trade Show, which took place in Las Vegas from April 2 to 7. This product allows customers to reliably recover and concentrate stainless steel from material... →

Light steel frame building advantageous for the SADC

1st July 2016 Light steel frame building (LSFB) is increasingly becoming the preferred building method in the Southern African Development Community, says Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (Safsa) director John Barnard. →

LIGHT STEEL FRAME BUILDING LSFB methods allowed for the construction of an out-patient hospital without interfering with the operations of the neighbouring main hospital

More support needed for local steel industry

By: Robyn Wilkinson 1st July 2016 While government has increased import tariffs to protect the local steel market from low-cost Chinese imports, steel products manufacturer and supplier LionSteel CFO Pierre Willemse believes that more needs to be done to support the South African steel market. →

SUCCESSFUL ACQUISITION LionSteel CFO Pierre Willemse and Captial Star Steel CEO David Scheepers at the Capital Star Steel mill in Mozambique

Fibre laser technology on the rise in steel industry

By: Robyn Wilkinson 1st July 2016 Cutting solutions provider First Cut is supplying fibre laser cutting machines to South Africa, which are greatly improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of laser-cutting operations in various industries, including the steel industry, in a difficult economic climate →

BLM TUBE LASER Fibre laser technology is a cost-effective option for the steel industry

Industry top performers celebrated amid challenging times

1st July 2016 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) announced the winners of its second Annual Awards for Excellence at a breakfast that took place before the commencement of the second day of the Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba, which was held in Sandton in... →

HENK LANGENHOVEN Viability of the South African steel industry remains under pressure

Import prices on steel not the best solution

By: Robyn Wilkinson 1st July 2016 International trade credit insurer Coface credit analyst Kyle Mason says that government would do better to provide benefits to local entities using locally-produced steel than to further impose import and anti-dumping tariffs. →

KYLE MASON Incentives and rebates would better encourage support of local steel producers

Steel exporter adapts for changing steel landscape

By: Victor Moolman 1st July 2016 Owing to the global economic downturn, and tough and volatile trading conditions, steel distributor Building System Integration (BSi) Steel has continually adapted and modified its handling of the supply of steel products, to meet the demand in the sub-Saharan African markets. →

Import tariffs harmful to end-user businesses

By: Robyn Wilkinson 1st July 2016 Fasteners and aligned products manufacturer and supplier Impala Bolt & Nut MD Derek Cohen says attempts to protect the local steel market by introducing import tariffs have introduced additional costs for small end-user businesses that are trying to remain viable in a difficult market. →

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION Government incentives have supported development in the automotive sector, and could similarly benefit the steel sector if implemented

Modernisation of steel plants crucial in South Africa

By: Robyn Wilkinson 1st July 2016 Global metallurgical processing plant supplier SMS group’s South African MD, Pieter Bezuidenhout, says the modernisation of South African steel plants is crucial in boosting the industry’s ability to remain internationally competitive in a difficult economic environment. →

FURNACE WITH FUME EXTRACTION Modernisations such as these are crucial for steel plants to remain viable

Global metallurgical processing plant supplier SMS group South Africa MD Pieter Bezuidenhout, senior processing engineer Peter Sanders and key accounts manager Samuel Gounden discuss the company’s solutions for the modernisation of South African steel plants. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

LionSteel puts the roar back into Capital Star Steel

28th June 2016 Despite its war-torn past, Mozambique has long been viewed as a country that offers great commercial potential to companies which are prepared to invest and commit to its economic and social growth. LionSteelís recent acquisition of Capital Star Steelís (CSS) steel pipe mill in Matola, Maputo,... →

Steel industry faces toughest year

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 As local steel demand stagnates and exports decrease, various steel industry role-players and industry analysts have predicted this year will be the toughest one for local steel manufacturers, as companies have been forced to mothball or sell plants, cut jobs and even close operations. →

SURVIVAL The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction says the local steel construction industry will survive the current challenging environment owing to years of resilience

Scrap metal issue requires inclusive industry debate

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 The recent concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the price preference system (PPS) policy guidelines for local scrap metal require debate and input from all role-players, such as exporters of and domestic users of scrap metal, says steel industry representative organisation the Southern... →

PRECIOUS RESOURCE
Scrap metal should be retained in South Africa and used as a national resource to decrease the price of local steel

Photo by Duane Daws
PRECIOUS RESOURCE Scrap metal should be retained in South Africa and used as a national resource to decrease the price of local steel

Overseas market proves lucrative for steel cladding

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 The market acceptance and demand for vitreous enamel steel cladding Vitraclad is proving more popular overseas than locally, says Boksburg-based manufacturer Vitrex. →

EASY MAINTENANCE The environmental properties of Vitraclad make for simple maintenance without having to use cleaning chemicals

Steel major punts preferential pricing for scrap metal

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 Steel manufacturing major Scaw Metals is supporting the proposed amendments to the price preference system (PPS) policy guidelines for local scrap metal. →

SUSTAINING PRODUCTION Scaw Metals plans to use the new price preference system for scrap metal to sustain jobs in the steel industry

Light steel frames more environment friendly

26th February 2016 Using light steel frames to construct buildings is not only faster than conventional building methods, but also contains less embodied carbon – which is the amount of energy used in the entire manufacturing chain of a particular product, says light steel frame association the Southern African... →

LIGHT STEEL FRAME The use of light steel frames in the construction industry is gaining momentum

Call for entries for Steel Awards 2016

26th February 2016 Steel construction industry representative organisation the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) is calling for entries for its Steel Awards 2016, which will take place simultaneously in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town on September 15. →

2015 WINNER The Overall Winner at Steel Awards 2015 was the MeerKAT project of the Square Kilometre Array Africa Radio Antenna Positioner

Power transmission infrastructure projects key to sustainability of local fabricators

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 Orders for fabricated steel structures for power-line transmission infrastructure have the potential to boost and sustain significant levels of domestic manufacturing capability in the steel industry, says Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) industry development executive... →

LIFE LINE The power infrastructure industry holds significant potential to sustain the steel industry if it can meet its 100% local designation strategy to procure local steel

Augusta Steel

By: Zandile Mavuso 26th February 2016 Situated in Boksburg, in Gauteng at a 25 000 m² processing operation plant, steel processing company Augusta Steel’s plant has the capacity to handle coils of rolled steel of up to 30 tons. →

Equipment provider amasses solutions for steel

26th February 2016 Boksburg-based capital equipment and consumables provider Elquip Solutions provides a range of steel-related products, and products for coil processing and fabrication industries, which it sources from leading brands in the international market. →

MIKE CRONIN Elquip has extensive knowledge of the South African tube and pipe industry

Global steel associations take action against steel oversupply

10th July 2015 Latin America nonprofit steel organisation Latin American Steel Association (Alacero) in June announced that the global steel industry calls on governments to take action against China’s new steel policy, Steel Adjustment Policy, and overcapacity. The association says there is a strong consensus... →

Photo by Bloomberg
OVERCAPACITY The global steel industry is currently experiencing an oversupply of steel

Steel-welding specialist equips young people

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 The steel-welding industry stands to benefit from welding company Hydra Arc Group’s Mshiniwami Artisan Academy, which has been equipping young people with welding skills through theoretical, practical and in-field training since October last year, when its first learners started with their... →

WELDING SKILLS Welding-related research helps the Hydra Arc Group stay abreast of welding-technology developments

Local steel demand suffers 5% yearly contraction

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 Steel demand in South Africa has suffered a steep decline over the past eight years, having contracted by an average of 5% a year since 2007, says growth consulting firm Frost & Sullivan Africa. Frost & Sullivan industrial business unit research analyst Tilden Hellyer notes that this dip was... →

Photo by Bloomberg
DOWNWARD SPIRAL Steel production fell in the first quarter of the year

Steel companies encouraged to invest in business development

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 South Africa’s steel production and conversion capacity is at an all- time low and, as a result, the industry has been forced to downsize by selling off less efficient assets to cover operational costs and working capital, says diversified boutique and investment holding company Africa Steel... →

MAYLEEN KYSTER Companies that invest in business development and identify new markets stand a chance of surviving tough market conditions

Industry body notes increased interest in light steel frame building

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 The increasing popularity of the light steel frame building (LSFB) contractor course offered by industry body the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA) is indicative of the country’s growing interest in this method of construction says Sasfa director John Barnard. He... →

BUILDING LIGHT Interest in Sasfa’s light-steel-frame-building contractor course is increasing

Steel producer highlights unique processing method

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 Keeping abreast of technological developments is integral to surviving the tough economic environment and the competitive steel industry, says Cape Town-based steel production company GKN Sinter Metals sales and marketing manager Jon Kerr. He tells Engineering News that using the right technology... →

SUPERIOR END PRODUCT GKN uses the right technology to produce quality products

Steel group implements energy saving initiative

By: Bruce Montiea 10th July 2015 Energy costs comprise a material portion of steel production costs and, in addition to using energy to melt and shape steel, auxiliary plants – such as those used for gas cleaning – also contribute significantly to energy consumption, says metallurgical processing plant supply company SMS group... →

IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY The metals industry is looking for ways to reduce its energy needs and reduce its carbon dioxide footprint

Developed countries’ EV uptake strategies may be unsuitable for SA, owing to ‘significant’ wealth disparity, warns Frost & Sullivan

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