Satellite solution links mines to data benefits

Telecommunications company BT group’s medium earth-orbit (MEO) mining service provides a “game-changing satellite connectivity solution” for mining companies to improve performance, safety and... 

Inventory system tailored for S Africa

Supply chain specialist Strategico has developed the Barcode Out’a Box (BoB) system that is tailored to meet the requirements of local warehouses with its barcoding, scanning and inventory... 

Poorly maintained roads, rail impact costs of goods

Badly maintained roads results in the increased cost of logistics which is exacerbated by the unreliable railway system, which results in an increase of cargo transported by road. This cost is then... 

Pandemic’s shadow hangs over rail sector

A significant challenge the rail sector currently faces is reinstating its services following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, says Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) CEO Tshepo Kgare. During the... 

Challenges rippling through to subcontractors

Subcontractors have to contend with numerous challenges – budget allocations, delayed payments, primary contractors running into cash flow problems and navigating tender processes, many of which... 

Company on track to complete furnace rebuild

Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie is on track to conclude the rebuild of the new furnace of multinational precious metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater’s platinum group metals (PGMs)... 

Humidification solutions to make maintenance easier

Maintenance schedules depend on the type of humidifier and the humidifier application. Humidification and dehumidification equipment supplier Humidair owner Pieter Aldred notes that modern... 

Maintenance neglected amid economic constraints

Economic challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in many companies’ “skimping” on air-conditioning maintenance, as it is viewed as an unnecessary additional expense, says... 

Electronic certificate of conformity now compulsory

The electronic format certificate of conformity (CoC) became available last month for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems practitioners. The Coc in paper format has previously been available... 

Engineers need to participate in infrastructure decisions

A reoccurring theme at Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (Cesa’s) Infrastructure Indaba, held last month in Fourways, Johannesburg, was the need for consulting engineers – and engineers generally... 

Municipalities struggle to address key infrastructure challenges

Dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants pose a health hazard for residents living downstream along watercourses and have a negative impact on the environment, says consultancy firm SRK Consulting... 

Maintenance deemed first priority

The maintenance of infrastructure by local municipalities is critical to ensuring lasting, quality and sustainable essential services for future generations, says industry body South African... 

Federation to host first assembly next year

The first African Welding Federation Annual Assembly and Conference will be held in March 2023, in Egypt. The aim is to focus on different welding processes and, held from 14 to 17 March at the... 

Women offer high-quality work in welding sector – institute

Despite a low number of women working in the welding and related processes sector locally, the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) says its members have seen more detail-oriented work, as... 

Institute charts direction after pandemic

Despite many industries being significantly impacted by the pandemic, the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) used the pandemic period as an opportunity to restructure and enhance itself... 

SA poised to benefit from PGMs growth

South Africa is strategically poised to benefit from the growth trajectory of the platinum group metals (PGMs) sector, as it holds about 80% of the world’s PGM resources. The country demonstrates a... 

Tech yields beneficial tools for farms

Software company Aerobotics is pioneering solutions, such as its Aeroview infield mobile application and computer vision for the precision farming of perennial crops, as more growers look to... 

Accurate solution allows for sustainable farming

Agricultural technology developer Farm21 aims to assist 10 000 farmers worldwide in making better farming decisions by 2024 using its pinpoint accuracy solution, says Farm21 partnership manager... 

Innovative tech can change farming

With there being a need to increase food production by 60% by 2050 in Europe, agricultural technology developers Farm21 partnership manager Dewald de Vos says precision farming tools, such as the... 

Sector pursues recovery amid various challenges

While logistics real estate continues to do well and the office market is slowly improving, the operating environment for real estate owners and occupiers remains constrained. This is further... 

Concrete parking lots offer numerous benefits

While the initial construction cost of concrete parking is slightly higher, compared to asphalt parking, the maintenance costs of the former, for commercial and industrial properties, are minimal,... 

Strip malls preferred post pandemic

While the South African retail sector is showing signs of recovery, factors such as fuel costs, inflation and a change in consumer habits throughout the pandemic have led to consumers’ frequenting... 

Vacant office spaces halt development

The office market continues to struggle, with an oversupply of space, especially in premium nodes, resulting in office development being “at a standstill” as developers diversify into the... 

Industrial property faces expansion hurdles

The local property sector was subjected to a forced slowdown, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, consequently resulting in tension within the industrial property space as industrial tenants that... 

Proactive maintenance ensures max efficiency

With about 45% to 60% of the repair and maintenance costs associated with a tracked machine involving the undercarriage, an effective preventative maintenance programme is essential to ensure... 

Prices driving upgrades, maintenance

The current steep increase in commodity prices has led to mining clients’ upgrading and maintaining their equipment to reduce downtime and maximise output, says steel fabricator Hydra Arc project... 

Supply challenges addressed through investment – steel supplier

While the steel quality from several smaller mills has improved in the past five years, some challenges need to be resolved, prompting such mills to invest in improvements to align with market... 

Industry continues to face supply chain woes

The stainless steel industry has been under severe supply chain pressure caused by rising prices of raw materials, such as nickel, as well as shipping and logistics and energy costs, in Europe and... 

Positive outlook despite new challenges

The steel industry is emerging from the challenging period caused by global commodity issues in 2016, followed by Covid-19-related disruptions, and now the Ukraine war. South African Institute of... 

Sustainability efforts set to affect steel industry

The steel industry has been fraught with challenges, ranging from Covid-19-related impacts to supply chain issues, but the move towards more sustainable practices will also result in many changes... 

Plant increases production

The record-setting MIDREX DRI plant of Tosyali Algerie was supplied by MIDREX  and SMS group subsidiary Paul Wurth in 2018. This success motivated Tosyali to invest in boosting its production... 

In-country beneficiation opportunities rise on back of EV growth

Growth in the electric vehicles (EVs) market has led to increasing interest and demand for materials, such as manganese, used in the production of EV rechargeable batteries. This increased interest... 

Manganese project closer to its goal

Battery metal development company Giyani Metals aims to have the feasibility study for its K.Hill project, located near the town of Kanye, in Botswana, completed in the third quarter of this year.... 

Green economy will require more commodities – specialist mining director

Rather than requiring fewer commodities, the green economy, and its resulting technological developments, will actually require more commodities, says specialist mining services provider Ukwazi... 

Increased interest in gas-powered generators

Since the lifting of the own-generation licence threshold to 100 MW, interest in using gas for embedded power generation has increased significantly, says gas engine and hybrid power plant... 

Gas can meet commercial and industrial energy needs

While there are various sources of energy, gas remains one of the primary sources that can sustain a large amount of industrial and commercial requirements, says consulting service provider Synergy... 

Company shows revenue growth

Steel manufacturer and supplier Stewarts and Lloyds’ manufacturing division registered an even bigger growth in revenue last year – compared with the previous year – largely owing to the company’s... 

Sector requires support to recover, reap economic benefits

Despite the manufacturing sector being the fourth highest contributor to the gross domestic product, it has been in decline in recent years, and shrunk, impacting the overall economy. The Covid-19... 

Covid-19 continues to haunt manufacturing companies

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdowns continues to be felt in the manufacturing sector despite a move towards eased regulations. Challenges, such as the shortage of... 

Manufacturing Indaba welcomes back the physical event

The Manufacturing Indaba is scheduled to take place later this month as an in-person event for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Event management company and Manufacturing...