Customer focus aids Taiwanese tooling firm’s global growth

Taiwan-based tooling machinery company Kao Ming says its ‘customer-first’ philosophy has led to continuous research and development (R&D) of new products, which has also triggered its market growth... 

Companies should seek to align supply chains with new BBBEE codes

With the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) revised broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) codes deadline drawing closer, entities need to proactively prepare their supply chains by... 

Canadian explorer selling Durban-located gold-processing plant

Canadian-based mineral exploration company TMAC is selling a gold processing plant, which is located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, which can be adapted for use across all commodities in mineral... 

Machine tool industry moving towards full automation

The Taiwan machine tool industry is heading towards the production of industrial automated and large-size machines to save labour costs and increase production efficiency, says Taiwan-based tool... 

Taiwan machine-tool group focuses on new products, territories

Machinery company Exact, of Taichung, Taiwan, says new product launches and new agencies in China and Europe facilitated turnover growth of 39% last year and it is expecting growth to be stable in... 

New global focus helps Taiwan group expand

Owing to its expansion into the global market in 2012, Taiwan-based double-column computer numerical control machining manufacturer Starvision trippled its growth turnover last year, as a result of... 

Investors urged to be cautious about SA resource equities

Financial services company Old Mutual Investment Group senior portfolio manager John Orford warns that owing to commodity prices, which are unlikely to recover strongly in 2015 as a result of the... 

R&D central to machine tool group’s success

The value of multinational machine tooling company Chevalier’s Taiwan-based factory has increased to $45-million, owing to the company’s investment in research and development (R&D), which forms... 

Company celebrates ten years of geological product development at indaba

Geological software developers Aranz Geo states that, in line with its celebrating ten years of developing the Leapfrog Geo suite, the company will make its eBook, titled Unearthing... 

Competition aims to assist entrepreneurs in fulfilling business dreams

Having run its Business Plan Competition for Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs 2010, specialist risk finance company Business Partners Limited aims to attract more entries from aspiring entrepreneurs... 

KPMG urges frequent monitoring of risk indicators to ensure project success

The adoption of new and innovative construction techniques for new mining developments calls for mining companies to foster a risk-aware culture in their operations to ensure complete success of... 

Arup says sustainability to rank high as it leads development of Exxaro’s new Mpumalanga colliery

Multidisciplinary professional services firm Arup has been appointed by diversified resources company Exxaro to complete the design, tender and construction monitoring of the infrastructure and... 

Antipoaching academy to train conservation officers and detection dogs

Private-owned defence and aerospace manufacturer Paramount Group and the Ichikowitz Family Foundation unveiled its Anti-Poaching Skills and K9 Training Academy in Magaliesburg last month. 

Global small businesses not yet viewing Africa as a growth opportunity

About 40% of global small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not perceive Africa as a growth opportunity, despite the positive economic growth stories and growing middle class in the region,... 

Waterberg JV prefeasibility study to be completed in first quarter of 2015

Vancouver-based Platinum Group Metals (PTM) has scheduled to complete the prefeasibility study (PFS) for its Waterberg joint venture (JV) project in the first quarter of 2015. 

Firms urged to consider more energy efficient ways of doing business

South Africa has seen a more than 200% increase in electricity tariffs since 2008 and could be looking at more than a 1 000% increase between 2002 and 2020, prompting energy solutions provider... 

R150m fund seeks to support education entrepreneurs

Business Partners Limited has launch a R150-million Education Fund to provide existing and aspiring entrepreneurs in the educational sector with the risk capital and mentorship required to pursue... 

Vanadium demand expected to increase

The vanadium market shows significant upside opportunities and robust economies, which will benefit different sectors in the future, says Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals exploration manager Luke... 

ABB launches mine hoist audit service

Automation technology group ABB launched its new Hoist Performance Fingerprint service product, which is designed to assess and optimise the condition of its customer’s mine hoists.  

Mining houses, other stakeholders in bid to mitigate high levels of indebtedness among workers

About 6.72% of mineworkers in South Africa have been issued with emolument attachment orders (EAOs), which has resulted in a crisis of indebtedness in the mining sector – a crisis that some believe... 

Infrastructure development will positively affect the outlook of the mining industry in the next decade

Many discussions would centre around energy and power infrastructure in Africa in the next decade and this would affect the mining sector significantly, said exploration and geology consulting... 

New WorleyParsons subsidiary to advise companies on decision-making

The launch of multinational consulting services company WorleyParsons’ new global advisory business Advisian in sub-Saharan Africa will see petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, mineral resources and oil... 

East London IDZ appoints new CFO

The East London industrial development zone (Elidz) appointed Babalwa Buwa-Magongwa as its new CFO earlier this month. 

Mining houses, other stakeholders in bid to mitigate high levels of indebtedness among workers

About 6.72% of mineworkers in South Africa have been issued with emolument attachment orders (EAOs), which has resulted in a crisis of indebtedness in the mining sector – a crisis that some believe... 

Switch to continuous operations would result in 8% to 15% value-add – advisory firm

Adopting a continuous operations model in the South African mining sector could lead to a value-add of about 8% to 15%, says newly established advisory firm Advisian. 

Safmarine expects trade between SA and West Africa to grow in 2015

The multipurpose trade between South Africa and West Africa is expected to grow in 2015 as a result of South African companies strengthening their footprint in the West African market and becoming... 

Anglo-endowed Chair in Occupational Hygiene established at Wits

Multinational mining company Anglo American launched its new Anglo American-endowed Chair in Occupational Hygiene at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Public Health, in which it... 

Year-old forum a major boost to foundry industry

A year after its formation, the New Foundry Generation Forum (NFGF) has reported significant productivity improvements, and has witnessed the invention of simulation software and three-dimensional... 

Success of manufacturing hinges on stable environment, competitiveness and local beneficiation

The future of manufacturing in South Africa lay in the country’s ability to become a stable business destination, globally competitive and beneficiate locally produced products, said Manufacturing... 

Syngenta unveils expanded formulation, fill and packing plant

Global agribusiness company Syngenta officially unveiled the expansion of its Brits Formulation, Fill & Packaging Plant (FF&P) site in the North West last week, which added an automated herbicide... 

Public violence charges against mining community members withdrawn after 18 months

Charges against six members of the North West-based Bua Mining Communities social movement who were charged with illegal gathering and public violence were withdrawn last week, owing to the lack of... 

Anglo–Wits partnership launches R15m occupational hygiene Chair

Multinational mining company Anglo American has launched its new Anglo American Endowed Chair in Occupational Hygiene at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Public Health. The Chair, in... 

Siemens showcases model of Mars robot at Future of Manufacturing Conference

Multinational electronics company Siemens unveiled a working model of the Curiosity Mars Rover – which is the biggest robot to land on Mars – at its Future of Manufacturing Conference at the... 

Anglo sees Zimele playing crucial role in economic transformation

Diversified mining company Anglo American says its Zimele enterprise development model will play a crucial role in achieving economic transformation in South Africa. 

Collaboration between stakeholders essential to drive enterprise development

Economic growth and the alleviation of poverty are challenges that government should not tackle alone, but rather, key stakeholders should share the responsibility of building a thriving economy... 

Can South Africa’s manufacturing sector rise again?

Over the past 20 years there has been persistent concern about deindustrialisation in South Africa, as well as the fact that locally produced manufactured products have been increasingly displaced... 

Liaison between govt, private sector will guarantee competitiveness of local manufacturers

The establishment of proper liaison channels between government and private enterprises regarding funding for manufacturing projects can guarantee that South Africa's manufacturing sector remains... 

Young scientist showcases AMD solution at Eskom Expo

The concern around how surface- and groundwater are polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD) has prompted an Eskom Expo for Young Scientist finalist to create a cost-effective and environment-friendly... 

New ways needed to ‘redeem’ SA mining sector, attract investment – KPMG

With the past decade being labelled as the ‘lost decade’ in South Africa’s mining industry by various commentators, the need for intervention by all stakeholders in order to attract investment that... 

E Cape wind project overcomes communal-land constraint

In the first quarter of 2015, seven Vestas V112 wind turbines will be erected in the Great Kei local municipality at integrated renewable energy company InnoWind’s 21 MW Chaba wind farm in the...