Simon Sonnekus

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Simon Sonnekus

Simon Sonnekus is a Creamer Media Reporter for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Industrial symbiosis key to growth in recycling and manufacturing sectors

30th August 2016 The Industrial Symbiosis (IS) Programme delivered by the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) campus has proven to be important in the creation of several synergies that are providing effective recycling... →

Producer has positive platinum outlook

19th August 2016 Platinum-group metals (PGMs) remain a positive investment, as there is improved sentiment in the platinum market, and platinum exchange-traded fund (ETF) prices remained stable in the first half of 2016, states PGMs mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). The company held its interim... →

CHRIS GRIFFITH Platinum supply remains in deficit because primary production is constrained

Tyre management project yields positive results for producer

19th August 2016 A tyre management project under way at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) Mogalakwena platinum mine, in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, aims to increase hauling days without tyre failures to improve the operation’s productivity and safety, as well as facilitate financial savings by make... →

TYRE DAMAGE The life of a tyre is directly affected by the condition of haul roads

Cooperation needed to save PGMs industry

19th August 2016 Owing to the lower overall platinum group metals (PGMs) price, platinum producers have started to review opportunities to work together through joint ventures. →

JEREMY WITELY South African PGM producers are caught between a rock and a hard place because of capital and low share prices, causing their debt to rise

Algae-free irrigation systems to save money for farmers

5th August 2016 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has estimated the rand value of the impact of algae pollution in the Berg river, near Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape. The calculation enables farmers to compare different ways of managing the problem in the area. A ‘Water SA’ report... →

SA farmers hope for enough rain after winter

5th August 2016 The next five months and the following planting season will be critical for farmers who have been affected by the devastating drought which crippled the agriculture sector recently. According to agricultural organisation AgriSA CEO Omri van Zyl, farmers need to see out the winter and hope for... →

Partnership expands range for sector

5th August 2016 South Africa-based fertiliser company Advanced Agri has expanded its fertiliser range by introducing two specialised products for various farming disciplines. According to Advanced Agri director Frank Winder, the EcoCal range for crop farmers and Graze range for livestock farmers are... →

Wine farm has its ducks in a row

5th August 2016 About 1 000 Indian runner ducks have been employed by Stellenbosch-based wine farm Vergnoegd Wine Estate to eradicate white dune snails and other insects which inhabit and feed on the vines in the vineyard. According to Vergenoegd winemaker and viticulturist, Marlize Jacobs, the ducks – which... →

DUCK ARMY Around 1 000 Indian Runner ducks have been employed to eradicate the white dune snail population at Vergenoegd Wine farm in Stellenbosch

Stability and cohesion a way forward for African rail sector

29th July 2016 Companies are under pressure from government and the public to embark on new projects while there are still projects that need to be completed. The countless delays across the rail expansions are concerning, says the RailRoad Association of South Africa (RRA). Negative sentiments by the industry... →

Photo by Duane Daws
DELAYS Negative sentiments by the industry on implementing the designation policy and delays of some rail projects have led to discussions with Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies

Inspection device to provide safety in rail operations

29th July 2016 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a prototype survey and inspection device (SID) to survey and inspect South Africa’s railway lines, which is intended to improve safety and operations. Along with reporting on the condition of the rail infrastructure, the SID... →

DEBUT The CSIR's survey and inspection device (SID) was debuted at Africa Rail 2016

Possible change in NDT training

15th July 2016 The harmonisation of second and third part assessment certification schemes found in the South African non-destructive testing (NDT) industry could result in continuous skills development and enhanced personnel competence, with companies and employees also retaining a stronger development... →

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING South Africa and many other African countries have sustainable market capacity for only one NDT industrial sector

New technology for NDT technicians in South Africa

15th July 2016 South African non-destructive testing (NDT) technicians can possibly look forward to the global influx of new technology, following the completion of the nineteenth World Conference on NDT held in Munich, Germany, last month. According to South African Institute of Non-Destructive Testing... →

WCNDT international NDT institutions have to remain relevant to technicians and the younger generation of professionals within NDT

Sustainable roof tile set to revolutionise market

8th July 2016 Pretoria-based start-up company Thevia has introduced a sustainably manufactured roof tile that should “revolutionise” the roof tile market owing to its unique design, says Thevia FD Martin Ackermann. The tiles, each weighing 1.3 kg are 70% lighter than traditional concrete, slate or clay tiles,... →

BILL BOWMAN Thevia can currently produce about 20 000 tiles a month on an experimental line at the pilot plant

WasteCon 2016 to highlight local waste legislation

8th July 2016 The changing face of waste management in South Africa will be the main theme of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa’s (IWMSA’s) biennial waste management conference and exhibition WasteCon 2016, which will take place from October 17 to 21 at Emperors Palace, in Gauteng. WasteCon... →

Good-quality waste necessary for increased mechanical recycling

8th July 2016 The South African plastic industry requires a constant stream of clean, high-quality plastic waste to maintain and increase the level of mechanical recycling in South Africa. While there has been concern over the past few years that the amount of waste exported is increasing, findings from the... →

EXPORTS While exporting recyclable plastic material does bring in foreign exchange, the export of good-quality waste impacts South African recycling operations

Separation at source to improve recycling standard

8th July 2016 Nonprofit polyolefin recycling company Polyco is focussing renewed attention on building strong value-chain partnerships with recyclers, converters and brand owners by providing funding support for projects that will facilitate the move into high-quality critical market applications. To support... →

INVESTMENT An additional R150-million investment in project funding is needed over the next four years to enable Polyco to achieve the recycling target of 234 000 t, or 35%, recycled polyolefin by 2020

Danish valves producer boosts local production with new factory

24th June 2016 Danish valves producer AVK Valves, which acquired local valves company Premier Valves in 2014, is nearing completion of a brand new valve manufacturing facility located in Alrode in Gauteng. The R100-million investment includes a 1 200 m2 training facility, 4 500 m2 office area and 2 000 m2... →

PAUL HUBBARD AVK Valves hopes to secure a stronger market position in industrial segments including the mining, power, steel, pulp and paper and chemical industries

Incremental mine development key for gold sector

24th June 2016 In the face of global capital constraints, gold mining companies have been forced to look into alternative options for the development of mines. The gold mining industry is known traditionally for larger-sized operations that require the establishment of a large reserve base as well as large... →

Photo by Bloomberg
GROWTH The steady gold price has been a bright light in an otherwise deflated commodities market

Gold recovery expert working with government to uplift staff

24th June 2016 Local mining and raw material processing firm Ncamiso Mining is currently working closely with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to train and develop staff through short courses based on the goals of both the company and its employees. Ncamiso MD Fikile Mashinini says the continued... →

REMEDIATION Ncamiso's latest achievement is its maximum gold recovery and environmental remediation partnership with Mintails Mining South Africa

Higher gold price ensures stable South African sector

24th June 2016 The record high gold price has proven to be a stroke of luck for South African companies functioning within the global gold sector. According to professional services firm KPMG gold commodity lead and partner Daniel Hooijer, the R600 000/kg price has lessened the blow of the low dollar gold price. →

DANIEL HOOIJER Depleted gold reserves in South Africa have produced a predicament for companies looking to find new orebodies

South African problems pose difficulties for German companies

17th June 2016 German companies aiming to enter the South African market in the near future will face several adversities, including visa regulations, a weakening currency and stringent regulations, says the Southern African–German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAGCC). Germany, South Africa’s biggest... →

Drives company envisions new developments

17th June 2016 The depressed economy and tightened budgets have not diminished the need for quality products, but rather increased demand for German-made products, notes German industrial drives and motors multinational SEW-Eurodrive. SEW-Eurodrive MD Raymond Obermeyer indicates that although mining and mineral... →

RAYMOND OBERMEYER German products are synonymous with quality and innovation, as they continuously produce high-quality products

Local company awarded German welding agency

17th June 2016 The acquisition of the South African agency for German tooling manufacturer Orbitalum Tools will allow Dowson & Dobson (D&D) Industrial to provide welding solutions for industries that require tube and pipe-welding preparation. D&D Industrial is a division of Actum Industrial. Both Actum... →

WERNER SMIT The acquisition of Orbitalum tools has enabled Actum to expand to higher-growth sectors such as the pharmaceuticals industry

Equipment supplier strengthens bonds with German companies

17th June 2016 The continued quality of German products has allowed Boksburg-based capital equipment and consumables provider Elquip Solutions to thrive in a challenging local market. According to Elquip Solutions MD Mike Cronin, the resounding quality of the German-made electrical, automation and mechanical... →

MIKE CRONIN The large South African customer appetite for German products remains prominent, as by default, Germany is synonymous with engineering and industrial quality

Vacuum solutions provider assists diamond industry

3rd June 2016 Heavy-duty industrial vacuum systems designer, manufacturer and supplier Hencon Vacuum Technologies is testing an automated, remote-controlled dual-vacuum unit at diamond miner Petra Diamonds’ Cullinan mine, in Gauteng, which is expected to reduce theft. The Honeydew-based company is conducting... →

DAVID DE OLIVEIRA The use of Hencon Vacuum Technologies' dual vacuum system allows a tunnel to be bored without the need for immediate roof support being installed

Venetia takes safe approach to building major underground operation

3rd June 2016 Anticipating and prioritising the additional challenges and potential hazards of implementing underground mining operations at the Venetia diamond mine requires putting the necessary enablers and precautions in place over the next few years. “It is a massive operation in logistics and cooperation... →

OPENPIT TO UNDERGROUND Production from the underground development is expected in 2022 and the current plant will treat about 132-million tons of material, containing an estimated 94-million carats

Tricky hydro scheme checks completed

27th May 2016 Difficult-to-complete inspections, high up at a water-storage scheme, in KwaZulu-Natal, were easily completed within the allotted time using rope access. Rope access solutions provider Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn notes that the operation – which took place after the conclusion of one... →

ROPE ACCESS The shafts inspected at a KZN hydro scheme were over 700 m long, 6 m in diameter and with 25˚ slopes

Rainwater harvesting key for drought-stricken SA

27th May 2016 Owing to constant water supply not being guaranteed, aggravated by the prolonged drought, South Africans have become more proactive in saving water by creating emergency back-up systems and systems that can collect rainwater, says water systems provider Sinvac Plastics, which is based in Pretoria... →

ROTOMOULDED TANKS Sinvac has been supplying the South African market since 1962 with rotomoulded products such as water tank

Water and sanitation priority at WISA 2016

27th May 2016 African cities are developing rapidly and existing water management systems cannot keep up, leading to a projected quadrupling in demand for water over the next 25 years, said ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability - Africa professional officer Tarryn Quayle during the Water Institute of... →

WATER SHORTAGE ICLEI cited figures which suggested 565-million people are still using unimproved sanitation and 330-million using unimproved drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa.

Calls to reuse water treatment waste take centre stage at WISA 2016

27th May 2016 While the cost-effective and environmentally compliant disposal of water treatment residue (WTR) is a challenge for water treatment practitioners worldwide, WTR management has taken centre stage in the local water industry amid increasing water demands, deteriorating raw water quality aggravated... →

MEGAN SCHALKWYK Findings suggest that there has to be a change in mind-set across the water industry value chain, with stakeholders treating WTR as a reusable commodity rather than waste

Piano key weir solutions investigated at ICOLD 2016

27th May 2016 The investigation into the structural behaviour of piano key weirs was put under the spotlight at the 2016 annual International Commission on Large Dams Meeting (ICOLD), which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre from May 15 to 20. Speaking at the eighty-fourth edition of the meeting,... →

PIANO KEY WEIRS The rectangular keys are made with sloped bases, which guide flow over and away from the crest of the weir

Leakage system provides solutions in Johannesburg

13th May 2016 Water-leak detection and control systems provider AquaTrip South Africa has reasserted its focus on conserving water with the installation of its electronic valve, which monitors water flow at schools across Johannesburg. The Brisbane-based company has a regional office in Stellenbosch, in the... →

LEAKY SCHOOLS Twenty schools, among which leakage was common, were identified as high water users and AquaTrip’s AT201 leak-detection system was installed on their main water lines

Industries benefit from high-pressure steam valves supply

13th May 2016 Mpumalanga-based valve suppliers Bilfinger Intervalve Africa, a subsidiary of Bilfinger Power Africa based in Rivonia, is supplying high-pressure (HP) steam valves to the power, and petrochemicals industry and becoming more active in supplying the mining industry. →

HIGH PRESSURE STEAM VALVES Bilfinger Intervalve currently supply coal-fired power producers, such as power utilities and petrochemicals companies, which use high-pressure steam boilers to produce energy

New manifold series launched and locally produced

13th May 2016 Along with the start of local production later this year, global pneumatics technologies manufacturer SMC Pneumatics has boosted its local range with the redesigning of its SY series of valve manifolds. SMC Pneumatics product manager Ernst Smith notes that the new series is available in three... →

SY SERIES The new SY series offer further air savings, as a result of driving bigger cylinders with reduced cycle times without the need to use larger solenoid valves

Call for pinch valve regulation

13th May 2016 The operational safety of pinch valves has been brought under the magnifying glass with companies calling for regulation to be implemented in the manufacturing and testing process. Germiston-based pinch valve manufacturer Corflex MD Chris Webber tells Engineering News that while pinch valves in... →

Photo by Simon Sonnekus
PINCH VALVES As there are no regulations in place regarding pinch valve safety, producers are able to supply valves that could potentially fail under the high pressures

Nuclear project affordability a concern for industry

6th May 2016 Owing to the current global economic climate, South Africa’s nuclear procurement deal has had several industry professionals questioning whether the country will be able to afford the projected R1-trillion project. “Currently, there is still a lot of market debate on whether South Africa can... →

COAL BASELOAD POWER In South Africa, the reality is that coal baseload is the most cost-effective power option as there is direct access to the raw materials

Safety prioritised at Niasa workshop

6th May 2016 Safety culture across the nuclear value chain was in the spotlight at the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (Niasa) workshop, held at the Country Club Johannesburg on April 8. Although the road to nuclear compliance was highlighted, the main theme of the workshop was the safety... →

Photo by Bloomberg
NUCLEAR SAFETY To curb major nuclear incidents of the same magnitude as Chernobyl, in Ukraine, and Fukushima, in Japan, all the role-players have to commit to the core values of nuclear energy

Economic status hinders nuclear developments

6th May 2016 The development of the proposed nuclear energy project in South Africa could become increasingly difficult to complete, should the economy be downgraded to junk status by credit rating companies. According to advisory firm KPMG global infrastructure major projects advisory head De Buys Scott,... →

DE BUYS SCOTT As long as the nuclear project remains affordable, South Africa can look forward to a cleaner, larger source of baseload energy

Nuclear energy obvious solution to SA power problems

6th May 2016 The nuclear new build programme, which is projected to supply the South African grid with 9.6 GW, will be a major step towards resolving South Africa’s power problems, says Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) sub-Saharan Africa VP Viktor Polikarpov. “ . . . for South Africa to... →

VIKTOR POLIKARPOV Rosatom is focused on providing tailored nuclear solutions to lower the cost of a unit of electricity

Emphasis on opportunities in harsh business climate

29th April 2016 The West African Mining & Power Exhibition (Wampex) 2016 will showcase the opportunities that still exist in the challenging African market, says events company and organiser dmg-ems Africa VP Christine Davidson. The biennial event, which has been running for 22 years, will return to the Accra... →

GLOBAL ATTRACTION Between 50 and 100 companies are expected to attend, with exhibitors from China, the UAE, France, Poland, South Africa, the UK and Turkey confirmed

West Africa fraught with challenges in tough mining times

29th April 2016 While political instability, corruption and the global commodities price crunch have had adverse effects on the West African mining sector, other factors such as a lack of infrastructure, power shortages and inconsistency and a lack of transparency in terms of regulatory policy, as well as... →

Photo by Bloomberg
UNREST Factors such as war, social unrest or hardship are all indicative of a somewhat unstable political environment, which, in turn, negatively impacts on the attractiveness of certain economies

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