Thabi Shomolekae

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Thabi Shomolekae

Thabi Shomolekae is a Creamer Media Senior Writer for Polity.org.za

Investment in new technologies in mining decreasing

15th February 2019 The risk aversion of most mining companies has resulted in their being unwilling to invest in new technologies, which limits their competitiveness and growth potential, says emerging mining project management service provider Manhize Mineral Consultants (MMC) executive director Joel Mungoshi.... →

Software adds value to automotive manufacturer supply chain

8th February 2019 Software company Syspro Africa’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software enables automotive manufacturing and distribution companies to manage supply chain and financial processes. Syspro Africa professional services manager Doug Hunter explains that the ERP software assists automotive... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ON DUTY An employee holds a metal casing for an automotive steering system

Naamsa projects 1% increase in new-vehicle sales

8th February 2019 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) projects a marginal increase in new-vehicle sales of 1.0% for 2019, premised on the assumption that South Africa will not be downgraded and a modest increase in gross domestic product (GDP) to about 1.5%, says Naamsa... →

Photo by Creamer Media
READY FOR A PRICE TAG The new passenger car market and light commercial vehicle market reflected year-on-year volume declines of 0.2% and 7.0%

New paint process leads to greater flux stability

8th February 2019 Converting to potted Koch KPAK ultrafiltration (UF) membrane in the automotive electrodeposition paint process from the drop-in style process can lead to greater flux stability over time and lower system downtime, says filtration and water purification solutions company Sagisa sales engineer... →

LITTLE BIT OF COLOUR The UF membrane has been supplied to automotive manufacturers for vehicle paint jobs

Fuel price increases led to decline in new-car sales, says Strobel

8th February 2019 Bearings and power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) customer offer marketing manager Victor Strobel says fuel price increases have affected new-car sales, which slid from 47 478 units sold in November 2018 to 39 984 units in December 2018. Subsequently, many people... →

SALES DOWN New-vehicle sales have dropped owing to increased fuel prices

Project helps industry achieve energy and cost savings

25th January 2019 With steam accounting for about 30% of industrial plant energy consumption, the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa’s (NCPC-SA’s) Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) Project is assisting industry in assessing steam systems to achieve energy and cost savings. Steam is used widely across... →

Photo by Bloomberg
INSPECTION The IEE project calculates boiler plant and heat exchanger efficiencies, quantifies boiler and system losses, and establishes the cost of steam generation

Boiler relocation project near completion

25th January 2019 Boiler maintenance and installations provider Boiler and Industrial Plant hopes to complete the boiler relocation project it has been working on for manufacturer United National Breweries (UNB), commonly known as Ijuba breweries, by the end of this month. The project, valued at R2-million,... →

MAINTENANCE The installation of a pumped condensate system and a refurbished pressure control system at the Majola Tea project were completed

Shut-off valves suitable for gas and oil fuel lines

25th January 2019 Valves, steam and combustion system solutions provider, Heaton Valves Africa (HVA) says the German designed and manufactured Albrecht safety quick shut-off valves are suitable for use on gas and oil fuel lines for burners in the local market. “These valves carry all the relevant certification,... →

Steam Generation in talks to expand on boiler distribution

25th January 2019 Heat and energy generation equipment provider Steam Generation Africa says it is in talks with a small- to mid-range biomass boiler manufacturer to distribute into the South African and African markets this year. Owing to biomass being readily available and the possibility to produce it as a... →

STEAM GENERATOR Each Cochran boiler features a robust design and construction, ensuring a long operational life and maximum efficiency

Wear plate tests show positive results

18th January 2019 Testwork on South Africa-based high-performance polymer producer Vesconite’s polymer sliding wear plates has shown promising results on a crawler drill that is employed at Vedanta zinc project, in Gamsberg, in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The wear plates were installed on the rotary head... →

PHILLIP DE VILLIERS Technical representative examines one of the stock wear plates inside the Johannesburg warehouse

RFID technology solution ideal for mining industry

18th January 2019 With radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology being ideal for inspecting assets at a mine, screening and vibrating-equipment solutions provider Aury Africa has enlisted RFID specialist Thembekile Asset Management Solutions (TAMS) to develop a solution specific to the requirements of the... →

FUNCTIONAL The microchips in the tags can be embedded into different types of attachments

Domestic coal supply faces difficulties

14th December 2018 While coal exports generate valuable export earnings, the competition between exports and domestic coal poses a major challenge for the security of domestic coal supply, says the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). The demand for coal has increased in countries such as India, which had used... →

First coal production due in 2020

14th December 2018 Coal mining and exploration group of companies Canyon Coal is expecting first coal production at its Springfield coal project in the second quarter of 2020, with a targeted production rate of 600 000 t of run-of-mine coal a month. The project, comprising a coal deposit of 307.86-million tons, is... →

Photo by Creamer Media
BULKY An estimated 600 000 t of coal production a month is expected

Lack of capital and incentives hinders coal production

14th December 2018 Owing to the lack of incentives and capital to implement new coal projects, coal production has remained stagnant, and some of the reserves of the older mines are nearing depletion, which means production will soon drop significantly, says coal industry and consulting firm XMP Consulting senior... →

XAVIER PREVOST South African coal mining production contracted 0.9% year-on-year in September and 7.1% month-to-month, which resulted in coal production falling by 2%

Stakeholder development support aids growth in WC

7th December 2018 Continued development support offered by Western Cape organisations will aid manufacturing growth in the Western Cape, says event organiser Siyenza MD Liz Hart. These organisations comprise the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, Wesgro;... →

ON DISPLAY Manufacturers exhibited their products during the Manufacturing Indaba

Measures in place to boost the Western Cape economy

7th December 2018 The Western Cape economy remains relatively stable despite challenges affecting consumer spending, says Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister Beverley Schäfer. “The province has recorded good gains in employment, and continues to record the lowest expanded unemployment rate in the country.” →

BEVERLY SCHAFER Growth in the Western Cape economy slowed down over the past years because of the drought that impacted on some of the province’s key sectors such as agriculture and tourism

Flooring project under way in Midrand

30th November 2018 Flooring contractor and installation company Combined Flooring is working on a refurbishment project at automaker BMW South Africa’s head office in Midrand, Gauteng, which the company plans to complete before the end of the year. The project started this month and entails the installation of 2... →

WORK IN PROGRESS An installer prepares a floor to install floor covering

Proper training, upgrading skills essential in flooring industry

30th November 2018 Training plays a significant role in the flooring industry as it reduces the risk and cost implications of replacing products installed incorrectly, says interior flooring supplier and installer Kevin Bates Albert Carpets (KBAC) Flooring senior contracts manager Ian Duncan. The material cost on... →

Company offers long-term hire contracts on ventilation solutions

23rd November 2018 Hire compressors can play a cardinal role in keeping some local mines operational, especially amid ageing surface compressors that feed air underground, says portable air compressors and generator rental Rand-Air long-term rental business development manager Henry Fourie. Rand-Air provides... →

HENRY FOURIE There are many benefits to mines hiring equipment on a long-term basis from Rand-Air

Energy efficient drive for underground cooling solutions

23rd November 2018 Drive and automation specialist SEW-Eurodrive South Africa offers ventilation and cooling solutions for mining industry applications with its LTP-B Eco heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) drive. The drive is available in two three-phase variants, a 440 V unit from 0.75 kW to 160 kW,... →

Leguan lifts introduced onto South African market

16th November 2018 As part of expanding its product range, multitask articulated loader importer Avant South Africa (SA) started importing Leguan access lifts, developed and manufactured in Finland for maintenance purposes. Avant SA manager Steyn le Grange states that the first lift arrived in August in Boksburg... →

HIGH PLATFORM The Leguan lifts provide outstanding working height with stability

Boiler maintenance project close to completion

16th November 2018 Maintenance and refurbishment services company GM Boiler plans to complete a boiler maintenance project at a local prison, in Johannesburg, by December this year. As part of government’s 36-month facility inspection programme, GM Boiler MD Gregory Morgan says the project includes the overhauling... →

Refurbishment service transfigured Lanseria’s departure lounge

16th November 2018 Floor and building protection solutions company Polyflor South Africa (SA) has refurbished the 950 m2 domestic departure lounge of Lanseria International Airport, conveniently located between Johannesburg and Pretoria, in Gauteng, into an attractive and functional space that is in line with... →

RIP UP Floor maintenance and refurbishment service is in progress

Portable workshop solution usable for new mines

2nd November 2018 The CXT Explorer is a mobile field workshop that can be used when prospecting in the mining industry, says crane manufacturer Konecranes South Africa service, sales and marketing director John MacDonald. The Finland-developed CXT Explorer – a combination of a 6.3 t mobile overhead crane,... →

BULKY The CXT Explorer is used as an outside field workshop set-up

Upgrades to mine increase plant efficiency

2nd November 2018 Mining electrical equipment manufacturer Emis Sales 2002 has completed upgrade projects comprising the design and installation of communication, automation and protection systems at South African anthracite producer and exporter Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC), in KwaZulu-Natal, to improve... →

INDOOR The upgraded SBV vacuum circuit breaker switchboard offers higher continuously rated currents

SEZ to boost stainless steel industry

26th October 2018 The Limpopo-based export-oriented mega mineral energy complex, in a special economic zone (SEZ), in which Chinese State-owned companies are set to invest, is “the biggest thing on the horizon” in the local stainless steel industry, says Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association... →

HANDS ON The metallurgical complex will increase job opportunities in the stainless steel industry

Manufacturer goes big at 2018 Sassda awards

26th October 2018 Heavy-duty pump manufacturer Hazleton Pumps will compete in six categories at the biennial 2018 Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) Columbus Stainless Awards, with an entry submitted for the use of duplex stainless steel to decrease pumping costs in the mining... →

MASSIVE The duplex stainless steel pump was designed and manufactured to pump contaminated tailings dam water back to the processing plant

2018 Sassda awards celebrate innovation

26th October 2018 The Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) Columbus Stainless Awards are a testament to the strength and durability of the South African stainless steel industry, says Sassda executive director John Tarboton. With this year’s awards theme being “celebrating innovation”,... →

Company offers consultation on stainless steel grade use

26th October 2018 As part of its anchor installer training service, construction industry service and technology provider Hilti South Africa offers consulting on the implications of using different grades of stainless steel as fasteners for anchoring purposes in the construction industry. “We all know stainless... →

ON IT Hilti SA practitioner prepares for anchor installer training

Incorrect tools can contaminate stainless steel

26th October 2018 Any tradesmen will highlight the importance of using the right tools to get a project done as efficiently as possible. Stainless steel is a hard, heat-conductive metal, which can be quite severe on a tools’ consumables. Stainless steel necessitates an extremely slow cutting and drilling rate to... →

ACTION Slow cutting is implemented on stainless steel

Plain packaging suggested as safety measure

19th October 2018 To reduce tobacco-related deaths that are estimated to amount to seven-million people a year globally, the Department of Health published a proposed Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill in May for broader public comment, which will regulate all tobacco products to be... →

Photo by Bloomberg
HARMFUL Plain packaging will limit the use of tobacco

Packaging market volumes declines

19th October 2018 The potential imposition of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) tax by the Department of Environmental Affairs will have a negative impact on the packaging industry, which may result in the collapse of numerous packaging manufacturers in South Africa, says Packaging South Africa executive... →

CR range increases pumping efficiency

5th October 2018 To improve pump reliability and increase performance limits, Grundfos, the world’s leading manufacturer of energy efficient water pumps launched its new and extended generation of booster pumps, the CR range, during Electra Mining Africa 2018, held at Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, from... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
LIMITLESS The Grundfos CR in-line booster pumps range comes with multipump solutions

System approach optimises pumps performance

5th October 2018 Owing to pumps having a significant impact on national and industrial energy consumption, the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa’s Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) project says pump efficiency can be improved if an approach that optimises pump system performance is implemented.... →

ALF HARTZENBURG The system approach reduces pumping inefficiency

Pumps offer safe bolting solutions to industries

5th October 2018 With several drill ready prospects and potential for more discoveries in the oil and gas industry, hydraulic tools and bolting equipment manufacturer and supplier Hi-Force states that the South African market is constantly in need of new technologies and solutions to support growth. The TPA and... →

RAPID SPEED The TWH-N low-profile hydraulic torque wrench being operated by the TPA air-driven torque pump

Tambomayo mine, Peru

5th October 2018 A high-grade gold and silver mine located in Tapay, Caylloma province, in the Arequipa region of Peru. →

Training courses reduce risk of falls

28th September 2018 To mitigate the challenge of falls that might occur when people are working at 2 m or more above ground, work at height training institute Height Wise Training Academy marketing manager Mike Zinn says the academy has developed training courses. The academy offers rope access levels 1, 2 and 3;... →

FALLS MINIMISED Trainees displays rope access skills while at heights

Company minimising height-access difficulties

28th September 2018 Rope access specialist RopeCrew Industrial Abseiling has positioned itself as a viable alternative for those wanting to opt to use rope access as a viable method of accessing areas at height, instead of scaffolding, which is limited and costly. RopeCrew MD Gerrie du Plessis states that rope... →

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