Sebastian Whyle

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Sebastian Whyle

Sebastian Whyle is a Creamer Media Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

China leads aluminium production

23rd September 2016 China is currently the biggest producer and consumer of aluminium in the world and has expanded its aluminium industry considerably over the past 11 years, says metals trading company Metal and Tool Trade (MTT) board chairperson Volker Schütte. →

Year-on-year 6% growth for local RLC segment

16th September 2016 The local residential and light commercial (RLC) segment of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) sector showed 6% year-on-year growth, says batteries, electronics, and HVAC equipment provider Johnson Controls GM Neil Cameron. →

‘FOLLOW ME’ FUNCTIONALITY A new feature has been developed through which a remote control becomes a temperature sensor

Automotive HVAC market set to garner higher revenue globally

16th September 2016 Syndicated market research provider Allied Market Research (AMR) projects that the automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems market will garner revenue worth $22.8-billion by 2022. →

ASIA: A KEY PLAYER Based on geography, Asia-Pacific was the highest revenue-generating region, accounting for more than a 46% share in 2015

Demand for improved efficiency drives competition

16th September 2016 The demand for increased efficiency of heating and cooling solutions at affordable prices has created stiff competition for companies in the industry, says engineering professional services consulting firm WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff technical director Pieter de Bod, a registered professional... →

INVERTERS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE A major part of the increased efficiencies of heating and cooling solutions is the adoption of inverter technology

Cooling solution to negate need for owning refrigeration plants

16th September 2016 Leading energy solutions provider Energy Partners in June launched its new refrigeration solution, which enables clients to buy low-cost cooling without having to buy or maintain a refrigeration plant. →

Increasing vehicle theft drives fleet management solution demand

2nd September 2016 Owing to the South African economy being under pressure, theft-related incidents are increasing. This is driving demand for technology that mitigates these risks, with the number of fleet management systems active in South Africa expected to increase from 0.9-million units at the end of 2015 to... →

EMPOWERING FLEET OPERATORS Telematics solutions empower commercial fleet operators by enabling them to actively manage, monitor and measure the performance of drivers and assets

UAVs lead way for smaller aerospace manufacturers

26th August 2016 Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – commonly referred to as drones – have led the way in introducing smaller manufacturers to what has typically been a large-scale industry, says South African aerospace-focussed programme National Aerospace Centre (NAC) director Philip Haupt. →

Photo by Duane Daws
AEROSPACE SECTOR GROWTH An increase in interest around UAVs and the manufacturing of complete aircraft has been observed over the past few years

Electric propulsion the future of aircraft

26th August 2016 As battery systems improve, there is a shift towards electrically powered aircraft, which is causing a rapid change in propulsion systems in the aerospace industry, says South African aircraft manufacturer The Airplane Factory (TAF) director and shareholder Mike Blyth. →

AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY In the small aircraft arena, continuing innovation has resulted in safer and faster small aircraft being manufactured

Developer emphasises accuracy in measurement instrumentation

19th August 2016 The South African food and beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors require measurement technology that offers precision and reliability while complying with local hygiene regulations. There is, hence, greater demand for accuracy in measurement instrumentation in these sectors, says Germany-based... →

JAN GROBLER South African food and beverage hygiene regulations are as stringent as any other international regulations

Glass recycling and reuse of returnable bottles reduce glass at landfill

19th August 2016 Consumption of returnable glass-bottled products has increased, owing to the increased affordability of returnable packs, amid difficult economic times and lower levels of disposable income. South Africa’s returnable bottle system and glass recycling initiatives divert more than two-million... →

RETURNABLE BOTTLE SYSTEM Returnable bottles can make up to 30 trips between customers and the retailer before reaching the end of useable life

Increasing support for Omron robotic solutions

19th August 2016 With robotics becoming a more viable alternative for food and beverage applications, the number of plug-and-play robotic solutions that are supported by industrial automation company Omron’s latest machine automation platform Sysmac is increasing, says Omron GM South Africa Victor Marques. →

INCREASED ACCURACY FROM MOTION CONTROLLERS Technological advancements in the food and beverage industry have led to greater accuracy and response times from motion controllers

Technological advances allow for far greater client collaboration on design

5th August 2016 By using virtual design solutions consulting engineers are now in a position to shorten lead times and lower costs by collaborating with clients to jointly make design choices. In fact, Royal Haskoning DHV MD Salani Sithole tells Engineering News that building information management systems... →

Sector slump drives surface engineering demand

5th August 2016 The mining industry downturn continues to spark calls for higher productivity on mine sites, says Sydney-headquartered advanced surface-engineering technique developer LaserBond, which has helped fuel demand for its products. →

COST OF DOWNTIME Companies are looking at costs and the cost of downtime overwhelms any incremental cost of a higher-performing component

Australian mining industry cautioned to protect assets

5th August 2016 According to legal experts, the Australian mining industry is exposing itself to the unnecessary risk of losing multimillion-dollar assets, says technology, information and property settlement services provider GlobalX Legal Solutions CEO Peter Maloney. →

AT RISK The Australian mining industry is directly impacted on by the Personal Property Securities Register, as mining companies commonly enter into leasing arrangements for the provision of large-scale plant equipment

Detonation system’s Australian footprint expanding

5th August 2016 The AXXIS Digital Initiation System from explosives company BME has been well received in Australia and is regarded highly in its mining sector, BME technical director Tony Rorke tells Mining Weekly. →

Photo by Ilan Solomons
ADVANCING IN AUSTRALIA BME is actively working towards growing its customer base in Australia

Trainees secure employment at Pilbara mine sites

5th August 2016 Twenty graduates of Australian metals group Fortscue’s Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTEC) programme have secured employment as operators across Fortescue’s Pilbara mine sites situated 400 km south-east of Port Hedland. →

Perth mining event reflects flat investment environment

5th August 2016 The decrease in size and scope of mining investment events, such as Australia’s annual Africa Down Under, is a reflection of the state of the global mining economy and the lack of funding available for the development of projects, South African State-owned minerals processing and metallurgical... →

Photo by Reuters
FUNDING DROUGHT Investment options for Australian-run mining projects in Africa have largely dried up

Carlos Poñe

5th August 2016 This week we feature Carlos Poñe, CE: Africa at AECOM, a fully integrated infrastructure and support services company →

South Africa draws up plans for gas-generated power

22nd July 2016 In South Africa’s search for viable long-term gas import partners to meet demand in the power sector, Nigeria has been identified as a strong contender, owing to its large natural gas reserves, says professional services firm KPMG. →

Photo by Duane Daws
MEETING GROWING DEMAND Global demand for energy will increase as the global economy expands

Gas gensets a sustainable power alternative

22nd July 2016 Engine, filtration and power-generation product manufacturer Cummins notes that gas-powered gensets are a sustainable power solution, owing to natural gas being methane-rich and occurring naturally. This makes it a cost-effective alternative energy source, compared with wind and solar power. →

GRID INTEGRATION Cummins aims to design and supply power systems that complement the national grid

Pneumatic equipment no longer centre stage, but still has place

15th July 2016 The uptake of pneumatic tools at mine sites has slowed, owing to new mining technology and techniques, equipment provider Borwa Mining Instruments MD Lebogang Matlou tells Mining Weekly. →

RIGOROUS REQUIREMENTS Mining companies are cleaning house, looking for genuine, nonfronting and reliable black-youth-owned mining suppliers

Budget cuts re-emphasise safety, efficiency on mines

8th July 2016 African mines are under pressure to increase their safety and efficiency standards, all the while adhering to tighter budgets owing to commodity price fluctuations, tyre and wheel service provider Kal Tire Southern Africa VP John Sims tells Mining Weekly. →

STICKLER FOR SAFETY Innovations in the mining vehicle wheel and tyre service sector aim to make the servicing of components safer

Engineers faced with fast delivery challenge

24th June 2016 Consulting engineering and environmental consulting firm JG Afrika MD Paul Olivier reports that the consulting engineering industry is faced with an increased demand for fast project delivery from clients. →

PAUL OLIVIER The employment rate of graduate engineers is set to be boosted by an increase in demand for infrastructure projects

SA has potential as a global centre of excellence – consultancy

24th June 2016 South Africa has the potential to become a global centre of excellence for consulting engineering services, according to Hatch Africa, Europe and Middle East (AEM) region MD Dr Pierre Olivier. →

PRIVATE VS GOVERNMENT FUNDING A large part of South Africa’s development is based on private entrepreneurial input

Slow economic growth challenges local engineering industry

24th June 2016 Infrastructure projects, consulting and project management services provider Aecom Africa CEO Carlos Poñe tells Engineering News that low economic growth in South Africa is a major challenge for the consulting engineering industry. →

EVOLUTION OF ENERGY Aecom is extremely strong in renewables, and very strong in nuclear and in the decommissioning of nuclear plants, including nuclear waste

Lack of government expenditure hits hard on firms

24th June 2016 Despite infrastructural investment promises made by government, engineering consulting service provider SMEC South Africa CEO Kostas Rontiris tells Engineering News that investment in civil infrastructure has not been up to scratch in recent times, which has seen big consulting firms increase... →

Caption: GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE The consulting engineering industry is highly dependent on government expenditure

Two new engineers join consulting firm

24th June 2016 Environmental consulting and contracting firm SCS Engineers has added two specialists to its environmental management group in the Midwest region in the US, says SCS Engineers principal engineer and VP Samuel Cook. →

Photo by Duane Daws
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE O’Brien and Flickinger have a track record of delivering impressive environmental compliance solutions

Skills compatibility, dual-skilled labour enhance agreements

17th June 2016 The mine maintenance industry is facing a significant skills shortage, exacerbated by commodity price instability, industrial conveyor maintenance service provider ELB Conveyor Maintenance director Sharmlin Govender tells Mining Weekly. →

POINT OF CONTACT Matching skills sets with the equipment and site requirements of a project makes ELB a single point of contact for clients

Mine maintenance affected by falling commodity prices

17th June 2016 Unstable commodity prices have placed mines under pressure to produce at the same rate while decreasing their operational costs, highlights environmental management company I-CAT Environmental Solutions (I-CAT) director Lourens Jansen van Rensburg. →

LOURENS JANSEN VAN RENSBURG Mines are operating at dangerous margins, as costs and savings targets need to be achieved if they are to continue operating

Maintenance vital in efforts to reduce operating costs

17th June 2016 The current harsh economic and dynamic business environment that is characterised by recession, stiff competition and globalisation has made it imperative for every organisation to streamline its processes and reduce operating costs to remain competitive, stresses furnaces and industrial services... →

ON-SITE SERVICES The company provides on-site specialist services for rotary kilns for the cement and lime industries in sub-Saharan Africa

Essential maintenance supplied despite budget cuts by mines

17th June 2016 Rope access service and equipment provider Skyriders is, to a large extent, immune to the current commodities price slump, as inspection and maintenance is an essential part of keeping sites operational, notes marketing manager Mike Zinn. →

MAINTENANCE REMAINS KEY Although maintenance budgets are being trimmed to survive the current tough global economic climate, maintenance is vital at active mining operations

Cutting corners to cost mines in long run

17th June 2016 Many sites are trying to cut costs by moving away from using original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) spares and components when undertaking maintenance, says technologies, products and engineering services provider Tenova TAKRAF Africa aftermarket GM Paul Davies. →

INCREASED NEED With the rapid uptake of mechanisation and automation in the mining industry, greater emphasis has been placed on the need for maintenance in the last 20 years

Biofuels tested for boiler efficiency

3rd June 2016 Owing to growing global demand for a cleaner and more sustainable environment, boiler and environmental solutions provider John Thompson has, over the past few years, carried out a series of tests by firing a variety of biomass fuels on boilers installed at the company’s Boiler Development and... →

EFFECTIVE BURNING Tests have shown that these fuels can be burnt effectively on existing chain-grate stoker coal-fired boilers

Emphasis on environment and workplace safety

3rd June 2016 As the combustion equipment industry becomes more aware of the effects it has on the environment and workers, greater emphasis is being placed on the efficiency and safety of boilers and burners in industrial applications. →

DEMANDING EFFICIENCY The E4500-N enables operators to ensure that combustion equipment is functioning efficiently and safely

Thermoprocessing projects to ensure combustion efficiency

3rd June 2016 Electrical, instrumentation and control engineering and installation project management provider Proconics is involved in thermoprocessing equipment projects that will result in safer, more efficient burner management for the local combustion energy industry. →

Photo by Duane Daws
INTERNATIONAL TREND Proconics has noticed an international trend of increased focus on the categorisation of burner management systems as safety instrumented systems

Legislation impacts on energy efficient motors industry uptake

20th May 2016 Electric motors manufacturer Zest WEG Group says the uptake of new efficiency-increasing technology in the local electric motor manufacturing sector has been slow, owing to the lack of regulation and legislation. →

Developer boosts focus on mine planning software

6th May 2016 Continuing exploration challenges in South Africa have led leading provider of innovative software solutions, MICROMINE, to enhance and continue its focus on exploration and three-dimensional (3D) mine planning, which, subsequently, has assisted in boosting the uptake of mining and scheduling... →

PIECE OF MIND The Micromine solution’s data-validation features enable users to ensure that a job has been completed correctly

Quick turnaround of mining data essential

6th May 2016 Data-driven mining inherently poses challenges with regard to the planning of mine operations, states mining industry hardware and software supplier Maptek Africa GM Nick Venter. A fast turnaround is essential for efficient and effective mine planning, as there is a narrow window during which... →

POSTIVE UPTAKE More than 8 000 Vulcan software licences are used at mines worldwide

Adoption of mining technology stressed

6th May 2016 It is now more important than ever to reap the benefits that mining technology can provide while understanding the science behind the technology to audit results, according to mine software and technology developer Hexagon Mining communications director Neville Judd. The increasing complexity and... →

Photo by Bloomberg
IMMINENT NEED A combination of factors, such as monetary challenges, has elevated the role of mining technology

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