Khutso Maphatsoe

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Khutso Maphatsoe

Khutso Maphatsoe is a Creamer Media Reporter for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Fastening systems used at solar plants

15th October 2021 Industrial equipment supplier Actum Group has recently supplied its Ball-Lok cable ties for installation of cable management solutions at one of the largest solar plants in South Africa. →

New machinery introduced

15th October 2021 In the past 12 to 24 months, fastener manufacturer Impala Bolt & Nut introduced new machinery to its existing range. These are highly specialised machines, purpose built for the fastener industry, and were imported from Japan and Europe, with a turnaround time of between eight and 12 months. →

DEREK COHEN Machines are suitable for standard parts used by a variety of regular customers and highly specialised for advanced manufacture of special fasteners used in the automotive industry

Potential growth for S African shipping sector

8th October 2021 The harbour and offshore services industry should consider ramping up their services to ships passing the South African coast, to about 10% of the total passing traffic, where every ship serviced has a minimum spend of about $10 000, says independent tug and offshore vessel operator Offshore... →

Company offers various techniques for working-at-height

24th September 2021 Rope access specialist Skyriders’ working-at-height training includes rope access, fall arrest or fall prevention and the fall protection plan. The company specialises in rope access & RPAS (drones) – a system used to position a person on a structure. →

SAFETY FIRST The regulations state that a company is required to have a fall protection plan in place when any work is done that might create the risk of a fall

Digital Cloud base solution manage remote breath alcohol testing

17th September 2021 Breathalyser specialist Alcohol Breathalysers is in the early stages of rolling out its iSober Breathalyser App & Cloud Service which is a breath alcohol test management tool and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Huawei App Gallery. This application (app) is a new... →

CONNECTIVITY Employees use their smartphone to connect to the app using Bluetooth

PPE designed for women now more accessible

17th September 2021 Owing to the rise of female employees in sectors such as construction, mining and engineering, which were previously male dominated, personal protective equipment (PPE) brands are looking at offering safety wear specifically for women. Catering for women in these sectors will require companies to... →

New safety learning programme launched

17th September 2021 Safety training solutions provider KBC Health & Safety introduced its microlearning training programme for employees in July this year. “We developed the microlearning training to focus on high-risk work areas . . . hazards and controls to avoid incidents from occurring,” explains KBC Health &... →

NATALIE PITOUT Every module covers one topic; the duration of an online module spans about 15 to 20 minutes and the microlearning flash videos about two minutes

Drug testing dipped during pandemic

17th September 2021 Breathalyser and drug testing equipment supplier ALCO-Safe has noticed a trend over the past 12 months, during which a number of companies discontinued drug testing and testing that requires breathalysers. This is because people are working from home (WFH) and, consequently, fewer people are... →

RHYS EVANS The enclosures allow for proper physical distancing

Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory

17th September 2021 Owing to the latest guidelines provided by the Department of Employment and Labour, which stipulates that Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory by employers, companies would need to update their policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the guidelines, which correspond with... →

Company strives for gender parity for women

3rd September 2021 Electromechanical equipment manufacturer John Thompson is committed to recruiting and promoting more women in the manufacturing industry. The company’s yearly intake of apprentices encourages the consistent inclusion of women. This gender parity in its recruitment process extends to in-service... →

WORK FOR IT Women often have to earn the respect of the men that they work with and prove that they have the skills required to be qualified welders and artisans

Welding register mitigates recruitment challenge

3rd September 2021 With fabrication companies finding it difficult to recruit welders for their operations, the Southern Africa Institute of Welding (SAIW) has launched the welding register to mitigate this challenge. “Many welding schools have been enrolling students for two- or four-week welding courses, as... →

Institute launches flexible payment plan for courses

3rd September 2021 Owing to the challenges of Covid-19, the Southern Africa Institute of Welding (SAIW) has launched a flexible payment plan for its modularised courses, which it believes will benefit its members. “The modularised courses, taught over four weeks, usually require upfront payment. With our flexible... →

Institute set to open school in Middelburg

3rd September 2021 The Southern Africa Institute of Welding (SAIW) is set to open a satellite campus in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. Middleburg falls under the Steve Tshwete local municipality, which is one of 27 of the country’s 257 municipalities to receive clean audits in the local government audit for the 2019/20... →

Company to release wearable personal dust-monitoring device

20th August 2021 Safety equipment supplier Trolex released its new XD One wearable, self-contained personal dust-monitoring device to the market in the second quarter of 2021. The technology used in the XD One ensures that the monitor delivers continuous, real-time detection of harmful particulates often present... →

FLASHING LIGHTS The monitor will start to flash and beep when particulates reach a dangerous level and an area needs to be evacuated.

Dust ramifications awareness needed

20th August 2021 "People should be aware of the ramifications of being exposed to dangerous fumes, chemicals and dust and the damage caused to mining and construction equipment by dust and other contaminants," says Trysome Auto Electrical Engineering key account manager Johan Momberg. The focus should be on... →

COMBINED EFFORT Equipment or site owners should work together with solution providers to ensure that workers and equipment are protected

Compliance solutions for foundries offered

20th August 2021 Air pollution engineering solutions company About Air Pollution offers the foundry industry solutions that ensure emission regulatory compliance. “About Air Pollution is a respected supplier of equipment to ensure the ongoing successful application for an air emissions licence,” About Air... →

Company’s products adhere to global standards

13th August 2021 Metals supplier Non-Ferrous Metal Works (NFMW) manufactures semi-fabricated copper and brass extruded shapes that comply with international chemistry, physical tolerances and the mechanical characteristics of end-products. All products are graded according to ISO 9001 quality assurance standards,... →

DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES A full range of copper and alloys is manufactured by the company’s extruding production unit and supplied in semi-fabricated form to local and international destinations

Rising copper demand boosts scrap market

13th August 2021 Copper and copper alloys are significant materials in manufacturing with about 26-million tons of copper used globally in the production of electronic appliances, electricity, heating and air-conditioning, plumbing and architecture, explains industry body Copper Development Association Africa... →

DAMAGING EFFECTS As a result of copper theft, the market is seeking alternative materials to replace copper, which is shrinking the copper market

Company’s products doing well in mining market

30th July 2021 Valve manufacturer Dynamic Fluid Control (DFC) is supplying valves to several mine projects, mainly because technological advancements in valve and pipeline solutions offer an alternative to using trucks to transport minerals from mining sites. Distance is no longer an issue, as there are... →

WORST CASE SCENARIO A valve that is too small or too big can even cause the pipeline to implode or explode

Valves prove advantageous for local mining

30th July 2021 Manufacturing company GF Piping Systems launched its Plastic Butterfly Valve 565 in April at its headquarter in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The 565 valves, manufactured in Seewis im Prättigau, Switzerland, arrived in South Africa on July 1. →

FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE Georg Fischer Piping Systems has had to physically show customers how the plastic valve looks, how it feels and the benefits of the valve

Mining sector requires support from government

30th July 2021 The adoption of the Mining Charter III has led to some confusion in the mining sector, specifically on the local-content verification process, which means further insight and understanding of Charter requisites are required throughout the mining value chain, says industry body South African Valve... →

New range launched in March

9th July 2021 Compressor manufacturer Mattei launched its 55 kW, 75 kW and 90 kW range of Rotary Vane Xtreme Inverter- (RVXi-) controlled air compressors at a live online streaming event from Mattei’s global headquarters in Milan, Italy. Mattei CEO Giulio Contaldi presented the new features and benefits of the... →

EASY ACCESS The air compressors are accessible through the Internet of Things and can provide real-time operating and performance data anywhere globally

Range standardised for mining and construction

9th July 2021 In 2020 Atlas Copco Power Technique announced the launch of its PAC H centrifugal pump range, which consists of four models, for high-pressure applications. The pumps have been designed to reduce downtime, prolong the life span of the equipment used in an application and save operational costs.... →

CATERS FOR ALL The company’s high head pumps range comprises the PAS dry prime pump and the VAR wet prime pump.

Further investments in compressor range made

9th July 2021 Rand-Air, an established provider of air, nitrogen, power, flow, steam boiler and lighting solutions, further invested in the XATS1200 compressors in its fleet in April. The compressors, introduced to the market in August 2020, have a variable-pressure range of between five to ten bar with a... →

Compressors to be used in a project in Mpumalanga

9th July 2021 As the authorised distributor of compressor manufacturer Detroit Air Compressors’ SR Eco Series, compressed air equipment supplier and service provider Tru Compressor Solution will supply two large compressors of this series to a large mine in Mpumalanga. The SR Eco Series was designed as a... →

STANDARD PROCEDURE The machines get a minor service after 2 000 hours and a major service after 8 000 hours

Company secures local fabrication contract

1st July 2021 Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie is ordering a bill of materials to begin fabrication for a contract that it secured in October 2020, under the leadership of Thos Begbie sales engineer Ethienne Erasmus. The contract is set for completion by June 2021. The company was invited to... →

AS GOOD AS NEW The company is required to repair two bus tube bundles and fabricate four new bus tube bundles using vital copper components

Steel shortage delays building projects

18th June 2021 The shortage of steel and an increase in the steel price have led to delays in projects for the light-steel-frame building and roofing sector, says construction materials supplier Izinga Roofing director and owner Jerred Micholson. →

EVERY LAST DETAIL A truss has certain details, such as the edge distance, design and specifications, which engineers use to guide them when assembling trusses

Short-term rental solutions offered

28th May 2021 Forklifts and materials handling equipment supplier Goscor Lift Truck Company (GLTC) offers companies short-term rental solutions for its equipment. “The importance of flexibility cannot be reiterated enough, especially because of the tough operating conditions facing businesses across various... →

Tippers assist materials transport

28th May 2021 Niche container products supplier Specialised Container Agencies (SCA) designs and manufactures a range of containerised bulk materials handling equipment that ensures safe and efficient offloading from rail wagons and road trucks. Key advantages of this equipment include improved productivity,... →

Company boosts range with new grader

28th May 2021 Construction equipment supplier HPE Africa has supplied various companies with earthmoving equipment for mining applications across the country in recent months. The equipment includes Hyundai R380LC-9SH and R520LC-9S excavators at a chrome mine in the Steelpoort area. HPE Africa also delivered a... →

JACK OF ALL TRADES The robust earthmoving machines are suitable for operation in various industries such as roadworks, mining, construction, agriculture and landscaping

Earthmoving offering a success in local market

28th May 2021 Doosan’s excavators and wheel loaders are in demand at various mining operations, including the Doosan DX300 and DX520 excavators, which are currently used for material processing and handling at a platinum-group metals and chrome operation in Rustenburg, in the North West. In October 2020, South... →

BUILT FOR PURPOSE The robust new machines have been designed to create a higher level of efficiency to save fuel, while maintaining optimum power levels

Industry 4.0 – investing in smart infrastructure and education

21st May 2021 Some may argue that Africa has missed out on the opportunity for large-scale industrialisation owing to its unpredictable economies while others point out that the technology that characterises the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), enables African countries to overcome obstacles. “Africa and... →

FIT FOR PURPOSE PFERD South Africa’s products are geared for 4IR applications, including robotics and AI

Fair to host virtual event

21st May 2021 Exhibition organiser Reed Exhibitions will host the AATF Virtual Connect! online virtual event, scheduled to take place in September 2021. The virtual event will be held in place of the live event, which has been postponed to May 9 to 11, 2023. →

MOVING WITH THE TIMES Companies are considering processes and systems to assist them in working smarter and how they can be innovative businesses through technology and automation

Endpoints security can mitigate cyber attacks

21st May 2021 As a result of cyberattacks increasing rapidly in terms of their severity and complexity in the manufacturing industry, companies have to look into manufacturing endpoint-security as a line of defence, says cybersecurity solutions provider Kaspersky’s enterprise cybersecurity adviser Lehan van... →

TEAMWORK The manufacturing industry is good at machine learning and deep learning, and if you combine enough of those two processes, you could get to AI

Tech enables global competitiveness

21st May 2021 Key technologies, such as automation and the automatic control of systems, are transforming industries, enabling companies to remain competitive in a global market, says South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC) president John Burchell. “Advances in automation have allowed for the... →

Edge tech a preferred computing option in data storage

21st May 2021 Owing to 90% of manufacturing sites not being connected to cloud or data centres, information is held in disparate, siloed systems, says telecommunications company BT digital manufacturing head Andy Rowland. Consequently, manufacturing clients now want to benefit from Industry 4.0 and the company... →

Data growth increases need for digital infrastructure

21st May 2021 The significant proliferation of new-enterprise data that is being generated and processed outside of a data centre and cloud network requires digital infrastructure in multiple locations, says Lenovo Middle East and Africa Infrastructure Solutions Group GM Dr Chris Cooper. “If you look at what's... →

Group introduces new blasting brand

30th April 2021 Blasting technology is moving mining towards a more sustainable future, a trend spurred by the recent launch of blast services provider BME’s Blast Alliance brand on April 1, says BME MD Joe Keenan. Member of the JSE-listed Omnia group, BME announced during the launch that the Blast Alliance... →

BIGGER AND BETTER The drive for larger blasts where the mine’s scale and geology allow for them - has several benefits for an operation

Mines shift towards cloud-based ERP

30th April 2021 With mining companies often operating in remote locations and having to adapt to poor communications infrastructure and sensitivities regarding data security, companies must have a deployment strategy that allows for flexibility in choosing which business operations should run on cloud-based... →

DOWN TO THE T client devices, such as desktops or laptops used by end-users, must be of adequate specification

Local mine planning on par with global offering

30th April 2021 South African mine service providers are on par – or even slightly advanced – compared with international peers in terms of mine planning and software offering, says Ukwazi Mining business development manager Spencer Eckstein. “Mine planning is a fundamental discipline for mining companies and,... →

UKWAZI TEAM Mine planning processes are critical for cost saving and revenue enhancement of the mine

Tech assists water utilities improve sewer systems

23rd April 2021 Water technology company Xylem Africa offers the BLU-X wastewater network optimisation technology to water utilities for better control over the performance and capacity of their sewer system assets. “BLU-X helps utilities to reduce sewerage overflow, detect sewer blockages, minimise flooding... →

PROBLEM SOLVED The power behind BLU-X is not only the data collected but also the meaningful insights generated that will enable utilities to make informed decisions

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