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Construction

Shipping containers provide temporary teaching facility

By: Paige Müller 25th May 2018 The Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE), in Cape Town, is using shipping containers at its campus for interim teaching and office space while campus expansion is under way. The ASE, first formed in 1997 in Johannesburg, has had significant success and growth since then. Owing to its success, the... →

Reducing TCO will enable construction firms to remain competitive

By: Paige Müller 25th May 2018 With government infrastructure spending on large construction projects remaining subdued, Himoinsa Southern Africa MD Martin Foster warns against the short-sighted temptation by the South African construction industry to try and manage its power generation costs, stressing the importance of... →

LOWERING TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP Himoinsa SA works extensively with clients in the construction industry to reduce costs associated with owning and operating a generator set and lighting towers

Decreasing investment causes industry lull

By: Paige Müller 25th May 2018 There is likely to be a lull in growth for the foreseeable future in construction and the property development industry, owing to reduced government expenditure on large-scale infrastructure projects and uncertainty in private-sector investment markets, says global engineering professional... →

DRIVING CONSTRUCTION FORWARD Innovations, technical advances and rethinking investment strategies will be key in driving the local construction sector forward in years to come

New company focuses on sustainability

By: Paige Müller 25th May 2018 Wadeville-based perlite and vermiculite manufacturer and distributor, Sun Silicates, has established a sister company, CemteQ Building Solutions, which specialises in developing value-add products for the building and construction industries. CemteQ Building Solutions has been established to... →

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING The construction industry is experiencing mounting pressure to improve real sustainability in building from design to material use

N4 leg of toll plaza upgrade under way

By: Nadine James 26th May 2017 The final phase of the R160-million toll plaza upgrade project being overseen by the N1/N4 freeway operator Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessioniare started last month and is expected to be completed by October. Bakwena commercial manager Liam Clarke explains that this latest phase of a project... →

PUMULANI PLAZA The project also comprised of improvements at the Zambesi, Pumulani, Stormvoël and Doornpoort plazas, which were completed on schedule in December

Photo by Duane Daws
PUMULANI PLAZA The project also comprised of improvements at the Zambesi, Pumulani, Stormvoël and Doornpoort plazas, which were completed on schedule in December

Call for business to integrate enterprises into supply chains

26th May 2017 Although both the public and private sector continue investing significant amounts in enterprise and supplier development, many of these efforts remain focused on small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMME’s), says TSK Group FD Thuso Koboyatau. He states that, “In an environment such as South... →

NEW FOCUS MAY SAVE CONSTRUCTION Qualifying small enterprise have been somewhat neglected, but could be key to addressing South Africa’s socioeconomic problems

Photo by Duane Daws
NEW FOCUS MAY SAVE CONSTRUCTION Qualifying small enterprise have been somewhat neglected, but could be key to addressing South Africa’s socioeconomic problems

$100-million loan for African infrastructure spending

By: Nadine James 26th May 2017 The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in March signed a $100-million loan agreement aimed at furthering the DBSA’s infrastructure financing activity across Africa. This flexible credit line will focus on DBSA’s four strategic sectors:... →

Aggregate recycling to benefit industry

26th May 2017 South African aggregate producers are drawing up plans to formalise the aggregate recycling industry to ensure that previously used materials are given new life, in the best possible manner. The aggregate producers’ organization Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa)... →

NICO PIENAAR Recycling of aggregates will become an important means of reducing the environmental impact of quarrying and construction

Earthworks for 42 500 m2 office to start in August

26th May 2017 Bulk earthworks for the 42 500 m2 property that hosts auditing and consulting firm Deloitte South Africa’s new Gauteng office is excepted to start in August, with construction expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year. Property development company Atterbury announced last month that it... →

ULTRA MODERN The premises has capacity for about 5 000 people and will consolidate Deloitte’s current Woodmead and Pretoria offices in a single central location

Civil work, settlement agreement position company for future growth

By: Nadine James 26th May 2017 A minuscule uptick in civil tenders, private sector projects and a recent development agreement with a multinational construction group have ensured that emerging construction group Motheo Construction is well positioned for future growth. One of the project’s the group has secured is the... →

ARCHIE RUTHERFORD The canning factory project started in November 2015, following the joint venture agreement to establish Gayatri Cans

Planned infrastructure development presents milling opportunities

By: Nadine James 26th May 2017 The planned and ongoing infrastructure development taking place locally and on the rest of the continent presents opportunities for securing work for civil and road infrastructure projects, says road milling company Road Milling and Sweeping (RMS). “The number of planned infrastructure projects... →

DRIVING PROFIT The core niche business of renting out milling machines will remain profitable for at least another decade

Road Milling and Sweeping GM Lesley Kafka discusses the company’s business objectives and relationship with equipment supplier Wirtgen. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva.

Amtec

By: Zandile Mavuso 26th May 2017 The construction division of minerals processing projects specialist Applied Mineral Technologies (Amtec) is an integral part of the offering that the company has to offer. →

Polystyrene homes for North West orphans

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Nonprofit organisation Mobile Education and Training Trust (METT), in a joint venture (JV) partnership with polystyrene recyclers’ association Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC), is finalising construction of 75 housing units of 68 m2 each using polystyrene and cement-admixture panels to house... →

HOUSING UNIT Each of the 75 units will house six children and a caretaker

Experience outweighs cost – piling contractor

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Entrusting piling projects to inexperienced operators who cut costs to secure business could result in harmful consequences, warns piling specialist and contractor Gauteng Piling (GP). “Proper piling is critical to the durability and safety of any new structure, as it provides the foundations of... →

NICO AND IGNATIUS MASS The Fourways Mall extension project should be completed before the end of the month

Conference demonstrates company’s commitment to clients

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Alternative building solutions developer Hydraform International held a two-day conference on its business development plan for existing and prospective clients at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, in Boksburg, last month. Themed ‘Hydraform: Committed to your Journey’, the... →

HYDRAFORM: COMMITTED TO YOUR JOURNEY The 2016 conference was meant to foster closer relationships between Hydraform and its clients

Manufacturer spends on socioeconomic upliftment

20th May 2016 Construction products manufacturer Chryso Southern Africa (SA) Group is completely committed to the transferal of skills, socioeconomic development, and transformation within the construction sector in which it operates, says human resources and organisation GM Brian Matthee. He says Chryso,... →

CLOSING GENDER GAP The Chryso Group has introduced multiple initiatives to transform the construction sector

Quantity surveyors can minimise inflated construction costs

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Voluntary quantity surveying organisation the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) executive director Larry Feinberg would like the South African government and construction stakeholders to recognise the value of employing reputable quantity surveyors to alleviate corruption... →

LARRY FEINBERG The ASAQS executive director believes the South African government should forge stronger relationships with the quantity surveyor profession

Regulations expected to be gazetted later this year

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Industry stakeholders are hopeful that the final amendments to the regulations to the Construction Industry Development Board Act will be gazetted by August, says international law firm Clyde & Co’s Johannesburg branch partner Robert Scott. He explains that the proposed amendments – published in... →

ROBERT SCOTT The Clyde & CO partner believes the success of the amended regulations will rest on the quality of the adjudicators

Applied Mineral Technologies

By: Zandile Mavuso 20th May 2016 Established in 2001, Applied Mineral Technologies (Amtec) has grown into a large structural, mechanical, platework and piping (SMPP) services company specialising in the fabrication and construction of materials handling systems and processing plants for clients in the coal, diamonds, iron-ore,... →

Conventional building methods not suited to African conditions

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Housing and construction systems developer Moladi says its low-cost housing system, comprising plastic formwork panels and a cement admixture, is widely embraced throughout Africa, as it has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the African market. Moladi founder and CEO Hennie... →

FILING THE GAP Aerated mortar is used to fill Moladi's formwork mould in order to create walls

Imminent lack of coarse ash will change cement brick industry

By: Nadine James 20th May 2016 Cement stock brick manufacturer Brick-It director Sean Cameron predicts that the upcoming shortage of coarse ash – which is combined with cement and other aggregates before being moulded into cement bricks – will force the industry to change the bricks’ composition, subsequently affecting many... →

VB4X BLOCK MACHINE It can produce 120 000 standard-sized bricks or 75 600 interlocking pavers in a nine-hour shift

Importance of research undervalued, impacting economic development

17th May 2016 National research institution the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR's) Built Environment division executive director Dr Cornelius Ruiters says countries that do not adequately invest in research, development and innovation (R&D&I) will not develop economically. 'In South... →

Basement parking construction completed

22nd May 2015 Independent geotechnical contractors Keller subsidiary Franki Africa last month completed the construction of basement parking at wealth manager Citadel’s premises in Claremont, Cape Town. The contract was awarded to Franki in July last year and included lateral support, bulk excavation,... →

CITADEL BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION The type of basement construction on this project posed a number of challenges both in the general design and in the design of the lateral support requirements

Growing investor confidence increasing DRC cement demand

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 Demand for cement is increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as construction and infrastructure projects roll out in line with growing confidence and trust in the country and its economy, says consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting (SA). “Increased economic growth is... →

INFRASTRUCTURE DEMAND Darryll Kilian and Natasha Anamuthoo note that increased economic growth is driving infrastructure development and the associated demand for cement

New construction regulations challenging for industry

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 The requirement to be registered with South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) is one of the most far-reaching changes of the 2014 Construction Regulations, set to come into force on August 7, 2015, says training company Alusani Skills & Training... →

REGULATORY CHANGE
The requirement to be registered with South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) is one of the most far-reaching changes of the 2014 Construction Regulations

Photo by Bloomberg
REGULATORY CHANGE The requirement to be registered with South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) is one of the most far-reaching changes of the 2014 Construction Regulations

Private-sector companies leading NDP response

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 The award of government tenders is increasingly being delayed as private-sector players are called upon to take a nontraditional approach in implementing major infrastructure projects – and lead these, as opposed to waiting for the State to commission them. The typical approach in comparison to... →

FANI MTETWA The biggest opportunity for potential for growth in the construction industry lies in procurement

Cement supplier gears up for increased demand

22nd May 2015 Cement producer PPC is gearing up for expected demand growth by constructing a new 3000 t/d clinker kiln at its Slurry cement factory, in the North West. The new kiln at Slurry will boast a six-stage pre-heater tower design as was used on PPC’s Dwaalboom kiln, in Limpopo, that was completed in 2008. →

Construction industry showing ‘signs of recovery’

22nd May 2015 The construction industry is showing signs of recovery with expected government infrastructure expenditure, retail developments and residential building projects set to lift the industry considerably above last year’s level, says the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa... →

New mill drive system introduced

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 Vertical roller mills manufacturer Loesche last year received an order to install a Loesche Mill type LM 70.4+4 in Calabar, Nigeria, the largest Loesche mill to date. Loesche was awarded the contract in July 2014 by Sinoma for United Cement Company of Nigeria (UCCN) – a consortium comprising... →

THE COPE GEARBOX The Cope gearbox, which was developed in cooperation with German gear manufacturer Renk, offers up to eight motors at the motor end

Industry body warns against unaccredited training programmes

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 The Southern African Readymix Association (Sarma) has warned cement and concrete industry stakeholders that some unaccredited organisations are running cement and concrete training and courses, disseminating unvetted information that could be harmful to the industry. Sarma published an article in... →

QUALITY EDUCATIONThe School of Concrete Technology providing on site training in Dullstroom

Concrete school clarifies industry tenets

By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd May 2015 The same mistakes are continuously being repeated on construction sites as a result of people not understanding the fundamental concepts of concrete technology, says the School of Concrete Technology (SCT), which is facilitated by concrete industry technical services provider The Concrete... →

MISCONCEPTIONS The same mistakes are continuously being repeated on construction sites as a result of people not understanding the fundamental concepts of concrete technology

Improved economic outlook bodes well for construction companies

22nd May 2015 According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the economy of the sub-Saharan Africa region is set to grow by 4.5% in 2015, and 5.1% in 2016, which explains the significant infrastructure investment the continent is currently seeing, says Bauma Conexpo Africa CEO Elaine Crewe. “With a... →

Tall buildings constructed at an increasingly rapid pace

22nd May 2015 Following the construction of the Burj Khalifa 830 m skyscraper in Dubai in 2009, during which the need to find quicker ways to construct tall buildings was identified, global engineering, management and specialist technical services company Aurecon produced a holistic system to enable the... →

DUBAI'S BURJ KHALIFA During the Burj Khalifa building construction period Aurecon identified the need to find quicker ways to construct tall buildings

Piling contractors provide foundation for shopping centre construction

22nd May 2015 Piling contractors Gauteng Piling provided the foundation augercast piles for the latest extension to the Cresta Shopping Centre, to be completed in April 2015 on the border of Northcliff and Cresta, in Johannesburg. Auger piles, also known as continuous flight auger piles, are deep foundation... →

PILING FOUNDATION Gauteng Piling provided the foundation augercast piles for the latest extension to the Cresta Shopping Centre

R27m committed to Limpopo training centre

22nd May 2015 Engineering and construction services company Murray & Roberts has committed R27-million to build and equip a 6 000 m2 artisan-training centre in Lephalale running since 2008, close to the company’s operations at the Medupi power station. Murray & Roberts runs the centre in partnership with the... →

MEDUPI POWER STATION
On-site training at the power station is structured according to activities that are signed off by a qualified artisan, who also acts as coach

Photo by Duane Daws
MEDUPI POWER STATION On-site training at the power station is structured according to activities that are signed off by a qualified artisan, who also acts as coach

New mixer targets African market

22nd May 2015 Concrete brick, block and paving-making machinery and technology supplier Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA) in March launched the new Fiori DBX35 self-loading concrete mixer, designed specifically for emerging markets in Africa that require high-quality concrete on demand at a more affordable price.... →

DBX35 The new Fiori DBX35 self-loading concrete mixer is designed specifically for emerging markets

Acceptance of MSE a significant civil engineering development

22nd May 2015 The worldwide acceptance and use of mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) technology is one of the most significant civil engineering developments of the past 50 years, says retaining wall company Reinforced Earth. MSE is the generic name for a composite material comprising a frictional backfill,... →

SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT An MSE approach embankment eliminates the need for retaining walls in conditions of limited space

Applied Mineral Technologies

22nd May 2015 The construction division of minerals processing projects specialist Applied Mineral Technologies (Amtec) is an integral part of the offering that the company has to offer. Not only is this division the largest in the company, it is probably the most important, as no project can be undertaken... →

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