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Construction

Two new machines introduced to local market

22nd May 2015 Brick and block making machine manufacturer Hydraform has introduced two new automated block-making machines to the South African building and construction market. The new machines are fully automated making them safer to operate, while also reducing labour requirements. →

Hospital construction under way

23rd May 2014 Construction work on the new R320-million Sipetu District Hospital in Ntabankulu, in the Eastern Cape, was initiated by a sod turning ceremony on February 24. The hospital will roll out in five phases. →

EARTH MOVING The hospital will have a floor area of more than 12 000 m2

Women in construction awarded

23rd May 2014 The increasingly important role women play in the construction industry will be acknowledged and honoured at concrete trade fair the Totally Concrete Expo, to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, on May 28. →

SANTIE GOUWS Industry experts will present strategic round table discussions at the expo

Heavy rains dampen piling

By: Donna Slater 23rd May 2014 Despite being hampered by water ingress after heavy summer rainfall, piling company and Master Builders Association (MBA) North member Gauteng Piling has completed its piling contract for a new large-scale warehouse for Value Logistics in Pomona, Kempton Park, in March. →

PILES OF WORK Gauteng Piling has completed nearly 1 500 major piling contracts

Charities benefit from recycled carpets

By: Donna Slater 23rd May 2014 As part of global carpet tile producer Interface’s carpet recycling programme, its local distributor, Kevin Bates Flooring & Carpeting Group (KBAC) has collected 4 000 m2 of used tile carpets and distributed them at several local charities. →

NET EFFECT A carpet tile produced from discarded fishing nets, collected in the Philippines is shown by carpet tile producer Interface

Shower cubicle refurbishment at colliery

23rd May 2014 Enamel steel products manufacturer for architectural applications Vitrex recently supplied and installed 240 shower cubicles as part of the refurbishment of hostels at coal producer Igoda Coal’s Twistdraai colliery near Secunda, in Mpumalanga. →

SHOWER TIME Tests have shown that vitreous enamel steel provides the best anti-bacterial protection

BBBEE codes compliance extended to 2015

23rd May 2014 Building industry representative organisation Master Builders Association (MBA) North states that the government has further extended the implementation date of the new broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) codes of practice – but it has also strongly advised companies to take prompt... →

BBBEE CODES COMPLAINCE The new extension of around six months will offer companies more time to adjust to the new targets

Painters soon to face accreditation requirement

23rd May 2014 Painting contractors in the construction industry could soon require their painters to be accredited, in an effort to decrease poor workmanship of work done on government projects, the South African Paint Manufacturers Association (Sapma) notes. →

PAINTING A DIFFERENT PICTURE Government is well aware of the high volumes of consumer complaints about the lack of skills shown by paint contractors

Trend puts construction workers in danger

23rd May 2014 Purchasing generalised, non-specific health and safety files from consultants to expedite the start of building projects has become a “menacing monster” threatening the wellbeing of building site workers, warns building industry representative association Master Builders Association (MBA) North. →

CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY A specific health and safety plan should be a comprehensive document, not a generalised and non-specific file

Stefanutti Stocks

23rd May 2014 JSE-listed multi-disciplinary construction group Stefanutti Stocks, which was established in 1945, is one of South Africa’s leading construction companies and has the capability to deliver a range of projects, of any scale, to a multitude of clients in diverse markets. This ambitious and... →

Building green impeded by skills shortages

By: Donna Slater 23rd May 2014 A lack of skills and resources nationwide is hampering environment-friendly and sustainable methods of construction, says engineering and design company WSP Group Africa. →

BIG DREAMS
The South African construction industry has the determination and knowledge to build word-class green buildings

Photo by Duane Daws
BIG DREAMS The South African construction industry has the determination and knowledge to build word-class green buildings

Sustainable building driven by environmental concerns

By: Donna Slater 23rd May 2014 Construction companies are aiming to use more sustainable methods of building, as the sector is increasingly being driven by companies’ need to have a lower environmental footprint to meet increasingly stringent environmental legislation, states audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG. →

GAVIN MAILE Labour stability and productivity are required to create trust between government and the private sector

Multibillion-rand electricity infrastructure investment

By: Donna Slater 23rd May 2014 State-owned power utility Eskom has invested R35-billion in improved electricity transmission infrastructure – boosting the utility’s capacity to provide electricity – as part of its new build programme. →

POWER TOWER INVESTMENT Cross-rope towers and guy V-shaped towers will save more than 15% capital cost

World’s first solar powered off-grid toll plaza in Zim

By: Nomvelo Buthelezi 2nd August 2013 As part of the Zimbabwe National Road Agency’s (Zinara’s) roads rehabilitation project, the Zinara toll plaza near Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe, has been designed and commissioned by consulting engineers, Arup, making it the world’s first Solar powered off-grid toll plaza. The project is part of Arup’s... →

Construction claims procedure is lacking – training provider

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 Suggested changes to the construction claims procedure, as set out in the amendments that are proposed in the sixth edition of the Joint Building Contracts Committee’s (JBCC’s) suite of building agreements, will simplify the claims process but will not improve clarity and eliminate uncertainty,... →

Latest design software version released

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 Graphisoft, the creator of the three-dimensional (3D) architectural design software, ArchiCAD, released the latest version of the software last month. The software allows architects to create 3D models of buildings and structures in incredible detail, including elements such as lighting, beams,... →

Training needed to limit reliance on OCNs

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 The South African construction industry needs to implement consolidated, industry-wide training programmes across all skill levels to ensure a stronger resource core and less reliance on other country nationals (OCNs). Engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance and project management... →

African event lures international players

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 The first bauma Africa trade fair is expected to bode well for the construction industry in Africa, as it has already attracted the interest of key international construction companies, says bauma Africa CEO Elaine Crewe. “Government’s multibillion-rand spending plan on infrastructure will... →

bauma Africa CEO Elaine Crewe discusses the South African construction industry and the first bauma Africa event. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Darlene Creamer.

Industry growth depends on government contracts – risk analyst

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 The growth of the South African construction industry is dependent on government contracts and timeous payments for those services, says credit insurance solutions provider Coface. “Confidence in the industry has remained relatively constant over the past few quarters, marginally increasing in... →

R400m enviro-friendly store opened in Gauteng

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 South African retailer Massmart opened a R400-million environment-friendly Makro store in Alberton, in the south of Johannesburg, as part of its new-generation stores. Makro’s new-generation stores – those built after 2009 – incorporate technologies which include energy efficient refrigeration... →

Makro store development manager Alan Walker discusses the environmentally friendly elements of the new Makro store, in Alberton. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Darlene Creamer.

New roof-tile manufacturing machine introduced to African market

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 A new roof-tile manufacturing machine from Swedish roof-tile specialist ABECE is expected to provide Africa with a complete roof-tiling solution, filling the gap in concrete solutions and technology provider Pan Mixers South Africa’s (PMSA’s) product offering. PMSA received the SPS712 machine... →

Manufacturer donates pipes to shack-conversion project

By: Gia Costella 7th June 2013 Manufacturer of water reticulation, drainage and pipe-fitting systems DPI Plastics donated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) building pipes and fittings to the first-ever shack-to-house eco-replacement project in Kayamandi, in the Western Cape. The test phase of the Kayamandi project, which was completed... →

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