Foudries, Forges & Die-Casting

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Foundries, Forges & Die-casting News

Die-caster prepared for next growth cycle in industry

10th March 2017 An increasing number of car parts such as engine blocks or structural parts are being manufactured from aluminum using high-pressure die casting, says die-casting technology supplier Bühler Die-Casting. →

Conference to broaden industry’s business opportunities and technology horizons

By: Simone Liedtke 10th March 2017 Owing to foundries in South Africa being isolated in their approach to problem solving, the South African Metal Casting Conference (MCC) will serve as a platform to broaden the industry’s horizons by showcasing new technologies, and providing opportunities for international and local foundry... →

DALMARI MCQUEEN Owing to the interest in exhibition spaces at the 2013 pilot conference, the 2017 MCC will have 28 exhibition stands

Foundry process developer expands wafer-fabrication facility

10th March 2017 Specialty foundry process developer and fabricator Noel Technologies has expanded its wafer-fabrication facility in Silicon Valley by adding square footage and installing additional equipment that boosts its production capacity by 25%. →

EXTENSIVE CAPABILITIES
The foundry’s extensive process capabilities enable short manufacturing lead times while improving device yield and performance

Photo by Duane Daws
EXTENSIVE CAPABILITIES The foundry’s extensive process capabilities enable short manufacturing lead times while improving device yield and performance

Trial castings successfully completed at foundry

By: Simone Liedtke 10th March 2017 Engineering solutions provider Weir Minerals successfully completed trial castings on new materials for the business’s Trio product range at its Heavy Bay Foundry, in Port Elizabeth, last month. →

RAPID PROTOTYPING Investments in the rapid prototyping process have enabled the foundry to make new patterns to manufacture parts

Early signs pointing to recovery in foundry industry

By: Simone Liedtke 10th March 2017 With the foundry industry having been under pressure last year owing to very low levels of economic growth, the drought and continuing import leakage, the South African Institute of Foundrymen (Saif) believes that signs to date this year point towards some form of industry recovery. →

Saif CEO John Davies and Saif president Takalani Madzivhandila discuss the challenges of the foundry industry. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva

Forging market for automotive application to be valued at $56-billion by 2022

10th March 2017 Market research company Zion Market Research has published a new report highlighting that the global steel forging market for automotive applications was valued at $41.77-billion in 2016 and is expected to reach $56-billion in 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% between... →

INCREASED DRIVE
Increasing cars sales are expected to drive the European automotive and automotive components market within the forecast period

Photo by Duane Daws
INCREASED DRIVE Increasing cars sales are expected to drive the European automotive and automotive components market within the forecast period

Metal casting technology station provides added value for industry

By: Simone Liedtke 10th March 2017 As a means to add value to the casting industry in South Africa, the Metal Casting Technology Station (MCTS) – located at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) – provides technical services such as testing, failure analyses, research and development (R&D) work in laboratories, as well as product... →

Former MCTS station manager and MCC Core Committee member Farouk Varachia and current MCTS station manager Kulani Mageza discuss the skills gap and current technologies in industry. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva

Industrial manufacturers to implement energy management systems

By: Simone Liedtke 10th March 2017 The National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) is assisting industrial manufacturing companies – such as foundries – to develop and implement energy management systems (EnMS) in line with ISO 50001 through its EnMS training programme. →

FAITH MKHACWA EnMSes are not ‘one-off’ projects, but rather need to becontinuously implemented on site

Seifsa welcomes R95m steel development fund

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 22nd February 2017 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) on Wednesday welcomed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s R95-million allocation towards the establishment of a Steel Development Fund in the 2017 National Budget. The fund will be controlled by the Industrial Development... →

Foundry and engineering company announces senior management changes

By: David Oliveira 16th September 2016 Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie & Co announced a number of changes to its senior management last month, including the retirement of company Joint CEO Edwin Dreyer and MD Eugene Rossouw. Joubert Groenewald replaces Rossouw as MD, while outgoing sales director. Harry Muller is replaced... →

THE NEW GUARD Thos Begbie & Co appoints new MD Joubert Goenewald, foundry director Isaac Mogoba, sales director Piet du Preez, finance director Gabriel Sekgwele and human relations director David Fundzane

Company supplies single chamber melting, casting furnace

5th August 2016 Mechanical engineering company Hertwich Engineering will supply a melting and casting furnace with a capacity of 55 000 t of aluminium a year, as well as a charging machine, to Austrian aluminium product supplier AMAG. Commissioning of the new furnace is scheduled for mid-2017. The move to... →

DUAL FURNACE The new aluminum melting and casting furnace will have a capacity of 55 000 t a year

Role of 3D printing in development of aircraft components rising

By: Donna Slater 15th July 2016 The rise of additive manufacturing technology, or three-dimensional (3D) printing, is spurring accelerated levels of development in a broad range of items, as concepts can be manufactured at a fraction of the costs and time it would otherwise have taken to develop parts using conventional... →

AHRLAC PART 3D Solids have helped developed service parts from engineering thermoplastics for the Ahrlac aircraft

Locally manufactured hardness tester offers more, costs less

By: Donna Slater 29th April 2016 Centurion-based testing-device manufacturer Anjo Hardness Testers launched its portable hardness tester the Kompakt Brinell Portable last month. It is cheaper than and offers several advancements, compared with competitor products (all of which are imported) offered locally. →

PORTABLE HARDNESS TESTER The Kompakt Brinell Portable offers hassle-free operation, with improved accuracy and faster cycles

Cost reduction an option for survival

By: Sascha Solomons 8th April 2016 Nonferrous metal and plastic component manufacturer Wam Metals is acquiring robot automation of a forging press to reduce operational costs and improve output. Wam Metals will be in production for 30 years this year and has plans to continue operations as well as make use of opportunities to... →

Photo by Wam_Metals_Robot_welding
WAM METALS Acquiring robot automation to reduce operational costs and improve output

Forging opportunity amid economic decline

By: Sascha Solomons 8th April 2016 Although the state of the forging industry has resulted in businesses having to reduce production, diversified manufacturing company Frankwen Forge says this has presented it with an opportunity. “The economic downturn has meant that there is a lack of major capital projects coupled with an... →

Technology ensures efficiency for foundry industry

By: Sascha Solomons 8th April 2016 The future of the local foundry industry is promising, owing to technological advancements which accelerate turnaround times, says local castings supplier NI-Foundry, previously known as Guestro Casting and Machining. →

EFFICIENCY INCREASED Technological advancements result in quicker turnaround times

Grain refiner breakthrough for magnesium alloys

8th April 2016 Through the process of high pressure die casting, or direct-chill casting, of aluminum-containing magnesium alloys, scientists at Brunel University, in London, have perfected the first ever grain refiner master alloy for magnesium-aluminium alloys. A team led by Dr Hari Babu Nadendla from the... →

DR HARI BABU NADENDLA Scientists at the Brunel University, have perfected the first ever grain refiner master alloy for magnesium-aluminum alloys

Hope for aluminium casting industry

By: Sascha Solomons 8th April 2016 The Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa) believes that potential for growth of the foundry industry currently lies in the automotive sector, as this is the largest market for aluminium castings. “Legislation worldwide is driving automotive companies and original-equipment manufacturers to... →

Photo by Reuters
ALUMINUNUM GROWTH The aluminium foundry sector produces about 5 000 t/y of components

Potential growth in technology

By: Sascha Solomons 8th April 2016 Amid the economic downturn and lack of skills in the foundry industry, the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF) believes that growth opportunities for the industry lies in embracing technological development that will create new market opportunities. “To become more competitive, we, as an... →

SURVIVAL OF THE FOUNDRY INDUSTRY
To be more competitive the industry has to strive to be technologically advanced to cater for new market demands

Photo by Cumulus
SURVIVAL OF THE FOUNDRY INDUSTRY To be more competitive the industry has to strive to be technologically advanced to cater for new market demands

Steel industry faces toughest year

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 As local steel demand stagnates and exports decrease, various steel industry role-players and industry analysts have predicted this year will be the toughest one for local steel manufacturers, as companies have been forced to mothball or sell plants, cut jobs and even close operations. →

SURVIVAL The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction says the local steel construction industry will survive the current challenging environment owing to years of resilience

Scrap metal issue requires inclusive industry debate

By: Donna Slater 26th February 2016 The recent concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the price preference system (PPS) policy guidelines for local scrap metal require debate and input from all role-players, such as exporters of and domestic users of scrap metal, says steel industry representative organisation the Southern... →

PRECIOUS RESOURCE
Scrap metal should be retained in South Africa and used as a national resource to decrease the price of local steel

Photo by Duane Daws
PRECIOUS RESOURCE Scrap metal should be retained in South Africa and used as a national resource to decrease the price of local steel

Machine tools trade exhibition returns

By: Nadine James 16th October 2015 Exhibition organiser Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery last month announced the official launch of Machine Tools Africa 2017, an upcoming trade conference and exhibition that is expected to be the biggest Africa-based trade expo of its kind. The exhibition will be held at the Johannesburg Expo... →

MAKING A COMEBACK The largest African trade exhibition of its kind will take place in May 2017

Construction and mining markets targeted

By: Dylan Stewart 16th October 2015 “Presenting its products to members from the construction and the mining industries was the focus for steel product manufacturer Scaw Metals at this year’s BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA, held at Johannesburg Expo Centre from September 15 to 18,” says company sales and marketing executive head George... →

PUTTING IT OUT THERE Scaw Metals' stand at BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA 2015

Aluminium auto panel production expected to accelerate

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 The automotive industry’s shift from manufacturing vehicle body panels in steel to manufacturing them in aluminium is a trend that is expected to significantly accelerate, says aluminium industry representative body the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa). Afsa executive director Mark... →

ACCELERATING TREND
The amount of aluminium used in vehicles is expected to increase by about 100% or more in North America and globally

Photo by Bloomberg
ACCELERATING TREND The amount of aluminium used in vehicles is expected to increase by about 100% or more in North America and globally

Deliveries, not purchase orders place IBC Advanced Alloys ahead of pack

By: Henry Lazenby 10th August 2015 Advanced alloys and precision castings company IBC Advanced Alloys is confident that its new disruptive beryllium-aluminium alloy casting process, known as Beralcast, would attract attention from diverse industries, where the striving for increased efficiency drove demand for super lightweight... →

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II electro optical targeting system, for which IBC Advanced Alloys completed Beralcast azimuth gimbal housing components.

Record number of exhibitors attend metals trade fair

7th August 2015 A record 2 200 companies, taking up almost 87 000 m2 of stand space, attended this year’s Bright World of Metals conference, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany from June 16 to June 20. →

New series of dosing furnaces unveiled

7th August 2015 Thermal process technology manufacturer StrikoWestofen Group in June released a completely redesigned series of dosing furnaces at the International Foundry Trade Fair (Gifa) 2015 in Dusseldorf, Germany. →

Wits professor receives tribology excellence award

By: Schalk Burger 8th May 2015 University of Witwatersrand (Wits) associate professor Natasha Sacks received the 2015 Louw Alberts Award last month for her outstanding contribution to tribology from the South African Institute of Tribology (SAIT). Sacks, currently with the Wits School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering,... →

NATASHA SACKS Sacks conducts training for employees enrolled for master’s degrees or PhDs to produce better materials and tools

Localisation, beneficiation must be cognisant of global value chains

By: Schalk Burger 17th April 2015 South Africa’s industrial policies might be ignoring the importance of global value chains because focusing on realistic competitive advantages might allow for the sustainable production of intermediate goods that dovetails with multinational, globalised supply chains. This is one of the messages... →

MANUFACTURING
South Africa’s manufacturing stimulation policies must be cognisant of global value chain opportunities and risks

Photo by Duane Daws
MANUFACTURING South Africa’s manufacturing stimulation policies must be cognisant of global value chain opportunities and risks

Hope for dwindling foundry industry

By: Donna Slater 10th April 2015 The sustainability of South Africa’s foundry industry can be maintained if stakeholders shift their focus to upgrading equipment and technologies, boosting skills development and reducing imports, says foundry industry body the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF). →

INDUSTRY HOPE There is some optimism from industry regarding an increased allocation for infrastructure developments from government

Auto components crucial for aluminium industry

By: Donna Slater 10th April 2015 South Africa’s automotive sector is currently one of the key drivers of aluminium demand in the country, which stakeholders attribute to the global trend of manufacturers using an increasing amount of aluminium for vehicle components, particularly for passenger vehicles. →

VISION 2020 The aluminium industry is embarking on a strategy aimed at doubling the volume of cars manufactured a year in South Africa by 2020, from 600 000 to 1.2-million

Programmes set to bridge widening skills gap

By: Donna Slater 10th April 2015 Initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) the National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN) last year updated several industry-focused skills development programmes to bridge the widening skills gap and mitigate the effects of an ageing industry, as many skilled foundrymen are nearing... →

BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP The National Foundry Technology Network offers programmes aimed at developing students’ skills from a basic foundry level through to a qualified artisan level

Local foundry benefits from State rail expansion

By: Donna Slater 10th April 2015 State-owned rail utility the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) rail expansion and renewal project is prompting much-needed large-scale orders for the casting industry, which is encouraging Bronkhorstspruit-based specialist foundry Steloy Castings to invest in new equipment... →

NEW EQUIPMENT Steloy has upgraded its design, project management, castings, machining and nondestructive testing facilities

Demand increase for preventative maintenance strategies

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th November 2014 Steel plant processing technology, equipment and services specialist SMS Siemag South Africa, a division of SMS Group, has registered significant demand growth for preventative maintenance in the local ferrous, nonferrous and ferroalloys industries, paired with a 10% to 15% increase in technical... →

Photo by Duane Daws
PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY SMS Group assists the industry in monitoring predictive failure and scheduled shutdowns

Exports affecting local companies’ access to good-quality scrap metal

By: Sashnee Moodley 31st October 2014 Trends in the steelmaking industry have shown that local access to good-quality scrap is being hampered by the increasing exports of this material. →

Coil and sheets supplied to PRASA project

By: Mia Breytenbach 24th October 2014 Stainless steel flat products producer Columbus Stainless received the first order in February this year to supply coils and sheets for the first 20 passenger train sets that form part of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) passenger coach replacement project. “The majority of... →

FIRST ORDER Columbus Stainless supplied type 301 and 304L coils and sheets for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s passenger coach replacement project

New coverall range launched for industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 17th October 2014 Local specialised protective-clothing manufacturer Charnaud introduced its new Aci-Flam and Metal-Safe ranges of protective clothing to industry last month. Charnaud supplies products and specialised footwear to industries dealing with, for example, hot-metal smelting, firefighting, shaft... →

INDUSTRY FIRST The Metal-Safe personal protective garments are made from Lenzing FR, antistatic, high-strength synthetic and other fibres

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