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Steel

Customs increase aims to level out steel products field

By: Nadine Ramdass 1st March 2024 Industry association Southern Africa Coil Coaters Association (SACCA) has applied for an increase in the general rate of customs duty on certain coated or plated flat-rolled steel. The proposed increase, from duty free to the World Trade Organisation-bound rate of 10% ad valorem, has gained... →

Low demand threatens sustainability

By: Nadine Ramdass 1st March 2024 The South African steel sector is facing significant challenges, primarily because of oversupply, in addition to very little demand, coupled with economic constraints. Resolving these issues requires strategic alignment among steel mills, downstream merchants and policymakers to optimise... →

SPARKING GROWTH A stable, supportive business environment is essential for the long-term viability of the steel sector

Association remains steadfast amid challenging conditions

By: Nadine Ramdass 1st March 2024 On the back of the energy crisis and poor economic growth, steel consumption has decreased, resulting in the steel and steel-related industries contracting over the past decade. Despite these challenges, industry association Hot Dip Galvanizers Association Southern Africa (HDGASA) remains... →

An image of trainees in the HDGASA's hot dip galvanising programme

MEETING NEEDS HDGASA offers an array of training programmes tailored to industry needs

Ringrollers brings its expertise to new sectors

By: Nadine Ramdass 1st March 2024 Leading steel products manufacturer Naledi Ringrollers has, for more than 50 years, been committed to high-quality standards and is making significant strides in the railway, general engineering, automotive and petrochemical industries. Through increased production capacity, Ringrollers has... →

Non-competitiveness, non-use plague South African steel industry

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2023 The current state of the South African steel industry is one where a lack of competitiveness and the non-use of its installed production capacity continue at a concerning rate, relative to other steel-producing developing countries. This has, in part, spurred the Competition Commission to... →

COVID CAUSE AND EFFECT The post Covid-19 lockdown phase saw an acute shortage of hot rolled coil, which compromised the demand of the steel tube and pipe mills over successive quarters

EAF tech to reduce costs, drive sustainable production

7th July 2023 Global player, with German roots, SMS group is providing innovative technology solutions for electrical steel production through its electric arc furnace (EAF) technologies and optimised processes. With a strong emphasis on improved electricity efficiency and future-oriented burner and... →

IN OPERATION SMS group’s continuous caster for billets and beam blanks in operation at SULB

Increased interest in XRF, OES from steel sector

By: Nadine James 7th July 2023 Portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) equipment provider Innov-X-Africa has noted increased interest in its products from the steel sector, with salesperson Craig Bateman observing that the primary applications are for quality control and scarp sorting... →

SMP driving manufacturing opportunities

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2023 Within the framework of the Steel Master Plan (SMP), industry body Manufacturing Circle is taking an active role in driving demand-side manufacturing opportunities. The SMP is a strategic roadmap designed to propel the steel industry forward, with its core objective to create a competitive,... →

PHILIPPA RODSETH
The Manufacturing Circle works to understand and address opportunities and challenges at an industry level for the overall benefit of the sector

Photo by Creamer Media
PHILIPPA RODSETH The Manufacturing Circle works to understand and address opportunities and challenges at an industry level for the overall benefit of the sector

‘Brand for hire’ concept raises profiles

7th July 2023 An innovative Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) initiative will give member companies and other industry professionals the opportunity to directly benefit from its substantial brand credibility, boosting their profiles across South Africa and the rest of Africa. The SAISC... →

AMANUEL GEBREMESKEL The initiative will also unlock new sources of revenue for the institute, which until now has relied largely on membership fees for its income

Firm takes another step towards decarbonisation goals

7th July 2023 Despite volatile markets and a difficult geopolitical environment, metal supplier Swiss Steel Group is not wavering in its decarbonisation strategy and is working consistently on tracking carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its supply chain. The company, which produces in the long steel and green... →

Msikaba project harnesses local steel

7th July 2023 Steel company ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is one of the suppliers to the iconic Msikaba Bridge Project, which is currently under construction near Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. The cable-stayed steel deck bridge spans the Msikaba river and forms part of the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WC)... →

PYLON SUPPORT When complete, the bridge will have a main span of 580 m, supported from a pair of 127-m-tall pylons

Upgrades, expansion drive satisfaction

By: Simone Liedtke 7th July 2023 As part of its ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction and industry leadership, steel and technology group Voestalpine has recently conducted facility upgrades at its Isando-based steel warehouse, and has expanded its product offering and services to include machining. These strategic... →

UPGRADES Voestalpine has recently conducted facility upgrades at its Isando-based steel warehouse, and has expanded its product offering and services

John Thompson

7th July 2023 Almost 70 years ago John Thompson (a division of ACTOM (Pty) Ltd) commenced manufacturing its iconic boilers at its Bellville South premises near Cape Town. This site has been developed and expanded over the years to become one of the top facilities of its kind in South Africa, staying abreast of... →

Company supplies steel for Cape Town E-Prix

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd March 2023 Local steel supplier Macsteel collaborated with contractors to supply more than 465 t of steel in seven weeks for the first-ever Cape Town E-Prix, on February 25, held during the ninth Formula E season. Macsteel was contracted in October last year and completed the project on January 16; the... →

Photo by Jesse Armstrong
READY, SET, GO! The Cape Town E-Prix is the first Formula-E event hosted in sub-Saharan Africa and will be the first major open-wheel race hosted in South Africa since 1993

Earthquakes demonstrate importance of standards

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd March 2023 The earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye last month demonstrate the importance of implementing national building standards to ensure that all buildings and structures can withstand seismic activity, says industry body Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) CEO Amanuel Gebremeskel.... →

An image depicting a smiling man, Amanuel Gebremeskel

AMANUEL GEBREMESKEL Building contractors need to be adequately trained to implement necessary standards to ensure that buildings can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes

Company emphasises sustainability

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd March 2023 With sustainability being emphasised in the global steel industry, steel and technology group Voestalpine is implementing sustainable business practices to promote socioeconomic and ecological goals. The company has established its sustainability framework, titled inSPire, that emphasises the... →

Opportunities arise for local steel industry

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd March 2023 The demand for South African value-added steel products in mining projects across Africa and Australia has increased amid poor service delivery and high transport costs from China, as well as rising political tension between China and Australia. As a result, Australia-based mine owners are... →

ADAPTING As a result of industry challenges, the ISF has narrowed its global export focus to private-sector-funded projects throughout Africa, as well as Australia

SMS group supplies landmark project in Sweden

3rd March 2023 Metallurgical industry supplier SMS group is providing a broad range of technology and equipment for a project for steelmaking startup H2 Green Steel in Sweden. This agreement will see SMS group, along with its subsidiary Paul Wurth and its consortium partner Midrex, as suppliers of process... →

GO FOR GREEN The H2 Green Steel site will be close to a 300 ha greenfield area in Boden in the Swedish province of Norrbotten

Loadshedding impacting on industry

By: Sabrina Jardim 3rd March 2023 The ongoing energy crisis in South Africa has routinely caused steel production to be halted and, owing to generators being costly, steel suppliers and fabricators have had to increase sales prices to recoup costs. As a result, steel product supplier Stewarts and Lloyds’ (S&L’s) business... →

An image portraying the interior of a Stewarts and Lloyds store

COMING SOON Stewarts and Lloyds is opening new stores in Witbank and Pretoria this year

Distributor awarded Guinness World Records status

8th July 2022 In a display of pursuing reinvention with their pioneering technology, steel and value-added steel products merchandiser and distributor Macsteel broke a world record to become the new Guinness World Records title holder for the longest roof span covered by a single metal corrugated sheet. The... →

An image of Macsteel Novatexi sky forming for Pick n Pay

BREAKING RECORD The 280 m sheet broke the record for longest roof span covered by a single metal corrugated sheet

Sustainability efforts set to affect steel industry

By: Nadine Ramdass 8th July 2022 The steel industry has been fraught with challenges, ranging from Covid-19-related impacts to supply chain issues, but the move towards more sustainable practices will also result in many changes in steel industry processes, says South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) technical... →

Industry continues to face supply chain woes

By: Nadine Ramdass 8th July 2022 The stainless steel industry has been under severe supply chain pressure caused by rising prices of raw materials, such as nickel, as well as shipping and logistics and energy costs, in Europe and Asia. As a result, stainless steel and valves supplier EMV Africa has had to be creative and... →

STACKING CHALLENGES Rising prices of raw materials, energy costs and shipping and logistics have pressured the supply chain

Plant increases production

By: Nadine Ramdass 8th July 2022 The record-setting MIDREX DRI plant of Tosyali Algerie was supplied by MIDREX and SMS group subsidiary Paul Wurth in 2018. This success motivated Tosyali to invest in boosting its production capacity by a further 2.5-million tons with an additional MIDREX plant to complement the existing one at... →

An image of an aerial view of the Midrex DRI plant

MIDREX DRI PLANT The success of the first plant has led to the development of a second plant to boost production

Positive outlook despite new challenges

By: Nadine Ramdass 8th July 2022 The steel industry is emerging from the challenging period caused by global commodity issues in 2016, followed by Covid-19-related disruptions, and now the Ukraine war. South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) technical director Amanuel Gebremeskel says that the South African steel... →

An image of a large steel tube and steel workers

OUT OF THE WOODS The steel industry is coming out of a difficult period which could be favourable for the industry

Supply challenges addressed through investment – steel supplier

By: Nadine Ramdass 8th July 2022 While the steel quality from several smaller mills has improved in the past five years, some challenges need to be resolved, prompting such mills to invest in improvements to align with market requirements, says steel manufacturer and supplier Stewarts and Lloyds central purchasing group... →

An image of Stewarts and Lloyds' ICU fencing

ICU FENCING The aesthetically pleasing range gives the end-user security and visible

Foundation aims to build businesses

4th March 2022 Manufacturer, merchandiser and distributor of steel Macsteel has established Macsteel Foundation Solutions, a business born of the company’s strategy to reimagine and re-engineer its business model to drive growth for the company and create value for customers in the construction industry and... →

MACSTEEL FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS Macsteel Foundation Solutions is differentiated from conventional construction services in Southern Africa and the rest of Africa

Company proposes solution for steel plants

By: Anna Moross 4th March 2022 Steelmakers globally are being pressured to reduce their carbon emissions, and the enhanced blast furnace is an “interesting solution” to ensure a reduced carbon footprint for steel plants, says plant supplier SMS group South Africa MD Pieter Bezuidenhout. →

Labelling a necessity to identify steel products

4th March 2022 Labelling or identifying steel products is an absolute necessity in today's global steel market owing to the fact that the tracking of steel has posed problems in the past as a result of the many processes and stages that steel goes through before reaching its destination. →

LABELLING STEEL PRODUCTS No matter the specific product, the labelling method/material must consider the original application and environment and downstream processes to ensure the durability of the identification

Acquisition to boost company’s steel aspirations

By: Anna Moross 4th March 2022 With the acquisition of steel producer COMIR Industrial SA in November 2021, specialised importer and distributor of industrial and electronic products in Southern Africa, Actum Group, aims to expand its steel products range and become a valuable player in the steel processing industry. →

An image of the COMIR Industrial SA Actum Group team

ACTUM GROUP As a specialised importer and distributor of industrial and electronic products Actum group decided to acquire COMIR Industrial SA

Changes in steel industry create challenges

By: Anna Moross 4th March 2022 The steel sector has evolved over the past few years and steel and tube supplier Stewarts & Lloyds branch manager Richard Horsley says this is evident from the supply chain to the end-user. →

An image of Stewarts & Lloyds steel and tube supplies

STEEL SECTOR Stewarts & Lloyds is committed to providing the best products and services they can offer and will continue to innovate to give their best to customers, the industry and South Africa

Master plan set to boost local market

2nd July 2021 Speaking on the steel master plan, which is a blueprint for the industry to re-energise itself and expand production, the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) states that the broad structure demanded is in place and export councils are now working to boost the local... →

MASTER PLAN The broad structure demanded is in place and export councils are now working to boost the local stainless steel sector

Modernisation under way

2nd July 2021 Electric and power supply company GE Power Conversion was selected by diversified industrial group Thyssenkrupp Steel to modernise the drive and automation system of the Downcoiler 3 and side guides in the Bochum hot rolling mill – with a project volume of over €1.5-million. The plant is one of... →

Company achieves milestone

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 2nd July 2021 Rapidly growing demand in the industrial sector, has seen nitrogen generation equipment supplier Nitralife recently achieving the milestone of having supplied more than 100 customised Nitracut generators to the fabrication and industrial sector over the past four years. “With each new sector and... →

NEXT GENERATION While Nitralife’s nitrogen generators have similar designs for various applications, it adjusts each variation according to customer's specifications

Service, product offering expansion creates market opportunities

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 2nd July 2021 Cutting and precision tool manufacturer and distributor First Cut has recently expanded its cutting and grinding range of product and service offerings to include welding solutions. This expansion was prompted as the welding process is the next natural step that follows the cutting process in the... →

ANDREW POOLE Forming the backbone of the broader South African economy, the steel, fabrication and metal processing sectors are essential

ZSD developed for water treatment plants

2nd July 2021 Metallurgical industry plant supplier SMS group is committed to taking care of the environment and has developed an environmentally beneficial product called Zero Solid Discharge (ZSD). ZSD is a water treatment plant for metal industries. →

DIRECT COMPARISON The microbial product is composed of a mix of non-genetically modified natural bacteria and their micronutrients and reduces suspended and surface oil

Global crude steel output decreases by 0.9% in 2020

26th February 2021 Global crude steel production reached 1 864-million tonnes (Mt) for the year 2020, which is down by 0.9% compared with 2019, steel industry association the World Steel Association stated in a press release last month. →

Photo by worldsteel.org
DECREASED STEEL OUTPUT Global crude steel production reached 1 864-million tonnes for the year 2020

Association hopeful despite challenging environment

By: Mamaili Mamaila 26th February 2021 The stainless steel sector, similar to the rest of the local economy, was under pressure before the onset of Covid-19, says the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda). →

REPRIORITISATION The Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association’s members had to reconsider aspects, such as staff deployment, the use of facilities and cost structures

Manufacturing recovery’s slow pace a concern, Seifsa

26th February 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) is concerned about the slow pace of recovery in the manufacturing sector, as depicted by the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) number of 50.9 last month – lower than the 2020 fourth quarter average. →

MULTIPLIER EFFECT The manufacturing sector remains key to the growth and development of South Africa owing to its multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy

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