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Steel

Assore’s H1 headline earnings down nearly 60%

By: Ilan Solomons 27th February 2015 JSE-listed mining holding company Assore’s headline earnings for the six months ended December 31, 2014, declined by 59.2% to R990-million, mainly owing to the lower headline earnings recorded by its 50%-owned iron-ore and ferroalloy subsidiary Assmang. The subsidiary’s headline earnings fell by... →

Steel producer opens new decoiling line in Wales

27th February 2015 India-based multinational steel producer Tata Steel, which is Europe’s second-largest steel supplier, announced in January the opening of its new £11-million state-of-the-art heavy-gauge hot-rolled decoiling line in Llanwern, South Wales. Part of a steel service centre with a hot-rolled... →

Local steel manufacturer receives global certification

27th February 2015 Leading steel and steel products manufacturer Scaw Metals Group’s Cape Town branch in November received DNV accreditation from international certification body DNV-GL, certifying the company’s wire rope slings and attachments in accordance with DNV specification 2.7-1. DNV-GL is acknowledged as... →

Seifsa calls for robust intervention in environmental law

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 27th February 2015 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) earlier this month said South Africa’s strict environmental legislation was a significant challenge for small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) that could hamper further growth of this sector if not dealt with... →

Acquisition presents business opportunities for steel producer

By: David Oliveira 27th February 2015 The South African division of global advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and quenched and tempered (Q&T) steel producer SSAB – SSAB South Africa – acquired South African wear specialist company WearClad in October last year, enabling the company to establish its own wear specialist branch –... →

CUT TO SHAPE SSAB Shape offers steel-processing services, such as plasma and laser cutting, bending and drilling

Duplex stainless steel casting use increasing

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 The long-established trend of European equipment manufacturers using duplex stainless steel in a variety of their designs is gaining momentum in South Africa, says specialist foundry group Steloy Castings. Steloy sales and marketing director Wynand Labuschagne tells Engineering News that, for the... →

100% LOCAL Steloy Castings can use 100% local resources to supply duplex stainless components

Africa to provide significant steel opportunities

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Steel plant processing technology, equipment and services specialist SMS Siemag, a division of SMS group, supplier of processing technology, equipment and services for the ferrous, ferro-alloy and non-ferrous metals industries, says there is potential to establish new steel plants in Africa in... →

AWAITING OPPORTUNITIES SMS group, through its office in Johannesburg, is well placed to provide plant equipment for steel plants in Africa

Institute expands development programmes

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Steel construction industry body Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) aims increase its presence in Southern Africa, says Saisc CEO Paolo Trinchero. “We are. . . establishing links with universities and training institutes in other Southern African countries, such as Botswana... →

Photo by Duane Daws
KNOWLEDGE THIRST The demand for training programmes in Africa is growing

Company continues to expand steel offering

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Steel and engineering products supplier Stewarts & Lloyds South Africa has expanded its offering to the local market over the past five years. Stewarts & Lloyds South Africa central division MD Forbes Williamson tells Engineering News that the company currently manufactures palisade fencing,... →

TRYING TIMES The lackluster state of the global economy has had a negative impact on most sectors that Stewarts & Lloyds service

Steel-pipe maker pulls back from brink of closure

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Privately owned manufacturer of industrial components Barnes Group has acquired local steel-pipe maker Hall Longmore from construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts (M&R) in February. Hall Longmore MD Kenny van Rooyen tells Engineering News that, prior to the takeover, the company “had... →

IMPROVED PROSPECTS Hall Longmore has a growing order book

Metallurgical plant maintenance stimulates technical services

By: David Oliveira 11th July 2014 The South African arm of Germany-based metallurgical plant and rolling mill technology provider SMS Siemag has registered significant growth in its technical services over the last two to three years. SMS Siemag South Africa MD Pieter Bezuidenhout notes that the growth, despite the lack of major... →

Institute engages DTI to increase local content requirements

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Industry body for the promotion of the steel construction industry the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (Saisc) is in discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to increase local product content requirements for future industrial projects, Saisc CEO Paolo... →

AFRICAN HICCUP Despite the growth in structural steel use in other parts of Africa, local export tonnages have not increased

Long-term volatility predicted in M&E sector

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Business trends in the metals and engineering (M&E) sector have been highly volatile for the past three years and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, national employer federation representing the metal and engineering industry Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South... →

POSITIVE TRENDS The metals and engineering sector recorded encouraging production and capacity use trends during the first quarter of this year

Photo by Duane Daws
POSITIVE TRENDS The metals and engineering sector recorded encouraging production and capacity use trends during the first quarter of this year

Inaccurate coding distorts structural steelwork imports

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Imported fabricated structural steel is a significant challenge for local South African fabricators, owing to the quantity and price at which it is imported, says industry body for the promotion of the steel construction industry in Southern Africa the Southern African Institute of Steel... →

STEELING THE SHOW For every 100 000 t of structural steel imported, 10 000 potential job opportunities are lost

Southern African Institute of Steel Construction CEO Paolo Trinchero discusses the effects of structural steel imports on South Africa. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

SMS Siemag

11th July 2014 Together with companies such as SMS Meer, SMS Concast and Paul Wurth, SMS Siemag forms part of a strong global network of companies known as SMS group. The SMS group supplies various processing plant, technology, equipment, components, spare parts, and technical services for ferrous (both flat-... →

Steel producer wades through subdued market

By: Ilan Solomons 11th July 2014 Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it is operating in a challenging global steel market, which has been exacerbated by a subdued local market, with low sales volumes and competition from imports, particularly finished goods. “Therefore, we have been on a drive to increase... →

NEWCASTLE UPGRADE ArcelorMittal South Africa is undertaking a R1.6-billion reline of the blast furnace at its Newcastle plant, in KwaZulu-Natal

South African steel industry needs protection policies

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 Owing to the discovery of and exploration for shale gas in the US and Canada, as well as gas finds off Mozambique and Asia, the global steel industry is set to undergo a radical makeover, but South Africa may not immediately benefit from the lower gas prices, states advisory company Deloitte... →

POLAND SHALE GAS
The discovery of and exploration for shale gas and gas finds across the world can reduce gas prices which will benefit steel producing companies that use gas to manufacture steel

Photo by Bloomberg
POLAND SHALE GAS The discovery of and exploration for shale gas and gas finds across the world can reduce gas prices which will benefit steel producing companies that use gas to manufacture steel

Steel distributor confident of overcoming steel industry challenges

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 Steel distributor BSi Steel reports that it has fulfilled its aim of reaching growth of 28% in 2013. “Although South Africa’s steel consumption declined by at least 6% in the domestic steel market, BSi Steel has been on a sustained growth drive, which has resulted in a material increase in... →

FUTURE CONFIDENCE BSI Steel is optimistic in its ability to adapt and overcome the challenges currently facing the steel industry

Steel distributor to introduce new products

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 Steel distribution and processing company Duferco Distribution Services’ steel sales have increased by about 300% since January last year, as more industries, such as mining, transport, recycling and cement, are expressing interest and buying its Quard and Quend steel, S355 and pressure vessel... →

STEEL INCREASE Duferco Distribution Services will introduce new quench and tempered steel materials in a width of 3 m onto the South African market this year

Engineering components distributor installs new, low-maintenance cable carrier system

28th February 2014 Engineering components distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG) has recently completed the installation of a new steel cable carrier system, of undisclosed value, at a straightening mill of one of the largest steel producers in Africa. “This project in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, encompassed the removal... →

LOW MAINTENANCE The Tsubaki Kabelschlepp cable carrier system feature self-cleaning links, and advantages include high-load carrying capacity and high-impact resilience

Modest recovery forecast for South African steel industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 International credit insurer Coface noted a 40% increase in the number of steel company liquidations in 2013. “Coface encountered 55 cases of liquidation in the local steel industry last year,” Coface industry analyst Warrick Robertson says, adding that the credit insurer observed a 56% increase... →

WARRICK ROBERTSON Although international credit insurer Coface forecasts a modest recovery for the steel industry, the company emphasizes that sub-Saharan Africa is a growing market for South African steel products

New version of marking system to mark two dimensional code

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 The new version of the InfoDent 8400-20 pin marking system, designed for marking hot, primary metals or steel products, which was launched in mid-2013, has an improved controller, which increases the marking speed and can print machine-readable information, or two-dimensional codes, says supplier... →

MARKING SMART The new InfoDent 8400-20 pin marking machine can print on uneven surfaces and machine-readable information or two-dimensional code onto hot steel products

Crane contracts increased by 142% in 2013

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 Lifting equipment and service company Konecranes Southern Africa (SA) is manufacturing nine overhead cranes, with an estimated value of R8-million, for the steel industry and continues its inspection and service contracts for local and multinational steel manufacturers and distributors, states... →

CRANE OPERATION The Konecranes service procedure and service manual has proven to reduce crane operating costs and thus increasing production capacity, reliability and efficiency

Capital investment programmes can boost industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 28th February 2014 Specialist foundry Steloy Castings will complete a multimillion dollar order for stanchion support assemblies, this month, which will be sent to a petrochemicals refinery in China. “The order comprised an assembly of castings, the bulk of which consists of tubes, which are used in the stanchions.... →

CASTING OPPORTUNITY Capital investment programmes, such as the Strategic Integrated Projects, will provide opportunities for the casting industry to supply cast and centrifugally cast products

Survey reveals increase in use of light steel frame building method

28th February 2014 An industry survey conducted by the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA) revealed an increase in the use of the light steel frame building (LSFB) method in South Africa. “Mainly, the survey showed that the mass of steel used in South Africa to profile light steel... →

SA vitreous enamel steel cladding panels used internationally

By: Ilan Solomons 16th August 2013 South African-based vitreous enamel-product manufacturer Vitrex is supplying projects in the Sultanate of Oman, in Asia, and in the UK, with its Vitraclad panels. The company’s most recent local project was in April 2012, when it supplied Vitraclad vitreous enamel steel cladding panels for the... →

CLADDING FOR CAPE TOWNThe Cape Town Civic Centre project required the installation of about 400 m2 of Vitraclad cladding around the entrances and across the lower levels of the building

Steel used to uplift local communal infrastructure

By: Ilan Solomons 16th August 2013 Steel and aluminium building products supplier and manufacturer Duro has supplied many hospitals and schools with steel windows and doors in support of the South African government’s development projects, in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), during the past year. The most prominent developments in which Duro... →

STRENGTHENING COMMUNAL STEELThe most prominent developments in which Duro has been involved, is the supply of steel to the Empangeni and Emmanus hospitals, in KwaZulu-Nata

Company expands South African steel operations

By: Ilan Solomons 16th August 2013 In the last two years JSE-listed steel distributor BSi Steel has opened a total of six branches in Gauteng and the North-West pronince, and has enjoyed strong support from its respective markets to date, BSi Steel South African stockists division CE Ross Teichmann tells Engineering News. “By... →

POSITIVE RESPONSEBSi Steel’s range of carbon-steel products include sections, sheet and plate, tubing, cold-formed sections, roofing and selected mining products

SA fasteners safe and meet global standards

16th August 2013 The bolt and fastener industry is in excellent shape, in South Africa with the product easily meeting international safety standards, Krugersdorp-based fastener manufacturer CBC Fasteners MD Robert Pietersma. “By way of example, the manufacturing process at CBC Fasteners is monitored by a... →

Difficult choices ahead for institute’s Steel Awards judges

By: Ilan Solomons 16th August 2013 A workers accommodation project, which used the light-steel frame building (LSFB) method on Saint Helena island, in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 1 770.2 km west of Luanda, Angola, and the new office building of banking firm Standard Bank in Rosebank, Johannesburg, are among the 50 entries for... →

LIGHT-STEEL-FRAME HOUSINGLight-steel-frame building offered the best solution for creating a village on Saint Helena islan

Putting LFSB in the public frame

12th July 2013 The South African mainstream building market has been cautious in accepting light-steel frame building (LSFB), unlike in the US, Australia and New Zealand where it is being used increasingly, yet the building method’s advantages – substantially faster construction time, energy and cost... →

Can SA steel fabricators remain competitive in Africa?

By: Chantelle Kotze 12th July 2013 To remain competitive in the African market, South African structural steel fabricators must ensure they add more value to steel products and move away from the current commodity model, which is based on supplying ex-works fabricated products. →

Unisa building entered in Steel Awards

12th July 2013 The extension project at the existing University of South Africa (Unisa) Cape Town Campus, situated in Parow, displays the power of local ingenuity for an institution that ranks among the greatest of its kind in the world and is one of several good entries in this year’s Steel Awards, says... →

Versatile laser system introduced to SA

By: Chantelle Kotze 12th July 2013 US-based laser-cutting and engraving systems manufacturer Kern Laser Systems’ new HSE 150 W and HSE 400 W laser systems can be equipped with technology that enables the laser systems to accurately cut sheet metals made from stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and brass. →

Steel suited to manufacture of low-cost housing window frames

12th July 2013 Manufacturer and supplier of steel windows, doors, doorframes and garage doors Duro Pressings says the advantages of using steel in the manufacture of its products, specifically its inner and outer South African Bureau of Standards- (SABS-) approved Cliscoe windows, is significant. →

Measures taken to meet demand

By: Chantelle Kotze 12th July 2013 Sheet-metal component manufacturer Fabrinox will take receipt of the last of three newly acquired pieces of machinery no later than mid-August, as part of an equipment investment programme to increase its manufacturing capacity, MD Andre Visser tells Engineering News. →

Focus on adding value, despite depressed steel market

By: Chantelle Kotze 12th July 2013 US-based laser-cutting and engraving systems manufacturer Kern Laser Systems’ new HSE 150 W and HSE 400 W laser systems can be equipped with technology that enables the laser systems to accurately cut sheet metals made from stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and brass. →

Investment improves services offering

By: Chantelle Kotze 12th July 2013 Sheet-metal component manufacturer Fabrinox will take receipt of the last of three newly acquired pieces of machinery no later than mid-August, as part of an equipment investment programme to increase its manufacturing capacity, MD Andre Visser tells Engineering News. →

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