December 2016
ABP Induction Systems GmbH
ABP Induction Systems GmbH (ABP), located in Dortmund, Germany (formerly ABB Foundry Systems) has for decades been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-throughput induction melting, pouring and heating equipment. This leadership position results from the combination of three industry pioneers.
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Prima Industrial casts large crusher components for US client
Creative thinking and attention to detail assist company to enter large wear parts market. Prima Industrial Holdings have recently completed and shipped two castings to a North American client that represent the largest castings that the company has ever manufactured in its 80 year history.
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Questions need to be asked after Steloy Castings goes into liquidation
It is well known in industry that Bronkhorstspruit, Mpumalanga based foundry Steloy Castings has been in business rescue proceedings since the beginning of July 2016, reportedly owing between R120 and R130 million. Now the business rescue practitioner has issued notice that they have “concluded that no reasonable prospect exists for the entity to be rescued.”
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Donald Greig Gallery opens in V&A Waterfront’s new cultural institution
Access from gallery allows visitors to view foundry operations in real life. Over the years, Cape Town has evolved as one of the leading cities in South Africa for the manufacture of bronze castings with a number of artists and foundries based in and around Cape Town.
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Sculpture Casting Services and Bronze Age Art Foundry combine to form one of the largest art foundries in the Southern Hemisphere
The unique experience of viewing bronzes in their final form as well seeing them being manufactured has become a reality with the opening of a 2800m² space in the new cultural institution in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
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Mineral Zone expands
Mineral Zone, a specialist supply partner servicing the Metallurgical and Mining sectors in South Africa and internationally with a range of metals and minerals, ore and services has recently been appointed as a distributor for SI Group HA South Africa and Capital Refractories Limited who are based in The United Kingdom.
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Uncompetitive scrap metal prices causing further decline in industry
“Unless strong action is immediately taken to stem the export of scrap metal and keep it in South Africa at competitive prices, the scrap beneficiating industry will further decline and directly affect the aluminium sector,” said aluminium foundry alloys producer Zimco Aluminium Company (Zimalco) sales and marketing director Bob Stone.
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SAIF 2016 Annual Golf Day
The South African Institute of Foundrymens’ Annual Golf Day took place on Thursday 10th November 2016. The event was held at the Reading Country Club. The competition on the day was four ball alliance with two scores to count.
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Thos Begbie & Co announces retirement of Dreyer and Rossouw
Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie & Co has announced a number of changes to its senior management, including the retirement of company joint CEO Edwin Dreyer and MD Eugene Rossouw. Joubert Groenewald replaces Rossouw as MD.
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October 2016
Positive changes take place at SI Group HA South Africa
SI Group HA South Africa, a subsidiary of the SI Group, a leading global developer and manufacturer of chemical intermediates, specialty resins and solutions that are critical to the quality and performance of countless industrial and consumer goods, has recently implemented a number of changes that include the appointment of a new Sales Manager.
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Weir Heavy Bay Foundry installs leading-edge secondary sand plant
Many foundries make the casting process their primary focus, and do not consider total manufacturing cost and environmental implications; so the inevitable used sand would be dumped somewhere, possibly on an adjacent or nearby site, or hauled away to an approved landfill site.
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Umgeni Iron Works acquisition transforms smoothly
Just over a year ago Umgeni Iron Works was acquired by Malvern Engineering Works, a South African general engineering company servicing the mining industry and Minco Tech an, an Australian based mineral processing and mining equipment manufacturing company based in Newcastle NSW, in a 50/50 joint venture.
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Cyrus delivers two charging machines to NI-Foundry
NI-Foundry, the foundry division of Naledi Inhlanganiso Group, has taken delivery of two charge machines that will feed two new ABP furnaces semi-automatically that are currently being installed in the foundry. The investment in the equipment is part of an approximate R100 million investment programme in the foundry, formerly known as Guestro Casting and Machining, and has origins dating back to 1947.
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Lauds passes equipment acceptance audit with Vulkan Technologies
During the month of August 2016, South African foundry equipment manufacturer Lauds Foundry Equipment hosted three management representatives from Vulkan Technologies, India. They were in South Africa to take acceptance of a major capital equipment investment for the non-ferrous section of their foundry that is based in Pune, a city in Maharashtra state in the western region of India.
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Success of local content designation depends on active support by public and private sectors
The implementation and verification of compliance with government’s local designation rules across both public and private sectors is pivotal to the success of the policy, says Peter Thomson, Director, AVK Holding Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. AVK Holding Southern Africa is a manufacturer of valves for the water, waste water, mining, industrial, gas and fire protection markets.
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BDG-Service expert scathing of South African foundries
Manuel Bosse, an environmental and energy management expert with the BDG-Service GmbH in Düsseldorf, Germany was not very complimentary in a recent interview he gave to Casting Plant & Technology and published in the German Foundry Association quarterly publication.
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IDC and Scaw Metals on DA’s hit list
Scaw Metals spent R176 million (FY15: R288 million) on capital expenditure during the period to maintain, improve and expand production capacity. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) should dump Scaw Metals and Foskor as they are “albatrosses around its neck”‚ the Democratic Alliance said recently.
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August 2016
New SpectroMAXx Arc/Spark OES metal analyser delivers improved speed and performance in accurate elemental analysis
Analytical Instruments has announced the introduction of the seventh generation of its SpectroMAXx Arc/Spark Optical Emission Spectrometry (OES) metal analyser that has been improved to deliver greater consumables savings and faster measurement time in the performance of accurate elemental analysis.
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Insimbi to acquire Amalgamated Metals Recycling
JSE listed Insimbi Refractory & Alloy Supplies Ltd has issued a cautionary notice to shareholders that the board of directors of Insimbi is pleased to announce that in terms of a memorandum of understanding concluded between Insimbi and the controlling shareholders of Amalgamated Metals Recycling Proprietary Limited, that Insimbi intends to acquire 100% of the AMR Group, as well as the properties from which the AMR Group operates.
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Outdoor aluminium furniture manufacture returns to South Africa
Wahl Industries revives casting of lifestyle products locally after purchasing plant and equipment that was moved to China in 2013. Upmarket lifestyle products all tend to be heading in the direction of aluminium. This is mainly due to the natural properties that aluminium has over its rivals. The purchase of these products means that you know you will own it for a lifetime.
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SAIF’s 53rd Annual Awards Dinner
The South African Institute of Foundrymen’s 52rd Annual Awards Dinner was held at the Emperors Palace, Convention Centre, Kempton Park, Gauteng on Friday 3 June 2016. 200 foundrymen, guests, wives and award winners attended this year’s event. Duane Rockwell was MC for the evening. The dinner was well supported by sponsors in the form of prizes for the award winners, and ticket sponsors for the award winners and VIP guests invited by the Institute.
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Opportunity for foundries and suppliers to showcase their capabilities
Stand-alone machine tool and related industries exhibition – time to communicate. Nasrec, Johannesburg will be the venue for metalworking supplier and manufacturing companies to exhibit their products from 9 to 12 May 2017. Metalcasting is a tough business. Price pressure from customers and competitors, rising labour costs, quality problems and a lack of qualified personnel pose challenges for executives.
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Vesuvius, a global leader in molten metal flow engineering, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year
Ever since Vesuvius opened for business in 1916 with a mission to produce the most effective clay graphite crucibles, it has pioneered new developments to meet the needs of its customers. Founded in Pittsburgh, USA by the Arensburg brothers and their friend Arthur Jackman, the company was able to respond to the huge increases in demand for steel production to produce armaments for WW1.
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Ferrari believes in Morgan degassing rotors
Similar to other car manufacturers, Ferrari uses high quality aluminium cast components in its automobiles and requires the basic processes of melting, holding, degassing and casting. Morgan Advanced Materials approached Ferrari in June 2014 to introduce their silicon carbide degassing rotor for the degassing process in their commercial car manufacturing operation. The Morgan degassing rotor surpassed the graphite rotor in terms of degassing efficiency (aluminium density) as well as operating performance.
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StrikoWestofen acquires BPR-Engineering GmbH
Global manufacturer of thermal processing technology for the light metal casting industry, the StrikoWestofen Group, has announced the acquisition of BPR-Engineering GmbH, a manufacturer of industrial furnaces for the heat treatment of aluminium components based in Rheda – Wiedenbrück, Germany. The acquisition was completed in May this year. “It was a logical step for us to expand our core competencies by adding heat treatment to our business.
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Hüttenes-Albertus announces purchase of Hexion’s interest in HA-International, LLC
Hexion Inc. (Hexion) and HüttenesAlbertus Chemische Werke GmbH (HA) have announced that Hexion has sold its 50% interest in HA-International, LLC (HAI), a joint venture serving the North American foundry industry, to its joint venture partner HA-USA, Inc., an entity controlled by HA. HAI is a leading manufacturer and supplier of foundry resin systems, resin coated sand for shell moulding and refractory coatings for North America.
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June 2016
“Giving you the edge” – ChemSystems’ Foundry and Timber Board
Late 2015 saw industry stalwart Applied Casting Solutions gain momentum under the ChemSystems banner. The restructure brought together a diverse range of speciality business units under a single powerful brand. Its already well-respected foundry business emerged stronger than ever to deliver turnkey solutions to multiple customer challenges.
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Atlantis Foundries continues to invest for the future
Since the sale of Atlantis Foundries to Neue Halberg-Guss GmbH in June last year, the company has continued to invest in the South African operation’s future in terms of technology, efficiency and environmental impact. German metal casting group Neue Halberg-Guss GmbH, which acquired Atlantis Foundries in June 2015, has subsequently invested significantly in the South African foundry.
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South African sculptor’s epic lion arrives in UK
South African wildlife sculptor Bruce Little has created his largest work for the 50th anniversary of Longleat Safari Park in the UK. A magnificent bronze monumental lion sculpture standing almost five metres high in the English countryside of western Wiltshire has resulted in extraordinary international focus on unassuming Grahamstown-based wildlife artist Bruce Little.
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Western Cape foundry participation to be revived
Past President of the Western Cape Institute of Foundrymen (WCIF) and champion of many of the well attended training courses and the annual dinner/dance held by the WCIF, Alan Wood has agreed to support the industry body, the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF), in its efforts to have someone on the ground in the area and take control of promoting and enhancing the foundry industry in this important region of the country.
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Celebrating the life of Glen Tillett
It is with regret and great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Glen Tillett last month. Glen succumbed to injuries he sustained after a freak accident at home. “Glen was so looking forward to enjoying some travelling and relaxation in the coming months as he was beginning to wind down to retirement,” said Glen’s business partner and son-in-law Allan Bruggeman.
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Knights Sales diversifies, upgrades furnaces and introduces an outsourced inhouse core blowing facility
“Like most foundries in South Africa, we cannot deny it, the beginning of the year was one of the toughest starts to a year that we have ever experienced. Fortunately business has subsequently turned around for us and, even with the increased staff compliment, we are currently still operating overtime shifts,” said Louis Miller.
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SI Group ranks high in global corporate social responsibility
SI Group, a leading global developer and manufacturer of chemical intermediates, speciality resins, and solutions, has received a silver award for Corporate Social Responsibility by EcoVadis, an international organisation that provides sustainability ratings for global supply chains. SI Group was ranked among the top 13 percent of more than 25,000 worldwide companies assessed by EcoVadis.
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Taylor establishes SpecTech to market analytical instruments and preparation equipment and consumables
Recent developments in the industry have led to John Taylor establishing his own company to market a range of analytical instruments and sample preparation equipment. Taylor is well known in the foundry industry and has been associated with it for the last 30 years.
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Weir Minerals pumping into Africa
While many companies thrive during an upturn, downturns are what separate the serious players from the rest in any industry. It is times like this when customers become more demanding looking for critical supply-chain partners that can help optimise their processes. This is exactly how Weir Minerals Africa has managed to retain its leading position as a one-stop point for providing slurry solutions to mining as well as other industries.
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Section 24G of NEMA continues to be a thorn in the flesh of a wide group of different stakeholders – is it another money making racket?
Foundries cannot get Atmospheric Emissions Licence without admitting that they broke the law and face either closure or a heavy fine. “In terms of the Bill of Rights included in the Constitution of South Africa, the citizens of South Africa have the right to have the environment protected and to live in an environment that is not harmful to human health or well-being.”
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April 2016
High performance mould and core coatings for the elimination of surface defects providing superior casting finish – Foseco
The foundry industry encompasses many metal types and production processes, producing an array of cast components in a multitude of different sizes. To acknowledge this diversity, Foseco have developed a variety of coating ranges to ensure that product and process are optimised.
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Pressure Die Castings invests in a new zinc HPDC machine and a chrome plating plant
“Ten years ago we made a strategic decision to move further up the value chain, with an emphasis on product delivery and quality. The strategy involved reconfiguring the business, increasing factory productivity and training employees, which would ultimately lead to improving quality and reducing costs,” explains Pressure Die Castings (PDC) managing director Mike Wolhuter.
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Scaw Metals Group paves way for youth through graduate programmes
The Scaw Metal Group, a leading South African steel manufacturer is making waves in the steel sector through its structured graduate training programme, honing core competencies in niche areas, such as analytical chemistry, non-destructive testing, metallurgical, engineering, and support services discipline.
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Endeco Omega equipment helps foundry to achieve cost savings in the sand department
“Today’s chemically-bonded sand metalcasting facilities are under increasing pressure to reduce costs and their impact on the environment, while improving and maintaining casting quality. One of the ways to meet these requirements is to invest in sand reclamation,” says Peter Petersen, Sales Director of Endeco Omega.
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Procurement of locally manufactured valves and actuators strengthened
The Valve and Actuator Manufacturers Cluster of South Africa (VAMCOSA) has announced that on 11 February 2016, National Treasury published the updated Instruction Note stipulating the minimum threshold for local production and content for valve products and actuators.
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About turn on GMTN three-year cycle due to pressure from exhibitors
The organisers of GIFA, the International Foundry Trade Fair, have rescheduled the dates for the next staging of that event and the three related industrial expos that share the venue in Düsseldorf, Germany: GIFA, Metec, Thermprocess, and Newcast will maintain the four-year cycle that has been the custom since 2003.
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IMP / Bruker Elemental Day
Based on the know-how of many decades, Bruker Elemental now offers a complete portfolio for elemental analysis instruments. Their innovative solutions enable a wide range of customers in the metal, automotive, chemistry, pharmacy, and semiconductor industries to focus on elemental analysis of metals and materials.
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Mineral-Loy grows technical team
Local raw material and consumable supplier Mineral-Loy has expanded its technical sales department by appointing a further two project engineers, one a graduate from the University of Cape Town, and the other an intern from the University of Johannesburg. This brings the total to six in this department of the company.
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VDMA Foundry Machinery division representatives visit South Africa
Dr. Timo Würz, the Managing Director of the VDMA Foundry Machinery Association and Ines Polak, who is in charge of market information, statistics, marketing and exhibitions for the same association, visited South Africa in March 2016. While in the country they hosted a business breakfast for the South African foundry industry at Emperors Palace, Gauteng.
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49th Census of World Casting Production Modest growth in worldwide casting market
In 2014, global production increased to more than 105 million metric tons, an increase of 2.3% when compared to the previous year, according to this year’s Modern Casting Census of World Casting Production. The total production in 2014 represents an increase of 2.4 million metric tons compared to 2013.
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February 2016
The Endeco Omega carousel moulding system
When you’re preparing to invest in or to add an automated no-bake moulding system to your existing setup, there are a number of critical decisions to be made that require careful analysis. As with many design projects, the end of the process is often the best starting point. It’s a basic concept to design backwards, at all times keeping in mind the moulding process results you expect.
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Pressure Die Castings awarded PCB Business of The Year for the second consecutive year
Specialist die caster Pressure Die Castings (PDC), based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, has been rewarded for the company’s achievements on a number of fronts with the award of the Nedbank sponsored Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business (PCB) Business of The Year for 2015, in the manufacturing sector.
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Sidermet appointed agents for Metal Power Analytical
Metal Power Analytical, a Mumbai – India based manufacturer of Laboratory Optical / Atomic Emission Spectrometers (OES / AES), Mobile Spectrometers, Hydrogen Analyzers for molten aluminium, Certified Reference Materials, Sample Preparation Machines for spectrometers as well as a wide range of accessories, was founded in 1987.
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NI-Foundry’s horizontal moulding line undergoes upgrade
Metallurgy, or more correctly foundry work, is all about cooking metal. If you do not get the methods and processes correct you might as well dump the outcome in the bin. To achieve this quality and to compete you need the latest equipment. This has been the chief motivating factor as to why the Naledi Inhlanganiso Group embarked on close to a R100 million investment program in its NI-Foundry Division.
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Stellenbosch Technology Centre launched
Stellenbosch University’s Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department has launched a new technology centre that will have an emphasis on industrial relevance, while incorporating a base for manufacturing engineering research. The facility will be housed at the Stellenbosch University campus in the Western Cape and will focus on identification, acquisition, mastering, multiplication and transfer of advanced technologies.
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Applied Casting Solutions gains momentum with a new identity
Chem Systems’ recent restructure brings a diverse range of speciality business units together under a single powerful brand. The move is great news for local foundries, as the company’s world-class foundry business gains an even stronger position from which to provide turnkey solutions to multiple customer challenges.
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Spectrum Technical appointed agents for Didion International
Spectrum Technical, based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal, has recently been appointed to market the Didion International range of products in Southern Africa. Spectrum Technical has been serving the South African metallurgical industries since 1994, supplying a range of services and products, focusing on the processing of molten metal, in particular the casting of aluminium and zinc.
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Click2Cast casting process simulation software now available in South Africa
Altair South Africa have added Click2Cast, a casting process simulation software that allows the user to enhance and optimise their manufactured components, to their portfolio of growing manufacturing solutions software that they market in South Africa.
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Durrans RMS help people affected by the drought
It’s been a particularly difficult summer for many in South Africa. The lack of rain has affected farms and communities all over the country. Water shortages have prompted the #ProjectWaterDrop initiative, which has seen individuals, companies and organisations delivering water to areas affected by the current drought.
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Walter Desmond Wiggill remembered
Walter Desmond Wiggill, known to business associates and friends as Desmond (Des) Wiggill, was born in Boksburg, Gauteng on 17 May 1931 and passed away peacefully on 12 December 2015 after a short illness. Des attended school in the Boksburg area, finishing his high school career at Boksburg Central High. While there, Des was a keen participant in athletics and held the school record for the then 880 yards. This record would only be broken many years later.
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December 2015
Induction furnace technology and energy efficiency
ABP Induction Systems GmbH, headquartered in Dortmund, Germany develops and manufactures induction melting furnaces and induction heating equipment for the foundry, steel and forging industries including suitable automation solutions.
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Diversification and optimised efficiencies realise strong results for Insimbi
JSE listed Insimbi Refractory and Alloy Supplies has released a stellar set of results for the six month period ending 31 August 2015. The results were better than expected given the difficult trading conditions that have affected the steel industry in South Africa.
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Lauds forms strategic partnership with General Kinematics Corporation and Foseco India
Local foundry equipment manufacturer Lauds Foundry Equipment has formed a strategic partnership with US vibratory and rotary equipment manufacturer General Kinematics Corporation. General Kinematics (GK) was established in 1960 by Albert Musschoot to market, design and custom fabricate vibratory handling and processing equipment for the processing of bulk materials.
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Vulcan Engineering and Acetarc Engineering partner with Globen Engineering Services and Supplies (Pty) Ltd for lean manufacturing
Vulcan Engineering Co., one of the largest in-house engineering, manufacturing, and installation groups in North America, dedicated to the metalcasting and heavy industrial markets, has partnered with local new startup kid on the block company Globen Engineering Services and Supplies (Pty) Ltd.
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Morgan Molten Metal Systems appoints South African distributor Keegor Meltech
Morgan Molten Metal Systems, a division of Morgan Advanced Materials, has announced the appointment of Keegor Meltech (Pty) Ltd to distribute its complete range of crucibles and accessories for the melting, holding and treatment applications used in the casting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and metal alloys in South Africa.
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SAIF 2015 Annual Golf Day
The South African Institute of Foundrymens’ Annual Golf Day took place on Thursday 12th November 2015. The event was held at the Reading Country Club. The winners on the day on a score of 99 points were Mark Sims, Arthur Spires, Heinrich Engelbrecht and Louis Dique. Great score for players with handicaps of 17, 19, 27 and 27 respectively. Three of this fourball came in first in 2012.
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Southway Refractories on the move
Refractory product supplier has more than doubled its factory size. Southway Refractories, which was established in 1999, has recently moved into a new factory and office accommodation purchased by the company in Alrode, South Gauteng.
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SAIF signs up as founding member of BRICS Foundry Association
Representatives of the South African Institute of Foundrymen recently travelled to Russia to attend the International Congress of Russian Foundrymen and Exhibition “Lityo-2015” in Nizhny Novgorod. At the same time the 5th BRICS Foundry Forum took place.
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October 2015
SI Group is undergoing a global brand transformation, including the launch of a new logo
“This new logo is more closely aligned to our dynamic, forward-thinking corporate strategy. We will continue to be the same valued business partner, providing innovative chemistry and solutions that allow our customers products to be made safer, more efficient, and more durable,” said a company spokesperson.
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SAIF participates in briefing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the impact of IPAP on the foundry industry
The South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF) was invited by the Parliamentary Committees Section: Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry to provide input on the progress made in terms of the IPAP interventions related to the National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN).
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The imagination of art comes alive at Bronz Editions
When Fritz Otto Wirth, who was born in Germany, purchased the farm Nooitgedacht Estate in 1923, I am sure he never imagined or detected that 90 years later there would be an art foundry and a residential village comprising of a mix of residential and retail components situated on a piece of land adjoining his that is now owned by his relatives.
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Resurrection of stand-alone machine tool and related industry exhibition confirmed
Nasrec, Johannesburg will be the venue for metalworking supplier and manufacturing companies to exhibit their products from 9 to 12 May 2017. The MTMA (Machine Tool Merchants Association of Southern Africa) has confirmed that they will endorse and run a stand-alone machine tool and related industry supplier exhibition that will take place on a three year cycle.
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Motor sector urged to increase local content
Depending on how seriously it took localisation, in 10 years the motor industry in South Africa could be employing either 35,000 or 180,000 people, analyst Justin Barnes said in a report in Business Day. The future of the industry was not at risk, he said. The only question was whether it turned into a true manufacturing industry or one that simply assembled parts.
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King Shaka Airport statues still up in the air
Will the cattle ever be put out to pasture? What has become of the old king? And when will the new one be completed? The questions concern the King Shaka statue, partially removed from the Durban airport named in the monarch’s honour. And the official answers are: we don’t know; we don’t know; and March next year, according to newspaper reports.
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Aluminium Association decries Chinese call to remove tariffs
The Aluminum Association, based in Arlington, Virginia, USA, which represents producers and suppliers to the North American aluminium industry, has expressed concern about a recent call for the removal of a long-standing 15 percent tax on primary aluminium exported from China, according to recyclingtoday.com
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Takata closes its foundry in Atlantis
Takata Corporation, a global supplier of automotive safety systems including seat belts, airbags, steering wheels, interior trim and child restraint systems has closed its Atlantis, Western Cape facility, including the magnesium diecasting foundry. The Japanese based company has production facilities on four continents, with its European headquarters located in Germany, where it also has nine production facilities.
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August 2015
Spectro introduces SpectroLAB spectrometers
The new SpectroLAB metal analysers deliver ultra high speed of measurement, ultra low limits of detection, ultimate elemental flexibility, spectacular stability, and affordable cost of ownership to set new standards for elemental analysis in metals industry research and development (R&D) and process/quality control.
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Guestro Casting and Machining restructures with an eye on diversification and increased capacity
Guestro Casting and Machining, the last remaining asset of the once-mighty engineering group Dorbyl Ltd, which was acquired by the current owners in 2013, has begun a restructuring phase that will see the company increase capacity and enhance quality and production performance, with an eye on diversification.
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SAIF’s 52nd Annual Awards Dinner
300 foundrymen, guests, wives and award winners attended this year’s event. Daniel Friedman was MC for the evening. The dinner was well supported by sponsors in the form of prizes for the award winners, wine on the tables, and ticket sponsors for the award winners and VIP guests invited by the Institute.
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Industry mourns the passing of John Zandberg
Industry stalwart John Zandberg passed away on the 13th June after spending the whole of his working career in the foundry industry. John Frank Zandberg was born on 29 March 1940 and continued to work in an industry that he loved and cherished up until a few weeks before his passing at the age of 75.
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Casting simulation network launched
A Casting Simulation Network (CSN) centre at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in Sebokeng was launched in July 2015. The centre seeks to equip local foundries, including small and medium enterprises, with simulation software and skills through links with institutions countrywide.
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Pentagon Resources up and running
Recently established Pentagon Resources has been contracted to sell and distribute foundry and related industries products emanating from the Mogale Alloys processing plant in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. “This is a major step forward in the company’s relatively short history,” said Joshua Van Flymen, founder of Pentagon Resources.
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Atlantis Foundries recovers from fire in record time
“We suffered a fire which stopped production around 08:00 am after a technical failure caused hot metal to fall onto conveyors in the basement. Fortunately the firefighters arrived quickly and the fire was extinguished within two hours. Nobody was injured as a result of the incident,” explained recently appointed Atlantis Foundries CEO Pieter du Plessis.
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Port Elizabeth Metro reaches R100 million write-off deal with 13 high-energy users
In reports emanating from Port Elizabeth, nearly R100 million owed by some of Nelson Mandela Bay’s biggest employers for unpaid electricity bills and interest on the accounts will be written off by the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Dubbed as “Danny Jordaan’s R100 million electricity ‘gift’ to business” the council has approved a deal involving 13 high-energy users that only R45.9 million be recovered from the businesses over a period of six months.
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Inductotherm, in partnership with Cerefco, set up coil repair workshop
“We are pleased to announce that Inductotherm, in partnership with Cerefco, has established a state-of-the-art Inductotherm coil repair workshop. As a result of this development we will now be able to offer the coils that meet OEM standards, once the repair process is complete. Inductotherm takes great pride in its coil repairs by completely stripping all the insulation off the coil,” explained Cerefco’s MD Scott Melville.
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GIFA/GMTN 2015 – The Bright World of Metals shines brighter than ever!
According to research more than 100 million tons of castings are manufactured worldwide every year, in materials ranging from standard to exotic, including precious metals, rare materials, and emerging alloys and composites. The products and castings manufactured reveal the essential and irreplaceable function of metalcasting as an industry and, the exclusive role played by metalcasting developers and operators in the progress of civilisation.
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June 2015
Partnering for productivity – and future sustainability
“Applied Casting Solutions’ success is closely entwined with that of its customers. It makes a point of taking on the challenges faced by the local foundry industry. Solutions that address growing concerns around future growth opportunities, environmental impact, and health and safety are as much a natural progression as they are industry innovations,” says Applied Casting Solutions’ Business Director, Paul Oliaro.
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Wahl Industries turns to the sun to save on energy costs
Aluminium tilt casting and light fixture manufacturer Wahl Industries has taken the major challenge of the cost of gas and electricity and a stable supply of power head on and installed a 300kwp Roof Top Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Solar System. “Seven years ago we were very proactive when the company installed a 635 kVA generator in our factory at a cost of more than R1 million. It was at the beginning of the load shedding debacle in South Africa,” said MD Randal Wahl.
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Simple Active Tactics is earning attention for a new application for recycling spent abrasives
When it comes to abrasive blasting, most foundries rely on virgin media as the abrasive that’s used for blasting a wide range of component sizes and shapes on a continuous basis. After blasting is concluded the waste abrasive, along with the other waste materials such as silica and chromite sand, become a problem to consumers as they are classified as a “hazardous waste”, and are expensive to dispose of.
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Mondeco Solutions appointed agent for molten metal management company A1 Roper
Mondeco Solutions has announced that the company has recently added A1 Roper Ltd to its list of international partners that it represents in South Africa. A1 Roper Ltd specialises in the design and manufacture of foundry ladles and other equipment for the safe handling of molten metals. Established as E.A. Roper & Co. in 1921, the company has a modern manufacturing facility in Keighley, West Yorkshire, UK.
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ExOne appoints Peter Bird as its South African agent
Internationally recognised company ExOne has recently appointed Peter Bird as its South African agent. ExOne is a New York stock exchange publicly traded manufacturing technology company that provides 3D printing machines, 3D printed products and related services to industrial customers in multiple segments, including pumps, automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment and energy.
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Calsitherm establishes subsidiary in South Africa
“The investment in a local subsidiary will secure Calsitherm’s existing market share of high density calcium silicate products and is part of a strategic decision for expansion. Additionally it will strengthen Calsitherm’s presence in South Africa, as well as reinforcing the commitment of the product portfolio, and that of the Calsitherm Group in general,” says Alexander Saam who will be the Director in charge of South Africa.
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Eskom tariff increase, municipal tariff increase and electricity usage
A disgruntled reader has spelled it out as he sees it, and it does not make a pretty picture: Government is doing everything to keep the milking of electricity consumers going and it is actually accelerating at a rapid pace. Note that electricity, together with VAT and fuel, is government’s biggest cash cow. The situation which has developed in 2015 is alarming and will further destroy private industry at an alarming pace. The downward spiral is in full swing!
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Celebrating the life of Sonny Wade
Samuel Hubbard James Wade was born on 23rd April 1916 in Bloemfontein, Free State Province and passed away on 16th April 2015, exactly one week before he turned 99. Sonny, as he was affectionately known as to all of us who knew him in the foundry industry, was the second oldest of three children. Longevity is certainly a good gene in the Wade family as his eldest sister Eileen is still alive at the age of 101 and lives in George in the Eastern Cape. His younger half-brother Len Ginsberg, aged 92, lives on a farm in Ladysmith in the Karoo.
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Star billing for South African companies at GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST (GMTN 2015) in Düsseldorf, Germany this year
From 16 June to 20 June 2015, the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center will play host to the trade fair quartet comprising GIFA 2015, International Foundry Trade Fair with WFO Technical Forum, METEC 2015, 9th International Exhibition for Metallurgical Technology with Congress, THERMPROCESS 2015, 11th International Trade Fair and Symposium for Thermic Production Processes, and NEWCAST 2015, the 4th International Trade Fair for Cast Products.
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April 2015
Foseco to launch a host of new products at GIFA 2015
As a primary innovator in the foundry industry globally, Foseco regularly publishes information on new products and enhancements, process developments and new techniques, and state-of-the-art papers on new thinking in foundry practice. With the commencement of the international GIFA 2015 exhibition scheduled to begin in little over two months, Foseco have released a number of new products that will be on display for the first time. Below are some of the products that visitors can expect to see.
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Endeco – Omega Foundry Machinery celebrates JV agreement
Foundries and diecasters future leaders have an understanding of the past and a vision of the future, and they are being shaped by the challenges of today. The same can be said about supplier companies in the industry. The recent JV merger between local company Endeco and Omega Foundry Machinery brings together two companies that have an established record locally and worldwide, with over 60 years in combined experience.
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Metso Minerals Isithebe adds R.C. Systems core shooter to capabilities
Minerals processing equipment specialist Metso’s local manganese foundry, one of six across the globe, has introduced a core shooter to its manufacturing capabilities. The core shooter, designed and manufactured by local foundry equipment manufacturer R.C. Systems, represents a recent shift at the foundry to improve and automate manufacturing capabilities aimed at driving the company’s local and African business.
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Wispeco purchases majority shareholding in Pressure Die Castings
Wispeco Holdings (Pty) Ltd – Group of Companies is continuing with its expansion strategy with the announcement of a further acquisition. The statement from the company says that it has agreed to purchase a majority shareholding in Pressure Die Castings (Pty) Ltd (PDC), a Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal based die casting foundry that specialises in manufacturing brass, aluminium and zinc castings. The purchase price was not disclosed.
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Valve manufacturers and foundry workshop
Changes abound in the valve industry as the formation of The Valve and Actuator Manufacturers’ Cluster of South Africa (VAMCOSA) gears up to provide significant demand prospects for local manufacturers. However, with great promise comes great responsibility, and local valve manufacturing companies need to step up to the plate to produce world-class valves that are able to compete with imported products.
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LIL Sales’ drive to deliver service and quality
“Demand for critical raw materials is burgeoning in new industrial economies, and the resources for these materials are being consolidated among fewer and fewer suppliers. As the manufacturing economy takes on a more global nature, securing reliable supplies of raw materials may be as critical as establishing a market,” says LIL Sales’ new Manager Matthew McCrae. “When LIL Sales was founded in 2008, the company’s mission was to simply supply local South African foundries with primary metals, ferro alloys and other foundry-related raw materials.
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Atlantis Foundries sold by Daimler/Mercedes Benz South Africa
German metal casting group Neue Halberg Guss has acquired engine block castings specialist Atlantis Foundries (the old Atlantis Diesel Engines) from automotive giant Daimler/ Mercedes Benz South Africa. A letter sent out by Atlantis Foundries staff said the change of ownership was scheduled for May 1. Daimler/ Mercedes Benz South Africa took control of Atlantis Foundries in 1999, and achieved record production of 60 000 tons cast in 2012. Atlantis Foundries produces automotive castings for both the passenger and commercial vehicle industries.
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Bird flies off into retirement
“Yes, you are correct. I have had many ‘chirps’ about my surname over the years but it could have been worse. I could have had a surname that refers to a rooster or something similar!” This is the dry sense of humour and quick wit of Peter Bird who has decided to retire after being associated with the smelter and foundry industry for 49 years, a career that began back in 1966.
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AfriMold acquisition boosts Indutec 2015 expo
It has been announced that Exhibition Management Services (EMS) has acquired the well-established AfriMold exhibition brand, which becomes a component show of the comprehensive South African Industry and Technology Fair Indutec. The 12-in-1 Indutec event is the co-location of several individual long-running EMS-staged industrial shows, all under one umbrella banner. AfriMold will now take place alongside 11 other Indutec exhibitions at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng from 20-22 May 2015.
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February 2015
Omega Foundry Machinery acquires a majority shareholding in Endeco
To support existing installations and future growth in the South African foundry sectors, Omega is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the owners of Endeco whereby a majority of the shares will be acquired and the company will change its name to Endeco – Omega Foundry Machinery (Pty) Ltd.
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BLEY 36/36 pump casing pushes KEW Foundries to new limits
Over a period of ten years, the relationship between local pump manufacturer Sulzer Pumps SA and local supplier KEW Foundries, based in Kimberley, has been reinforced and strengthened by the increasing complexity and size of castings that have been successfully manufactured to date.
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Microfinish agreement puts company on global map
The long-term supplier deal between a Durban-based automotive component manufacturer, Microfinish, and one of Europe’s largest automotive component manufacturers has put South Africa’s automotive industry on a global pedestal. Microfinish signed a multimillion-rand deal with the Motor Service Deutschland and BF Germany to supply automotive valve guide and valve seats inserts parts.
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Scaw reinforces a culture of safety
The Scaw Metals Group (Scaw), a niche South African steel manufacturer, is continuing on its journey toward a zero injury culture, with all employees being made aware that they each play a role in making a difference resulting from a shared understanding and dedication to working safely.
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Please, someone take charge!
“In an ever changing and volatile labour environment human resources and industrial relations play a major role in the metal casting industry. An unhappy, unproductive workforce is detrimental to the foundry industry, as employees contribute significantly in the production process. Ultimately this can lead to huge losses for companies through employee negligence and lack of effective HR structures specific to the metal casting industry,” said Brett Balsdon of MWB Consulting.
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MCTS opens foundry exhibition and demonstration centre
The Metal Casting Technology Station (MCTS), located at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Doornfontein Campus, has opened an exhibition and demonstration centre to showcase new and existing foundry related technologies to students, staff and industry. The centre, which is strategically situated opposite UJ’s library, is an initiative between the MCTS and chief sponsor Foseco South Africa, a division of Versuvius South Africa (Pty) Limited.
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Modern Casting census of world casting production – steady growth in global output
In 2013, global production increased to more than 103 million metric tons, an increase of 3.4% when compared to the previous year, according to this year’s Modern Casting Census of World Casting Production. The 103.2 million metric tons of metal castings produced in 2013 represents an increase of 3.43 million tons. This rate of growth is a slight bump up from 2012’s 2.4% boost.
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Lauds increases local footprint and expands internationally
Lauds Foundry Equipment, established in 2003 by Kevin van Niekerk, has expanded its footprint locally with an additional 2 000m² added to its existing facility. “This has doubled the floor space that we occupy and has enabled us to expand our manufacturing to handle much larger projects and at the same time separate the facility into four sectors namely fabrication, machine shop area, electrical and stores.”
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December 2014
The world’s largest coreless induction furnace – ABP Induction
“Despite the economic woes we have had a very successful period over the last two years. A notable contract was to build ‘the largest induction melting plant in the world’. The project at Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group Ltd. (Tisco), at Taiyuan in China’s Shanxi Province, was completed earlier this year,” said Dr. Wolfgang Andree, President of the ABP Induction Group.
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Pressure Die Casting awarded Nedbank sponsored PCB Business of The Year for 2014
Specialist die caster Pressure Die Casting (PDC), based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, has been rewarded for the company’s achievements on a number of fronts with the award of the Nedbank sponsored Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business (PCB) Business of The Year for 2014, in the manufacturing sector.
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Invitation to participate at the GIFA/NEWCAST 2015 National Pavilion in Düsseldorf, Germany from 16 – 20 June 2015
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) invites South African exporters in the foundry machinery and plant construction, casting machinery and equipment, and melting processes as well as moulding and core making to participate on the National Pavilion at GIFA/NEWCAST, from 16 – 20 June 2015, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Doing it the Weir way
Weir Minerals Africa has procured their castings from local foundries or imported them from Weir Minerals foundries located elsewhere in the world since 2006. This arrangement worked well in some respects; however, it also had its drawbacks. First and foremost, the company did not have sufficient control over the quality of material used or the processes employed at the contracted local non-Weir Minerals foundries.
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Wanderers Engineering’s greenfield foundry close to going into production
Just over a year ago the Brakpan, Gauteng CNC machining and extruder supply company decided to open a foundry that would compliment its existing casting supplier, and increase the range of fully machined components that it offers. “Having never been in the foundry business before, there was a huge amount of planning and learning that had to be overcome before we could even place the first orders for equipment and consumables.
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Procor installs new drying ovens for manufacturing exothermic sleeves
Procor Steel and Foundry Supplies recently installed new drying ovens at their facility in Brakpan, Gauteng. The new drying ovens or, baking ovens as they are sometimes referred to, are part of the company’s strategy to improve on the quality of the exothermic sleeves that the company manufactures and supplies to the foundry industry, while reducing gas and electricity consumption.
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October 2014
SI Group HA is a crucial foundry partner
Ten years ago Schenectady International, Inc. (now known as the SI Group), through its South African affiliate, Schenectady South Africa (Pty) Ltd. reached an agreement to partner in South Africa with Hüttenes-Albertus Chemische Werke GmbH (HA) by acquiring Hüttenes Albertus Falchem (Pty) Ltd. (“HAF”) and Zeta Resin (Pty) Ltd.’s (“Zeta”) foundry and timber chemical intermediates business.
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The affects of the strike in the metals industry
The impact of the strike in the metals industry in South Africa could have far reaching implications and unions must accept that actions always have consequences. I have heard countless stories of wanton vandalism, assaults, intimidation and many other horrific stories relating to the strike.
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New bid to stem scrap metal exports
The International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) will soon issue new guidelines for the compulsory sale of ferrous and nonferrous waste metals on the local market in its continuing effort to stem exports worth billions of rands each year. The new guidelines aim to stop scrap-metal dealers from exploiting loopholes in the preferential pricing policy issued by the Department of Economic Development last September.
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10 years ago Frantel Holdings’ entire business was focused on its aluminium gravity die casting foundry Alumacast
Just a few years ago Frantel Holdings’ entire business was focused on aluminium gravity die casting making the company’s success and profitability extremely susceptible to a handful of clients in the petrochemical industry, an area that the company was founded on in 2004.
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A plan comes together at G.E Patterns & Foundry
Around the world one dream unites foundry owners, regardless of their experience or specialty: greenfield capacity. Much can be accomplished with a clean slate. However in going this route, constraints such as cost, market opportunities, plant infrastructure, inaccessibility and local zoning rules are limiting factors to a foundry’s growth opportunities.
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August 2014
Is your spectrometer producing the correct analysis?
Developing a best-in-class quality-control program demands a thorough understanding of processes, both in the methods and practices set by an operation’s managers and in the minds of the metalcasting workers. To obtain the highest levels of quality control, it is important for modern foundries to be as well organised as possible, and developing a complete quality-control plan is the bedrock of any such endeavor.
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Celebrating the life of Luis Dias
It is with great sadness that I have to report on the sudden and untimely passing of Luis Filipe Duate Dias in May at the tender age of 61. Luis was one of the most well respected and liked personalities in the foundry industry, having worked in the industry for over 35 years. But more importantly he was a very proud man, a devoted husband and family man, lived a fulfilled life with the motto of the first to give and the last to take uppermost in his mind.
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2015 Castings Industries Directory
Make sure your company is listed by sending in your details. The deadline for your free listing is the 2nd February 2015. The publishers of castings sa will be publishing The 2015 Castings Industries Directory in February 2015. This is the fifth edition of this popular specialised buying and contact guide of Southern African foundries and suppliers to the industry.
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SAIF’s 51st Annual Awards Dinner
The South African Institute of Foundrymens’ 51st Annual Awards Dinner was held at the Emperors Palace, Convention Centre, Kempton Park, Gauteng on Friday 30 May 2014. 310 foundrymen, guests, wives and award winners attended this year’s event. Conrad Koch and his puppet Chester provided the entertainment for the evening.
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Omega celebrates 30th anniversary
Omega Foundry Machinery Ltd celebrated its 30th anniversary in June with 150 staff, clients and guests and agents from around the world. The festivities began with a tour of the company’s head office facility in Morley Way, Peterborough, which is situated in the county of Cambridgeshire in the east of England, followed by lunch. In the evening guests were invited to a medieval themed event at Belvoir Castle, north of Peterborough.
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Denel PMP set to strengthen its position in local ammunition manufacturing
Munitions manufacturer Denel PMP will double its turnover to more than R1 billion rand within the next five years in response to strategic requirements in the local market and its growing presence in the rest of Africa. In support of this set target, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pretoria West-based manufacturer, Phaladi Petje, says the company will be embarking on a plant-renewal programme to modernise its machinery and production processes.
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June 2014
Applied Casting Solutions offers full service
A home-grown operation with strong international ties, speciality chemicals provider Applied Casting Solutions has notched up more than four decades of experience in the local and international markets. Yet, it remains cognisant of the fact that continuous improvement and an intuitive understanding of local markets are the drivers behind the business’s sustainability.
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ANC’s Chancellor House fingered in secret R170 million deal
The ANC’s investment company has scooped control of a major Eskom supplier in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal in a secret R170 million deal according to a report in The Witness. The deal was hammered by critics recently, who called it “illegal” and evidence that the ANC was profiting from South Africa’s power crisis.
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Vereeniging Foundries reaches 50 year milestone
When Wilfried Kappmeier and George Whittal sat talking over a cup of tea just over 50 years ago, planning their new venture of owning and running their own foundry, they could not have envisaged that their company would reach the milestone of 50 years in business.
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Agni fires up furnaces to start production at steel mill in Coega
Jubilation was palpable on site at Agni Steels SA as the company fired up its Inductotherm furnaces to start production at its R400 million, state-of-the-art steel mill in the Coega industrial development zone (IDZ). Agni Steels’ venture is the first ever black-owned steel mill in the country and is a testament to the value of the Minerals Beneficiation Bill passed in 2011.
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Draft amendment to the export control guidelines on the exportation of ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap published
Interested parties were invited to comment on the proposed amendments to the policy guidelines on the exportation of ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap, during May.
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The foundry industry in the Western Cape – then and now
On 24 December 1651, accompanied by his wife and son, Jan van Riebeeck set off from Texel in The Netherlands for the Cape of Good Hope. Van Riebeeck had signed a contract with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to oversee the setting up of a refreshment station to supply Dutch ships on their way to the East.
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April 2014
Foseco’s coating preparation plant
There is a continuing requirement for foundries to manufacture increasingly complex, high performance castings – while driving down production costs. A significant proportion of production costs can be attributed to re-work due to surface defects and these can be eliminated or significantly reduced through the use of the correct refractory coating.
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Feedback from the 4th BRICS Foundry Forum
The Indian Institute of Foundrymen (Western Region) (IIF) hosted the 4th BRICS Foundry Forum at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar near Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, India. The forum preceded the 62nd Indian Foundry Congress and the Indian Foundry Exhibition (IFEX), coupled with the Cast India EXPO, which was held from 5 to 7 February 2014.
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Advanced manufacturing precinct opened at Vaal University of Technology
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has unveiled its new advanced manufacturing precinct (AMP) to promote additive manufacturing development and develop scarce skills, research, innovation and technology transfer in South Africa.
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Investment casting versus additive manufacturing in Airbus study
Airbus Group Innovations — the jet builder’s network of technology centers that research technologies and develop products — recently worked with an Additive Manufacturing (AM) process developer on an environmental lifecycle comparison of two critical production technologies.
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Countdown to The Bright World of Metals 2015 has started
The four successful trade fairs Gifa, Metec, Thermprocess and Newcast are being held again in Düsseldorf under the motto “The Bright World of Metals” from 16 to 20 June 2015.
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Minerals Technologies wins bidding war for Amcol International
Minerals Technologies said that it had won a bidding war for Amcol International, agreeing to pay about $1.7 billion. The company, based in New York, beat out the French industrial materials company Imerys after a spirited back-and-forth for Amcol, a producer of specialty minerals and materials based in Illinois.
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February 2014
Adapting and growing over a 30 year period
“Only the fittest survive might be an old cliché but in the case of Endeco I truly believe that it applies. However being a survivor encapsulates a number of dimensions and dynamics and does not rely on luck.”
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Castings SA launches its own website
The Castings SA publication has been extended to the web with the launch of its own dedicated website (www.castingssa.com) where you will find many more exciting features. The website includes the latest issue and archives of the publication in both digital and PDF format to download…
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Local foundry industry in dire straits
The South African foundry industry is at a crossroads according to the Scaw Metals Group. Not only is the industry suffering from the effects of a depressed market, but uncompetitive local raw material costs are threatening the future of the industry.
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James Durrans and Sons spreads its knowledge worldwide
When James Durrans and Sons first opened for business in 1863, Yorkshire was awash with Victorian optimism, and the region’s companies were taking the UK into new markets.
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Viking Foundry casts large, difficult impeller
There’s an element of art in every casting, but what is often overlooked is that there is an impressive degree of technical proficiency at work in the numerous castings made in foundries.
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Learners complete their qualifications in Foundry Operations and are now available for placement in industry
Skills development and education of 14 school leavers formed part of a pilot project for The Career Path Framework initiative. These learners have achieved NQF level 4 qualifications.
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Zimalco relaunches its online presence
Zimalco has reported it has redesigned and relaunched its online presence with a new website designed to deliver “all your aluminium foundry alloys, powders and deoxidants needs.”
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ZF sells South African subsidiary Auto Industrial Brake & Chassis
The deal includes four ZF plants in Johannesburg including two foundries, a forge and a machining plant. It has been announced that ZF Friedrichshafen AG is selling Auto Industrial Brake & Chassis Holding Johannesburg (AIBC), its South African subsidiary.
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Procor achieves ISO 9001 certification
Local foundry consumable supplier Procor Steel Traders is proud to announce that the company has been awarded ISO 9001 certification according to KIWA, a German based certification body. The company achieved the status in December 2013.
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Aluminium production at BHP Billiton’s Bayside smelter expected to end
Aluminium production at BHP Billiton’s Bayside smelter in Richards Bay is expected to come to an end in the next few months, according to local newspaper reports. The sad but inevitable news was communicated to employees and stakeholders at a briefing at the Hillside smelter recently.
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John Bryson escapes into retirement
John Bryson, Foundry Director at Kimberley Engineering Works (KEW Foundries), has announced that he will be retiring at the end of February 2014.
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December 2013
Endress+Hauser strengthens sales operation in South Africa
Two years after breaking ground, Endress+Hauser has celebrated the opening of a new building in Sandton, Johannesburg. Modern offices, training facilities and an auditorium provide an ideal sales and marketing environment.
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Foseco South Africa revamps its technical laboratory
Foseco South Africa has recently re-opened its laboratory at its facility in Alrode, Gauteng after it went through a major overhaul and revamp.
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Hudaco Industries acquires The Dunford Group from Dunford Holdings Pty Ltd for R154.3 million
The purchase includes the businesses of Dosco Precision Hydraulics, Gear Pump Manufacturers, Joseph Grieveson and Engineering Technology Services.
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Pangborn Group inks distribution agreement with Mondeco
Pangborn Group, designer and manufacturer of surface preparation products, has named Gauteng-based Mondeco Solutions as its authorised distributor for Southern Africa.
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Organised business supports high energy users in litigation against NERSA and the NMBM
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has been extensively involved with the six of the thirteen companies that make up the High Energy User group through meetings, debates, correspondence and engagements with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
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Foundry industry’s vision of a training centre comes to fruition
SAIF instrumental in setting up the Gauteng Foundry Training Centre. In an era of corporate reorganisation, mergers, and globalisation, metalcasting is one of several critical industries that require a well-educated workforce in order to remain profitable and competitive.
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New graphite milling and bead plant for Fochem International
“Our plant in Alrode has now been virtually rebuilt from scratch and production, which is now at 10 tons per day, commenced in May this year. There are a number of reasons we have made this major investment…
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Ceramic and Alloy Specialists signs distribution agreement with GfE-MIR Alloys and Minerals SA
Ceramic and Alloy Specialists has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with GfE-MIR Alloys and Minerals SA to serve the South African ferrous foundry industry.
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