December 2015
‘We have a huge problem with theft’
During the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ Convention and Expo, held recently in the Canadian city of Vancouver, Recycling International met up with David Loewenthal of URC, a Johannesburg-based scrap metal recycling company which processes and trades both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.
ASK Chemicals acquires Hexion’s European foundry business
ASK Chemicals, the global foundry chemicals supplier, has purchased the European foundry business of Hexion Inc. (Ohio, USA). With this acquisition ASK Chemicals has broadened its portfolio of foundry chemicals in the field of Alphaset phenolic resins, Betaset phenolic resins and furan resins.
DTI temporarily suspends manufacturing incentive owing to depleted budget
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has temporarily suspended new applications for its Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP), as the large number of applications far exceeded the funds set aside for the programme.
Metal recyclers struggling through ‘a very tough year’
2015 has been ‘a very tough year’ in which the ‘bad economic climate’ has led to adverse effects on companies’ budgets and employment plans, according to the BIR non-ferrous metals division’s president David Chiao of the Uni-All Group in the USA, in a report in Recycling International.
72nd World Foundry Congress May 21 – 25, 2016 – Nagoya, Japan
The World Foundry Congress (WFC2016) will be held at Portmesse Nagoya located in Nagoya for the five days starting from May 21 to May 25, 2016. It has been 26 years since the congress was last held in Japan.
Neasa concerned about ‘unequal’ antidumping duties – Steel Lobby launched
Industry body, the National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) has launched a South African Steel Lobby that will advocate for the shelving of the antidumping application by primary steel producers, and will look to negotiate an improved model for downstream manufacturers.
October 2015
Caldeaz appointed partner for Kreon laser scanners
Kreon offers complete non-contact measurement solutions for quality control, reverse engineering, surface inspection and rapid prototyping throughout the entire design and manufacturing process for industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, dental, foundry and general engineering.
Microfinish Manufacturing takes advantage of foundry assistance programme to increase its global competiveness
After the economic volatility in South Africa caused by the financial crisis of 2008, Microfinish Manufacturing underwent a change of ownership and management, resulting in an overhaul of the entire business in order to optimise operational processes and ensure financial rigidity and sustainability.
Federal-Mogul Powertrain develops new high strength aluminium alloy material for automotive diesel pistons
Federal-Mogul Powertrain has developed a new cast aluminium alloy it claims will increase the strength of pistons for high-performance diesel engines, supporting higher mechanical loads that will result in higher specific power and greater efficiency.
Berkshire Hathaway to buy Precision Castparts for $37 billion
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to buy Precision Castparts, a leading supplier to the aerospace industry, for $37.2 billion, in the largest acquisition in the conglomerate’s 50-year history. Berkshire Hathaway will pay $235 per share in cash for all of PCC’s outstanding shares, a 21% premium on PCC’s closing price of $193.88, the companies said in a joint statement in August.
Aluminium-intensive XE is most fuel efficient Jaguar ever
The innovative new Jaguar XE will redefine the standard in its segment. Designed around Jaguar’s modular vehicle architecture, the XE is the only car in the class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque, with lightweight aluminium accounting for 75 per cent of the structure.
Maus acquires Savelli and Fritz Hansberg
Maus, Savelli S.P.A. and Fritz Hansberg have entered into a strategic partnership agreement under which Maus, a leader in automatic grinding and vertical turning, will acquire both Savelli, a manufacturer of moulding lines and sand plants for green sand foundries and Fritz Hansberg, a manufacturer of core making equipment.
August 2015
Export permit applications for exportation of scrap metals in terms of the Price Preference System (PPS) questioned
In response to an application to the ITAC Adjudication Committee for Scrap Metal Exports for an export permit by Universal Recycling Company, MD David Loewenthal has expressed his concern with the response from ITAC and the PPS in general. “As requested by ITAC, I have replied to their letter giving my viewpoint on the matter, trying to explain the current situation as clearly as possible. I believe it might be of interest for you to publish my letter,” said David Loewenthal.
Insimbi Refractory and Alloy Supplies Ltd acquires of 75% of Polydrum
Insimbi Refractory and Alloy Supplies Ltd has concluded comprehensive agreements for acquisition of Polydrum Proprietary Ltd (Polydrum). In terms of agreements, Insimbi will acquire 75 percent of issued ordinary share capital in Polydrum. Insimbi said in its SENS announcement the acquisition further diversified its product offering to its existing client base and brought additional revenue from Polydrum’s existing client base, which was continually expanding as a result of organic growth.
VDMA reports an upturn in high-efficiency equipment
Estimates by the specialist association for foundry equipment within the VDMA (German Engineering Federation) indicate that German foundry machinery production, which had fallen by five percent in 2013, rose by more than 10 percent, to a volume of more than €1.1 billion, in 2014. Sales in this sector in 2014 were only slightly above the level for 2013 and therefore lagged behind expectations.
Vesuvius PLC acquires Sidermes Group
In line with the company’s stated strategy of building, organically and through acquisition, a comprehensive technical services offering for their steel and foundry customers, Vesuvius PLC have announced that they have agreed to acquire the Sidermes Group, for an undisclosed amount.
Laempe & Mössner forms strategic alliance with Sinto
German family owned company Laempe & Mössner, a world leader in the field of core moulding technology and Japanese Group Sintokogio Co., Ltd (Sinto), one of the world’s largest foundry machinery manufacturing groups have announced that they have formed a strategic alliance, according to a joint statement issued at GIFA 2015.
ThyssenKrupp and Maxion Wheels announce cooperation to develop cutting-edge aluminium/carbon fiber hybrid wheels
ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components and Maxion Wheels are working together to develop a lightweight forged wheel that combines aluminium and carbon fiber composite material, which they will market jointly to the premium-vehicle market. The partners state that their combined expertise in materials and wheel manufacturing will result in “exceptional performance benefits at an attractive price point.”
Phenolic resin binder opens up new possibilities
The new binder offers a number of advantages for many 3D printing applications, as process engineer Dr. Florian Mögele can attest: “With this binder, we are able to achieve an incredible level of resolution and precision in 3D printing. At the same time, we have also made significant improvements in terms of stability and sand recycling. And phenolic resin binders are ideally suited for processing ceramic and other materials.”
June 2015
RAPDASA 15th Annual International Conference
Additive Manufacturing (AM), better known as “3D Printing”, has matured from a prototyping technology into a fully-fledged manufacturing technology. AM products are increasingly being used as final products in the aerospace, automotive, medical, consumer product and other industries. Internationally, unprecedented innovation has been seen in the field of AM and South Africa is certainly contributing to the advancement of AM as a manufacturing technology.
The largest bronze horse sculpture in the world
The Strassacker Art Foundry created the largest bronze horse sculpture in the world. “The bronze statue Pegasus & Dragon was already one of the greatest challenges in our company’s history, which spans close to a century. When the first sketches of Pegasus & Dragon arrived in Süßen for review around three years ago, we looked at it in disbelief,” recollects Edith Strassacker and Günter Czasny.
Engineering firm putting foundry sands to work as low-permeability landfill lining
A Massachusetts, USA environmental engineering firm has found a new outlet for a new application for unrecyclable silica sands — the material that has exceeded its usefulness for casting moulds but remains the responsibility of the operators to dispose of properly. The obvious solution, landfilling it, carries costs, so the availability of other options (e.g., road foundations, soil enrichment agents) means more flexibility for the foundry holding the sand bag.
Airbus is using 3-D printed flight parts to increase supply chain flexibility
3-D printing continues its upward trajectory as an important player in the supply chain as exemplified by Airbus which has produced more than 1000 flight parts on its Stratasys FDM 3D Production Systems for use in the first-of-type A350 XWB aircraft. The company said that the 3- D printed parts were used in place of traditionally manufactured parts to increase supply chain flexibility, enabling it to meet its delivery commitment on-time.
April 2015
Mineral-Loy appoints two additional project engineers
“Foundries are increasingly demonstrating demand for complete turnkey engineering solutions from the industry’s technology suppliers, and all indicators are that the trend will continue. The reason for this is simple: the efficiencies foundries gain from a complete turnkey solution – from single machines, equipment upgrades and small systems to revamped foundry layout and design — are significant,” explains specialist foundry consumable supplier Mineral-Loy’s Executive Director Rob Duff.
ExOne debuts Exerial™ 3D printing system designed for industrial series production
The ExOne Company, a global provider of three-dimensional printing machines and printed products to industrial customers will debut its largest 3D printing system, the Exerial™, at the GIFA International Foundry Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, which takes place
June 16-20.
Continental supplies world’s first turbocharger with aluminium turbine housing in cars
A modern turbocharged system is necessary to achieve this. The global development trend toward turbocharging for gasoline engines is in full swing. International automotive supplier Continental is supporting this trend and setting milestones with its pioneering and innovative turbocharger technology. The first Continental turbocharger went into series production in a highly efficient, multi-award-winning 1.0l engine in 2011.
Coega tries to sway first and second-tier suppliers in automotive manufacturing to set up shop
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is trying to sway first and second-tier suppliers in automotive manufacturing to set up shop at its Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park (NMBLP), in Uitenhage, noting in a statement that component manufacturers that established themselves at the purpose-built facility would benefit from a recent announcement by nearby Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) that it would start production of a new car model.
Seifsa encourages local production to beat rising imports
It is imperative for the local industry to strike a healthy balance between international competition and dumping, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has said. A flood of cheap imports; unfair competition from highly subsidised countries, such as China; dumping; and stagnant economic growth were negatively impacting the domestic metals and engineering sector, as well as the broader manufacturing sector.
New doors opened for emerging defence and high-technology companies
Emerging entrepreneurs who want to make breakthroughs in the defence and high technology manufacturing sectors will benefit from a support and development programme managed by Denel. Representatives from a wide range of small and medium enterprises attended a Supplier Development Summit hosted by the state-owned defence and technology group at its Irene Campus.
OECD experts advise multilateral action to reduce export restrictions
The BIR (The Bureau of International Recycling) world recycling organisation has welcomed OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) proposals of multilateral action to counter the harmful impact of export restrictions on steelmaking, according to reports on the BIR website. The advice was given at an OECD workshop in Cape Town on December 11 which highlighted the detrimental effects of such export restrictions.
Rolls-Royce opens the most advanced turbine blade casting facility in the world
Rolls-Royce has opened a new £110 million Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) with a ceremony conducted by Business Minister Matthew Hancock. When fully operational in 2017, the 14 000 m² facility in Rotherham will employ 150 people and have the capacity to manufacture more than 100 000 single crystal turbine blades a year. These blades will feature in a wide-range of Trent aero engines, including the world’s most efficient civil large aero engine the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB.
First 3D-printed jet engine unveiled
Engineers at Monash University and its commercial arm are making top-secret prototypes for Boeing Co, Airbus Group NV, Raytheon Co and Safran SA in a development that could be the saviour of Australia’s struggling manufacturing sector. “This will allow aerospace companies to compress their development cycles because we are making these prototype engines three or four times faster than normal,” said Simon Marriott, chief executive of Amaero Engineering, the private company set up by Monash to commercialise the product.
February 2015
Aluminium beneficiation initiative mooted
Hulamin and BHP Billiton, Richards Bay have established an economic development initiative focused on developing and supporting high-level entrepreneurs in aluminium fabrication or beneficiation. The initiative, known as Aluminium Beneficiation Initiative (ABI), plans to identify, support, and train 100 – 150 entrepreneurs over a period of three years.
NFGF member Colin Smit wins prize to attend GIFA
Colin Smit, a foundry technician at MIS Engineering and a member of the New Foundry Generation Forum (NFGF), has been selected as the emerging young leader in the foundry industry for 2014. Smit was part of a select group of young foundrymen in South Africa, identified and selected by a committee that participated in a series of workshops since the launch of the NFGF in August 2013.
From virgin copper to finished tube
Copper is a major metal and an essential element used by man. It is found in ore deposits around the world. It is also the oldest metal known to man and was first discovered and used about 10,000 years ago. And, as alloyed in bronze (copper-tin alloy) about 3000 BC, was the first engineering material known to man.
Rubbish from the small-minded Minister for Small Business
“Foreign business owners in SA’s townships cannot expect to co-exist peacefully with local business owners unless they share their trade secrets,” says Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu. That was the astonishing statement which greeted me as I picked up my copy of Business Day this morning, in a story detailing the Minister’s response to the deadly wave of xenophobic looting which has swept a number of townships over the past couple of weeks.
Meehanite Conference 2014 – Japan
Executives from foundries around the world, licensed for the Meehanite process, held a conference in Japan towards the end of last year. Brian Wiggill of BP Wiggill Engineering, one of South Africa’s licensed Meehanite foundries, attended the conference in Osaka, Japan. Meehanite organises regular technical conferences, which are attended by representatives of licensees from all over the world.
R32.57 million settlement after steely swindle
Unlisted steel-maker Columbus Stainless has been fined R32.57 million for entering into a price-fixing agreement or engaging in a concerted practice with its competitors to directly or indirectly fix the purchase price of scrap metal, according to a report in Business Report. Columbus agreed to the fine in terms of a settlement agreement it reached with the Competition Commission, which was confirmed by the Competition Tribunal.
Diecasting injection moulding combined in new process
There is no crying need in the world for a machine that combines diecasting techniques with plastic injection molding, and yet a cooperative research effort has developed that new possibility. Working with Osram, the Munich-based lighting manufacturer, researchers at Germany’s Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University successfully cast plastic and metal together on a single machine and in a single process step.
EPA endorses reuse of spent foundry sand
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the results of a risk-assessment study it conducted, examining the environmental effects of spent foundry sands, concluding there are some applications that will not endanger human health and may yield some environmental benefits. The study was conducted by EPA together with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Ohio State University.
Hulamin purchases significant portion of BHP Billiton’s SA casthouse
South African aluminium products manufacturer Hulamin has announced that it is part of a group which had signed a deal to buy a casthouse from BHP Billiton. BHP, the world’s biggest mining company, has sold its Richards Bay, Bayside casthouse to Isizinda Aluminium, which is 40 percent owned by Hulamin and 60 percent held by black investment group Bingelela Capital. The deal value was not disclosed.
CSR and Transnet to set up manufacturing facilities in South Africa
South African freight and logistics company Transnet has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese locomotive manufacturer CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive (CSR) to build manufacturing facilities in South Africa. The new manufacturing plants will carry out the production and maintenance of electric locomotives, as well as core rail equipment and components for African markets.
December 2014
Insimbi expecting lower earnings as a result of Numsa strike
JSE listed Insimbi Refractory and Alloy Supplies announced that it expected its earnings and headline earnings a share from continuing operations for the six months ended August 31 to be between 22% and 27% lower than that of the prior corresponding period.
SAIF 2014 Annual Golf Day
The South African Institute of Foundrymens’ Annual Golf Day took place on Thursday 13th November 2014. The event was held at the Reading Country Club. The competition on the day was four ball alliance with two scores to count and four scores to count on the par 3s.
ASK Chemicals honoured with BMW Innovation Award for Sustainability
At the beginning of October, the BMW Group held its “BMW Supplier Innovations Award 2014” ceremony to celebrate the achievements and innovations of its suppliers. ASK Chemicals was awarded as one of the eight most innovative suppliers in the category sustainability.
New metals, minerals, ore and services supplier emerges
In many ways heat, pressure and chemistry are also in play in a metal casting industry that faces a combination of short- and long-term obstacles. There is an ongoing economic slump, a shortage of young, skilled workers, tightening environmental standards, and smarter, more sophisticated global competition.
Dickinson Group of Companies appointed agents for Allied Mineral Products
Allied Mineral Products, Inc. (USA) has appointed the Vereeniging based Dickinson Group of Companies as their agents to market, sell and distribute their range of monolithic refractory products throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including KwaZulu Natal.
Exports affecting local companies’ access to good quality scrap metal
Access to good quality local scrap is being hampered by increasing exports of this material. This is according to steel and steel products manufacturer Scaw Metals Group’s head of operations Steve van Wyk at the company’s Union Junction steelmaking plant in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, in an Engineering News article.
AFSA plans international aluminium conference and exhibition
As part of the overall strategy of the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA) to assist in favourably positioning the South African aluminium industry, the industry body will host an International Aluminium Conference and Exhibition from 16 – 18 March 2016 at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Milnerton, Cape Town, Western Cape.
New scrap metals policy critisised
Fresh amendments to the policy on scrap metals will not remedy long-standing viability issues in the sector since the Department of Economic Development introduced measures a year ago to curb the exports of waste metal, according to a report in Business Day. This is the view of industry players commenting on new amendments published in September.
October 2014
Scaw Metals Group appoints new CFO
The Scaw Metals Group has announced the appointment of its new Chief Financial Officer, Patrick Malaza. Malaza’s appointment comes at a time when the industry is going through many changes. “I look forward to a long and healthy relationship with Scaw Metals Group and moreover, driving the long-term sustainability of the company’s financial position,” said Malaza.
Smelters and foundries need support to survive
Smelters and foundries need support if they are to survive. As a start, Eskom has to sort out its electricity supply problems, and government’s R4 trillion infrastructure plan needs to get under way soon, according to reports in the Business Day.
GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS AND NEWCAST 2015 National Pavilion applied for but not yet approved
There are only eight months to go before GIFA / NEWCAST / METEC / THERMPROCESS 2015 opens at the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Centre in Germany. Foundry professionals from all over the world will meet from 16 to 20 June 2015 for the world’s number one exhibition for the foundry/castings industry.
Casting a line, online
Over 3 000 unique users from 103 countries: As clichéd as it is, it seems like just the other day that Crawford Publications decided to take its first plunge into vast sea of the world wide web that is the internet. It was something that we had been toying with for a few years, but at the beginning of 2014, we finally leapt off the diving board, and haven’t looked back since.
RAPDASA 15th Annual International Conference
The Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa (RAPDASA) will hold its 15th Annual International Conference from 5 to 7 November 2014 at the Stellenbosch University’s Center for Advanced Studies (STIAS) situated in the heart of the Winelands region, Western Cape. This year’s conference will be hosted by the Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University and is endorsed by Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations (GARPA).
Ashland and Clariant complete the sale of ASK Chemicals to Rhône
Speciality chemical firms Ashland and Clariant have completed the sale of ASK Chemicals, a foundry chemicals manufacturer, to investment funds affiliated with Rhône for €257 million. After adjusting for debt and assumed liabilities, Ashland and Clariant received €128 million in cash and a €21 million buyer note. The proceeds will be equally divided among the companies under the terms of the 50/50 joint-venture (JV).
QME takes over Künkel Wagner
Insolvent Alfeld, German foundry machine builder Künkel-Wagner has been thrown a lifeline with the announcement that an investor has acquired the company. The investor, QME from Qingdao (Tsingtao) in China, was due to take over the insolvent machine builder from 1 September 2014, it was announced by the liquidators recently. No purchase price was disclosed.
Vesuvius: Technical services acquisitions in Brazil and the USA
Vesuvius plc, a global leader in molten metal engineering, announced the signing of binding agreements for the acquisition of two businesses, Ecil Met Tec and Process Metrix, in pursuit of the strategy to build a presence as a leading technical services provider to the steel and foundry industries.
Blast cleaning of castings weighing up to 250 metric tons
PJSC Energomashspetsstal, located in the Ukrainian town of Kramatorsk on an area of around 138 hectares (340 acres), specialises in manufacturing very big, heavy and complex castings, components like steam and hydro turbine housings, steam turbine rotors, hydro rotors, trusses, ring gears, screw blades and hubs, support rollers for hot and cold rolling mills as well as die fixing blocks.
August 2014
Premier Valves acquired by Denmark’s AVK
A majority stake in South Africa’s Premier Valves Group (PVG) has been acquired by AVK, one of the world’s leading valve manufacturers. The R100 million investment will see AVK South Africa become compliant with the DTI’s new Designation Law, requiring State Owned Entities to buy locally manufactured products with a 70% local content.
Air Products to open Eastern Cape air separation unit
Air Products is making an impact in the Eastern Cape and creating employment and business opportunities alongside economic advantages for local industry with its R300 million investment in the province’s first air separation unit (ASU).
Hudaco looks abroad in ‘challenging’ times
Interim results ‘disappointing but resilient’ as company says increased emphasis will be placed on sales into markets outside South Africa. Hudaco Industries has delivered disappointing yet resilient results for the first half of the year reported the group in its interim results report for H1 2014 ending 31 May.
General Electric SA to invest R700 million in establishing an innovation and technology development facility and supplier development vehicle
The programme is broken into two components and is closely aligned with government’s increasing demand for localisation when awarding infrastructure contracts.
Dawn forms JV with Grohe
Stock exchange listed Distribution and Warehousing Network (Dawn) has announced that it had sold 51% of its Watertech companies for R880 million cash to international group Grohe. Dawn CEO Derek Tod said the company had, for a number of years, sought to globalise its manufacturing operations.
Amendments unsettle smaller scrap merchants
Recent amendments to the published export guidelines for ferrous and nonferrous waste and scrap have created uncertainty among small and medium-sized scrap merchants who fear that they could be forced out of the market because of the more stringent measures, according to a Business Day report.
Künkel Wagner files for bankruptcy
Individuals responsible for the Kunkel-Wagner process technology have applied for insolvency proceedings at the district court in Hildesheim. As provisional liquidator, the court has ordered Attorney Christopher Seagon from Heidelberg. Seagon is currently engaged to assess the economic situation and reorganizational possibilities for the company. “It’s still too early to release specific information,” said Seagon.
ASK Chemicals launches Casting Academy at the Metal + Metallurgy China Fair in Beijing, China
During the Metal + Metallurgy China fair, ASK Chemicals, international supplier of high-performance foundry consumables, launched its first Chinese ASK Chemicals Casting Academy with a comprehensive lecture program. In addition to the company’s own expertise in products and technologies, the one-day event featured lectures on core production at Mingzhi Technology.
Lightweight design of GF Automotive wins the design award at the IMA Awards 2014
The International Magnesium Association (IMA) recognized advances in magnesium technology, products and processes in the 2014 Awards of Excellence and International Environmental Responsibility Award competitions during the 71st Annual World Magnesium Conference held in Munich, Germany in June.
June 2014
Scaw Metals Group improves BBBEE rating
The Scaw Metals Group, a leading steel and steel product manufacturer has been awarded a Level 3 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) rating; reiterating Scaw’s commitment to being a responsible corporate in South Africa.
Dorbyl: Naledi offers to buy minorities
Engineering group Dorbyl, whose shares were suspended on the JSE in November 2012, has announced that it had received a firm intention letter from Naledi Foundry to make an offer for all of the shares held by shareholders other than African Dune.
Madzivhandila takes over as President of SAIF
Takalani Madzivhandila has taken over from Enno Krueger as President of the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF), for the next two years. Krueger completed his term according to constitutional rules and handed over to Madzivhandila at the Institute’s AGM which took place on 13 May 2014 and was attended by 50 members and guests.
Clariant and Ashland to sell ASK Chemicals JV to Rhône
The joint-venture partners that own ASK Chemicals LLC have agreed to sell the company to an investment fund for an estimated $350 million, according to a statement by the sellers. ASK Chemicals supplies sand binders, mold coatings, mold feeders, filters and release agents to foundries worldwide.
Ghana bans export of scrap ferrous metal to support local industry
Ghana has banned the export of ferrous scrap metal immediately in a bid to make more raw material available to sustain the West Africa country’s steel industry said Trade Minister Haruna Iddrisu. Iddrisu said the government was also drafting legislation to establish an international trade commission to deepen and enforce anti-dumping measures in Ghana.
Vesuvius profit rises after quitting low-margin units
Vesuvius Plc, a maker of ceramic moulds and linings for steelmakers and foundries, reported a 14 percent jump in pretax profit as margins recovered after the company quit less-profitable businesses. Vesuvius, spun off from Cookson Group in 2012, has also cut costs as it battles a downturn in European and North American steel markets.
Futuristic 3D printed car body unveiled
With its latest exhibit, “EDAG GENESIS”, EDAG offers a visionary outlook for what might well be the next industrial revolution in automotive development and production. German auto firm, EDAG, made a stir at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with a fully 3D printed auto body called Genesis. And why not? Its smooth grey curves and futuristic honeycomb ooze sex appeal. And did we mention 3D printed cars?
General Motors’ magnesium alloy VSC machine completes first trial run
General Motors and the GM China Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai has announced the first trial run of the facility’s new vertical squeeze casting machine, the first of its kind in the world designed for developing next-generation magnesium castings.
April 2014
More investors flock to Coega
Two Coega investor projects, with a combined investment value of R700 million, were commissioned by the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, and Energy, Dikobe Ben Martins recently.
Hulamin invests in recycling
Shares in Hulamin gained recently after the aluminium producer posted solid annual results and announced a R300 million investment in a recycling facility as it plans to diversify its metal sources amid mounting concerns about supply from the Bayside smelter.
Meehanite Conference 2014
Executives from three foundries in South Africa, licensed for the Meehanite process, held a conference at the Hunters Lodge in Rustenburg, Gauteng in March. The conference was sponsored by the local Meehanite franchisee, Meehanite Africa and Castings Materials, which is headed up by Desmond Wiggill.
Concept Laser introduces the largest component produced to date using the additive process
The approaches of additive manufacturing are currently revolutionizing how development engineers think, while also awakening new desires. For instance, XXL-sized 3D components are currently a trend.
SAIF news
The South African Institute of Foundrymen invites you and your customers to the 2014 Annual Awards Dinner to be held at the Emperors Palace (Caesars Convention Centre), Kempton Park, Gauteng on Friday 30th May 2014.
JVT points out risks of fitting non-OEM vibrating motors to vibrating equipment
JVT Vibrating Equipment’s Managing Director, Fanie Swart has warned users of the risks associated with fitting non-OEM parts, particularly drives and drive components to vibrating screens and feeders.
WFO welcomes New President
Mr. Vinod Kapur has been elected as World foundry Organisation (WFO) President for 2014 and 2015. Vinod has served on the WFO Executive board for the past five years and is a former President of The Institute of Indian Foundrymen.
Alcoa to close Australian smelter and mills
Aluminium giant Alcoa plans to close down a smelter and two mills in Australia by the end of the year, affecting nearly 1,000 jobs. Alcoa has announced that it will permanently close its Point Henry aluminium smelter and two rolling mills in Australia. The smelter and an adjacent rolling mill are located in Geelong, Victoria.
International Foundry Exhibition part of 71st World Foundry Congress
The International Foundry Exhibition is turning out to be an important part of the upcoming 71st World Foundry Congress, where leading metal casting industry personnel and suppliers will present their latest innovations, products and services.
