Ec industrial & business news issue 71 by The Media & Events Company

EASTERN CAPE INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS NEWS

YOUR LINK TO INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CAPE

issn NO: 1996-9708

january/ february 2016

Inside

Local innovators selected for Silicon Valley excursion page 3

Heating, Cooling & Ventilation - page 5

Engineering & Allied Supplies - page 6

Industrial Property & Development - page 7

R17,10 (VAT incl.)

The economy's impact on the property market

here is a direct link between the stability of an economy and ongoing development. It’s not surprising then that South Africa’s construction and engineering sector took quite a severe knock in the second half of 2015. This was largely influenced by the regressive growth in the country’s GDP over two quarters – and as the economy grapples to stabilise itself, this trend is expected to continue at least into the first quarter of 2016. In fact, it is predicted that the slower economic growth, ratings downgrades, exchange rate depreciation, which will drive inflation and interest rate escalation, as well as cost of living increases are likely to result in a slowdown in demand for residential and industrial property in 2016. This is according to William Johnston, Regional Director, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Structures, Africa. The outlook for the Eastern Cape’s property market is not too dissimilar from the national outlook. If we consider that the region’s dominant economic industries are manufacturing (particularly automotive parts) and agriculture, which in recent years have faced compacting issues of labour unrest, de-investment and most recently the drought which continues to have a devastating impact on the inland regions of the province. The current status unfortunately

doesn’t bode well for growth of secondary industries such as processing or packing plants, and subsequent to that – demand for major industrial projects. There is, however, room for optimism. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) continues to work tirelessly with the DTI as well as

provincial and national Government departments to bring more investment to the region. Drives to expand the region’s industrial economy include; green industries, forestry and timber processing and, manufacturing in pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals and capital goods.

With continued growth in these industrial activities coupled with two harbours and four airports, keen opportunities are created to develop secondary industries along the supply chain, which in turn will create more demand for light commercial and industrial property development, including factories, warehouses and commercial business parks. Added to this, in recent years there have been a number of retail property developments within the Eastern Cape region, aimed at meeting growing consumer demand. This segment of the property market is expected to continue to grow steadily, as a direct result of increased investment and growth in industrial activities and the transformative impact these are having on economic development and social upliftment around the province. Like most sectors, growth and expansion are dependent on supply-and-demand. And, while we don’t expect there to be substantial heavy industrial and commercial development in the Eastern Cape in the short- to medium-term due constraints on national economic growth, there are certainly opportunities for lighter industrial and commercial projects, which will bode well for construction and engineering companies who can afford to adapt. Enquiry No: 1

Innovative world-first welding technology

E Company & Product News - page 8

issue no. 71

skom in collaboration with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) has developed a “commercial-ready” technology (WeldCore) for the power generation and petro-chemical industry. The technology, WeldCore, directly influences the life extension programmes within the local and international power generation and petro-chemical sector by unlocking new ways of determining remnant life of

high value engineering components. WeldCore is a sampling and repair process which allows for the removal of a representative cylindrical metallurgical sample from a pipe or component, and the subsequent repair of the removal site using a unique friction welding technique called friction taper hydro-pillar processing (FTHPP). The metallurgical sample can be analysed to ascertain, amongst oth-

ers, the level of material creep life deterioration, fracture toughness and remnant life. Current techniques for assessing the material integrity of thermally aged components rely on tedious and costly processes which often lead to over-conservative results. All of the above has now been tested and validated and internationally accredited. The committee for Section IX of

the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) granted approval for industry application of the WeldCore technology. The ASME code approval places the process on the international front as an accepted procedure, for users world-wide. By all indications, this is the first approval by ASME BPVC for a South African institution.

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January / February 2016

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EC Industrial & Business News

2016: Big changes ahead

ith a tumultuous year-end in 2015 on various fronts – political, economic, social and environmental, one is left asking the question “where to now?” As a brief summary, on the social and political front the #xxxmustfall did the rounds quiet aggressively to millions of Rand of damage to higher education institutions. The Western Cape is currently dealing with its own issues of a billboard of President Jacob Zuma. On that note, municipal elections should prove quite interesting this year as all the parties come out guns blazing - as we can already see from some of the media reports. The Finance-Minister Shuffle has had immense effects on our economy and will take time to win back the hard-fought, albeit very low economic growth lost in December. The current outlook of less than 1% is not promising at all, yet we must persevere. With many businesses, NGO’s, chambers of commerce and general civil society rejecting Eskom’s MYPD3

RCA application, let us hope NERSA see it so as well. With the worst drought South Africa has seen in the last decade and the various dire consequences thereof – such as a devastated agriculture sector. However there is indeed a silver lining. I have seen the spirit of Ubuntu in our local communities as both businesses and individuals assist those in water scarce areas by donating water. Not only is it altruistic, it makes good business sense. Businesses are about people - If there is no-one to trade with due to the drought, it makes sense to help them out. On a positive note, with a bumper festive season Buffalo City was inundated with holiday makers, bringing in much needed revenue to the city and as the first major sporting event in the city, another successful Ironman 70.3, sports tourism looks to be off to a good start. A the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention” and with the plethora of

The Voice of Business

by Les Holbrook

5th edition of EC socio-economic review & outlook

challenges we currently face – our need is great and now is the time for entrepreneurs, visionaries, inventors and engineers to take centre stage and resolve some of our current challenges! The Border-Kei Chamber of Business has been a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Trader since 2012, and now source our RECS from a 100% locally manufactured wind tower – an achievement we are most certainly proud of. With the carbon tax on the horizon RECs are a great way to mitigate some the upcoming tax as well as use green energy and reduce your carbon footprint – what more could you ask for. For more information contact our Green Desk at greendesk@bkcob.co.za

GIVING YOU THE RENTAL PRODUCTS, WORK TOOLS AND SERVICES

he latest Eastern Cape Socio-economic Review and Outlook, which provides an update on key economic developments and unpacks key areas that influence the national and provincial economy is now available. The 153-page overview provides insights in five areas: • A brief global economic outlook, analysing the performance of major economies (USA, Euro Zone, UK, Japan, BRICS), as well as the major issues and current economic affairs • A brief review of South Africa’s pertinent macroeconomic indicators, their performance and outlook in the context of the global economy • An assessment of the Eastern Cape economy, highlighting relevant socio-economic indicators, assessing future prospects, and grounding this within the broader context of the national economy • A socio-economic evaluation of the province’s districts municipalities, within the context of the provincial economy • A special chapter on sustainable energy in the Eastern Cape highlighting the current size and status of green industries as well as future prospects for growth. Download your electronic copy www.dedea. gov.za, under the knowledge hub section. Enquiry No: 3

EASTERN CAPE INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS YOUR LINK TO INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CAPE

NEWS

Tel: 0861 122 441 P O Box 1322 Wandsbeck 3631 Fax: (031) 266 7514 Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za www.mediaevents.co.za Managing Director: Janet Coom Editor: Jacqui Harris Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za Sales & Marketing Manager: Cheryl Murphy Email: cheryl@mediaevents.co.za

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Any news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to business and industry in Eastern Cape Industrial & Business News are welcome. All contributions will be considered for publication. Disclaimer: The editor and management of Eastern Cape Industrial & Business News make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication. However, no warranty is made and no responsibility will be borne by the editor or management of consequences of any actions based on information published. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and/or management.

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January / February 2016

EC Industrial & Business News

From left: Founders of Millbug based in Port Elizabeth, Sabelo Sibanda and Thulisile Volwana

HE founders of Millbug in Port Elizabeth have been visiting Silicon Valley in America – after being invited on a one-

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Local innovators selected for Silicon Valley excursion month trip. Millbug – a client of Seda Nelson Mandela Bay ICT Incubator (SNII) in Port Elizabeth - members Sabelo Sibanda and Thulisile Volwana also founded another company Tuse along with Michael Kyazze. Shortly after the launch of Tuse’s public beta version of the Tuse application on the Google Play store, they were invited to join Founders Space in Silicon Valley. Sibanda hails from Port Elizabeth, Volwana is from Engcobo in the Transkei and Kyazze is from Uganda. The Tuse application, which launched earlier last year, is an Android app that allows people to communicate freely without the need for traditional telecommunication infrastructure. The Tuse app was released in late-Decem-

ber last year. An iOS version of the Tuse app is also being developed and will be available in February 2016, Sibanda said. “We hope our stay at Silicon Valley will help us build a large network of partners and experts who can help Millbug rapidly deploy our innovations. The problems we are solving are unique and will need significant resources to deploy at scale,” said Sibanda. Millbug, were the developers of the solar powered Vuya Tablet PC in 2013. After joining SNII three years ago, Millbug today still benefit from the incubator’s expertise. “SNII have been of great assistance in getting the device (Vuya Tablet) tested and certified for sale in compliance with South African law,” said Sibanda.

Apart from developing the Vuya Tablet and the Tuse app, they have also developed solutions for various clients from Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Sibanda added that there has never been a better time to be a technology entrepreneur. “Focussing solely on making money is the quickest way to fail.” Sipelo Lupondwana, SNII centre manager, congratulated the Millbug team for being selected to visit Silicon Valley. He added that SNII will continue to be the place where Port Elizabeth’s technology entrepreneurs, young ICT businesses, and inventors with ideas come to in order to be developed into successful enterprises. Enquiry No: 4

Going green in Ugie

n innovative approach to conservation of wildlife in forests owned by PG Bison is aiding the survival of the blue crane – South Africa’s endangered national bird – by turning foresters into informal conservation agents. According to Mr Gerhard Victor, CEO of PG Bison, the decision to locate conservation with the people who manage the company’s forests around Ugie in the Eastern Cape – and not in a specialised unit that has to contend for scarce resources – is part of a ten-year environmental strategy. “We are mid-way through the planned ten years, and so far it has worked really well. We have made conservation the concern of every employee. Our foresters understand that the well-being of natural resources directly impact the health of the company and the jobs that it sustains.” PG Bison co-facilitated investments of R2.1 billion in Ugie / Maclear when it built a world-

class board plant in the area in 2008. The plant is surrounded and supplied by managed forests that contain important wetlands, patches of indigenous forests and a variety of endemic wildlife species. In compiling its environmental strategy, the company has literally taken its cue from the wildebeest, a variety of antelope species and three crane species breeding in the area, namely the blue crane, wattled crane and crown crane. No fences are erected without consulting the animals’ migration patterns, explains Amanda Sithole, Risk Manager for PG Bison’s forests. Under the watchful eyes of ordinary foresters, cattle from local communities and wildlife control grassland growth. “Over-grazing leads to erosion, but undergrazing allows weeds and the grass itself to become so thick that it creates other hazards. Wildfires that burn hotter than they should, for example, change the soil composition

and cause weeds to sprout, making it impossible for indigenous growth to return – or for the cranes to breed in their natural habitat,” says Sithole. “Unhealthy wetlands jeopardise our forests. The type of tree and the density of planting are determined by soil and water conditions, which are in turn naturally regulated in wetland systems. It is therefore in our interest to conserve natural habitats.”

Sithole says PG Bison has done its homework, so foresters know where cranes spend their days and where they breed. The company’s response has been to create special dry and wet management zones in plantations. Enquiry No: 5

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January / February 2016

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EC Industrial & Business News

Lobbying against impediments to business

e kicked off the year at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, dare I say, “guns blazing” with an unwavering start to creating an enabling environment for business in 2016. Representatives from the Business Chamber gave an impactful presentation at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa)’s public hearing on Eskom's Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) application, which took place on January 20 in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber lived up to its slogan of being the authoritative voice of business when we strongly rejected the proposed additional increases in electricity tariffs for 2016. The main reasons for the rejection highlight-

ed by Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Deputy President MC Botha and Member Company Autocast Executive Director David Mertens in a joint presentation were: • Eskom is seeking to recover inefficiencies through the RCA; • The application is unprocedural and irregular in various respects; • The consumer is being penalised for acting in accordance with the request by Eskom to reduce electricity usage. Lobbying on behalf of our members on issues that affect their sustainability, we simply cannot accept the raising of tariffs by April this year, beyond the original multi-year price determination agreement. Citizens and businesses in Nelson Mandela

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Bay cannot afford additional increases and, once granted, the application would not be in the interest of an enabling environment for business to be globally competitive – particularly in the current economic climate we find ourselves. Business simply cannot absorb the effects of this RCA application, which we believe is to recover inefficiencies in maintenance and planning by Eskom. Against the background of a crippling drought, national political instability and the depreciation of the Rand, we feel that tariffs must, in fact, be contained and minimised to accommodate businesses, who find themselves under immense strain, to counter the economic downturn by stimulating growth and

employment in the country. Electricity tariffs have increased almost five fold since 2001 and as a result business has had to reduce its usage of power and invest in alternative energy as prices continue to escalate. This could inevitably lead to further reduction of investment and employment in the country. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber will continue to be at the forefront of protecting businesses’ interest in relation to uncompetitive electricity tariffs, as we did last year by lobbying in various public meetings and behind the scenes for the future sustainability of the city’s economy.

Competition for human capital to drive recruitment

n addition to economic uncertainties and financial pressures, employers face a growing challenge of availability, competition and retention of skilled workers. This is according to KC Makhubele, (pictured) President of the Federation of African Professional Staffing Organisations (APSO), who notes that human capital is arguably the most valuable asset within any organisation and finding the perfect employees - to feed into this pool of talent - is becoming more competitive than ever before. “While we witness a rising unemployment rate, competition to source and retain top talent has become an excessively costly and time-consuming exercise for organisations relying on internal resources to take control of staffing processes. This catch twentytwo – numerous job seekers, yet multiple job vacancies requiring skilled workers – is largely due to a mismatch of available skills and those required by the market,” he explains. Makhubele notes that the basis of candidate competition is shifting from operating with a core group of employees and outsourcing as much as possible to building and maintaining a skilled and efficient employee base. “This has prompted the need for emphasis on new ways of recruit-

ing, on-boarding and retaining top talent,” he says. To win this “war for talent”, Makhubele says businesses need to make an effort to retain existing staff who make a valuable contribution to the organisation. “This often requires a great deal of employee recognition and transparency as well as communicating a clear strategy to grow existing staff and their careers,” he adds. It is not only essential for organisations to retain existing staff but also to hire the best available candidates to add to the growth, innovation and success of the business moving forward. As a result, APSO expects the new generation of staffing and recruitment solutions to continue picking up speed in the market. Such solutions include Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO), Contingency Staffing, as well as the use of Managed Service Providers and a variation of permanent and temporary staffing solutions. Makhubele says, “Depending on the respective company’s resources and requirements, they can choose to outsource all or part of specific staffing functions such as sourcing or screening candidates, administering payroll, managing staffing providers or organising timely temporary replacements for absent staff - this is what makes these solutions so unique.” According to Everest Group, RPO is one of the fastest Enquiry No: 6 growing single-process HRO markets .

Eastern Cape business more positive than their provincial counterparts he Eastern Cape is still bucking national T trends of business confidence by staying in positive territory while confidence levels in

the country generally slump to their lowest levels since the global economic meltdown in 2010. The confidence level in the province is 53 index points out of a possible 100, compared with the national level of only 38 points. Eastern Cape’s average was boosted by high levels of confidence among businesses in the wholesale, retail and construction sectors, but dragged down by very low confidence levels among manufacturers. The figures are contained in the third quarter report for 2015 of the Real Investment Monitor published by the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The statistics, extracted from surveys conducted by the Bureau of Economic Research, show that South Africa’s business confidence slumped to a five-year low in the quarter, to a level not seen since 2010. While the average business confidence in South Africa has only broken through the 50-point “neutral” mark three times since 2010, the Eastern Cape performed relatively better in the third quarter with its slightly positive average. The highest levels of business confidence in the third quarter in the province were shown by wholesalers, who on average rated their confidence at a strong level of 93 points, with retail businesses close behind on 84 points. Construction businesses surveyed were also confident, with 61 points. Enquiry No: 7

January / February 2016

EC Industrial & Business News

heating, cooling & ventilation

lightweight humidity Harnessing the ocean to Portable, verification system heat and cool buildings M

he V&A Waterfront’s Silo District is recognised as one of the most advanced and environmentallyfriendly developments in Africa, as the completed No 1 and No 2 Silo developments use the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the surrounding harbour to provide cooling and heating to the R2.5-billion project, which is due for completion in 2017 once an additional four silo developments are fully-operational. Heating and air-conditioning solutions provider Carrier is playing a central role in the final stage of this project, with the installation of a 6 MW cooling plant that will provide the same cooling and heating solutions to Silos No 3 to 6. Carrier is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). The AquaEdge 23XRV variable speed screw chiller is a highly-efficient cooling solution that achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) between 10.37 and 16.04 under various conditions.

COP is a measurement of efficiency obtained by dividing the power output by the power input. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. “By circulating seawater through heat exchangers, the system does not require cooling towers to reject heat into the atmosphere, rather, it rejects unwanted heat into the ocean. As a result, the system gains from the efficiencies associated with water cooling, and avoids the pitfall of water usage through evaporation in cooling towers,” says Jaco Smal; Carrier business development manager .

Beating harsh power generation environment

hermaspray is an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System and Eskom Level 1 certified company that delivers refurbishing, manufacturing and repair services to numerous power stations around the country. The company’s wide range of worldclass surface coating and Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) cladding process solutions are ideally suited to a host of demanding applications in the power generation industry. Thermaspray’s Metallurgical Engineer, Shaik Hoosain explains that in the steam cycle, equipment and components that handle steam and water (steam generators, pumps and turbines) are subjected to extreme conditions such as high pressure steam, high temperatures and wear. “These components require a variety of control, safety and shut off sys-

tems and this is where a lot of wear occurs. Our thermal spray and PTA capabilities enable us to refurbish and repair a wide range of components used by local power stations. " "These include fan blade and steam side spindles, servo motor and rack spindles, stator pump bearing and accumulator housings, fan blade shafts and liners, pump impellers, nose tip liners, deflector rings, control casings, sleeve and rotation plates, sleeves and bushes as well as a range of valves.” Thermal spray is the method of applying materials onto a prepared base material by heating particles in the stream of a heat source to create a semi-molten state. Particles are then propelled by high velocity onto a prepared substrate where they adhere to the base surface via a mechanical bond; particles

Sensing made easy

eveloping fit-for-purpose products that utilise sensors requires an in-depth knowledge of sensing technology as well as the ability to identify the correct sensor and integrate it with the electronics and intelligence enabling the desired final product in terms of information, automation and most importantly, increased safety. Booyco Electronics has established itself as a provider of sensors that not only meet these exacting requirements but are also designed to operate in the often harsh operating conditions found in Africa on both underground and surface mines. Accurate measurement of gases is made simple with the South African manufactured ESI Smart Sensor. Significantly, this compact sensing unit, weighing only 1.8 kg, has the ability to measure one of 15 different gases from a single controller. This feature sets the instrument apart from other such units currently in the market. Gases that can be monitored using this EXia T4 Intrinsically Safe gas sensing instrument include oxygen (O²), carbon dioxide (CO²), flammable gases such as methane (CH4) and combustible gases such as carbon monoxide (CO). The instrument also carries SANS IEC 60079 Part 0:2005, SANS IEC 60079 Part 11: 2007 and IEC 60529 (IP code) approvals and offers ingress protection to IP56. The ESI Smart Sensor has a localised information display making it simple to read, and it can also accommodate other sensors with analogue outputs, such as air velocity sen-

The chiller also makes use of nonozone-depleting HFC-134a refrigerant and next-generation, patented screw compressor technology that features a tri-rotor. “This unique chiller is able to use the variable frequency drive (VFD) to reduce speed and optimise operation, independent of ambient conditions. As a result, it is able to precisely match building load and conserve energy, making it the world’s most efficient chiller in these conditions,” explains Smal. In addition to breaking this efficiency barrier, the AquaEdge 23XRV features robust and flexible operation with a wide operating envelope and surgefree compression. The innovative design and high-quality construction makes the AquaEdge 23XRV chiller the most modern and efficient choice in water-cooled plants. It is available is sizes from 250 tonnes to 550 tonnes (879 kW to 1 934 kW) Enquiry No: 8 Nominal.

ichell Instruments, represented in South Africa by Instrotech – a Comtest Group company – has introduced a new portable verification system for humidity probes – the HygroCal100. Weighing just 3.2 kg, it is less than 25% of the weight of its closest competitor and with a battery life of up to 8 hours, the unit is designed with portability in mind. The humidity test chamber is highly stable and allows the evaluation of relative humidity sensors in the range of 5 to 95% RH. Up to seven probes, with different diameters and output signals, can be validated simultaneously. The HygroCal100’s innovative design allows the probes to be integrated with the chamber and user interface enabling the operator to easily monitor the readings of each probe during the calibration cycle. In addition, all the calibration data can be downloaded

from the unit on to a USB drive for later use. An external reference hygrometer, such as Michell’s fundamental, chilled mirror Optidew Vision, can be integrated into the system. If this reference has a traceable calibration, it allows users to incorporate this traceability into their verifications. The unit is easily programmable through its touch-screen interface enabling calibration routines to be completely automated. The operator defines the humidity points, and time to remain at each of them, inserts the probes and the reference (if used), then leaves the unit to work through the cycle. The HygroCal100 contains an internal polymer reference – Michell’s latest generation HS3 sensor, giving class-leading ±0.8%rh accuracy. For long term reliability, the HygroCal100 can be calibrated against an external Enquiry No: 11 reference.

continue to build until a specified thickness is attained. This spray method restores worn components to precise original dimensions and provides increased resistance to high temperatures and oxidation, traction, cavitation, chemicals and corrosion as well as wear resistance (resulting from erosion, abrasion and sliding). The result is an extension of component service life and the subsequent increased uptime and improved production translate to significant cost savings for the enduser. PTA weld / clad hardfacing is a welding process used to produce highquality weld hardfacings of Ni, Co and Fe alloys, as well as tungsten carbide containing grades of the nickel alloy. The PTA hardfacings that are metallurgically bonded to the parent material are able to handle impact, point and/ or line loads that a thermal spray coating cannot tolerate, offering the ideal solution for applications where severe impact and corrosion are prevalent.

sors or smoke detectors. In addition, the ESI Smart Sensor can easily be connected to a fire detection system with reporting and display on SCADA package.

Enquiry No: 9

When it comes to handheld gas detection devices, the Sentient is in a class of its own. Specifically

developed to improve safety in confined spaces, this handheld multi-gas sensor measures relative humidity as a standard offering. The Sentient is a low maintenance unit without any buttons. Enquiry No: 10

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January / February 2016

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EC Industrial & Business News

ENGINEERING & ALLIED SUPPLIES R Global marketing partner agreement boosts semiconductor offering S Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, recently announced the signing of a global marketing partner agreement with Infineon Technologies to distribute the company’s extensive portfolio

of semiconductors and other electronic components. The agreement builds upon the existing relationship between RS and Infineon and enables customers around the world to purchase a huge selection of Infineon and International

Rectifier products directly from RS. RS stocks many hundreds of electronic components developed by Infineon and International Rectifier including: discrete semiconductor devices such as bipolar transistors, rectifiers, MOSFETs, IGBTs, high-power thyristors and diodes including TVS, varactor and Schottky types; power management devices such as AC/DC and DC/DC power conversion ICs, low-dropout voltage regulators, intelligent power switches and motor driver ICs; plus a range of other components including microcontrollers and MCU development kits, sensors, RF and wireless control ICs and LED driver ICs, among many more. These components are widely deployed in a multitude of applications and across many market sectors including IT, communications, consumer, automotive, industrial, transportation and medical electronics, among others. “RS is a proven global electronics component distributor that has developed excellent eCommerce capabilities and a world-class logistics infrastructure,” said Andreas Forstner, Head of Online Sales at Infineon Technologies. “This new co-operation ensures that engineers, developers and makers across all sizes of organisation and anywhere in the world can get fast and easy access to our growing range of products and technologies.”

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From left: Joerg Wagner, Senior Director, Mass Market Global, Infineon Technologies; Jon Boxall, Global Head of Semiconductors, RS Components; Andreas Forstner, Head of Online Sales, Infineon Technologies.

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widths and lengths of 201 mm to 1 067 mm. The ties are corrosion-resistant, ensuring a longer lifespan than nylon ties, especially in extreme climates. The ties are ideal for small tasks ranging from tagging to bundling large cables, and feature a self-locking design that allows for fast installation. Installing the ties is quick and easy with the range of lightweight and portable Ball-Lokt tools to ensure uniform tension, or this can be done by hand. Their unique buckle design is fast becoming the globally accepted industry standard. The XE9229 tensions and cuts off Ball-Lokt ties, regardless of material or coating. A cutoff lever allows for manual tensioning. The XE9229 can be used with 4.6 mm, 7.8 mm and 12 mm wide ties. The K50289 is used to install ties quickly and easily. This is a lightweight, portable BallLokt tool with adjustable tension, side loading and automatic tail cut-off. It can be used with 4.6 and 7.8 mm wide ties. The Bantam C075 and C085 hand tools are ideal for band widths from 6 mm to 20 mm. The Bantam C075 is a compact, lightweight ratchet-action tool with a built-in cutter. It is corrosion resistant and ideal for areas with restricted access. The three-way handle adjusts for one- or two-handed tensioning. It can be used with 12 and 15 mm ties. The Bantam C085 is designed for quick take-up and tensioning. Enquiry No: 13

Patented multifunction plier he 7 in 1 multifunction pliers from Knipex TThis eliminates at least 3 pliers in your toolkit. unique, patented plier offers a flat

serrated gripping surface, pipe grip, crimper, a proper cable cutter, wire stripper and a clear cut outside edge for reaming out electrical boxes all in one. The intelligent latching mechanism in the spring assisted version, allows the user to grip without opening the pliers completely. The unit is made in Germany of highgrade special tool-steel, forged and oil hardened and is backed by a lifetime warranty. It is available in three handles, basic plastic coated, multi-component grip and VDE 1000V. It is available from Garry Lumpe Enquiry No: 14 Imports.

January / February 2016

EC Industrial & Business News

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY & Development

Revenue from African projects double

T Open-ended floor grating

ndrew Mentis’ open ended system A (OES) on its RS40 Rectagrid floor grating panels offers customers some unbeatable

advantages. Elaine van Rooyen, marketing manager at Andrew Mentis, lists a number of these. “The OES is more cost competitive compared to banded panels, and lead times are also much shorter, especially for customers who usually cut and fit standard panels on site." “The half pitch on all sides of the panels, because of the manufacturing process, results in an almost seamless walkway. Aesthetically pleasing pattern matching is made possible by the accurate pitching, so that you are presented with a non-jointed appearance when the open-ended panels are joined," van Rooyen explains. “The banding of panels is eliminated by using the OES, and because there is no welding, corrosion is significantly minimised. Customers therefore benefit from both cost effectiveness and simplicity of design and installation.” Mentis Rectagrid is the result of the unique Andrew Mentis process of compressive locking of bearer bars and transversals, which ensures permanent locking and accurate bearer pitching, producing the industry’s safest available grating. Rectagrid is manufactured in compliance with the international ISO 9001 quality management system. The Rectagrid grating’s maximum width is 1 440 mm and maximum length 4 760 mm. All transverse bars on the Rectagrid OES are 7.5 mm in diameter, while the RS40 Rectagrid panels finish on half pitches in both directions, with allowance for a 4 mm clearance between panels. Saddle clamps automatically hold panels at full-pitching spacing, allowing calculations to be based on full pitches in both directions without having to make allowances for clearEnquiry No: 15 ance between panels.

building standard

not differentiate, and I think that has been our saving grace in the current economic environment,” Rontiris points out. This flexibility has also allowed SMEC South Africa to adapt to a changing consulting engineering industry. “What we are now seeing, as opposed to the merger-and-acquisition trend of two years ago, is the creation of a large number of smaller firms due to the new B-BBEE legislation that has changed the definition of a Qualifying Small Enterprise to one with a yearly revenue of R50 million." “These now have an advantage over the bigger generic firms in the bidding stages. Thus competition is quite fierce at the moment from the smaller emerging firms, which is in line with the government’s strategy of diversifying the industry,” Rontiris notes. Enquiry No: 17

High speed doors can increase productivity

ompanies are hard pressed to increase productivity, and an option not often considered is upgrading the hardware that facilitates access into and out of factories and warehouses. Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors maintains that high speed doors are no longer considered an optional extra, but have become a necessity in applications where doors need to be opened for limited periods to facilitate loading and offloading of vehicles. “High speed doors, unlike the conventional roller shutter door, are quick and easy to open, and contribute significantly to improved productivity,” Dessing says. “Reducing unnecessary standing time for equipment and vehicles carrying goods enables companies to enhance their supply chain logistics with further knock-on benefits.” Apex Strip Curtains & Doors is the leading

The bulk of the company’s work is civil engineering related, which constitutes 85% to 90% of its turnover at present. The remainder consists of project management and small electrical and mechanical works. “Our ongoing success is testament to our strategic focus of adding value to infrastructure projects, instead of being highly selective in specific niche markets. Hence we look to the bulk infrastructure market at all government levels. The result is that while we do not have many big projects, we have a lot of small to medium sized ones, which gives us the necessary turnover." “We go for the small projects as well, which means that we compete at all levels. We do

local manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of door products including high speed roll-up and fold up doors, general purpose strip curtains and welding and safety screens. Dessing says the major advantage when dealing with a local manufacturer is the cost is less than that of expensive imported products and lead times are generally far shorter.

High speed roll-up and fold-up doors are suitable for a wide variety of applications, including warehousing areas. The doors do not hinder personnel, forklift or vehicular traffic and, depending on the actual operation, can be either automatically or manually controlled. The Sector high speed roll-up door, manufactured by Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, delivers both functionality and performance. These compact doors are robust enough to cope with the intensive demands of heavy and continuous traffic and feature an integral unit incorporating the actuator, controls, safety devices and balancing systems. Sector doors are structurally flexible with transparent or coloured interchangeable panels. The company’s range of Traffic high speed fold-up doors offers a sturdy, dependable and modular solution for medium and large entrances such as shipment and warehouse Enquiry No: 18 areas.

Successful concrete repair completed

palling concrete can be potentially hazardous. This flaking from the surface is usually accompanied by nearby staining when steel reinforcement within a concrete structure begins to rust and expands to approximately 5 times its original size causing concrete delaminating or fragmenting resulting in rapid degradation of the reinforcing steel which could jeopardise the integrity of the structure. In the case of the Silo spalling at PFG Building Glass, R&D Contracting’s assessment identified that the rebar had been placed too close to the surface with the moisture ingress

causing the steel to corrode. Nearly all of the repair areas had significant support steel visible as a result of the corrosion and consequent spalling. After identifying the full extent of the problem, R&D Contracting initiated the repair process by first preparing the spalling areas. This was done by saw-cutting the perimeter of the damaged areas taking care not to cut any existing rebar. Sufficient surface area and depth were exposed in order to allow the non-shrink grout to be placed. Exposed rebar was adjusted deeper to facilitate improved coverage of the rebar with repair mortar.

Setting the standard

system launched

he latest edition of what many in the construction sector call ‘The QS Bible’,was launched at a special function at the ASAQS head office i by Dr Corné de Leeuw, former president of ASAQS recently. The Standard System contains rules about how the labour and materials required to erect a structure should be reflected and clearly defined in Bills of Quantities. Contractors base their tenders and quotations on such Bills of Quantities, so the Standard System is regarded as an indispensable tool in the industry - and has been for many years. Dr de Leeuw told the guests that the launch of the latest Standard System was a milestone event for the entire African continent as it would soon be followed by the publication of the “Standard Method of Measuring Building Work in Africa” - a very similar source of reference but to be published and distributed by the Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS). “Although many countries in Africa have their own standard systems, they will now, when using ASAQS’ latest Standard System, for the first time be able to employ Model Bill of Quantities with items aligned to their own standard systems." This standardisation will make it easier for quantity surveyors to relocate and work within various countries in Africa, and will also simplify the operations of SA-based international contractors when working in other parts of Africa,” Dr de Leeuw explained.

Free comprehensive 308 page mail order catalogue available. See contact details

Enquiry No: 16

Storage and Materials Handling Solutions

Latest edition of vital

he strategy of adding value to infrastructure projects has stood SMEC South Africa in good stead in 2015, with the engineering consultancy recording a very successful year against the backdrop of a declining economic environment. While all the major economic indicators were down in 2015, SMEC South Africa “managed to stabilise and actually grew a bit in terms of personnel,” comments CEO Kostas Rontiris (pictured). “This has been a great achievement, as most of our competitors have been retrenching at the moment.” Rontiris describes SMEC South Africa as “civil engineers who provide consultancy services to the engineering industry.”

The steel was mechanically prepared to remove all corrosion to ST2 and primed with Sika Armatech primer, cement based epoxy modified anti corrosion and bonding agent which was applied to the entire spalled area followed by placement of the repair mortar. Specially rolled angle iron steel buffer was installed to prevent accidental damage utilizing chemical anchors as opposed to expansion bolts to prevent undue expansion stress on the concrete. The project was completed with a skilled 5-man team without any incidents due to clear Enquiry No: 19 safety measures.

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www.storagedirect.co.za or www.linvar.co.za standard 200x150.indd 1

2015/04/17 12:14 PM

January / February 2016

EC Industrial & Business News

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS Invest in true technology

ompanies operating in today’s challenging economy are understandably cautious when it comes to investment, but the truth is that spending money on reliable, cost saving – and cost-effective technology is much like taking out insurance on the sustainability of a business and its ability to weather the storms. This is according to Guenter Nerlich, CEO of Human Capital Management (HCM) and HR services and solutions specialist AWM360 Data Systems. “In turbulent economic conditions, there is a tendency by decision makers to hold on to funds and avoid or postpone spending. However, an economy in trouble demands sustainable solutions… every Rand counts, especially when it comes to intellectual property and people development.” says Nerlich. It is specifically within the areas of HR and HCM where businesses are forced to be prudent and strategic, particularly in terms of acquiring and implementing technology.

Hardware and software solutions, developed by suppliers like Kaba AG, introduce aspects like automation, biometric-based control and other features designed to optimise and enhance investments already done in enterprise systems such as SAP. “No business today, irrespective of size or focus, can afford to implement technology that does little to enhance operations and improve HR or HCM functionality. Workforce management and enterprise data collection solutions are a significant element of

today’s and future HCM infrastructure management strategies,” Nerlich continues. Businesses require solutions and support to leverage off innovative and state-of-the-art workforce management. This means being in a position to take advantage of automation and other advances. “Look for solutions that are giving you a significant return on investment and that are sustainable, long-lasting investments and profitable and contributing to a company’s results – mid-and long-term,” Nerlich adds. Experienced service providers like AWM360 are focused on helping businesses devise strategies, apply the right technology and enhance processes. Providers and industry experts like Nerlich believe it is important to ensure that clients are in a position to take advantage of opportunities as the economy returns to a positive growth Enquiry No: 20 cycle.

Partnerships

for life.

Renewable energy, a core focus for business

oadshedding and sourcing reliable power supply remain challenges for all businesses in South Africa. The answer is to identify specific requirements, use the right technology solutions and be ready with a well-considered business continuity strategy says Raj Naidoo, Director of Enermatics, an established provider of smart metering technology and reseller of power to end users. According to Enermatics companies need to understand what needs to be powered during a power outage and the best advice for businesses is to first assess why energy is required for business continuity. With erratic power supply challenges, businesses are increasingly looking at renewable energy sources. “For some businesses, such as restaurants running gas, it may be as simple as I need to ensure I have lights, power for my point of sale devices and my telephone." "For this business, the best solution maybe to replace your lighting with energy efficient lights and have a UPS solution with battery and inverter for the lighting. Also, it is key to have lap-

tops rather than desktop computers. For other businesses, a full standby generator may be required. " "Your provider can assist you to create a new distribution board for standby power with a switch that transfers power when there is an outage,” says Naidoo. There is technology available that can provide the business with cost-effective and renewable energy. Naidoo identifies solar water heating (to replace hot water heating requirements) and solar PV as key solar solutions. The advantages of solar PV is that prices have reduced of late, Naidoo adds, and the technology also aligns well with the power usage requirements for commercial customers that have day shift operations. It is specifically during loadshedding when technology choice and application will make all the difference. Enermatics is clear on this point. The company explains that several backup power solutions can be considered including petrol/ diesel generators, solar PV and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for lighting and Enquiry No: 21 PCs.

Jib crane conserves marine life

Condra jib crane installed A on a small island off the South African coast is rendering

Toyota Forklift is totally committed to our suppliers, customers and staff.

sterling service to ornithological teams visiting and conserving marine bird colonies which nest and breed there. Installed with a motorised 360-degree slew on Bird Island, eight kilometres offshore from Woody Cape and 62 kilometres from Port Elizabeth, the jib crane has been used since 2010 to lift the scientists’ boat from the sea onto a trailer, which is then winched along the jetty into a boathouse for the duration of the visit. The 2,4 hectares of Bird Island itself are home to South Africa’s greatest colonies of Cape gannets, African penguins, endangered roseate terns , Antarctic terns and kelp gulls.

To meet the requirements of the visiting scientific teams, H&M Cranes of Port Elizabeth supplied a Condra jib crane with a 360-degree slew and reach of 4,5 metres, fitted with a singlespeed 2,5-ton chain hoist with a 7,5 metre lift. H&M Cranes is the Port Elizabeth agent for Condra prodEnquiry No: 22 ucts.

Women changing perceptions

o r k ing at heights, heavy lifting and manoeuvering through scaffolds all day at the world’s fourth largest coal fired power station may scare most, but not the women working at Medupi Power Station Project. The women working at Medupi are changing the face of traditionally maledominated fields one day at a time. From welders, to pipefitters, boilermakers and riggers, these women are proving that the fairer gender can do just as good a job in these fields as male colleagues.

Considering the shortage of artisans in the country, the development of workers’ skills, women in particular, through intensive training is a key part of the legacy that Medupi Power Station Project leaves behind in Lephalale. To this end, Eskom has placed contractual obligations on its main contractors at the new build projects to upskill their workforce. Eskom continues to build skills in South Africa, through learner pipeline, job creation under the new build programme and other skills development initiatives.

Enquiry No: 23

January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

EC Industrial & Business News

Innovative and efficient uses of water resources

he agreement recently achieved at the COP21 climate-change summit in Paris, France, is a landmark all of us can celebrate, says Mega Water Corporation founder and CEO, Rudy Roberts. “This important step forward in trying to limit the impact of climate change should not distract us, however, from the fact that many countries face serious challenges in dealing with water scarcity across Africa, including South Africa,” he says. “Achieving a reliable supply of treated and clean water for our people is another aspect of the environmental challenges we face. Without such reliable water supplies, personal health and industrial progress are at risk.” Gauteng-based Mega Water is South Africa’s first emerging business to operate in the waterindustry sector. It was founded just over a year ago to deliver integrated, sustainable solutions within the water industry in response to government funding constraints on strategic rollout of new and rehabilitated water infrastructure. “Demand for water remains high in South Africa and is likely to continue rising,” says Roberts. “In 2014, it was estimated that nationally one in 10 households still had no access to piped or tap water and one in 20 households still had no toilet or were using a bucket toilet.” This is despite the fact that South Africa has 179 dams with a capacity of 37 billion cubic metres. “The widespread drought which we are currently suffering clearly makes it difficult to extend quality water supply and is already resulting in watershedding in parts of the country,” says Roberts.

The overall picture of our water resources shows ageing and deteriorating water infrastructure, polluted water sources and poorly managed dams, water treatment and sewerage plants, he says, in addition to the drought’s challenge. “The Department of Water Affairs’ annual shortfall in funding for existing infrastructure maintenance and new infrastructure initiatives is about US$3 billion,” says Roberts. “This is where we believe that privatesector participation by companies like Mega Water can help provide innovative and efficient solutions, revolutionising our country’s water supply.” Mega Water and its strategic partners have already successfully provided clean piped water to Free State homes for the Naledi Trust. This was achieved by innovatively rehabilitating existing groundwater supply using a renewable energy source. The company also expects to install 40 boreholes by the end of this year, delivering a further 140 boreholes within the next five years. “Another of our innovations was securing the rights to supply chlorine-gas dosing systems to municipal water-treatment plants across the country,” says Roberts. “We have so far deployed more than 30 plants in Greater Gauteng and surrounding districts and expect to complete rehabilitation or installation work on a further 70 plants within the next five years.” “In addition, we have completed three comprehensive Water Utility Audits on major hospitals for the Free State Department of Health, covering security of water supply, chilling plants, disinfection, energy savings, and hygienic wastewater management and removal.”

Enquiry No: 24

Photovoltaic installation provides significant savings

assat Energy has successfully commissioned a 220kWp rooftop solar power plant of 880 solar panels of 250W each at TW Profile Services in Boksburg and anticipates a significant reduction in electricity consumption. TW Profile Services has been in operation since 1994 and has successfully grown into one of the largest service centres in the laser cutting and profile cutting industry in South Africa, specialising in plasma cutting, guillotine cutting, rolling and bending. “Due to our high electrical consumption, we needed to look at possible solutions and selected PV as the most viable. We anticipate about a 25% saving in our monthly electricity bill,” said Joost Smuts, MD of TW Profile Services. The panels are installed in four arrays giving an output of 55KW each. This feeds into two 100KW inverters in parallel, tied to the

grid. The pay-back period is estimated at five to six years. The total voltage is 750v DC which is converted into 3-phase AC. “3M has assisted with the installation of the solar panels by providing a unique solution for attaching the solar panels to the roof of the factory,” said Pierre Lombard, a director of Passat Energy. “The panels are not secured using the traditional method of mechanical fasteners where holes are drilled in the roof to secure the panels. Mechanical fasteners tend to rust after a few years and the process is time-consuming and labour intensive. Mechanical fasteners are also prone to creating water leaks,” he said. The solution provided by 3M consists of a VHB (Very High Bonding) double-sided, adhesiverolled acrylic tape, initially used for high-speed trains in Japan. “The adhesive is stronger than a mechanical fastener, will last longer - up to 15 years, and bonds immediately,” said Lombard. “The adhesive is also visco elastic, meaning it has no thermal expansion caused by changes in temperature and therefore creates zero fatigue on the roof or panel.” “The installation took four weeks, whereas using mechanical fasteners would have taken six to eight weeks,” he said. Enquiry No: 25

Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset in 2016 A new year is synonymous with a ‘new me’ attitude, and is often accompanied by a list of resolutions to become a better, healthier and more successful individual. Christo Botes, (pictured) spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year competition – sponsored by Sanlam and Business Partners Limited, says that adopting an entrepreneurial mindset should be included on the list of New Year resolutions for all South Africans. While unemployment is a global issue, South Africa’s situation is daunting, with an unemployment rate of 25.5%. Botes says that entrepreneurism is a viable answer to this problem, South Africans should increasingly be considering entrepreneurship as a viable career option. He explains that this starts with a shift from an ‘employee’ to an ‘employer’ mindset. Botes says that an entrepreneurial

mindset ideally needs to be instilled in the mind of individuals from an early age. This will enable them to approach their tertiary education with an ‘employer’ mentality rather than being solely focused on finding a job after obtaining a qualification.” Deciding which profession to pursue after high school is not easy, with many young individuals finding themselves at a crossroads when the time comes. Botes says that approaching tertiary education with an end goal of pursuing self-employment in a field of choice enables young South Africans to select the correct school subjects to achieve this. “This is also the perfect time to gain knowledge about their chosen sector by job shadowing at a business in the

relevant field. This will aid in equipping them with the skills needed to start a business in the sector once their studies are completed.” Botes also challenges industry players to perform a more active role in fostering this mind shift towards entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneurship should not be seen as a last resort, and should be endorsed as a viable career choice. We need to instill a positive entrepreneurial culture that is nurtured at the roots of society.” He adds that experienced business owners should also look at offering support to aspiring entrepreneurs – both the youth and older generation in the form of mentorship and training programmes. “These can prove to be instrumental to an aspiring entrepreneur. Not only will it assist in shaping their approach to entrepreneurship, but also build their confidence in carving out an entrepreneurial career.” Enquiry No: 26

Range of power tools designed

for the emerging market

T A N L E Y South Africa has recently launched their range of power tools in emerging markets with tool specifications and pricing carefully considered. The Stanley brand targets tradesmen that will need hardy and enduring tools. These are neither high-end DIY tools nor low-end professional tools, but tools designed specifically for the professional tradesman. These tools provide all the requisite benefits with value in mind. This new range forms part of a larger global emerging markets strategy which is to create what markets want—high quality, full lines of mid-price-point products that are defined, designed and costed optimally to meet the needs of the emerging market. Stanley recognises that you cannot adapt existing products, but rather look at ground-up development in tune with the needs of local consumers. “MPP tools are the largest and

fastest growing tools segment in emerging markets. Prior to this initiative, many of our feature-rich tools were priced out of this segment. Now we are positioned to leverage a manufacturing base, distribution channels and product platforms that already successfully serve the MPP tool segment worldwide,” says Mayan Desai, Trade Marketing Manager Southern Africa, Stanley Black & Decker. Each tool in the range has been designed with the emerging market tradesman in mind, optimising cost, durability, performance, and ergonomics. The tool range includes angle grinders, drills, rotary hammers and other specialised tools that are extremely well specced for the price point. Desai says, “Stanley carries the engineering expertise of Stanley Black & Decker which has fantastic experience designing and manufacturing tools." "This is at the crux of the quality and service that is offered." Enquiry No: 26

EC Industrial & Business News

Safeguarding of confidential data a priority S EW-Eurodrive is committed to the highest level of information security throughout the value creation chain, and its certification according to the new globally established ISO27001:2013 security standard is evidence of this commitment. The revised ISO standard focuses particularly on current issues such as mobile security, encryption technology and direct online connections to suppliers, customers and partners. SEWEurodrive MD Raymond Obermeyer (pictured) says the company works continuously to ensure the utmost security standards using its information security management system (ISMS). “The aim of this is to ensure comprehensive protection for all information along the entire value creation chain. The renewed certification of the ISMS demonstrates that customers, business partners and suppliers of SEW-Eurodrive can rest assured their data will be absolutely secure at

all times.” On the organisational side, detailed risk analyses and stringent implementation of measures have been tightened. Measures will be planned and budgeted as part of an annual ISMS improvement plan. These measures could result from identified security incidents, the results of security checks, identified new threats or high-availability tests that have been conducted. SEW-Eurodrive employees are acutely aware of the importance of information security, and process workflows are optimised and documented continuously. What’s more, 360-degree risk management provides SEW-Eurodrive with effective protection against risks and threats from the net, making it ideally equipped to meet the data security challenges of Industry 4.0. SEW-Eurodrive received its

ISO27001:2013 certification in October 2015 from TÜV SÜD – an international service corporation focusing on consulting, testing, certification and training. The new certification replaces the ISO27001:2005 standard that the company held since 2006. Dovetailing closely with the ISO9001:2008 quality management system, the ISO14001:2004 environmental management system and particularly with the ISO20000-1:2011 IT service management system, SEWEurodrive has successfully anchored information security in the company. “This ensures system availability, confidentiality of all information and the highest demands on the quality of products and processes,” Obermeyer Enquiry No: 27 concludes.

Latest vision sensors for process inspection and quality control

January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

hile still in its infancy, visual inspection and profiling systems are fast becoming accepted as global best practice in process inspection and quality control. An example of this technology is the IV Series Vision Sensor from Keyence of Japan, distributed locally by Peter Jones Electronic Equipment. Peter Jones falls under Actum Electronics, part of the Actum Group, which also comprises Actum Industrial. The IV Series Vision Sensor is programmed with customised parameters that correlate, for example, with the material thickness or the presence of a barcode. The CCD scanner head, the heart of the sensor, compares the object being tested with the preset parameters by means of a visual inspection process.

When an object fails to match these parameters, the manufacturing process is able to react accordingly and an operator is alerted. “A significant benefit of vision sensors is that they provide in-process quality assurance, which means that errors and irregularities are detected earlier along the production line, reducing the possibility of repeated inconsistency in production,” Rob Howes, technical sales manager at Peter Jones, comments. The vision sensors can test up to 99 inspection windows simultaneously, which not only improves the response time dramatically, but also helps to remove the element of human error in quality testing. “Older in-process detection systems had an array of different sensors, with

one sensor responsible for detecting a particular feature of a product. This could amount to detection systems having as many as up to 80 different sensors,” Howes elaborates. Therefore the development of a single-sensor vision sensor has resulted in significant cost-savings. Demonstration equipment is on hand to be used for customer training. Peter Jones also has access to the Keyence Technical Centre in Japan, which means it can assist with on-site commissioning as well. Howes adds that the IV Series Vision Sensor is extremely userfriendly. “Generally someone with no experience with vision systems can find their way around the software and start programming it within 30 minEnquiry No: 28 utes,” he highlights.

CMY

Oil and Lubrication supplier earns International Award

uchs Petrolub has received the F 2015 Global Supplier of the Year an award from ZF Friedricshafen in

in both innovation and cost efficiency." In this regard, our Germany. suppliers’ contribuFuchs supplied 21 000 tons of oil tion is substantial and lubricants to ZF Friedricshafen in achieving these across the world in 2015 and supplied goals,” said Wilhelm 28 tons to ZF here in South Africa. Rehm, member of the “The jury praised the high quality and Board of Management flexibility of Fuchs. Fuchs Petrolub is responsible for also active in the special ZF growth Corporate Materials markets due to their own production Management at ZF. location,” ZF said. He emphasised the significance of “In order to remain a global bench- innovative, globally active and reliable mark, we are striving to be the leader suppliers.

ZF is a global leader in driveline and chassis technology as well as active and passive safety technology. The company, which acquired TRW Automotive in May 2015, is now represented at about 230 locations in about 40 countries. The two companies have sales exceeding €30 billion and have 134 000 employees. Enquiry No: 29

January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

EC Industrial & Business News

Installation completed W hen it comes to running a business, big or small, key to profitability is the judicious management of the company’s resources, particularly its employees. Careful management of time and attendance, productivity, keeping track of annual leave and sick leave is key to guarding the bottom line. Many businesses are waking up to the fact that punched time cards were for too long the backbone of industrial business, but do not necessarily provide the level of timely and accurate reporting that HR and line managers need to ascertain an employee’s productivity and performance. Uniclox Technologies a leader in solutions-based resource management has recently completed its first Bodet Software-Uniclox installation since the partnership deal was signed between the two companies in 2015. Bodet Software is a French subsidiary of the Bodet Group, a European leader in time and attendance management. Uniclox is a landmark South African company that celebrated its 70th year in business in 2015. The successful completion was done for Guestro Casting and Machining, a foundry located in Benoni south, which belongs to Dorbyl Ltd which is now part of the Naledi Inhlanganiso industrial group.

Derek Udemans’ marketing manager for Uniclox said the completion is a good news story for Uniclox and Guestro which is experiencing something of a renaissance having been modernised and expanded. “The sixty year old foundry until recently was rather run down and out of date and was viewed as something of a taxable write off by the Dorbyl group. However, the foundry had a change in ownership in 2012/2013 and the new owners of Guestro Casting and Machining have now brought the foundry back to life by amongst others refurbishing the casting line and purchasing new furnaces to increase casting capacity from 120 tons to 200

tons per day. It now has a large staff complement of 300 and Uniclox was called in to help with a new state of the art resource management system,” he said. "We supplied 17 of Bodet’s famous Kelio Prio V2 Proximity card readers. Out of these terminals eight are used for access control and nine for time and attendance points throughout the foundry. The terminals are controlled using Kelio Integral R2 software. This offers the client with 3 shift auto detection, a full real time system, as well as visitor’s access control." It took Uniclox four weeks to fully Enquiry No: 30 install the system.

Successful partnership stems from value-added service

eavy equipment manufacturer Demag and transport equipment designer company GRW have maintained a strong working relationship that has grown from strength-tostrength since their first contract in the late 1990s. GRW dealer principal Stephan Albertyn notes that Demag’s after-sales service is one of the main reasons why the companies have maintained a good relationship. “The service from Demag is excellent, and it made sense to use Demag equipment when we doubled crane capacity in 2013.” The process of supplying GRW with two five-tonne overheard

cranes was done in June 2013. The cranes have two-tonne trolleys and they work together to lift large loads. GRW needed the larger cranes, as the company’s tankers are long and sometimes have to lift long loads. The installation of these cranes was a large and challenging project that took the team three weeks to finish, as the whole roofing system had to be taken out. “A roofing and structures company was commissioned to remove the electrical wires and roof. Despite the sheer scale of the project, everything ran smoothly thanks to a good understanding between all parties involved.”

Demag boasts a team of committed professionals who are able to cater to clients’ needs. “Demag trained all our employees on how to use the new equipment, and also assisted swiftly with after-sales service and technical support when required,” Albertyn concludes. Demag regional sales manager Karl Kornberger reveals that the company continues to develop ongoing working relationships with its customers based on reliability and trust. “The key to our ongoing success is that we provide quality service and consultations, and offer the right product to our customer. That is what keeps them coming back time and Enquiry No: 31 time again.”

safrench

Ultrasonic water meter for instantaneous measurements

nstrotech representing ELIS, manufacturer and supplier of flow meters, has launched a battery-powered ultrasonic water meter intended for measuring flow rate instantaneously and pressure and consumption in water piping (standard EN 14154 for water works), water distribution systems and other industrial applications. The compact, highly accurate ELIS Flomic FL5024 has long-term stability over a wide range of measured values, and conforms to the IP68 protection class. The meter does not need any external power supply, does not include any moving parts and has significantly lower hydraulic losses. The technical parameters and other features of the Flomic water meter make it suitable not only for water consumption measurements but also for water-leak tracking and monitoring of the general condition of water-supply networks where the meter output signals can be connected via

data transfer systems to remote computer control stations. The measurement method utilised by these meters is a singlebeam transit-time pulse method, based on evaluation of the time needed for an ultrasonic signal to cross the distance between two measuring transducers. In the standard version, the meter measures instantaneous flow rate (in m3/hour) and the total volume of water passed through the meter (in m3) in the given flow direction. The measured data is converted into passive pulse output signals. Enquiry No: 32

January / February 2016

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EC Industrial & Business News

Pumping solutions for renewable energy

ulzer Pumps’ aim of becoming the dominant supplier of pumping solutions for concentrated solar power (CSP) is being realised with the awarding of multiple contracts across the globe. Utilising its considerable global expertise, the company continues to design and manufacture pumping solutions for the complex processes within these plants wherever the requirement for precision manufacturing is of a primary concern. Similarly, Sulzer Pumps South Africa has been awarded contracts to supply full solutions for local solar power plants that are currently planned or under construction. The advantages of the pumps being supplied by a local South African company are numerous and will give the local operation’s design teams the ability to showcase their abilities within the global arena. “Sulzer Pumps is a company with a global footprint and its branches from Spain, Germany

and India will make a contribution to bringing these projects to a successful conclusion,” says project manager Henno Raaths. “Sulzer Pumps South Africa will however take the full lead in terms of engineering and supply of the highly sophisticated equipment.” The recent rise in local renewable energy projects include advanced solar power plants using CSP technology. CSP operations require a special heat transfer fluid (HTF) or molten salts to be circulated around a solar heat absorber and pumped to a special heat exchanger which converts water to steam and effectively makes up the conventional steam cycle. HTF pumps specifically, are manufactured

High-quality technology

from a

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The Hytec Group of Companies, through Tectra Automation, is Africa’s leader in automation technology. We are committed to the supply of high-quality single-source fluid power and automation solutions throughout the continent. Rely on us for a solution no matter where in Africa you are, or what your application involves. With experience spanning all industries, from marine and mining to automotive and industrial plants, Tectra Automation brings you world-class products and reliable service.

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for high temperature applications that include thermal transients and sealing of flammable and hazardous fluids under extreme cyclic

operating conditions. With experience in HTF pumps dating back to 1985, Sulzer Pumps has a vast understanding of the requirements and operating philosophies involved to produce pumps that can perform under such strenuous conditions. HTF and solar heat transfer pumps will be based on the company’s new HZB range which is able to pump liquids at temperatures in excess of 400ºC, pressures of more than 50bar and flows in the region of 4000m³/hour. In order to provide fully engineered pumping solutions covering entire solar power plants the company is also supplying feed water pumps, HTF overflow pumps and water condensate extraction pumps complete with sealing systems, drives, motors and instrumentation. Sulzer South Africa further has the expertise to assist with installation, commissioning and service support across the complete range of Enquiry No: 33 pumps.

Linear motion systems

TAF integrated linear motion systems, which include linear guides, ball screws and linear tables, are available in Southern Africa exclusively from BMG. “With the growing demand locally for economical yet efficient linear way products, BMG has established a partnership with OME Technology, to supply and support STAF linear motion components. This range is known globally for high speed and precision, easy integration and interchangeability, energy saving and environmental protection,” says Rouff Essop, general manager, bearings division, BMG. “STAF linear motion products are used in diverse applications, including welding, soldering and drilling; industrial machinery; measuring and inspection; printing, scanning and packaging; assembly plants and warehousing, as well as in robotic arms and manipulators.” Linear guides - the key part of precision instruments - are used in conjunction with compact ball screws which are locked onto a

platform and linked to a servo motor, to produce linear motion. The main function of the guide is to allow the platform to maintain high precision, high rigidity and high load motion. STAF linear guides have a common rail, interchangeable alloy steel slide, designed for reliability and flexibility. The dust sealing twin lip structure ensures effective sealing and the large internal lubricant storage facility reduces maintenance requirements and extends the service life of the system. Cage and non cage types, which are fitted on the same profile rail, have new patented features which include a ball re-circulation design, with no gap, for smooth running. The newly designed chain lubrication system reduces friction during operation and extends service life of the system. STAF’s BGC cage type linear guides, which are suitable for high speed applications, contain lubricant between the steel balls. Enquiry No: 34

Lagging system reduces costs

onveyor belt slippage, poor traction, inferior wear properties and inadequate water shedding are nightmares which plague plant operators on mines. All of these can cause unplanned downtime with associated cost implications. However, more critically, conveyor belt slippage is potentially dangerous and could even result in catastrophic failure on a plant. This is according to Mark Jarrett, national sales manager of Multotec Wear Linings, who says that the company’s MultoLag pulley lagging functions as a maintenance free wear resistant cover that is applied to pulley shells to improve traction in the case of drive pulleys and provide a polished low friction surface on non-drive pulleys. MultoLag has become a widely accepted solution for mining and industrial operations as a cost effective response to these recurring problems.

“This lagging is particularly effective in aggressive conditions, even on bucket elevators or where material is inevitably trapped between the pulley shell and the conveyor belt. It is suitable for wet conditions and other applications where a low coefficient of friction or a high level of traction is required on drive pulleys or where general wear protection of the non-drive pulley is needed,” Jarrett says. Traditional rubber or epoxy pulley lagging has a much shorter lifespan than that of ceramics. “This can be attributed to the fact that material is removed from both the rubber lagging and the rubber belt bottom cover when belt slippage occurs. In turn, direct bonded ceramic lagging results in a significant extension of the useful pulley life.” The system uses standard smooth high alumina ceramic tiles for non-drive pulleys and studded tile lagging for drive Enquiry No: 35 pulleys.

System pro E Power. ABB’s new main distribution switchboard, designed to help you work better. System pro E Power is fast, flexible and simple. Whether it’s a standard or an advanced version up to 6300A, System pro E Power is incredibly sturdy and extremely quick to assemble. Complies to IEC 61439-1-2 when following ABB product and assembly requirements. System pro E Power, your enterprise has a new key resource. For additional information: www.new.abb.com/ low-voltage/products/system-pro-e

ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Electrification Products Tel. +27 10 202 5880 E-mail: EP_enquiries@za.abb.com

January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

EC Industrial & Business News

Materials handling firm get sole distributorship

eading materials handling equipment (MHE) supplier Goscor Lift Truck Company (GLTC), part of the Imperial group, has been appointed the sole distributor of Taylor-Dunn in South Africa and according to GLTC MD, Darryl Shafto, this goes a long way to making GLTC one of the most complete Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) suppliers in the country. “We now have a range of equipment for applications across the gamut of the MHE industry including the warehousing and distribution, logistics, timber, automotive, manufacturing and aviation industries and the military, where Taylor-Dunn has had success with many products. Also, most importantly, our products are leading brands worldwide and have proved

themselves in the local market too. I have no doubt that Taylor-Dunn will follow suit,” Shafto says. Thomas Deredec, Taylor-Dunn international sales director, says he is optimistic about the future of TaylorDunn’s products in the southern African region now that Goscor has taken over the distributorship. “There are many market opportunities in this part of the world with our unique products and given Goscor’s track record we have no doubt that they will make the most of this opportunity,” he says. Shafto says that initially Goscor will focus on the Taylor-Dunn range of vehicles with a tow function, specifically the new generation Huskey II AC, which combines high-power towing in a compact, manoeuvrable tow tractor

Ionisers take the static out of manufacturing environments

tatic is problematic in the manufacturing environment. Static causes dust and this in return comes with its own set of problems. From dealing with the nuisance of products clinging to each other, plastic sheets not separating property to managing possible damage to electrical products. There is also the real hazard of a possible fire which can be caused by a spark in a chemically sensitive environment. SMC Pneumatics is able to offer a solution to these ‘every day’ manufacturing problems by means of the three different types of ionizers available from their product range. “When working with plastics you often have an unwanted but unavoidable charge of electricity” explains Brian Abbott, Product Manager Pneumatics at SMC. According to Abbott, there are various options of ionizers available depending on the application and the environment. “The bar type is equipped with nozzles which generates charge and air then blows the charge onto the application. This could work in a PET environment for example. It would also be suitable for lamination and web printing. The bar type varies in length and performance options. The nozzles can be equipped with condition monitoring and therefore easy maintenance and replacement of the nozzles are not a problem. The unique thing about the SMC ionizer is that it can be ordered in a variant which is equipped with a sensor. The sensor has a feedback device which is able to determine if a positive or negative charge is required, and then it will generate accordingly. The charge relates back to a voltage so that the unit can measure the charge. This is communicated back to ionizer and ionizer will generate ions to balance out the charge. An option without a sensor is also available. In this case the unit will generate alternate charge which ‘bombards’ the application with positive and negative ions until it neutralizers the application. This would however be a less energy efficient option. The ionizer is also available in two other variants. The fan type would generate a charge and blow it over the affected area. This would work very well especially in an area where polystyrene is involved. The nozzle type consists of a single nozzle and is for concentrated applications where a single area needs to be neutralised. Enquiry No: 37

with its renowned operator comfort and safety. For most trailer systems, the Huskey II AC can tow up to 13,5 tonnes gross towed load. “This is impressive for a tractor only 99cm wide and 236cm long including the hitch,” says Shafto. He adds that towing power comes from an enclosed 17 hp AC motor coupled to the Taylor-Dunn GT drive. “Apart from its power, this tractor is easy to maneuver with its cushion grip steering wheel and 1.89m turning radius, which also makes it ideal for operation in places where space is at a premium,” he says. Shafto says that one of the important advantages of working with TaylorDunn is that they will factory modify vehicles to meet customers’ specific Enquiry No: 36 requirements.

January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

EC Industrial & Business News

Green efficiency key to maritime industry M aritime transport is a significant driver of global trade and economic development which connects people, goods and markets all around the world. The growth of international trade is heavily reliant on the maritime industry, which needs to grow responsibly and sustainably by continuously seeking ways to reduce the environmental impacts of the industry. This is according to Signe Bruun Jensen, Maersk Line Global Head of Sustainability – a member of Maersk Line. Like other transport industries shifting to more energy efficient practices - maritime sector players, both in South Africa and abroad need to be committed to conducting business responsibly and reducing the wider economic, social and environmental impact of their activi-

ties. This will effectively enable trade at lower carbon intensity and promote efficient and sustainable supply chains. Currently, the most energy efficient means to move high volumes of goods across long distances is container shipping, and the global maritime transportation system contributes to trade by moving approximately 90 per cent of cargo and commodities. However, the effect which the industry has on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, is substantial. Through energy efficiency it is possible to increase volumes of trade between global markets trade without increasing CO2 emissions. In recent years Maersk Line has pioneered energy efficient initiatives that range from network design and speed optimisation

to technical upgrades and the deployment of world-first fuel efficient ships, such as the Triple-E vessels. The vessel’ name is derived from the class’s three design principles: economy of scale, energy efficient and environmentally improved. These majestic 400m vessels reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35% per container moved compared to the industry average and transports high volumes of goods across long distances with minimal impact on the environment, thereby leading the way in sustainable Enquiry No: 38 transportation of commodities.

Optimising citrus fruit storage

PC Storage Solutions SA was recently contracted to optimise the storage operations of citrus fruit distributer FPT at its Durban facility. The company provided a turnkey storage solution, which included the installation of its mobile racking solution, Movirack ,for two cold storage chambers in the harbour district for the storage of lemons, oranges and grapefruit prior to export. In addition to the fitment of the Movirack, the warehouse structure required structural modifications to configure it for mobile cold storage down to 0° Celsius. As the existing drive-in galvanised racking system formed the roof support, APC cleverly engineered the Movirack system within the

constraints of the new structure, ensuring that the whole roof support was contained on the

World Class Manufactured in South Africa

perimeter of the facility. APC design utilised the existing structure to allow pallet placement on the support structure itself, thereby gaining important storage capacity. The structure’s aged floor was also unsuitable for cold storage applications, not satisfying the necessary Geotechnical report guaranteeing the integrity of the subsurface. APC was thus required to engineer, design and supply a new reinforced sub-base and strip footing system, incorporating the company’s Movirack embedded rail system and new FM2 super-hardened floor, which could handle the stresses of cold storage applications and harsh material handling equipment movements. Each chamber was equipped with seven mobile racks, eight back-to-back bays deep, to accommodate over 1 200 pallets. Four levels of 2.2 metres in height gave a final storage height of over eight metres. The installation made provision for the addition of an eighth mobile base in each chamber, with the embedded rail system for these bases already installed. For six months of the year, in line with the seasonal citrus fruit produce it exports, FPT runs a non-stop, 24-hour day, seven-day week cold storage operation. For the remaining nonseasonal months, the facility is used in a utility capacity to accommodate smaller, diverse stock inventories – each with individual dispatch requirements. The racking solution thus had to temper the facility’s cold storage requirements with an ability to quickly and efficiently retrieve each load unit. Enquiry No: 39

New batch application toolkit

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Newly Commissioned Vacuum Drying Oven

ockwell Automation has introduced a batch application toolkit to help manufacturers and solution providers reduce The GRID the risk, time and cost of implementing batch What is it? control systems. The toolkit contains a collection of application examples, videos, docuThe GRID is a graphic element that helps to create the indentity. Derivative of thementation proportions of theand logo, ISA-88 compliant sample code WEG Global ManufacturingZEST Operations it is based on a proportion of width and height of 2-toto provide technical guidance when design• Custom Designed Oil Filled Transformers 3. The distance between the GRID elements is 1/3 of the • Power 40 MVA to 350 MVA upheight to 550 of kVan element. ing and automating a batch system using Rockwell Automation systems. “Designing and implementing a batch process system is time- and cost-intensive,” said Christo Buys, business manager for control systems, Rockwell Automation, Sub-Saharan Africa. “The batch application toolkit gives engineers a starting point to build, implement and maintain a consistent system, dramatically reducing the time and cost associated with designing a system from scratch. It also provides users with flexibility to customise system elements for increased functionality.” For conceptual guidance and learning, the batch application toolkit includes three common batch unit examples – mixer, premix and slurry – along with raw-material and storagevessel models. Mini-Substations The new toolkit from Rockwell Automation expands the company’s existing portfolio of batch solutions, including the PlantPAx process automation system and FactoryTalk Batch software, for systems that range from small, basic sequencing to large, complex batch and sequencing applications. The toolkit9 is available free of charge from Rockwell Automation sales representatives and distributors, and can be downloaded Enquiry No: 40 online.

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January / February 2016

COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS

EC Industrial & Business News

Complete festoon catenary solutions

ince establishing a partnership with French multinational, Delachaux, and its ConductixWampfler operation, Powermite’s materials handling division has been distributing Conductix products including Cable Reeling Drums(CRD’s), slipring housings and festoon systems to the Southern African mining and industry. Open cast and underground mining operations, stockyards, ports and other bulk handling facilities rely on powerful electric machines to do the heavy work. Maximum uptime, fundamental to high production levels, relies on reliable, easy to maintain materials handling machines. “It is therefore essential to install high quality specialised festoon systems to ensure uninterrupted and reliable feeding of energy, data, etc. to these machines even in extremely harsh and arduous environments,” states Powermite Marketing Director, Donovan Marks. The cable carriers used on the

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Features to look out for in the March / April 2016 issue

Festoon systems are custom made, compact, rugged and reliable in order to protect and manage flat and round power/data cables for electrical energy and data transfer to machinery. These low maintenance feeding systems contribute to maximised uptime and productivity due to easy installation and uncomplicated operation. Irrespective of the particular cable or hose package, the running speed or location of the machine (indoors or out), Powermite/Conductix-Wampfler has the appropriate ISO 9001:2008 certified system to keep plants, mine sites, cranes and ports moving. Incorporation of the latest modern technology into the modular design ensures an above-average operational life of the cable festoon systems, even in the harshest of environments. Available in an array of configurations, these feeding systems are ideally suited for use on virtually any type of moving equipment, such as bulk material conveyors, stackers, reclaim-

• • • • •

ers (including circular), travelling hoppers, rail car dumpers, plating lines, water treatment and car wash systems that operate in industries such as mines, steel mills, ports (container handling and ship-to-shore power supply), power plants, airports, warehouses, automotive facilities, etc. The Powermite/Conductix range comprises light, medium and heavy duty festooning for straight runs, bends or circular configurations. The design and correct alignment of the cable significantly influences the performance of energy and data transmission. The I-Beam cable carrier is suited for heavy duty applications including bulk container handling by cranes typically found at ports. With a load capacity of up to 125kg and maximum system length of 150m. The C-Rail cable carrier is an ideal energy supply system for light to medium duty applications. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the C-Rail is available in zinc-coated Enquiry No: 41 and stainless steel.

ing discipline manager at Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Africa (MHPS). He says that the vertical lifting of men and materials to levels on such a high construction is not often appreciated in terms of its complexity. Torre Lifting Solutions was able to respond to this need and provide a turnkey best fit solution using the Orbit personnel and material hoist. The scope of supply included pro-

curement, transport, import, installation and commission of the hoists. This purpose engineered single mast hoist has two separate cages; one with a 2 t capacity to carry people and the other capable of carrying 2.3 t of materials. Both cages operate simultaneously and most importantly the configuration of the Orbit hoist allows for materials to be loaded by forklift speeding up the operation. The design of most material hoists does not facilitate this type of mechanical materials handling which means that some 5 000 pieces of material need to be manually moved to the hoist for up and off-loading. “The Orbit equipment is able to accept material mechanically and being able to load 5 000 pieces per lift with a round-trip cycle time of 15 minutes we can move all the material required per day within two to three hours. This feature is critical to productivity on site,” Esterhuizen says. Enquiry No: 42

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Hoists boost productivity

ne of the primary challenges on any construction site is the need to move both people and materials to levels where critical activities need to be performed, and to do this in such a manner so as to maximise productivity while ensuring optimum safety. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Africa found the ideal solution in Orbit personnel and material hoists which will enable the contractor to provide safe, effective and efficient services at its contract at Kusile Power Station. The Orbit hoists will be installed at two of the boiler sites on the project. “Our challenge was to find equipment which would transport both men and materials to various levels of the 110 metre tall construction, thereby reducing manual handling of equipment and subsequent risk of injury while improving productivity. And we needed to be able to do this at a speed that would be both safe and effective,” explained Awie Esterhuizen, scaffold-

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January / February 2016

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Innovative herbicidal applicator SCITEC prepares to launch in 2016 saves time and money S T here is a perennial cry for innovation in South African business and Herman Meyer owner of Nels Distributors in the Eastern Cape is one of those rare individuals who has answered the call with his hydraulic herbicide applicator, which is taking the agricultural market by storm. “Over the years I have learnt what features are required in an applicator of this nature and I have incorporated them all into the design,” Meyer says. “I have also found that Kubota tractors are well-suited to this equipment and we are therefore selling them as a unit when possible.” Some of the more important features of the applicator are: the booms are hydraulically operated and each boom can be independently controlled; the spray pressure can be controlled from the driver’s seat; the boom is self-levelling; the applicator is designed so that it can be used in windy conditions.

“The self-levelling ability of the booms is perhaps the most innovative feature,” says

Meyer. “This ensures the most efficient use of chemical in a host of ground and weather conditions and ultimately saves significantly on the bottom line. One of the most popular Kubotas for Meyer’s customers is the 24.6 kW Kubota L3200, one of the best-selling tractors in the country. Simple to operate yet amazingly powerful, the L3200 is ideal for everything from estate maintenance chores to commercial landscaping and small farming. With respect to both value and versatility, these tractors deliver a high level of productivity for an economical price. “In addition,” says Meyer, “the L3200 is one of the easiest tractors to operate and its relatively light weight helps to prevent compaction. You can also fit a front loader on the tractor, making it altogether ideal for a host of chores and applications including bush cutting and Enquiry No: 43 more,” he concludes.

pecialised Exhibitions Montgomery recently announced the launch of a brand new event for the security, construction and industrial market sectors in the Eastern Cape, one of the fastest growing economic regions of South Africa. The Security Construction & Industrial Technology Exhibition and Conference (SCITEC) is a dedicated Conference and Exhibition, specifically targeted to the fastest growing industry sectors in the burgeoning Eastern Cape. The SCITEC Conference will provide an educational platform, aimed specifically at management and senior decision-makers across these key industry sectors. The SCITEC Exhibition will showcase the most innovative products, services and solutions for a growing industry sector to thousands of potential customers and investors Enquiry No: 46

Firms win level 4 BEE certification

ister companies AESSeal and AESPump are to expand their apprenticeship programmes to ensure retention of Level Four BEE certification, recently reassessed upwards from Level Five. The two companies, which together employ a staff of some 110, have seven active apprentices undergoing alternate terms of theoretical training at Dinyane Education in Secunda, while on-the-job mentorship at the company’s Secunda workshops ensures a steady stream of qualified fitters and turners after completion of their two-year course. An annual intake of between three and five

apprentices each year ensures programme continuity, and AES group management believes that the programme is already delivering returns on the investment made in it. AES general manager and company secretary Craig Murray said that he believed the training of apprentices and their integration into the group workforce would prove to be the ultimate manner in which to grow South Africa’s skills base. At the same time, it would help companies to meet the government’s recently revised black economic empowerment targets in the medium term. The amended regulations issued under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act of 2000 have resulted in substantial reconfiguring of the BEE certification codes, shifting emphasis away from mere BEE compliance towards BEE strategy and true company empowerment. The AES group’s own target compliance would also be helped by ongoing sponsorship of black undergraduates studying towards their bachelor’s degrees in commerce and finance, Murray said.

BBBEE start-up agreement increases hydraulic distribution

ytec has entered into an enterprise development agreement with a Level I Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Company, BNP Industrial Solutions (BNP) effective November 2015. BNP was established by Managing Director Piet Makama and Partners Patrick Mgidi and Vusi Mashele. This agreement will provide access to the

Hytec Group’s entire hydraulic and pneumatic range and enable BNP to expand its hydraulics products distribution in Mpumalanga to the Power Generation and Mining Sectors. Hytec will provide BNP Industrial Solutions with the skills, product training and technical support from both its Witbank Branch and Hytec’s Technical Department in Spartan, to enable BNP to grow into a significant player in

“Our highly rated apprenticeship programme has been at the heart of our recent upgrade to Level Four accreditation,” explained Murray , “but we want to expand it further because we believe that this emphasis on skills development will over time lead to a selfcorrection of the key pillar of black ownership.” Murray said that the new codes, although hard work, are positive in that companies will have to make real changes in order to maintain or improve their BEE ratings. Although the pillars of the new codes remain substantially the same (ownership; skills development; enterprise and supplier development incorporating preferential procurement), the targets have changed, and companies that fail to achieve the new targets will drop. “The enterprise and supplier development criteria has changed dramatically, and will lead to every large enterprise applying individual and carefully considered strategies to each and every key supplier,” said Murray. “The new codes demand a clear strategy if you are going to remain sufficiently competitive to remain a key supplier to customers who are themselves under pressure to maintain their own BEE ratings,” Murray concluded. Enquiry No: 44

the hydraulics market within the Mpumalanga Region. “We would like to see BNP grow into a substantial and sustainable partner,” says Hytec Regional Manager Ralph Palphramand. “This initiative will create employment within the region, while simultaneously building additional channels for our products. “We look forward to working with Hytec as we expand our business offering,” says Makama. “With a dedicated business partner and the quality of the Bosch Rexroth Product Range, we are confident we will become a significant player within the Mpumalanga Region.”

Mohlaleng_2580_E

Less drive sometimes gets better results Slowing down a pump or fan from 100 to 80% can reduce your motor’s energy use by up to 50%. A VSD, also known as a Variable Speed Drive, is a device that can adjust electricity supply. By controlling the speed of your motors, and matching them closely with the requirements of the system, a VSD can typically cut energy consumption from 20 to 50%. Talk to one of our Energy Advisors today and let us assist you in devising the most effective energy plan for your industrial business.

Call our Eskom Contact Centre and request a call from an Energy Advisor on 08600 37566. For more information go to www.eskom.co.za/idm

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd Reg No 2002/015527/30

Enquiry No: 45

Executive Mayor of Mnquma Local Municipality Baba Ganjana (centre), together with SANRAL officials, congratulates some of the learners who graduated in Butterworth

Certificates for 108 Butterworth learners

ore than a hundred learners from Butterworth were assured of a more promising future when they graduated from a learnership programme hosted by the South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) earlier this month. The inspiring ceremony was held at Magalakangqa village in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, with 108 graduates receiving certificates mainly for road construction skills. SANRAL project manager Simphiwe Ngabase said the learners also received generic skills training on bricklaying and carpentry, where they were practically exposed to the building of a permanent site office structure. On completion of the project, the site office was converted to a community hall for the community. “The site office was built during the implementation phase by more than 200 bricklaying and carpentry trainees from two wards. Instead of demolishing the building after completion of the project, it was converted for the residents to be utilised as a community centre,” said Ngabase. “During the 2014/15 financial year SANRAL awarded 223 contracts worth R14.4 billion for new works, rehabilitation and improvement, periodic and special maintenance, routine road maintenance, community development, supervision and other activities.” he said. Enquiry No: 47