EASTERN CAPE INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS NEWS
YOUR LINK TO INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CAPE
issn NO: 1996-9708
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January/ February 2014
Inside
Big EC presence expected at SAAW
Fibre optic cable winner - page 3
Heating, Cooling & Ventilation - page 7
T Automation & Robotics - page 12 Engineering & Allied Supplies page 13
Industrial Property - page 14
Company & Product News page 15
Buying Dept
he Eastern Cape’s automotive sector, which accounts for around 50% of the country’s vehicle production and a lion’s share of its automotive exports, will be powerfully represented at Africa’s premier trade show for manufacturers in October. The 4th edition of South African Automotive Week (SAAW), hosted every two years with the support of industry and the South African government, will take place from October 13-17 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. South African Automotive Week Project Director, Andrew Binning said The Eastern Cape Province through its development agency, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation had reserved an exhibition pavilion to
showcase the region’s capability and investment proposition. The pavilion would include the Coega and East London IDZs, business chambers, municipalities and support agencies while Eastern Cape trade promotion officials would actively participate in match making meetings, conferences, workshops and networking occasions. “The Eastern Cape Province is a founding organisation of South African Automotive Week and continues to see the value of the Week as a premium trade promotion tool,’’ Binning said. “The value of investments like FAW into an economy and individual trade agreements with international buyers are what The Week aims to foster,’’ Binning said.
The previous three editions of the trade platform were hosted in the auto hub of the Eastern Cape, home of VWSA, Mercedes Benz, GMSA, Ford’s engine plant and the still under construction FAW factory. Binning said the move to South Africa’s other major auto hub, Gauteng, was forced by exponential growth. “SAAW doubled in size last time around and we anticipate similar expansion for the October edition, which means logistically there is no venue in the region suitable to host it to world class standards.’’ SAAW was voted South Africa’s Best Exhibition linked to a conference by the Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa in 2012. The Kwazulu/Natal and Gauteng Automotive Hubs, spearheaded by 2014 host partner the AIDC will also host pavilions alongside several international country pavilions, a specific hub for Electric vehicles and 300 individual organisations. Binning said a focus of the initiative next year, which will include the tradeshow, conferences, technical workshops networking, match-making and site tours, was swelling the participation of international delegations. The South African government would cover the travel costs of eligible delegates to visit the initiative and “the industry and its associations are rolling out the red carpet to woo prospective investors and buyers.”
Marketing Dept
issue no. 59
“While South Africa produced around 1% of global vehicle output, it exported components across the world and was increasingly being viewed as an investment location for companies racing to reach fresh markets.” 16 of the world’s 30 fastest growing economies are African and while the growth is off a small base, the figures must be alluring to global manufacturers looking for new growth markets. Africa, in particular had been a major success story for the continent’s southern most country in 2012, and is expected to be an increasingly growing percentage of South Africa’s vehicle exports. “South Africa’s vehicle exports to Africa (now ranked the 2nd fastest growing economy) looks set to position it as a gateway for the world to African markets,’’ Binning added. According to KPMG Africa Automotive leader Gavin Maile, South Africa exported 24 281 vehicles to Algeria in 2012, followed by Nigeria as second most popular export destination, at 14 874 units – this up from 7 151 units in 2010. Ghana exports grew from 2 451 units in 2010, to 5 062 units in 2012, with Angola importing 7 783 vehicles from South Africa in 2012, up from 934 in 2010. “These countries all have high gross domestic product growths,” says Maile. “Africa is a real solution for South Africa’s vehicle exports.” Binning said South African Automotive Week was a “critical” part of every auto and related roleplayer’s market development and sales process, whether to supply locally or internationally or connect with the sector’s players. For information on South African Automotive Week see www.saaw. co.za or mail sales@saaw.co.za Enquiry no: 1
Local wind farm connects to power grid
J
effreys Bay Wind Farm is celebrating the announcement that 10 of the project’s wind turbines have now commenced supplying power to Eskom. “Our project substation has been energised, which means that we are now connected to the Eskom grid,” said Mark Pickering, General Manager of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm. “This marks the first step towards supplying enough clean, renewable electricity to power more than 114 000
New SACE Tmax XT Simply XTraordinary
South African homes and avoid over 420 000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.” Over 65% of the project’s 60 wind turbines have already been erected. December saw the company also achieved the ‘1 Million hours without lost-time-incident’ safety milestone. This achievement is especially important, considering that the workforce had no experience in this sector before their first induction a few months ago. It is also
remarkable given the sheer scale of the project with multiple activities taking place onsite. Over 70% of the workforces come from the local communities and are directly benefiting from gaining skills. The Energisation process included stringent Eskom and South African Health and Safety standards. The substation is divided into two parts, one of which Eskom is responsible for commissioning. Enquiry no: 2
SACE Tmax XT, a range of moulded-case circuitbreakers with a maximum rating of 250 A, created to fulfil all plant requirements, whether those be standard or technologically advanced. These circuit-breakers are able to deliver very high short-circuit protection values and can be equipped with the latest generation electronic trip units. A wide range of accessories are available, easily installable, using the rapid assembly system. Additional information www.abb.co.za/lowvoltage
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