November 2021
A year in review with the Retecon Group
Last year the Retecon Group of Companies celebrated the 50-year milestone, which all began with the establishment of Retecon Machine Tools in 1970. The company subsequently has become one of South Africa’s most successful machine tool, metalworking equipment and related equipment supply companies.
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Latest strike exasperates employers and could force alternative thinking going forward
The latest strike action in the steel and related industries called for by the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) has left many business owners exasperated, angry, frustrated and looking for alternative manufacturing options such as automation so that they are less dependent on labour.
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Dimitrov Scholarship in honour of Prof Dimiter (Dimitri) Marinov Dimitrov
The late Prof Dimiter (Dimitri) Marinov Dimitrov, one of the founding members of RAPDASA and first Chairperson of the association, was a driving force behind the formation of an association to bring together industry, academia and like-minded people interested in the very new Rapid Product Development technology of the day.
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How much time do we have available?
This is the opinion piece of Paul Savides, MD of PBS Machine Tools. I was doing a new machining process evaluation for a customer whilst keeping his standard production time availability in mind but, the result was that I needed too many machines to accomplish the required batch size. This proposal would clearly have made my customer uncompetitive both locally and against imports.
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Weco installs 10th Hurco CNC machine
It is very unusual to visit an engineering company that has machining as its main service and note that the company has standardised on one brand of CNC machine tool on the shopfloor. There are many reasons why this happens but in general it will be a price and availability factor. However, there are other reasons and in the case of Weco it is the company’s strategy not to compromise on quality but rather to have more machines which results in more output.
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Getting the cut correct at Special Steels
Special Steels was established just under 20 years ago in 2002 as a specialist cut-to-length company with an emphasis on imported bar and tube. In those early years the company concentrated on the niche area of bar and tube as not many specialised in this area as well as the more difficult sizes and compositions of solid and hollow bar.
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Gear Ratio up for sale
Financially-embattled State-owned defence industrial group Denel has finally initiated its long-trailed plan to dispose of what it considers to be ‘non-core’ assets. It has published a newspaper notice calling for expressions of interest from companies interested in buying Denel Gear Ratio, a unit of Denel Vehicle Systems.
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Hoefyster is another Denel casualty
The State-owned defence and security acquisition agency, operating as a State-owned enterprise (SOE) in Minister Thandi Modise’s Department of Defence and Military Veterans, notes delays are mainly attributed to technical and financial challenges in Denel. During the reporting period, it has become clearer Denel is experiencing an increasing lack of capacity and capability and this has exacerbated delays on the programme.
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Paramount develops add-on armour for its Mbombe 4 IFV vehicle
Paramount Group, the global technology and aerospace business, has announced that new add-on armour has been developed for its next generation Mbombe 4 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), resulting in some of the highest levels of protection that can be achieved globally by an armoured vehicle in its class. The Mbombe 4 was first launched in 2019, designed for local manufacturing within customer countries.
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Integral Machine Tools appointed South African agent for Bodor Laser cutting systems
Integral Machine Tools was established in 2020 and represent Okuma, manufacturers of CNC machines for metal removal and shaping and were appointed earlier this year to represent Bodor Laser. Integral Machine Tools also represents suppliers who produce a variety of conventional and CNC equipment, encompassing a range of applications and processes, and tooling for the equipment.
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Thompson Machine Tools celebrates 50 years in the machine tool industry
“Surviving 50 years in the machine tool business is a significant achievement and we would like to sincerely thank all our clients, suppliers and friends in the industry that have supported us during this period,” commented Philip Thompson, MD of the company. The privately held company was started by Philip’s brothers Fred and the late Frank Thompson in 1971.
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Herona Engineering plans ahead with the introduction of a Victor Vcenter P136 machining center
Herona Engineering has had CNC equipment on its floor since 2004 when the company purchased its first CNC machine – a Victor Vturn-26 machining center. But this precision engineering company, based in Delporton, Krugersdorp West, has been in existence since 1982 and had built up a sizeable client base and reputation before the CNC arrived, by machining all of the components it manufactured for clients on conventional equipment.
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Recruiting for the manufacturing and engineering sectors
The shortage of potential employees in the manufacturing and engineering sectors is a serious challenge that merits a serious response. Too many companies react to employee needs by scrambling to fill the holes as they appear. And then they do not know who to turn to because the general recruitment agency that they use for administrative staff does not understand the industry we are working in and what type of candidate is needed.
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Ford modernises and expands manufacturing and assembly line in Silverton for the all-new Ranger pickup truck production
The high-profile US$1.05 billion investment by Ford South Africa (Ford SA) to modernise and expand its manufacturing facility in the Silverton plant to support expanded production of the all-new Ranger pickup truck is starting to take shape with the installation of a number of machines that will be seen for the first time in South Africa. Assembly of the Ranger is scheduled to begin in 2022.
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How China’s new privacy law will impact businesses in South Africa
In the case of South Africa-China ties, 2021 marks 23 years of diplomatic and economic relations between the two allies. As of July 2021, imports from China to South Africa accounted for 19.4% of South Africa’s imports, while exports to China from South Africa amounted to 12.6%. From the above statistics it can be safely deduced that South Africa will seek to protect and maintain all trade relations it has with China.
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September 2021
Tekenso launches eTrack – a complete management system that incorporates finance, sales, production, logistics, HR and IT (CAD/CAM/nesting software, CRM/ERP)
Businesses require effective management and oversight of various operational inputs from sales to pricing, orders outstanding, and tracking work-in-progress on the shop floor, to ensure the production and delivery of product – on time and within budget – for the end-customer.
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PTD appointed Kennametal distributor
Newly established tooling and related equipment and accessories distributor PTD Metalworking Professionals has been appointed an authorised Kennametal distributor. At the forefront of advanced materials innovation for more than 75 years, Kennametal is a global industrial technology leader, offering a wide range of metalworking tools for turning, milling, holemaking, threading and tooling systems applications.
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Macsteel Tube & Pipe leads the way for pursuing reinvention
Macsteel Express, a new franchise-partnering concept, is being rolled out. Last year Macsteel Service Centres SA (Pty) Ltd (MSCSA) embarked on a consolidation and reinvention programme set on becoming a centralised distribution-type business and the focus would be on how the company would move steel to customers as effectively and efficiently as possible.
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Simmer Engineering invests in CMM capabilities
An Aberlink Azimuth CNC CMM installed in purpose-built temperature controlled room. Gauteng-based Simmer Engineering specialise in the manufacture of precision components including covers, shafts, shaft sleeves, lantern rings, stuffing boxes, seal rings, glands, neck rings, impellers, expellers and other pump components linked to the mining, rail and military industries in a variety of materials.
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Celebrating the life of Jim (Hamish) Aikman
It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of Jim (Hamish) Aikman (71) in June 2021 due to COVID-19 related complications. Jim was one of the well-known and loveable characters of the tooling and engineering supplies industry who you struggled to understand because of his strong Scottish accent.
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Matthew And Son Engineering reach 40-year milestone
Matthew And Son Engineering may not sound as romantic as the famous musician or the song – Matthew and Son – that made Cat Stevens a household name to those from that era, but it does have the same longevity as the song. The manufacturing and fabrication engineering business recently celebrated its 40th anniversary as a company after being established by Matthew Mayhew Snr in 1981.
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Hi-Tech Machine Tools partners with cutting tool manufacturer Fraisa SA
Fraisa SA, a cutting tool manufacturer specialising in milling tools, drills, taps and indexable inserts has appointed Hi-Tech Machine Tools to market the company’s products in South Africa. “We are proud to announce that we have been appointed as agents to represent this high-end manufacturer of quality tooling. Tools and cutters are a significant aspect in the machining world,” said Peter Killian, MD of Hi-Tech Machine Tools.
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Retrofitting and modernising an ACME vertical boring and turning machine
Mention the name Dorbyl Heavy Engineering and you immediately think of what used to be one of South Africa’s largest engineering companies that made use of quality machine tools, imported mainly from European manufacturers. Most of these machine tools were large and could accommodate ultra-heavy components used in the rail, mining, energy, defence, marine, metallurgical and general engineering industries.
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Special Steels is more than just a buy-cut-sell enterprise
Takes care of your material preparation before CNC machining. For a busy manufacturer there can be fewer harder challenges to productivity in your machine shop than cutting to length hollow bar or tube in carbon steels, alloy steels or chrome, particularly when you do not have the equipment to do so. The costs and the possibility of scrap are high.
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Enclosures and DB board manufacturer turns to robotic press brake handling
When it comes to bending sheet metal to precise angles and dimensions, there is no better suited machine than the press brake. As one of the many principle pieces of equipment in the metal industry, the press brake helps deliver custom parts to a range of industries including aviation, automotive, agricultural, energy and transportation.
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B&R Metrology to distribute Scantech 3D scanning technologies and equipment and can now offer 3D printing service
Complements company’s industrial 3D printers VSHAPER equipment. Now offers 3D printing services for precision prototypes and end-use production components that give you accuracy and repeatability. B&R Metrology has announced that it will be distributing the range of Scantech products that include 3D scanning technologies and equipment.
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Sandvik acquires Mastercam developers CNC Software
Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire US-based CNC Software Inc., a leading provider of CAD/CAM software solutions for manufacturing industries and the company behind Mastercam, one of the most widely used CAM brands in the industry. By acquiring CNC Software, Sandvik gains a world-class CAM brand in the Mastercam software suite with an installed base of around 270 000 licenses/users, the largest in the industry.
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Trumpf and Starmatik agree on strategic partnership for bending machine automation
Trumpf and Starmatik, the Italian specialist for robotic automation of sheet metal processing machines, have agreed to collaborate even more closely in the future after the two companies have recently announced that they have entered into an agreement to that effect. Starmatik will be able to supply specific modular solutions for Trumpf’s Smart Factory solutions that take into account the general trend toward automation.
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United Grinding presents a world premiere at EMO 2021
Under the brand C.O.R.E. – Customer Oriented REvolution – the United Grinding Group will unveil a revolutionary new product at EMO 2021 on the first day of the trade show at 12 noon. The United Grinding Group, a manufacturer of precision machines for grinding, eroding, lasering, measuring, and combination machining, is presenting a revolutionary innovation at EMO 2021 in Milan, Italy.
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DMG MORI to continue partnership with Red Bull Racing Honda
DMG MORI has announced that it will continue to support the Red Bull Racing Honda Formula One team. The relationship between Red Bull Racing Honda and DMG MORI has been in place since 2004, with the machine tool supplier becoming an Innovation Partner in 2012. There are currently more than 20 DMG MORI machines, predominantly 5-axis machining centers, at the Formula One team’s manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes.
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July 2021
TaeguTec’s new Sfeed-Tec family propels machining into next generation
TaeguTec is introducing an exciting advanced line of performance-driven cutting tools specifically formulated for the Industry 4.0 revolution that not only guarantees incredible machining productivity by attaining quicker speeds and higher feed rates, but achieves longer tool life and consistency. Sfeed-Tec’s tools are a premium high-speed and feed machining line that assures new winning results.
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Blackstone Tek invests in new Hyundai Wia twin spindle dual turretLM 1800TTSY multi-axis turning center to process new order from an Italian OEM
In today’s world of motorsport, it is not the one second advantage that you are looking for but the fractions of seconds so as to get pole position or generating the speed needed during the race to perhaps pass another driver where it was once thought impossible.
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Jachris upgrades machine shop with the introduction of three Leadwell CNC lathes
Specialist industrial hose and couplings manufacturer Jachris has recently invested in three Leadwell CNC lathes that will be replacing 10 existing machines in the machine shop. “We manufacture and import product for fluid and material transfer, fluid power and fire suppression across a wide spectrum of industries. Most of the time our products will be required to operate in harsh conditions and in many cases they will be important components in safety critical areas,” said Warwick Bouwer CEO of Jachris.
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Anglo American explores 3D printing in South Africa
Anglo American has launched a 3D printing project in South Africa focused on using the technology to manufacture spare parts for mining and processing equipment locally. The company and its partners on the project, South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and US-based technology company, Ivaldi Group, are initially exploring the creation of a digitally distributed supply chain.
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B&R Metrology add 3D printers to portfolio
With more than 23 years’ experience in CNC manufacturing, B&R Metrology Solutions does not need to be introduced to the field of validation, verification of predefined standards, traceability, accuracy, reliability and precision, which are all elements of metrology and defined as the scientific study of measurement that establishes a common understanding of units that are crucial in linking human activities.
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Hi-Tech Machine Tools gets to grip with 5th Axis workholding systems
Innovative workholding solutions help you hold onto productivity and profit in a machining environment. Consider the cost of an up-to-date CNC machine tool, the cutting tools and toolholders in the toolchanger or tool turret, the hardware and software devoted to programming, and compare these investments to the cost of appropriate workholding equipment. Workholding usually costs only a fraction of the amount the rest cost.
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Mercedes-Benz to invest an additional R3 Billion in East London plant
Following on Mercedes-Benz’s rich heritage of over 6 decades in South Africa, the East London Plant has officially started production of the new generation C-Class. Since the investment announcement of R10 billion in 2018, the East London Plant has undergone numerous plant upgrades in preparation for the production of the new model. At an event commemorating the start of production of the new generation C-Class on 24 June 2021, Mercedes-Benz Cars announced an additional R3 billion investment.
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Ultra Lock install first Modula automated storage and retrieval system
Since its introduction to the market over 30 years ago, the Modula vertical lift system is among the most reliable and advanced storage systems available today. The Modula vertical lift system is the ideal solution to store any industrial products, components or spare parts in all possible industrial environments, industries and departments. The system allows for up to 90 000kg of capacity depending on the configuration chosen.
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Duncan Macdonald & Co develops environmentally friendly cutting fluid
Designed to keep up with advances in automated chip and fluid processing, N’VIRO Gold cutting fluids do not contain chlorinated solvents or harmful chemicals and are blended with vegetable esters and selected animal fats to ensure excellent lubrication for the most extreme pressure applications. A local company responding to the growing need for metalworking facilities to comply with environmental guidelines and to promote cleaner machining operations.
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Grinding Media South Africa makes major investment in melt shop revitalisation to reduce environmental impact
Company converts from electric arc furnace melting to induction furnace melting to reduce emissions to achieve environmental compliance, achieve quality improvements, reduce direct costs and enhance its safety incident awareness accordance. For over 35 years Grinding Media South Africa has been supplying grinding media for the platinum, gold, ferrochrome, base metals, power generation and cement industries.
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Aditiv Solutions successfully produces first component on South African developed Hyrax metal 3D printer
Aditiv Solutions, a self-funded South African company with a focus on providing affordable metal 3D printing solutions, has proudly announced that the company has printed its first component – dubbed ‘Bracketosaurus’ – on the company’s locally designed and developed metal 3D printer appropriately named Hyrax, which is nearing final stages of development.
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Knorr-Bremse (South Africa) adds Victor Vturn A20SCV to CNC turning capabilities
Knorr-Bremse SA’s 9 000m² factory in Spartan, Kempton Park is described as a state-of-the-art equipped manufacturing plant. When you visit the plant, you realise this is not an overstatement. From the spotless floors to the many DMG MORI and Okuma machines – 20 CNC machines in total – that occupy these floors, you can see that complacency and poor quality are not part of the company’s culture.
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First Nissan Navara vehicles to be manufactured in Africa by Africans
The first Nissan Navara vehicles to be manufactured in Africa by Africans have begun rolling off the Nissan manufacturing production facility in Rosslyn on their way to South Africa and the rest of Africa. The official start of production (SOP) was witnessed by Mike Whitfield, Africa Regional Business Unit Managing Director, Kabelo Rabotho, Nissan South Africa Country Director, Shafick Solomons, Nissan South Africa Plant Director and a small group of Nissan employees.
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Training on the correct and safe use of angle grinder consumables offered at PferdAcademy
The correct handling and application by operators of cutting and grinding machinery are not only critical in terms of operator safety, but also for the longevity of the machine, effective and efficient use of the consumables, as well as the quality of the overall end result. This is why Pferd South Africa is offering operator and distributor training at their PferdAcademy based in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
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DMG MORI to build new production plant in Egypt – Africa’s first machine tool factory
Made in Africa – for Africa: Joint Venture for intensified industrialisation in Africa. DMG MORI is building Africa’s first machine tool factory in Cairo. This was officially decided at a meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. In the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Chairman of the Executive Board Christian Thönes and AOI President Lt. Gen. Abdel Moneam Al Tarras signed a pioneering cooperation agreement.
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EMO Milano 2021 – 4 to 9 October 2021
Green light to exhibition activity. The rules for mobility across EU countries and between the European Union and the United States are at an advanced stage. Tax incentives established by the Italian Government: A great opportunity for exhibitors from all over the world. After a two-year hiatus EMO Milano, one of the leading exhibitions for the world’s metalworking machine tool manufacturing industry, makes its comeback in Milan, Italy.
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Macsteel reaches agreement with DTIC
Settles safeguard-duty case and secures two-year reprieve. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and Macsteel have reached a legal settlement in a case brought by the steel merchant after government extended the implementation of safeguard duties on hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports in August last year, according to an Engineering News report.
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Patel looking for R200 billion in additional localisation
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel says that his department’s localisation strategy is gaining increasing traction, and has now received the support of 30 local chief executives from companies such as Clicks, Anglo American and Sasol. Presenting his departmental budget speech to parliament in May, Patel said the strategy would see the localisation of up to R200 billion of additional production over a five-year period.
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May 2021
Victor Fortune introduces the Victor Vcenter G135 vertical machining center
Continuous developments at Victor Taichung’s new Smart factory in Taiwan have kept the Victor CNC machines at the forefront of technology and enabled them to keep up with the increasing demand from world markets. Last year the new horizontal turning lathe model S26 was launched and is now the most popular of the standard machines. A recent offering is the new G 135 heavy-duty vertical machining center.
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Making the shopping experience more seamless and enjoyable for shoppers, consumers and retailers alike with Barrows Global
Top quality and delivery gets a fabricator in customers’ doors. If a company can’t produce good parts on time, it’ll have a tough time growing let alone sustaining itself. The market has become just too competitive for mediocre performance. So what causes quality and delivery problems? One answer is rework from bad parts, which is where operator skill enters the equation.
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DNE Laser, a member of Bystronic, opens subsidiary in South Africa
Bystronic-owned company, DNE South Africa, to offer economical range of sheet processing equipment as an alternative. Components processed on DNE Laser machines are widely used in the electrical, automobile, mechanical equipment, appliance, shipping transport and many other general engineering, retail and consumer industries.
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South African division of Tramper Technology increasing its presence locally and internationally
Multinational manufacturing company Tramper Technology from the Netherlands only established its South African company in Somerset West, Western Cape a short five years ago. However, in this period, the local business has made a real difference for its parent company and in the local engineering community as a high-quality CNC machining company.
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Heavy, large part CNC machining operation D.C. Technical Services acquires Durma press brake
Meeting customer demand for both quality components and consistent, on-time delivery is essential for any business’s competitiveness. However, having to subcontract work that can’t be done in-house can add weeks or months to delivery times and compromise on quality standards. This was the issue faced by D.C. Technical Services, a company specialising in medium and large-sized machining and fabrication.
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Metal Chip Machinery appointed agents for nitrogen generation company AAG Makina
Fiber laser cutting assist gas technology evolves. “Assist gas generation for laser cutting has come a long way during the past decade. As more shops expand their laser cutting capacity, they often take another look at assist gas consumption. More operations are looking at alternatives for delivered gas, and this includes generating gas on-site, specifically nitrogen,” said Malcolm Moriarty of Metal Chip Machinery.
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Alfeco Group acquires Hulamin’s Gauteng aluminium extrusions business
Integrated, South African metals company, Alfeco Group has recently acquired the Hulamin Extrusions plant based in Olifantsfontein, Midrand. The extrusion assets which are now part of the Alfeco Group’s new aluminium division with a design capacity of 20 000 tons per annum has been renamed, Veer Aluminium. “The acquisition of the aluminium business signals further growth and commodity diversification to include in the Alfeco Group’s ferrous and non-ferrous metals portfolio.
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Sad passing of Gary Willis
It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Willis at the age of 51 in April 2021. Gary was Sales Director of First Cut at the time of his passing after having fought a brave and courageous 18-month battle with cancer. Always a positive man he remained so up until the end. Gary attended Randfontein High School in the west of Gauteng between 1983 and 1987 before joining his late father’s tungsten carbide tool tip business.
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Unique Off-Road Concepts – built to conquer
We all had plenty of extra time on our hands during the early stages of the initial nationwide lockdown that was put in place by the government as part of the non-pharmaceutical interventions designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. I’m sure you will look back in years to come and remember exactly what you were doing during those early stages of the pandemic that rocked and continues to rock the world.
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ArcelorMittal vows to address South Africa’s steel shortages
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) said in its 2020 integrated annual report that it was committed to addressing the country’s steel shortages. Chief executive Kobus Verster said recently the group had experienced considerable delays with starting the N5 blast furnace in Newcastle. Verster said the N5 setbacks were frustrating, particularly because of the group’s intense focus on addressing customers’ steel shortages that had been building up since before COVID-19.
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Trumpf acquires Lantek to promote open communication standards
Lantek to maintain current agreements with machine vendors, customers. Trumpf has announced that it has acquired the software house Lantek and is focusing on software in sheet metal processing that runs independently of the machine manufacturer. “Trumpf is opening up to customers’ production eco-systems with this acquisition,” said Tom Schneider, managing director of machine tool development at Trumpf.
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Mazak helps McLaren Racing get set for new season with rapid 5-axis installation
Yamazaki Mazak has helped the McLaren Formula 1 team step up its preparations for the 2021 season by supplying and commissioning a brand new fully-simultaneous 5-axis machining center in just four weeks. The new machine, an Integrex i-100S Multi-Tasking machining center, was ordered in December 2020 and became fully operational at McLaren’s Technology Centre in Surrey at the end of the same month.
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Does AMSA bully its customers?
“NEASA recently received complaints from numerous AMSA customers to the effect that AMSA is employing bullying tactics towards them. The following are examples of complaints we have received,” said Gerhard Papenfus is the Chief Executive of the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA). “One NEASA customer complained that they haven’t received deliveries for six months.”
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DMG MORI strengthens presence in China as the company outlines plans for a new 5-axis milling machine factory
DMG MORI will strengthen its presence in China by building a new plant as part of a €75 million investment in a 5-axis milling machine factory in Pinghu. The company said it plans to start construction of a 35 000m², highly automated and consistently digitised production plant for 5-axis milling machines near Shanghai.
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March 2021
Scientific & Precision Solutions thriving as it nears one-year anniversary
A one-stop supplier of instruments, equipment and consumables for all your metals, minerals and material testing requirements as well as a solutions provider for your laboratory. In little more than two months, the 15th May will mark the one-year anniversary of the formation of Scientific & Precision Solutions (Pty) Ltd (SPS). SPS has continued to provide the same range of equipment as before and continued to service and warrant all products previously provided.
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Local steel industry remains on the brink of implosion: Why is government not helping?
Local steel manufacturer, Duferco, has again raised the red flag over the local steel industry, saying its imminent collapse is one fateful step closer. Ludovico Sanges, MD of Duferco Steel Processing, says that President Ramaphosa’s emphasis in his recent State of the Nation Address on the need to accelerate South Africa’s economic recovery and grow jobs is at odds with the way in which local steel manufacturers’ pleas for help are being ignored.
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MBO offers huge opportunity for Infinity Diamond Wheel Manufacturing
Core business for new company will constitute diamond wheel manufacture for grinding operations, manufacture of ceramic shapes and sizes and general engineering. Infinity Diamond Wheel Manufacturing, which only began trading on the 1st January 2021, has been established as a result of a management buyout (MBO). Although, MBOs have been popular for a long time there have not been many publicised in the current economic climate.
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CRPM – Building Additive Manufacturing ecosystems in Botswana
The Central University’s Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM), once more managed to break more ground in their attempt to transfer Additive Manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) knowledge and skills, to industry and the community. Through the Southern African Innovation Support (SAIS) initiative, funded from Finland through its Project Management office in Windhoek, Namibia a successful bid was made under the SAIS2 programme, to establish an Additive Manufacturing (AM) Ecosystem in Botswana.
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U&L Engineering’s onsite machining and overlay welding solutions just got bigger
Onsite machining and repairs to mechanical equipment using portable line boring and rotary welding machines is an essential mechanical procedure to overhaul and repair many components, machinery and equipment in-situ so as not to incur costly down time and without having to disassemble equipment and usually transport it long distances to be fixed, if you are in the mining and construction industries.
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A tribute to Ronnie Graham
It is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of Ronnie Graham (58) in February 2021. At the time of his sudden and unexpected passing was the General Manager and Director of Widatech, the official distributors of Widia tooling products and systems, a brand that Ronnie was very passionate about. Ronnie who had over 28 years of experience in selling cutting, forming and related tools in South Africa was a friend a colleague to many people in our industry.
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Metallurgical and Manufacturing Services develops its wire arc additive manufacturing capabilities
“Metal 3D printing or machining metal parts can be a costly process. Some say 3DP for metal parts offers more advantages than other techniques, including CNC machining. But that is where a lot of confusion sits. Metal 3D printing like any other manufacturing technique or process, has its own specific advantages and drawbacks that need to be weighed up in relation to the task at hand,” explained Christo Botes, Director and one of the original founders of Metallurgical and Manufacturing Services.
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Specialist CNC machining center manufacturer MAPLE-tech Co appoints 600SA Machine Tools as their agent for South Africa
600SA Machine Tools has announced that it has been appointed as the agents to market and distribute MAPLE-tech Co products in South Africa. The MAPLE-tech Co specialises in the development and manufacture of automated vertical, horizontal, bridge type and gantry type machining centers for the machining of complex workpieces at minimal costs. MAPLE-tech Co., Ltd. was established in 1989 and is located in the Sha Lu district of Taichung City, Taiwan.
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Chemical Solutions & Innovations appointed sole distributors of Quaker Houghton metalworking fluid range
Chemical Solutions & Innovations (Pty) Ltd (CSI), one of the largest service providers of the bespoke Chemical Management Services (CMS/’Fluidcare’) to the manufacturing sector, as well as a leading metalworking fluid supplier to the South African market, has announced that they have been appointed the sole distributors of Quaker Houghton, a global leader in primary and metalworking industrial process fluids.
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Medical device additive manufacturing technology in South Africa – robust and reliable and up there with the best in the world
Not only is access to medical device technology improving in South Africa, but innovations in health care technology are helping to provide medical care and solutions to those living in poverty. There are more cases than there are not these days where it is not so much the accessibility to the equipment in Africa, and South Africa in particular, but that the equipment is not suited to African environments and the day to day living conditions that the majority of the population endure.
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EMO Milano 2021: The metalworking machine tool manufacturing industry exhibition is still scheduled to go ahead from 4 to 9 October 2021
Luigi Galdabini, General Commissioner of EMO Milano 2021 stated: “We are very confident of the success of the exhibition. Availability of vaccines, forecasts of demand growth in all the main areas of the world and important incentive measures for investment in new production technologies in Italy: These are all elements that make up a really favourable context for EMO Milano 2021.”
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Swasap invests R20 million in new equipment to boost productivity and quality
“Manufacturing safety critical axles for the rail transport industry is demanding in terms of increasingly stringent standards being applied worldwide, especially in passenger rail vehicles. Growing trade liberalisation over the past few decades has afforded Swasap the opportunity to expand its export markets, especially into Europe and North America. This in turn has resulted in Swasap developing new methods and manufacturing processes to ensure it meets the expectations of its clients,” said Derek Anderson, Managing Director of Swasap.
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January 2021
A bright future will rely even more on training
Change the culture, fill the skills gap. Many organisations in the manufacturing sector have had to hit the pause button during the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have taken the option of the reset button. However, no matter what – don’t focus on the negative. There are too many positives out there for you not to take hold of, so use this time to optimise your business.
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Duferco Steel Processing’s MD lashes out at Arcelor Mittal South Africa and the government
“Bureaucratic red tape and anti-competitive practices are driving the local steel industry into the ground. What hope of economic recovery if we are at the mercy of a single supplier? It’s ironic that, at this very moment, our steel industry, which is crucial to fulfilling our undoubted economic potential, should be teetering on the brink of catastrophe. We still have a tiny margin of time to save it, but it is ticking away,” complains Ludovico Sanges, MD of Duferco Steel Processing.
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Stalcor looks set to be a victim of Consolidated Steel Industries’ business rescue plan
Stalcor, once one of the top three Tier 1 distributors of stainless steel and aluminium products in South Africa, servicing customers in the fabrication sector and steel merchants, looks set to be closed as a result of parent company – Consolidated Steel Industries (CSI) – going into business rescue and a subsequent legal demand by a creditor, as well as trading complications during COVID-19.
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NEASA calls for suspension of all steel duties with immediate effect
In its latest newsletter NEASA has called on the government to suspend all duties imposed on steel imports with immediate effect. “As a result of the steel downstream’s uninterrupted appeal for the scrapping of import duties protecting AMSA, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) recently referred a request to have all duties suspended to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC),” said CEO Gerhard Papenfus.
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TDM Solutions develops temperature reducing case for Raspberry Pi 4 computer processor
Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in association with Broadcom. Early on, the Raspberry Pi project leaned towards the promotion of teaching basic computer science in schools and in developing countries. Later, the original model became far more popular than anticipated, selling outside its target market for uses such as robotics. It is now widely used in many areas.
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600SA Machine Tools appointed agents for bar feeding manufacturer LNS Group
600SA Machine Tools has announced that it has been appointed as the agents to market and distribute LNS products in South Africa. For over 45 years, LNS has been based in the commune of Orvin in the heart of Switzerland’s Jura region, the hub of the bar turning industry. Since it was founded, LNS has been devoted to helping optimise the performance of machine tools, whilst increasing their productivity and safeguarding their operators.
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Mecad Systems celebrates 35 years of CAD/CAM innovation and automation
It was only a short three years ago that Ben TerreBlanche, founder and CEO of Mecad Systems, celebrated the 25-year mark of his revolutionary product SigmaNest. TerreBlanche had developed the CAD/CAM nesting software product to enhance the efficiency and profitability of flat material and tube cutting here in South Africa before moving to the US to market the SigmaNest software and establishing SigmaTEK in Seattle in the state of Washington.
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Machine Tool & Design Technology to offer Sodick EDM machines
Machine Tool & Design Technology has announced that the company has been appointed to market and distribute Sodick EDM products in South Africa. Sodick products and technologies wire-cut EDM, die-sinker EDM, hole-drill EDM, injection moulding machines, high-speed milling machines and one-process additive manufacturing machines.
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The Competition Commission conditionally approves Macsteel’s application to acquire certain assets of Robor
The Commission has conditionally approved the proposed merger whereby Macsteel Service Centres SA (Pty) Ltd (MSCSA) intends to acquire assets from the liquidation of Robor (Pty) Ltd. MSCSA produces and distributes a broad range of steel products including carbon steel, stainless steel, speciality steels and aluminium products. MSCSA’s tubes and pipes division (MT&P) is the most relevant for this transaction.
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Naamsa says launch of automotive master plan postponed to July 2021
The plan was to be launched in January 2021 but both the industry and the government are not ready due to COVID-19. The launch of the new South African automotive master plan, which will govern the local motor industry from 2021 to 2035, has been postponed for six months. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) said that the plan, which was due to be launched on January 1, will now start in July 2021.
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EuroBLECH postponed to 25 to 28 October 2022
Mack Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of EuroBLECH, which was scheduled to take place at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Germany from 9 to 12 March 2021. The next EuroBLECH, the 26th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, will return to its normal event cycle and run from 25 to 28 October 2022. This decision was taken in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and following conversations with all exhibitors and partners.
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The tooling industry will be required to innovate – ISTMA President Bob Williamson
Bob Williamson, President of ISTMA (International Special Tooling and Machining Association) World and President of PtSA – Production Technologies Association of South Africa, recently gave an interview to ETMM, a European-wide magazine focused on sourcing solutions for the tool and mould making industry, reflecting on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic for tooling companies. He outlines the challenges of the industry in the light of the global pandemic.
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Fanuc and CNC Software introduce 5-axis postprocessor
Fanuc and CNC Software, developer of the Mastercam CAM software, have released a new postprocessor designed to optimise 5-axis capabilities in Fanuc CNC machines. The new postprocessor allows advanced machine tool operators to reduce their cycle times while boosting part accuracy, particularly for CAD/CAM-generated 5-axis simultaneous contouring part processes. A growing number of manufacturing industries, such as aerospace, medical and mould and die job shops, are incorporating 5-axis simultaneous processing in their operations.
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BIEMH postponed until May 2022
BIEMH, Spain’s International Machine Tool Exhibition that usually takes place every second year, will now hold its next edition in May 2022. The event’s organising team has decided to postpone the event, which was to be held in November 2020, after collecting the views of exhibiting companies once the preferential reservation period ended. The doubts generated by the pandemic make it difficult for organisers to guarantee the quality of BIEMH as a meeting point for the sector.
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VDW and VDMA debut new OPC UA interoperability standards
The VDMA and VDW have developed OPC UA specifications for machinery and machine Tools. These open communication standards are free on the VDMA’s website. The VDW and VDMA have published OPC UA for Machinery and OPC UA for Machine Tools specifications, which deputy executive director of the VDMA Hartmut Rauen says is “an important step closer to our goal of creating a ‘global production language.’”
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ESAB and Yaskawa sign collaborative agreement for pre-engineered robotic welding cells
The ESAB Group Inc. and leading robot and robot system company Yaskawa have announced the signing of a global cooperation agreement to jointly develop and market a line of pre-engineered robotic welding systems called XCellerator. The XCellerator systems will be engineered and built by Yaskawa and marketed by ESAB through its global sales channels.
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ArcelorMittal restarts Blast Furnace C at Vanderbijlpark Works
Africa’s biggest primary steel producer, which is majority-owned by Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal SA MT.LU, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has said in a SENS announcement that the company has decided to restart Blast Furnace C at its Vanderbijlpark Works operations since steel demand has progressively recovered in the last two months. This follows after the company had put the furnace and its Vereeniging Electric Arc Furnace on idle in July 2020 amid low demand.
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