Manufacturing sector upbeat despite output decline

Manufacturers remain somewhat upbeat about their prospects despite a contraction in the first quarter. The Manufacturing Circle, which is considered the voice of the sector, says business has remained resilient even as SA grapples with downgrades to its credit ratings. According to a survey compiled by the industry body, 29% of manufacturing enterprises indicated that they would continue with already instituted plans but would halt whatever they could to manage risks. Another 34% of respondents said the downgrades would affect investment decisions. Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth said: “The…

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Ford Southern Africa invests R125m in new conveyor system

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has invested R125m in a new 3,000-metre Webb conveyor system at its Silverton Assembly Plant in order to increase its production capacity for the locally-built Ford Ranger and Everest. This forms part of FMCSA’s manufacturing expansion plans to increase the plant’s capacity by 22% from 27 jobs-per-hour to 33 jobs-per-hour by January 2018, following the move to a two-vehicle facility last year when the Ford Everest joined the Ford Ranger on the Pretoria assembly line. The new conveyor system reportedly optimises the plant’s automated…

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TFG invests R75m into Caledon factory

TFG officially opened its newly expanded and revamped Prestige Clothing factory in Caledon, following its R75 million investment into construction of a new building and the refurbishment of the existing factory, including the re-tooling of the entire new facility. In addition, the establishment of a training school has ensured that more than 300 previously unemployed women have acquired the skills and a national qualification from the Department of Higher Education in apparel manufacturing. This has seen employee numbers grow from eight in 2008 to 315 currently. The company’s local supply…

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Recycled Plastic Product of the Year competition opens for entries

Entries are now open for the 6th Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards, organised by the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) and Plastics SA. The City of Cape Town and Mpact were awarded the SAPRO Trophy for the Recycled Product of the Year 2015 for their Fifty/50 Wheelie Bin. This biennial competition showcases the ingenuity and creativity our local product designers have and aims to encourage brand owners to consider recycled plastics as a material of choice. Whether they are designing packaging or pallets, shoes or shopping bags,…

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Waste to Food: PnP cutting down on food waste through innovative project

According to the CSIR, food waste cost the South African economy more than R61 billion annually – accounting for an astounding 2.1% of the country’s GDP – with a large portion of this cost going toward the disposal of the waste, most of which ends up in landfills across the country. Diverting waste from landfill to food project However, one sustainable solution has been developed in the form of Waste to Food, an innovative business process that converts excess organic waste into very high-grade compost, through the naturally occurring digestive…

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Advancing PET recycling: Petco award winners announced

Along with nine individuals and companies who have made extraordinary contributions to PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) recycling in South Africa during the course of 2016, Bizcommunity’s managing editor, Sindy Peters was named one of the winners as part of the Petco Annual General Meeting, held on 7 June at the Radisson Blu Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg. Sindy Peters, Managing Editor, Bizcommunity The Petco awards are designed to recognise individuals, organisations and companies that contribute significantly to advancing PET recycling, whilst reflecting the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility and circular economy thinking…

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Stanley Black & Decker launches three tool brands in SA

At a recent One Tool Company (OTC) event held in Johannesburg, Stanley Black & Decker launched three tool brands to the South African market. The company acquired Newell Tools at the end of 2016. The Lenox brand, part of the Newell Tools acquisition, offers durable, professional accessories for a vast array of industries and niche applications. “Lenox has defined performance in the reciprocating saw blade category since inventing the first bi-metal reciprocating saw blade in 1977. Lenox has used its century of cutting expertise to lead the way in recip…

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R42m industrial park to stimulate Hammanskraal economy

Pretoria – Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is expected to launch the refurbished Babelegi Industrial Park in Hammanskraal on Tuesday. The R42 million project is part of the Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). Minister Davies said the main objective of the programme is to accelerate economic development in the lagging regions by attracting business investments to locate in these areas. It is also aimed at supporting job creation in manufacturing and related sectors. “The dti has forged strategic partnerships for the…

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South Africa: Renewables Remain Part of SA’s Energy Mix

Cape Town — Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says renewable energy is still part of government’s energy mix. The Minister said this when she tabled her maiden Budget Vote Speech in Old Assembly Chamber on Friday. She said as part of government’s energy mix, renewables remain one of the key areas for the country to achieve its mandate of energy security. “We need to acknowledge that there was uncertainty around the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme. We will need to evaluate whether or not the programme is assisting us to achieve…

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First NERSA-licensed energy exchange in South Africa signs deal with 4-MW Merino small hydropower project

PowerX, the first licensed energy exchange in South Africa licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), announced last week it has entered into an agreement with Bethlehem Hydro, an independent power producer and subsidiary of Renewable Energy Holdings (REH), to purchase the entire output from the 4-MW Merino small hydropower project. Bethlehem Hydro operates the 7-MW Bethlehem two-facility hydro complex, near Bethlehem, South Africa. The complex comprises two separate generation sites: 3-MW Sol Plaatje and 4-MW Merino, both located on the As River. NERSA licensed PowerX as…

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