N3 upgrade hailed Call to curb 'lawless' business forums NEWS that work has resumed on a series - KZN Industrial & Business News
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ISSN NO: 1562 -5702 N3 upgrade hailed FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021 R20.90 (incl. VAT) ISSUE NO. 127 Call to curb ‘lawless’ business forums N EWS that work has resumed on a series of upgrades to the N3 highway – esti- mated to be worth a total of R18.4 bil- lion – has been widely welcomed by the KwaZulu-Natal business community. But it has also prompted warnings that intimidation from ‘business forums’ could raise costs and hamper progress on these vital projects, some of which are already scheduled to take up to a decade to complete. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) recently announced the resumption of the upgrades, starting with the 16.4km por- tion of the N3 between the Dardanelles inter- change and the Lynnfield Park interchange between Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg. This follows the recent completion of the Hammarsdale interchange. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs has welcomed the upgrade, which it believes will alleviate congestion on roads around the port and on the crucial N3 corridor linking the port of Durban to the hinterland, and South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng. Department spokesman Bheki Mbanjwa said Transnet had projected that the port was likely to exceed its maximum capacity of 5.5 mil- lion TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units) by 2035 and that the N3 improvements would help ensure “less discomfort” for non- commercial road users until sorely needed rail efficiencies were implemented. “The upgrade of the N3 will ensure ease of traffic movement and the continual mainte- nance will reduce fatalities on our roads. The long-term benefits to both the commuter and to the economy at large far outweigh any incon- venience,” he said. SANRAL Eastern Region Project Engineer Corné Roux said work now underway on the R1.48 billion Dardanelles to Lynnfield Park The N3 upgrades, combined with the recent completion of the Hammarsdale interchange will significantly enhance access to the area, rapidly stretch of the project would create an esti- developing into a major logistics hub. This encompasses the 152ha Keystone Park development which houses warehouses for the likes of Mr mated 700 employment opportunities. Price, Ackermans and Malda Pack. Work recently commenced there on a R1.3bn mega-warehouse for Pepkor The work is being carried out by Raubex and is one of two new projects SANRAL has Chief Executive Palesa Phili welcomed the tive for business confidence which directly cor- this recurs. awarded to the JSE-listed construction group upgrades, saying they promised to shorten relates with employment creation. The recently “Given the scale of the N3 upgrades it would worth a combined R2.87 billion – the sec- turnaround times for freight-carrying vehicles, completed Hammarsdale interchange has be devastating to all parties if similar lawless- ond being upgrades to the N2 between the reduce accidents and increase profitability. been excellent for the entire region. Anyone ness was to take root.” KwaMashu interchange and the Umdloti River She said the Durban and KZN economy relied driving along the N3 can see new platforms He said the association was engaging bridge, due to start in May 2021. on the logistics and transport sector, and the and structures going up and occupancy lev- SANRAL monthly so that local businesses are The N3 upgrade forms an integral part of upgrades would contribute to economic growth els in the area are reaching all-time highs,” aware of progress. the government’s Strategic Integrated Projects provided they were executed effectively. said Kotze, who also chairs the Infrastructure “In support of the HCRDA vision, to make SIP2: Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics Kelvin Kotze, Development Manager at the workstream of the Hammarsdale Cato Ridge Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge a better place and Industrial Corridor. SIP2 aims to strength- Hammarsdale Industrial Park also welcomed Development Association (HCRDA). to work and live, the HCRDA is working closely en the logistics and transport corridor between the “much needed” upgrades but cautioned “Work stoppages due to business forum with eThekwini Municipality, the South African South Africa’s main industrial hubs, improve that the construction process would be chal- intimidation however lengthened that project Police Services and other important stakehold- access to Durban’s export and import facilities lenging for its users given the project scale and considerably with unnecessary cost to the ers. Cooperation is essential if this region is to and raise efficiency along the corridor. time frames. contractor and users,” he said, adding that law achieve its full potential,” Kotze said. Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry “New and functional infrastructure is impera- enforcement must act swiftly and decisively if Enquiry no: 1 Instrumentation, Consulting Measurement & Control Engineers & Project INSIDE - page 6 Management - page 11 Pulp heavyweight Pumps, Valves, Engineering & green lights KZN Pipes & Fittings - Allied Supplies - biorefinery pilot page 8 page 10 plant - page 3 Company & Product News - page 12
2 news Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/kznindustrialnews February /March 2021 KZN Industrial & Business News R217bn budget boost for Stop AARTO now to prevent ‘grand scale’ economic growth programmes looting, says road freight body T HE Road Freight Association (RFA) has A total of R217 billion will be spent over the Competition for business incentives including called for an immediate halt to implementa- next three-years on ambitious economic manufacturing, special economic zones, the tion of the Administrative Adjudication of Road development programmes aimed at pro- clothing and textile sector and services sector Traffic Offences Act (AARTO), citing fears of moting faster and sustained inclusive economic development. “grand scale” theft and corruption. growth, according to National Treasury in its These incentives will support the national This follows the recent suspension of the recently revealed Budget Review document. industrial strategy. Road Traffic Infringement Agency’s (RITA’s) Over the medium term, R14.6 billion is allocat- The Department of Environment, Forestry Chief Executive Officer, Japh Chuwe, amidst ed to finalise outstanding land restitution claims and Fisheries has been allocated R1.2 billion allegations of “serious maladministration” by and support land reform initiatives, including for over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework the Auditor-General. subsistence and smallholder farmers. (MTEF) period to support climate resilience AARTO is scheduled to be implemented in An additional R1.2 billion in the blended initiatives, including a legislative framework, July this year. finance programme is earmarked for emerging intergovernmental coordination, and job resil- “Whilst we welcome the uncovering of cor- commercial farmers. Smallholder farmers have been identified as ience plans. ruption, it would be irresponsible and reckless According to the document, an allocation one of the programmes to drive the economy Expenditure in the function will rise from for government to proceed with the implemen- of R81.6 billion over the medium term will R191.9 billion in 2020/21 to R217.2 billion in tation of AARTO,” said RFA Chief Executive support the expansion of public employment ing the local production of ventilators, nano 2023/24. This was despite the baseline for this Gavin Kelly, adding that the association had programmes while a further R1 billion is set satellites, hydrogen fuel cell technologies, and functional group being reduced by R11 billion over the years expressed concern and uneasi- aside to enhance accountability for waste man- renewable energy research development and over the medium term. ness about AARTO and its susceptibility to agement. pilots. “This mainly affects compensation of employ- fraud, corruption, and money laundering. “This funding will support the development The pilots include the KwaZulu-Natal ees, transfers and subsidies, and selected “The RTIA’s latest announcement is con- of a new tyre waste industry plan, the review Research Innovation and Sequencing goods and services including in the Expanded firmation of our worst fears. Once AARTO is of producer responsibility regulations and the Platforms. Public Works Programme. The reductions implemented, the RTIA will be handling billions development of a Waste Economy Master Treasury said the Small Enterprise Finance affected allocations to entities and incentive of rands. How can we now trust the entity – Plan,” Treasury said. Agency has been allocated R885.3 million over programmes such as the Comprehensive especially when the dishonesty and corruption A R540 million Tourism Equity Fund has the same period for a blended finance model Agriculture Support Programme, manufac- is allegedly at the highest level in the agency? also been established to support black-owned to support small and medium enterprises, and turing development, the Clothing and Textile “We already face huge corruption, extorsion and commercially viable enterprises to acquire allocated R2.9 billion under the Township and Competitiveness Programme, global business and intimidation at the hands of traffic police shares in tourism enterprises. Rural Entrepreneurship Fund to support small processing, film and television, tourism and on a daily basis and this latest development Over the medium term, R5.3 billion has been businesses in rural areas and townships. small business support,” Treasury said. has highlighted how rampant dishonesty is in set aside for the Department of Science and To support industry, R17.1 billion is allo- – SAnews.gov.za the public service – especially in the traffic law Innovation to scale up interventions support- cated to the Department of Trade, Industry and Enquiry no: 2 enforcement and management structures. “These allegations have undermined what little faith we had in RTIA. If the system is Local steel implemented, we envisage theft on a grand scale.” Kelly said the RFA was again proposing that AARTO be shelved, alleging that it “is all about industry on the generating revenue and not at all about road safety”. Huge administrative resources would be required to implement and sustain an “antiquated and cumbersome” system, putting ‘brink of implosion’ additional burdens on already-overburdened government authorities and the private sector. He said that the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) – another Agency of L OCAL steel manufacturer Duferco Steel Commission (ITAC) to treat our urgent applica- the Department of Transport – already costs Processing raised the red flag over the tion for assistance dating from July 2020 with a new solution does not address the critical motorists hundreds of millions of rands a year local steel industry, saying its imminent any seriousness.” downstream shortages. We need tariff relief in levies imposed on all eNatis transactions. collapse is one fateful step closer. While ITAC recently sent out a survey on now to be able to import the raw product that “This was supposed to be a temporary Managing Director Ludovico Sanges said the shortages, based on a directive from the AMSA cannot supply reliably and competitive- measure to get the RTMC on its feet. Like all President Ramaphosa’s emphasis in his recent Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, ly, to feed the downstream steel industry with other levies, this has become permanent with State of the Nation Address on the need to “the truth is that we cannot hold out too much the product it needs.” no added value to citizens. The RTMC needs accelerate South Africa’s economic recovery longer”. “Without competition in the re-roller sector of to step up and do its job, that is, to manage and grow jobs was at odds with the way in He said the commission had sent similar the steel industry, the whole steel value chain road traffic according to proper traffic manage- which local steel manufacturers’ pleas for help requests to the industry before, claiming that will be compromised and prevented from pro- ment strategies with effective centralised road are being ignored. the latest one was merely a delaying tactic, ducing product at the best possible price.” safety interventions and operational manage- He said Rampaphosa had specifically men- “which does nothing to address ArcelorMittal He said government had shown that it was ment.” Enquiry no: 6 tioned steel as one of the 42 products that can South Africa’s anti-competitive and monopolis- able to play a positive role in nurturing the be sourced locally. tic behaviour”. automotive and sugar industries. “Why is it “But the local industry is on the brink of “The solution, which has been on the table not taking the same proactive approach to catastrophe due to the shortage of steel in for months, is to provide tariff relieve for re- the steel industry on which multiple industries South Africa and the apparent unwillingness rollers to help reduce the shortages in the local rely?” of the International Trade Administration steel supply chain, yet ITAC’s drive to identify Enquiry no: 3 Covid crisis puts health and safety of P O Box 1322 Wandsbeck 3631 temps under spotlight Tel: (031) 266 7511 Fax: (031) 266 7514 Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za www.kznindustrialnews.co.za by Natashia Barnabas level of involvement assisted in ensur- easier to train employees on the Managing Director: Janet Coom ing compliance and accurate report- basics of the OHS Act. They need to A CCORDING to employment legisla- ing. Not only does this solve the prob- be able to identify hazards and risk, Editor: Alan Cooper tion, temporary employment service lem, but it also adds value through how to report on them and manage Email: editorial@mediaevents.co.za (TES) providers are regarded as the collaboration and being part of the efficiently. employer of any TES worker placed within clients’ planning and implementation TES providers also assist with, Sales & Marketing Manager: a given organisation. However, according to of health and safety protocols. for example, legal requirements Cheryl Murphy the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) In reference to the recent COVID- of health and safety during a time Email: cheryl@mediaevents.co.za Act, the TES provider is not regarded as the 19 outbreak, many organisations did of a pandemic. Organisations can employer, which means the responsibility of not have the capacity and the insight adhere to the statutory laws in terms the employees’ Health and Safety lies with the to effectively deal with the protection of appointments, however, seldom Any news items, press releases, articles and organisation itself. of their employees. As a result, the apply thought to the enforcement photographs relating to business and industry This becomes a challenge due to the fact importance of TES providers became and operational aspects of Health in KwaZulu-Natal are welcome. All contributions that a TES provider is responsible for the man- more evident than ever. The pan- and Safety. The TES industry can will be considered for publication. datory reporting and if needed, the payment of demic has subsequently resulted in some therefore play a much larger role in the health any injuries on duty (IOD) which pertain to the organisations depending on TES providers to and safety of employees through regular Disclaimer: The editor and management of KZN OHS Act. This becomes particularly relevant in assist them with relevant resources. engagement with employees and clients to Industrial & Business News make every effort high-risk industries such as mining, manufac- In this regard, TES providers can assist discuss health and safety in the workplace. to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this turing and warehousing to name a few. organisations with services ranging from legal Both TES providers and their clients all need to publication. Despite the fact that the OHS Act states that expertise, healthcare, finance and training, for manage their workplace protocol which helps However, no warranty is made and no responsi- the TES provider is not responsible for health which organisations may not have resources. them abide by the OHS Act. bility will be borne by the editor or management and safety, but rather the client, TES providers Health and safety is in itself a complicated Health and safety is there to protect us all, of consequences of any actions based on infor- still play a vital role in assisting clients with process to implement and ensure the compli- whether one is in a management position or mation published. their compliance to the OHS Act. This is usu- ance thereof. With the addition of COVID, this a junior role. Workers should all abide by the The views and opinions expressed in this ally done by ensuring basic inductions based has become even more cumbersome to clients same rules and regulations in order to protect publication do not necessarily reflect those of on the various industry requirements and fun- to manage and enforce. TES providers should themselves and their colleagues against any the editor and/or management. damental protective equipment requirements be included more holistically in their clients’ harm or injury in the workplace. The TES are met. implementation and enforcement of health and industry, even though not recognised as a key However, over the past few years the TES safety regulations. player by the OSH Act, can and must play PUBLISHED BY: Hentiq 1910 (Pty) Ltd t/a THE MEDIA & industry has adjusted its operating processes In relation to the challenge stated previously, a bigger role in the health and safety of its EVENTS CO to overcome some of these challenges by the responsibility of employee safety – whether employees and that of its clients. Reg No. 1999/019445/07 COPYRIGHT: All rights becoming more involved with their client’s employed permanently or contractually – can Natashia Barnabas is Industrial Relations Specialist at reserved operations. By streamlining processes and be well split between TES providers and their Workforce Holdings Limited making them more transparent, the deeper clients. When working together, it becomes Enquiry no: 4
February / March 2021 KZN Industrial & Business News news Follow us on Twitter @kzn_indbiznews 3 Pulp heavyweight green lights KZN biorefinery pilot plant S APPI has announced further progress in commercial furfural plant at the mill. ket uses, including resins, solvents and South Africa, earning additional for- the development of its biorefinery capac- Sappi CEO Steve Binnie (pictured) said, platform chemicals to replace oil-based eign exchange and supporting the ity with the confirmation that it will con- “We are very happy with the progress being chemicals. country’s balance of trade.” struct a pilot plant using technology developed made by our biorefinery team. Biomaterials He said the location of the commercial Turning to the markets which in-house to prove the feasibility of a future and biochemicals are integral to Sappi’s strat- plant at an existing mill site would deliver the pilot plant will enable Sappi commercial furfural plant. egy of extracting maximum value from wood strong integration synergies, and the to explore, Kruyshaar said, “The The plant will be located at Sappi’s Saiccor fibre, our natural and renewable resource. We cost advantages offered by Sappi’s scale future commercial furfural plant will Mill on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast and have taken a significant step towards generat- mean the company will have a globally be one of the largest, lowest cost will use the co-product of the dissolving pulp ing meaningful revenue from this new business competitive cost base for furfural produc- and sustainable production facilities process. It should be operational early in 2022. segment”. tion. in the world. It will be unique in using Pending successful paper and pulp results Louis Kruyshaar, EVP for Sappi Biotech said “In addition, Sappi will be able to use its wood-based feedstock from the dissolving pulp and further approvals it the pulp and paper furfural is a sustainably sourced bio-chemical existing competencies in logistics and cus- process, ensuring all year-round feedstock multi-national plans to build a “world-scale” with a variety of established and future mar- tomer service to support global customers from availability and production”. Enquiry no: 7 Conveyor benefits stack up for Estcourt quarry B LUROCK Quarries, whose opencast pit is While this is no longer a factor, as the “It’s a quiet machine and the ergonomics an institution in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, local municipality is proactive in work- are great. It also came standard with pro- recently took delivery of a Finlay TC-80 ing with its large power consumers to tectors on the front screen and top of cab. Tracked Conveyor. reduce demand when necessary to avoid “A 40t machine would have to work all day to This was after Chief Executive Officer load shedding, Blurock Quarries enjoys supply product to the static and mobile plants Jeremy Hunter-Smith saw the unit in operation the flexibility provided by these machines. whereas now we have a portion of the day at a Bell Equipment customer open day. In addition to the Finlay Conveyor, Blurock where our Kobelco can be used to remove He said the company had been looking at a took delivery of a Kobelco SK500HDLC-8 overburden because it’s so efficient. We’re stacking conveyor for several years, trying to Excavator and a Bell L2106E Wheeled Loader, really chuffed we did the stats to make sure we see where it would best benefit the operation. both of which are fitted with rock buckets, bought the right size machine for our operation.” “Seeing it work, we should’ve bought one auto greasing systems and reverse cameras. Commenting on the new Bell Wheeled Loader, four or five years ago. For anyone manufactur- The Kobelco is Blurock’s primary production Hunter-Smith said they previously operated ing base and subbase products out of a mobile machine that feeds rock from the muck pile two Bell L2606E machines. plant it should be a standard part of the kit.” into a fleet of Bell ADTs that deliver the rock to “We ran two because we always had one Hunter-Smith said one of the main benefits the static and mobile plant. in the quarry pit itself loading certain prod- has been freeing up a wheeled loader. “With “With the excavator, we were looking at a ucts from the muck pile, but we’ve real- mobile crushers the conveyors are always smaller machine but when we did our stud- ised that it’s not cost effective and to rath- close to the floor, so you need a permanent ies again, we realised we needed the larger er utilise excavators, which are made for wheeled loader in the area, which means fuel machine. We weren’t happy with the fuel con- that environment. Tyre damage running burn as well as the risk involved and the inter- sumption on the competitor machine that we into the muck pile was the main challenge. action with the lower conveyors and people own, so we bought the Kobelco.” “Now we have one L2606E loading interlinks moving around the plant. He said the new machine is considerably and the Bell L2106E, which is dedicated to our “In the same application our TC-80 uses a more fuel efficient at 28l/hr compared to the wash plant, to handle the washed product. We meagre 3,5l/hr compared to a wheeled loader 33l/hr of its predecessor, delivering the twin opted for a smaller machine because the main- that burns 15l/hr. Now with the conveyor, our benefits of fuel saving and the productivity of tenance and fuel burn are less.” wheeled loader works half the time. It’s not hav- the larger machine. Enquiry no: 8 ing to feed a machine plus then take product Bell Equipment Sales Representative, Keith away. Now it only feeds the mobile plant and Milne, with the Chief Executive Officer of we can utilise it to load customers’ trucks when Blurock Quarries, Jeremy Hunter-Smith before we would need to bring in an additional loader. It contributes hugely to efficiencies in ary section on the static side. Its versatility each section of our mobile crushing operation.” has been unbelievable. The next day it was The TC-80 has also proved versatile. It was back to the wash plant again to carry on initially earmarked to work on base and sub- work there. That is the advantage of mobile base materials – G7, G5 and G2 – that are plant, and the adjustable height is useful too.” manufactured out of the mobile plant. Hunter-Smith admits that one of his con- “When it arrived, we put it on our G5 pro- cerns was the segregation of product from duction, where it worked perfectly. When we the conveyor but with the adjustable height stopped that line the guys were keen to utilise this isn’t an issue and Blurock is able to build it at our wash plant because they could see a much larger stockpile with the TC-80 than the advantage of it, so it moved straight to our those that are under the conveyor belts on its wash plant creating the same time and cost mobile equipment. With a discharge height of benefits. 10m, the TC-80 can supply 300t/hour and is “Then we ran into another snag when our therefore more than capable of handling the static primary went down and the guys put 150t/hour production rate on the mobile plant. their heads together and said they’ll use the The mobile plant includes a Finlay J1175 Jaw stacker to directly feed one of our static crush- Crusher that feeds into a Finlay C1540RS ers. We limped along but we were able to Cone Crusher, and two Finlay 694 Triple Deck get product through. We brought the product Screens, which were bought with load shed- to the stacker so it could feed our second- ding in mind. Durban sustainability expert nets key global appointment W ASTE management company and I am proud to work for such a strong val- Averda has appointed two rising ues-led company. It’s also uplifting to work for stars, Brindha Roberts and a company so supportive of women Mariam Ansari, as Group Director of in leadership roles within the waste Sustainability and Director of Plastics management sector, which is still Recycling respectively. very male-dominated,” Roberts said. According to a statement from the Ansari will lead Averda’s expan- company, the global appointments sion in the plastics recycling sector, reflect its “strategic focus on fostering working with the solutions & inno- the circular economy in the emerging vation team, business development If its not INVAL, it’s not Invincible world as well as its commitment to executives and external partners to staff diversity at a senior level”. identify and develop opportunities to A Durban native holding a mas- grow the company’s plastics recycling ter’s degree in chemical engineering, portfolio. and a graduate of University of Stellenbosch With a master’s degree from Warwick Business School, Roberts’ career has seen Business School, UK, she joined the Averda her hone her skills at Mondi Packaging, Sappi Academy Programme in 2010 and has since and Kimberly-Clark before bringing her exper- steadily progressed through a series of tise to Averda. increasingly senior roles across the business, She has been Averda’s Head of including managing the company’s operations Sustainability in South Africa since 2017 and in the UAE and Qatar and, most recently, as is now promoted to run strategic sustainability Head of Special Projects. initiatives across all Averda’s nine countries “Plastic remains one of the biggest nem- of operation -- South Africa, Congo, Oman, eses of our planet’s sustainability. I am excited Saudi Arabia, India, UAE, Qatar, Morocco to be leading Averda’s plastics recycling team and the UK. with a clear vision to move away from today’s “Sustainable methods of waste manage- linear take-make-waste model, and funda- ment, within a broader circular economy, in mentally rethink the way we use and reuse the emerging world is Averda’s raison d’etre plastics,” Ansari said. Enquiry no: 9
4 news - opinion Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/kznindustrialnews February /March 2021 KZN Industrial & Business News Intercepting RICA: Concourt verdict hailed a victory for privacy By Rui Lopes and Kirsty Gibson, having approached the Constitutional Court • Adequately prescribe procedures to ensure Lopes Attorneys for confirmation of the declaration of uncon- that data obtained pursuant to the intercep- stitutionality in the 2017 High Court decision. tion of communications is managed lawfully S OUTH Africa’s highest court, the To this end, the Constitutional Court noted and not used or interfered with unlawfully, All industry Constitutional Court, handed down a that various provisions of RICA were inad- including prescribing procedures to be fol- significant judgment on 4 February equate and thus unconstitutional in so far as lowed for examining, copying, sharing, sort- 2021, declaring that certain provisions of they failed to: ing through, using, storing or destroying the the infamous Regulation of Interception of • Provide for safeguards ensuring that a data; and stakeholders Communications Act (RICA) are unconstitu- Judge designated in terms of section 1 of • Provide adequate safeguards where the tional. the Act is sufficiently independent; subject of surveillance is a practising lawyer In this ground-breaking judgment, the • Provide for notifying the subject of surveil- or journalist. court held that certain provisions of RICA are lance of the fact of their surveillance as soon The Constitutional Court ordered that such can win from unconstitutional in so far as RICA fails to pro- as such may be given without jeopardising an order for the declaration of unconstitu- vide appropriate safeguards and adequately the purpose of surveillance after such sur- tionality is to take effect immediately and is prescribe procedures in many respects when veillance has been terminated; suspended for a period of 36 months in order it comes to undertaking surveillance. • Adequately providing safeguards to address to afford Parliament an opportunity to cure the SA rail boom This case was brought about by the ama- the fact that interception directions are defect causing the invalidity. Bhugane Centre for Investigative Journalism sought to be obtained ex parte; Enquiry no: 10 O PENING up third-party access to South Africa’s rail infrastructure would funda- mentally change the way freight moves Always in the country. This would not only grow the size of the rail market for all players, but ultimately benefit a range of industries and the entire economy. Visible That’s according to James Holley, Chief Executive of independent rail operator Traxtion, who said giving third-party opera- tors access to the rail network would not only enable more efficient freight move- ments within the country but unlock potential new export markets by providing capacity to freight goods to ports and the rest of the continent. Granting third-party access to the country’s core rail network within the next 12 months is a key element of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan presented by President Ramaphosa last October. Under this policy, private freight rail operators will be allowed to operate on the state-owned rail infrastructure alongside Transnet. Holley said there was a “significant” body of cargo – including steel, agricultural products, hazardous chemicals, specialised products and general freight – that is well suited to rail transport, but is not currently moved by this way. Providing additional rail capacity to service this demand would create an “unprec- edented” boom in the rail freight market. “The rail industry in South Africa should be pursuing getting as many extra tonnes on rail as possible. One of the big winners would be Transnet, who would benefit from access fees generated from these new cargo flows. Increasing rail capacity will improve the com- petitiveness of South Africa’s economy. This will stimulate growth and that means that jobs created are not limited just to those that would be created in the rail sector but many multiples more upstream.” Holley said global manufacturing power- houses like Germany, which has built effec- tive transport routes into key markets across Europe and the rest of the world, has created a world-class rail network through state-owned Transport & Logistics rail operator Deutsche Bahn’s long-standing partnerships with a range of third-party opera- tors. “We are already seeing strong demand from freight movers that are eager to access this Keep every aspect of your fleet, Always Visible. new rail capacity. What’s most exciting is that this will lead to new business and expansions to existing businesses who have needed this With Ctrack’s 30 years experience, we can help you unlock capacity to grow.” Enquiry no: 11 better diagnostics, support compliance reporting, as well as provide tailormade analytics for both short term, and long-term decision making. Ctrack will optimise the right New SA distributor solution for your specific business needs. for top construction equipment brand Keep your eyes on the road K EMACH Equipment will no longer be dis- tributing JCB Construction Equipment in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) from 1 May 2021. This Iris Camera Solution Asset Monitoring Temperature Monitoring after competitor Bell Equipment concluded a Front-Back-Side Facing Camera Options deal with UK-headquartered JCB to distribute Trailer Tracking Remote Door Unlocking the full range of its construction equipment in In Cab Device Door Open/Close Sensor South Africa. Kemach CEO Les Lothian said the group • Job Dispatch Driver Identification & would continue to focus on, and intensify, • Navigation Driving Behaviour Monitoring Fuel Level & the development of its prominent brands • Messaging Consumption Monitoring that include McCloskey International, • Driver Behaviour Display Engine Performance Kemach Forklifts and Stampede Compaction Equipment. Monitoring (CAN) Vehicle & Fleet Tracking “Sales of these flagship product lines contin- ue to be robust and is showing positive growth in the Southern African market. Kemach Equipment remains committed to providing products and after-sales service that exceeds www.ctrack.co.za | sales@ctrack.co.za | Call Centre: +27 (0)860 333 444 customers’ expectations,” he said. The Kemach Group of companies outside of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini that distribute JCB Construction Equipment will be unaffected. Enquiry no: 12
February / March 2021 KZN Industrial & Business News news Follow us on Twitter @kzn_indbiznews 5 The role of workplace Solar industry body breathalysers in tackling alcohol addiction welcomes power utility by Rhys Evans boss’s supportive comments G OVERNMENT’S ban T on alcohol as part of the HE South African Photovoltaic required changes. COVID-19 lockdown high- Industry Association (SAPVIA) “Increased deployment of embed- lighted the devastating impact has welcomed comments made ded generation capacity will release alcohol abuse has on socie- by Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter the pressure on Eskom’s already con- ty. While alcohol was banned, of alcohol their staff consumed. recently in support of an increased strained supply. Simply put, distrib- there were far fewer instances Many of the workers’ wives noted distributed generation license exemp- uted generation provides, rapid, clean, of domestic abuse, and pressure that, instead of coming home late tion cap. additional capacity to the grid,” said on hospitals was eased because and drunk, their husbands would Association COO Nivesh Govender Govender, adding that no one could alcohol-related injuries and acci- return straight after work. said they believed distributed gen- disagree with the need for increased dents were minimised. For many industries where eration can add capacity to the grid, support in this effort should encourage capacity as the economy was “ham- However, this issue will not be employees rely on no work, no reduce load-shedding, and create jobs more haste in regulatory changes from strung by the ongoing blight” of load- solved by prohibiting the sale and pay, running the risk of not being but there must be policy and regula- the Department of Mineral Resources shedding. consumption of alcohol – the prob- allowed into the workplace due to tory action. and Energy (DMRE) and National He said distributed generation would lem goes far deeper. The reality is intoxication is not worth it for many “SAPVIA has long been engaged in Energy Regulator of South Africa also create jobs and spur localisation that South Africa has a culture of such employees. Compulsory advocating for the systematic easing (NERSA).” and industrialisation, which would be of drinking and it has become testing helped to control exces- of licensing thresholds, to unlock the He said the benefits of a specif- vital in driving economic recovery. normalised to consume exces- sive drinking behaviours, as the significant opportunity held by distrib- ic allocation within the Integrated “It is clear from Mr De Ruyter’s com- sive amounts on a regular basis. workers knew their jobs could be uted generation. We therefore wel- Resource Plan (IRP) and lifting of ments that Eskom have realized that A multi-level approach is critical, on the line. come the support of the state-owned licensing thresholds were now “com- they must look for alternative solutions and compulsory alcohol testing in Some other benefits of reducing utility for lifting licensing thresholds mon knowledge” and as a key gov- to combat the ongoing energy crises the workplace has a pivotal role alcohol consumption were fewer from 1MW to 50 MW in order to accel- ernment partner in the energy space, and we are hopeful that this will be to play. instances of domestic abuse, as erate distributed generation by large SAPVIA remained committed to followed up with the necessary legisla- Alcohol abuse is a complex well as more disposable income customers. engaging and collaborating with both tion changes to make this a reality.” problem for which there is no for education and food. For the “As a key sector player, Eskom’s DMRE and NERSA to develop the Enquiry no: 15 single, magical solution. However, business, they also saw improve- there are steps that businesses ments in productivity, reliabil- can take to play a role in reducing ity and employee health, as well alcohol consumption, especially in as fewer accidents, creating an the workplace. improved working environment for The Occupational Health and all. Safety (OHS) Act specifies a zero- Compulsory alcohol testing is These brands are proud members of tolerance approach toward intoxi- only one element of a multi-fac- cation in the workplace. Enforcing eted problem. Education on the this with the use of alcohol testing dangers of alcohol consumption not only ensures compliance, but it can also effectively reduce the alcohol consumption of employ- needs to be driven from a young age and reinforced in the work- place. Avoid the ees. The ‘cool’ factor around drink- If staff know that they will or may be tested when they arrive at work, they will not be able to drink to excess the night before. ing needs to be changed and the preconception that socialising has to involve alcohol must shift. In addition, establishments serv- purchase & use of In addition, if they are tested upon ing alcohol need to play a role in returning from lunch, they will not ensuring excessive consumption be able to consume alcohol dur- does not take place. ing work hours. Regular testing Ultimately South Africa needs a plays a role in reducing excessive change in culture and individuals alcohol consumption and can help to change culture in a small way. need to be held accountable. We need to become more respon- sible as a nation and knowing sub- KZN success story that we could be fired for drink- A paper mill in KwaZulu Natal implemented compulsory alcohol testing several years ago and ing too much is a really effective incentive to help control drinking behaviours. Rhys Evans is Managing Director at standard, dangerous almost immediately experienced ALCO-Safe a huge reduction in the amount Enquiry no: 13 Call for probe into SA business electrical links with Zim tobacco cartels products & T HE South Africa Tobacco Transformation Alliance (SATTA) has called for an services. urgent investigation into revela- tions of an illicit international axis involving Zimbabwean tobacco smugglers, South African busi- ness, and the Chinese state ciga- rette manufacturer. The allegedly corrupt rela- low,” the report said. tionship between these players SATTA spokesperson Zachariah was revealed in a report on the Motsumi said the report confirmed ALBERTON Maverick Citizen news website their view that urgent action need- recently as part of an exposé of ed to be taken against those cigarette cartels and other corrupt involved in the production and activities. distribution of illicit tobacco. It says there is hard evidence “Their activities are criminal and of under-pricing of tobacco ship- are undermining the South African ments between China, Zimbabwe economy, and in particular the and South Africa, and that this – law-abiding farmers, processors along with a number of other fac- and manufacturers who are try- tors – is fuelling illicit trade. ing their best in the face of an “Tobacco is being directly onslaught of illicit products, par- exported from Zimbabwe to China ticularly since the introduction of Download your free guide from safehousesa.co.za at market price, then purported COVID-19-related lockdowns. to be exported to [an unnamed] “SATTA believes the details of South African middleman,” the individuals and businesses pro- report said. “The middleman vided in the report are more than Make a commitment to safety. receives the payment from China, enough ammunition for the South We don’t know what you know, JOIN TODAY! retains a significant amount in South Africa, and remits a small- African authorities to institute an immediate investigation and a report unsafe er amount to Zimbabwe as the crackdown on the businesspeo- products & services. For more information contact: export price. ple, freight companies and others Connie Jonker: Tel: 011 396 8251 “Given that 99.5 per cent of involved in illicit activity. Email: connie.jonker@safehousesa.co.za tobacco exported to China from “We urge them to act with speed Barry O’Leary: Tel: 011 396 8117 Zimbabwe between 2014-18 was to bring to book those named in The SAFEhouse Association is a non-profit, industry Email: barry.oleary@safehousesa.co.za falsely declared as exports to the report, and to help turn the tide organisation committed to the fight against sub-standard, South Africa, there are clear indi- against the growing illicit trade in unsafe electrical products and services. www.safehousesa.co.za cations that certain exporters are tobacco products,” Motsumi said. colluding to keep the export prices Enquiry no: 14
Like us on Facebook February /March 2021 6 www.facebook.com/kznindustrialnews KZN Industrial & Business News INSTRUMENTATION, MEASUREMENT & CONTROL Harness the power of data to boost safety M ANUFACTURERS can harness “For many manufacturers, this new way to beams are tripped on the light curtain to better the power of data to substantially understand safety not only helps keep peo- understand the cause of a downtime event. improve their safety compliance and ple and processes safe, but also significantly Or they can take a sample of the light screen performance. That’s according to Rockwell expands productivity,” said Lane. “Traditional every 100 milliseconds to track profiles of prod- Automation, which is offering two ‘smart’ devic- safety devices provide little or no data. Smart ucts running through it and identify potential es it says can do exactly that. safety devices provide better visibility into quality issues. According to a statement for the company, operations and help users understand process CIP Safety is an extension to the Common the new Allen-Bradley SafeZone 3 laser scan- states, environmental conditions, and other Industrial Protocol (CIP), the application-layer ner with CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP and factors that affect safety and productivity.” protocol for EtherNet/IP. Smart products that Allen-Bradley GuardShield 450L light curtain The new SafeZone 3 laser scanner with CIP use CIP Safety with technologies such as with CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP plug-in give Safety provides area detection inside a work GuardLink help improve safety and productiv- users access to critical data needed for a com- cell. The addition of CIP Safety allows users to ity and simplify wiring. They also offer pre- prehensive picture of machine or production simultaneously operate multiple safety zones available diagnostic data to alert users of com- mier integration with an Allen-Bradley Compact line status. instead of switching from one to another. It also mon failures, such as the presence of dust on GuardLogix SIL 3 control system by using the “Ultimately, these devices create smart extends the scanner’s field range and provides the scanner’s lens. Studio 5000 Logix Designer application. machines that provide meaningful informa- vital diagnostic data over a single EtherNet/IP The GuardShield 450L light curtain with “These and other smart products, such as tion so users can monitor machine health, connection. CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP plug-in protects the 843ES safety encoder and CompactBlock increase uptime, improve flexibility and This, said Lane, can improve productivity, personnel from injuries related to hazard- Guard Safety I/O universal encoder module, enhance safety, while lowering total cost of such as by notifying workers with an alarm if ous machine motion. The CIP Safety plug-in are part of the Rockwell Automation safety ownership,” said Lee Lane, Vice President and they are nearing a hazard to help prevent a gives users more access to diagnostic data to portfolio that combines simpler connectivity General Manager, Sensing, Safety & Industrial machine from slowing down or stopping. In improve productivity and flexibility. and powerful data for smarter, higher-perform- Components Business, Rockwell Automation. addition, the CIP Safety capability expands For example, users can see exactly which ing production.” Enquiry no: 16 6 steps to a tailored sensor solution Partnership brings global A PPLICATIONS for sensors that at first find the best sensor solutions.” responsible engineering glance may seem trivial, can prove They went to on to outline six key stages to to be highly complex on closer analy- creating a tailored, customer-specific solution: sis. That’s according to Instrotec, local 1. Define basic sensor specifications in order suppliers of Keller, a brand with to select the appropriate component drive to SA 50 years’ experience in the field of 2. Assess the environmental conditions piezo-resistive pressure measurement to determine the appropriate design for technology. the intended location “By taking the actual usage condi- 3. Design the requested cus- G tions of the sensor into considera- tomer-specific solution taking all LOBAL distributor of industrial and elec- ficulties in accessing the economic benefit that tion right from the outset, Keller standards and laws into account tronic products, Electrocomponents the growing tourism industry offers through has achieved major improve- 4. Assemble the electronic PLC, has signed a one-year partnership employment, investment and direct tourist ments in effectiveness and modules, taking into account applica- agreement with Engineers Without Borders spending. durability,” Instrotec said in tion-specific customer requests International, an organisation promoting “As well as providing essential funding to a statement. 5. Configure electrical inter- responsibility in engineering around the world. the Engineering for People Design Challenge, “Keller has found that a faces and connections For the duration of the partnership, Electrocomponents is very much involved at mutual exchange of exper- 6. Custom product labelling Electrocomponents will provide financial a practical level, offering critical skills training tise with customers has been with laser engraving or labels and hands-on support to Engineers Without to students to boost confidence in areas such central to their success, and shar- Borders South Africa and Engineers Without as presentation skills, for example,” the sat- ing that knowledge is what has enabled it to Enquiry no: 17 Borders UK for the annual Engineering for tementsaid. People Design Challenge, as well as for the Electrocomponents will also sit on the judg- Inspiring and Building Community Leaders ing panel at the Engineering for People Design programmes. The competition, now in its tenth Challenge Grand Finals, where the best team year, is a collaboration in 2020/21 between from the participating universities, previously three of the 60 Engineers Without Borders selected by academics from each institution, organisations: UK, South Africa and USA. will showcase their solutions in a bid to win According to a statement from the Grand Prize of an educational bursary. Electrocomponents, the objective of the chal- The runner up and People’s Prize winners will lenge is to encourage university students to receive a shared bursary. broaden their awareness of the social, envi- Electrocomponents’ collaboration with ronmental and economic implications of their Engineers Without Borders organisations is engineering solutions. “The initiative embeds part of a wider commitment by the Group to a globally responsible awareness during a piv- ensure that the company delivers and pro- otal moment the students’ career and provides OGD with plastic an opportunity for them to develop solutions that could make a positive difference to com- motes the highest levels of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards affect- ing people and the planet. front lens munities and individuals around the world,” the company said. Lindsley Ruth, CEO Electrocomponents, said: “Our ESG aspiration at Electrocomponents is More than 7,000 first- and second-year uni- to make amazing happen by inspiring a more and distance versity engineering students spanning three continents are competing this year to find prac- sustainable world through education and inno- vative solutions that improve lives. The themes ticable ways to improve the livelihoods of peo- that run through our plan align perfectly with measurement ple in the neighbouring communities of Lobitos and Piedritas on the northern coast of Peru. what Engineers Without Borders stands for and we’re delighted to enter into this partner- Though popular as a surfing destination, ship with them. We believe that through our the two towns still experience significant chal- support and participation in the Engineering for lenges with sustainable waste management, People Design Challenge globally, alongside energy, food and water supply, digital com- other key programmes, that we can nurture For added safety munications and transport infrastructure. The the next generation of globally responsible COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the dif- engineering leaders together.” Enquiry no: 18 High process reliability thanks More precise, accurate handheld manometers M to shatterproof plasticfront lens ANOMETERS offer many benefits life and robust housing with a practical and for engineers and technicians who user-friendly design. 2 in 1: simultaneous output of need to measure and monitor pressure, “Since even the smallest deviations can distance value and reflectivity but critical elements such as high accu- lead to malfunctions, reliably measured racy, high-precision and ease of use, values are enormously important and not play a large role in the selection of the just for sophisticated heater systems. Identification and sorting of best-for-application device. “The G 1107 fine manometer and the objects based on reflectivity That’s according to Jan Grobler, G 1113 manometer can also be used to Managing Director of GHM Messtechnik, measure other leakage, gas pressure, Process values shown on South Africa, who believes this is where gas flow or chimney draft measurements 2-colour display and sent via Greisinger’s investment into design and as the outstanding accuracy of these new IO-Link development puts them in the lead over devices, coupled with the high resolution competing handheld manometers. and fast measuring frequency, guarantee effi- Greisinger, part of the GHM Group of cient results that improve operational safety Companies, recently launched their new hand- and practical handling” said Grobler. held and fine handheld manometers, the G At the heart of the manometer is the chip- 1113 series G 1107 respectively, both of which based MEMS sensor, which provides reliable claim to offer superior, faster performance, results for calibrated and traceable measure- www.ifm.com higher accuracy with high resolution and posi- ments. The G 1107 covers a high-resolution tion independency, when measuring differen- range of up to +/- 200 hPa/20 kPa, whilst the You Tube in Int.: +27 12 450 0400 tial and relative pressure. G 1113 provides equally precise differential Grobler said the two models also offer uni- pressure measurements of up to +/- 2000 hPa. versal port technology, above-average battery Enquiry no: 19
February / March 2021 Follow us on Twitter KZN Industrial & Business News INSTRUMENTATION, MEASUREMENT & CONTROL @kzn_indbiznews 7 Africa measures up with launch of instrumentation education centre E MERSON recently launched its “enabling Emerson to continue supporting that nurtures learning among participants, first Middle East and Africa (MEA) its customers during these unconventional by providing full access to software and Education Centre for measurement times of limited mobility and social distanc- control systems from any location. It also instrumentation, located in its Dubai head- ing”. provides virtual, instructor-led courses that quarters. Taleb said the facility would also strength- resemble a live classroom experience with Mounir Taleb, MEA vice president of en the company's virtual capabilities by the convenience of remote accessibility”. Emerson’s measurement solutions busi- connecting to customers' production sites, Emerson Educational Services has been ness said the centre enables the company making remote collaboration and train- approved as an authorised provider by to provide customers with an immersive, ing easier. "The education centre enables the International Association for Continuing hands-on learning environment in field Emerson to aid customers in enhancing the Education and Training (IACET), which instrumentation, analyser, and metering skills of their current workforce and adapt- means it can offer continuing education technologies. ing to the latest measurement and flow units for its programs that qualify under the It has the capability to offer both con- technologies." ANSI/IACET Standards. ventional face-to-face and virtual training, It offers “a collaborative environment Enquiry no: 20 Local is lekker for How to ‘see’ sound and loadshedding and lightning-proof locate invisible threats maintenance routine — even during peak formers, switch gears or high voltage power power supplies operation hours,” the company said in a state- ment. The ii900 series acoustic imagers let techni- lines users need to be sure that a problem can be spotted quickly. Partial discharge that goes unchecked can cause blackouts, fires, explo- cians “see” sound as they scan hoses, fittings, sions, or death from arc flashes.” and connections for leaks. In addition, having equipment go down can “Its built-in acoustic array of tiny sensitive cost millions of rand per hour of downtime. C ORONA, partial discharge as well as microphones generates a spectrum of decibel COMTEST said the Fluke ii910 Precision gas, steam and compressed air leaks levels per frequency. Based on this output, an Acoustic Imager is specifically designed for can hurt both production uptime and the algorithm calculates a sound image, known as high voltage electricians, electrical test engi- bottom line. SoundMap that is superimposed on a visual neers, and grid maintenance teams that are That’s according to COMTEST, local rep- image.” constantly inspcting and maintaining power resentative of Fluke, which said that most The SoundMap is automatically adapted distribution and industrial high voltage equip- manufacturers know that these types of leaks depending on the frequency level selected so ment. C RITICAL equipment including security exist, but up until now, it has been too time that background noise is filtered out, making “The higher frequency capability of the ii910 devices and other electronics can now consuming and tedious to tackle them. it incredibly simple to detect compressed gas allows for earlier detection to facilitate early be operated with locally developed “With the new Fluke ii900 or ii910 and leaks. maintenance planning and is why the ii910 has power supplies that have been specially minimal training, maintenance technicians can Partial discharge is a particularly serious a frequency range of 2-100Khz.” designed to function on the local power grid begin checking for leaks during their typical issue. “Whether inspecting insulators, trans- Enquiry no: 22 and have built-in features to make them more robust than standard equipment. That’s according to GSS Group Director, Greg Pritchard, who said more than 30 New platform for managing and controlling low voltage loads years spent in the security and electron- ics industries had given the team the best possible understanding of local operating challenges. R S Components has added TeSys island from Schneider Electric to its portfolio, say- ing that this object-oriented digital load man- plex industrial systems.” This, it added, enables engi- neers to effectively offload much data. “This ensures that maximum operational performance is always upheld, in addition to helping with This, he said, had allowed them to develop agement solution has “huge potential” in a of the effort involved in the defin- preventive maintenance and fault power supplies that are designed to handle modern industrial automation context. ing and commissioning of each identification.” all of South Africa’s extremes, including load “It can deal with motors and other electrical constituent electro-mechanical The island is compatible with shedding and brown outs. loads (such as pumps, relays, programmable component within the system. all the main automation fieldbus The power supplies even have circuitry logic controllers, conveyors) up to an 80A rat- “This makes the hardware instal- IOs - including Modbus TCP, that is better able to deal with the highveld’s ing,” the company said in a statement. lation phase much quicker and Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and well-known lightning storms. “Through its unique object-oriented approach easier to complete - thereby reducing the PROFIBUS. The platform can be integrated “Designed and developed by GSS Group, with an array of 30 different predetermined associated costs, as well as shortening the time with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Machine the power supplies are manufactured in application-specific functions that may be uti- before systems can be put into action.” Expert, plus Rockwell Automation’s Studio 5000 a quality-controlled manufacturing plant in lised, this platform provides a straightforward Through TeSys island, supervisors of indus- and Siemens’ TIA portal and other proprietary China which allows the costs of the high- method for implementing and configuring com- trial systems can gain access to key diagnostic third-party automation systems. Enquiry no: 23 quality componentry to be incorporated at more affordable prices for the local market,” he said, adding that several of the country’s RADAR large security and electronic distributors have already switched to the local brand. “During my time in the industry I have worked for some of the largest electronic security equipment suppliers and gained decades of experience and long relation- ships with manufacturers in the East. "By setting up our manufacturing operation alongside a large-scale electronics equip- ment manufacturer we get to enjoy better pricing as a result of the large volumes of components purchased by the manufacturer IS THE BETTER monthly.” Pritchard said that by maintaining strict control of the process, they have the agility to change and customise the power supplies to customers’ requirements and even bring the customer’s own branding onto the supply ULTRASONIC where sufficient volumes are ordered. “This type of arrangement is only possible as a result of our longstanding relationships with suppliers in the East following dozens of visits and a good understanding of the busi- ness culture. As a result, our manufacturing partners work with us to manufacture prod- ucts that are as good or better than locally available equivalents.” GSS Group power supplies carry SANS IEC 60950, LOA and NRCS certification both AC and DC power supplies and DC UPS, as well as meeting SANS /IEC 61558 certifica- tion for its range of linear transformers. The products also incorporate EMI filtering and Compact 80 GHz level sensor with in-head display meet EMC standards. These standards are required for effective use in IOT devices, electronics and security applications which includes intrusion, CCTV, access control and automation. He said the power supplies have subse- All advantages of the radar technology: quently also found favour in the electrical and alternate energy industries or wherever www.vega.com/vegapuls power supplies are required. Enquiry no: 21
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