Stainless steel metal and inert gas (MIG) welding wire, locally produced by stainless steel bar and wire producer Wire Products Stainless Steel (WPSS) since 2010, was tested by the Italian Welding Institute, in Genova, in the past two months and found to be similar to products of European quality and standard, WPSS director Clinton Lautenberg tells Engineering News.   “The results from the Italian Welding Institute . . ..... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 19th December 2014

 A Kenyan county on Monday called on Chinese investors to exploit opportunities that exist in infrastructure, agro-processing and tourism. Officer in Charge of Intergovernmental Coordinator at the Laikipia County Lantano Nabaala told a team of Chinese journalists that investors should tap the full gains of the county's natural resources. "Laikipia is rated as the fifth county in Kenya to invest in, and one of the best places to visit.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 19th December 2014

 Eight more companies have signed agreements with government committing to increase production and scale up exports. The companies are in the mining and manufacturing sectors and include Rwanda Plastic Industries, Rwanda Allied Partners, Minimex, Demikaru Ltd, East African Granite Industries and Development Mining Company Ltd. Under the agreements, companies committed to expanding the scope and mode of production along the value chain so.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 19th December 2014

 Investors targeting Africa are looking east as an oil-market rout depresses economic growth prospects in Nigeria and other crude-producing nations. Stocks have surged 22 percent in Tanzania, 18 per cent in Uganda and 9.4 per cent in Kenya since oil began falling from a peak of $115.71 a barrel on June 19. Lower fuel-import costs are helping to keep inflation and interest rates in check and bolster their economies. That contrasts with a 24.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 19th December 2014

 The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has issued a call for proposals to conduct a prefeasibility study (PFS) on the establishment of a soda ash, or sodium carbonate, manufacturing plant in South Africa.   The IDC said soda ash was used in a number of manufacturing processes and, while the production of natural soda ash was largely dependent on trona ore reserves, present in Wyoming, in the US, synthetic soda ash was.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th December 2014

 The Federation of Gujarat Industries (FGI) hopes that its current, nine day, trade mission to South Africa will, on its own, generate at least $10-million in bilateral trade. So stated FGI senior VP and mission head Janak Seth at a trade briefing in Sandton (north Johannesburg) on Thursday. Gujarat is a coastal state in north west India.   While the state contains 5% of India’s population, it is responsible for 17% of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th December 2014

 There is a growing willingness from industry to accept different stainless steel materials, particularly duplex stainless steels, Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association Fabricator Sector chairperson Gary Crawford tells Engineering News.   He says that, for example, 2304 duplex stainless steel is now quite often specified for fabrication, noting that sole South African stainless steel manufacturer Columbus Stainless.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th December 2014

 The Intsimbi National Tooling Initiative continues to partner with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Toolmaking Association of South Africa to provide workplace learning for students that wish to pursue a career in the manufacturing industry. To date, over a period of four years, companies in the manufacturing industry have provided more than 740 000 hours of on-the-job training to students as part of the tooling.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th December 2014

 Growth in the steel industry worldwide has stabilised following substantial fluctuations during the recession, but a fair amount of uncertainty remains, particularly as a result of structural change in the Chinese economy, according to WorldSteel Association director-general Edwin Basson. The global steel industry produced 1.53-billion tons a year and recorded growth of 3.8% in 2013, with 2% growth expected in 2014. Basson told an.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th December 2014

 The government’s substantial infrastructure programme outlined in the National Development Plan is expected to drive demand for steel over the next decade, says Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina. He told over 250 delegates to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/South AfricaWorkshop on Steelmaking Raw Materials, in Cape Town, that he expected steel demand, both upstream and downstream,.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th December 2014

 Given its large mining potential, African economies are expected to play an increasingly important role in producing raw materials for the production of steel. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said it was expecting growth from  South Africa, in particular, which accounted for 74% of Africa’s total production of iron-ore and 80.4% of its exports in iron-ore in 2012. Mozambique was also an.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th December 2014

Increased trade between India and East Africa will be driven by private sector-led development, supported by investment from Indian businesses, said participants at a recent workshop organized as part of a United Kingdom government-backed project on Supporting India's Trade Preferences for India (SITA), implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC). Business leaders joined policymakers and representatives of international organizations.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 16th December 2014