Zambezi River
Harnessing the Power of the Continent’s Fourth Largest River The Zambezi River Authority is planning for a series of significant projects as it continues to lay the foundations for both Zimbabwe and Zambia’s futures Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum The Zambezi River Authority has been monitoring one of the continent’s key natural resources for more than 27 years and is ready to embark on one of its biggest investments yet to ensure the future sustainability of Africa’s fourth largest river.Jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, as a successor to the previous Central African Power Cooperation, 1987’s introduction of the Zambezi River Authority paved the way for a collaborative drive to ensure that the river was kept in a stable condition to better the lives of the river basin.The river basin incorporates Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania, as well as the Authority’s jurisdiction in Zambia and Zimbabwe; meaning that as many as 38 million people are affected by the ongoing maintenance that occurs within the basin.The area of the river shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe specifically comprises 58.7 percent of the entire catchment area – the largest throughout the river’s journey – making the success of the Zambezi River Authority all the more significant.“The Zambezi River Authority is the only dam management organisation along this river which involves two states,” explains the company’s Chief Executive (CE), Munyaradzi Munodawafa. “The major economic activities within the basin include mining, tourism, hydropower generation, fisheries, agriculture and manufacturing, so the mandate for the Authority now, given this major economic…
MA Automotive
Stelly Determination To Grow Internationally With the desire to be recognised as an excellent international provider of products, processes and services relating to sheet metal working for the automotive industry, when it comes to steel, MA Automotive is a reputable name you can trust Project Manager: James Smith MA Automotive is a subsidiary of the CLN Group that specialises in producing and assembling steel automotive structural parts, components, subassemblies and modules. With an international presence in Africa, Asia, Italy, Europe and South America, the company now manages 26 production plants and three R&D centres across these locations. CLN Group has a presence in the processing and marketing of flat laminated steel for various user sectors including the motor industry; from the stamping and assembly of structural parts and vehicle components to steel wheels for all vehicle types and from the world of domestic electrical appliances to earth moving machinery and, to all fields using steel in a more general capacity.Made up of four main divisions, CLN Steel Service Centre (SSC), MW, MFB and MA, the Group aims to be a leader in the development and assembly of high technological content industrial steel products, offering dedicated solutions and services while striving to become a name synonymous with trust and excellence in the steel industry. “Our guiding principles at the base of all our activities generate value for our customers, suppliers and personnel,” says the company.Backed by CLN’s extensive experience, and knowledge of raw materials and semi-finished products combined with the tendency to push experimentation to the limit, MA Automotive is…
Spectrum Utility Management
Locally Developed Products for Truly Smart African Cities By optimising energy, water and even broadband efficiencies, SUM strives to define the future of smart cities in Africa Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Tom Cullum South Africa is a country where rapid urbanisation and the merging of first and third world lifestyles meet, which places significant pressure on the supply of utilities such as power, water and other growing infrastructural needs such as broadband, which are increasingly important components in everyday life. Subsequently, this places emphasis on finding the most intelligent ways to manage and distribute these utilities to the public and private sectors.This is where the concept of smart cities comes in.Companies such as DMB Holdings’ subsidiary SUM (Spectrum Utility Management) seek to create an economically viable and sustainable environment in not just South Africa, but with the eventual plan of aiding the entire continent in smart city solutions that will reduce energy and water wastage.Today, SUM adds a string to DMB Holdings’ bow as it manufactures devices that make infrastructure behave in a smarter way. With roots back to 1989, DMB Holdings has progressed from a software development house with an extensive background in ICT infrastructure, expanding into consulting and then into a fully fledged utility management via its subsidiary SUM, which was created in 2010.“The provision of technology has evolved so much since the 1980s and the SUM business reflects this change via the creation of dynamic smart cities, which bring together all the technological societal changes from the past three and a half decades; we created the company…
Ceramic Industries
South Africa’s Innovators in Ceramics Sub-Saharan Africa continues to provide growth potential for Ceramic Industries, with a continued strong demand for tiling, sanitaryware and other bathroom itemsWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: James Mitchell In 2012, Ceramic Industries proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary since listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, benefiting from raising capital and increased awareness of the company and its reputation. By trading publically, the Group was able to attract a selection of potential companies when in its early stages. Two decades on and with a strong presence in the market, Ceramic Industries drew interest from Italtile Limited, who has now acquired a strategic stake in the company, along with its probable delisting. This has allowed Ceramic Industries to focus on its long term vision to serve the customer as one of the leading low-cost manufacturers and suppliers of ceramic tiles and sanitaryware in South Africa.“I am confident that the business will retain the best of its characteristics and benefit from the revised structure,” said Giovanni Ravazzotti, Non-Executive Chairman of Ceramic Industries in a company statement.SA’s manufacturing trendsSouth Africa’s manufacturing sector was the third largest contributor to the nation’s economy in 2013, accounting for 15.2 percent of the GDP. The industry has a diversified offering and has shown its resilience and potential to compete in the global economy. Ceramic Industries plays a key role in this, as the company prides itself on being an internationally competitive manufacturer of ceramics that ensures customer expectations are exceeded in all facets including quality, timely delivery and friendly staff.“The trading environment has…
Metorex
Base Metal Mining at its Best Metorex’s growth strategy is being realised through the construction and development of the Kinsenda Project and the future development of the Musonoi and Lubembe deposits in the DRC Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling Metorex is a well established and respected mid-tier mining Group, uniquely positioned in the southern Africa base metals mining industry as a pure copper and cobalt investment.As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Jinchuan Group since January 2012, Metorex has expanded its presence in Africa’s base metal mining industry over the past three years. This Chinese state-owned mining company based in the Gansu province of China produces a wide variety of metals including cobalt and copper.With a mission to grow a sustainable African-focussed mining company that offers opportunity for the development of both employees and communities, Metorex works hard to reach shareholder expectations and is actively contributing to the development of the continent.As present, the subsidiary is working to optimise its existing mines in order to ensure that when a new mining opportunity arises, Metorex is more than ready to lend a hand. Through the appropriate application of capital and technologies, the company is able to supply a quality base metal to the agreed specifications, while running a zero harm health and safety policy.Akin to this is Metorex’s new human capital brand, which functions to educate employees in the ways the company conducts its business, including abiding by the laws of each company they operate in and providing staff with the key skills required in doing so. The idea is…
G Shankerdas & Sons
Third Generation Success Promotes Future Sustainability The Sierra Leonean family-run business is expanding and improving despite the ongoing power challenges in the country Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: James Smith G Shankerdas & Sons (S.L.) Ltd has grown and expanded within the manufacturing sector in Sierra Leone since the early 1900s, but the entrepreneurial family business is still looking to diversify and improve 76 years on.Developing and organically growing since 1939, the company began as a small trading company before transforming gradually, through acquisition and market migration, into a manufacturing organisation comprising numerous divisions.Kishore is the current Shankerdas family member holding the Managing Director (MD) position, inheriting a role that had been held by his father previously and his grandfather initially.With the executive board still comprising just him, his father, his mother and his own wife and children, Kishore is proud of how big the G Shankerdas & Sons (S.L.) Ltd business has become and is excited for the opportunities that still lie ahead.“I joined the business in 1976 when I left college, when the business had about 20 members of staff. Today, we have more than a thousand,” he says. “Initially, we were filling wine in glass bottles and selling them, before we moved into plastics.“Today, we have an alcohol division and our own distillery, as well as a plastic factory which manufactures plastic bags, agricultural bags and household items like buckets, basins and hangers.”The company also comprises a filling unit where it fills its own plastic bottles of mineral water to compliment its soft drink brands, and it even…
Khoemacau Copper Mining
Botswana’s Hills of the People Johannes Tsimako, Regional Manager of Khoemacau Copper Mining (Pty) Ltd is confident that the company’s work in Botswana will enhance infrastructures in the northwest of the country Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling Khoemacau Copper Mining (Pty) Ltd (Khoemacau) has successfully completed 70,000 metres of infill drilling at its northeast Fold and Zone 5 early in 2014. Drilling continued at Zone 5 for the remainder of the year. Khoemacau then completed a feasibility study in July and subsequently applied for a mining licence in September 2014. With the hope to receive its mining licence any day now, the company is excited to begin the construction phase of its ventures in Botswana. Known for its conducive work environment and huge deposits of copper along the Kalahari Copperbelt, Botswana is the highest-ranked jurisdiction on the African continent when it comes to mining and exploration projects. Ranking 17th in a global survey in 2014, the country was commended for its attitude to work, reasonable approvals process and firm grasp of regulations.Johannes Tsimako, Regional Manager of Khoemacau believes Botswana operates a pro-mining culture that recognises the infrastructural benefits that the industry can bring to the country’s economy. “There aren’t a lot of mines in the northwest region of Botswana, which makes Khoemacau a crucial component in the development of the region. The benefits to the local communities stretch from power and communications infrastructure to skills development. This is part of our parent company’s philosophy,” he says. Cupric Canyon subsidiaryPreviously known as Hana Ghanzi Copper Pty Ltd, Khoemacau is a subsidiary…
Good Time Steel
Spreading the Good Times Across Sub-Saharan Africa The construction material manufacturing specialist looks set to maintain its steely grip on the sector across the region as it looks to Botswana, Namibia and Angola for future international growth Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: James Smith Good Time Steel has progressed quickly and effectively over the past decade to become a regional construction company of note, and is now pressing forward to form the same reputable presence across the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.Established in 2005, as a private company with an initial investment of US$700,000, the business commenced production of just a small portion of its current range in 2008, and comprised just 65 people in its workforce at the time.A decade on, and the Zambian market specialist now consists of around 500 employees, carrying out a range of processes to produce deformed bars, round bars, angle irons, square and round tubes, galvanised iron pipes, IPE channels, and now corrugated roofing sheets as well.The capacity has inevitably increased alongside this continuous improvement over the years to now achieve 160 tonnes of production a day; allowing not only for a greater influence on the Zambian market, but to also enable the company to bridge out further internationally.Deputy General Manager, Durban Kambaki explains: “Initially, in 2008, our markets were only in Zambia and Zimbabwe, but by 2010 and going into 2011, we started exporting to the Great Lakes region; so into Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).“Over the past five years, we have also gone on to cover Malawi and South…
Atlas Copco Zambia
Efficient Solutions in a Challenging Market Atlas Copco has differentiated itself in a saturated market in Zambia through its ability to maintain an entrepreneurial flair and establishing efficient solutions amid sector slowdowns Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Eddie Clinton Atlas Copco is an internationally-renowned industrial and mining equipment producer, but is staying true to its Group ethos of acting in a locally sustainable and responsible manner.Having been active in Zambia for more than 60 years, offering its vast range of drilling consumables, mining & rock excavation equipment, compressors and related after market support & services to an array of long-standing customers, the company’s influence in the country is a deep-rooted one.However, with economic, industry and regional challenges always a consideration, the need to remain entrepreneurial and quick to react is as pivotal as ever, as Atlas Copco Zambia’s Regional General Manager (GM), Daniel Banister explains: “Back in 2014 we had to address our internal inefficiencies to adapt to the current levels of business in the region.“There was a significant drop over the past two years in Zambia in regards to customers purchasing equipment, but a strong focus on the aftermarket services side. We therefore looked at our organisation and how it needed to adapt to fit this level of business.”By the end of 2014, Banister and his team had achieved this diversification, and the same flexible emphasis is now being placed on further business progression in 2015.“There are similar challenges in 2015 to those we saw last year, but we are continuing to strive to be a more efficient organisation…
SJM Flex
Growing its Presence on the World Stage SJM Flex supply flexible couplings to the automotive industry across 32 destinations around the world and is a well respected name in the industryknown for its high productivity levels Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: James Smith With facilities in South Africa, Asia, North and South America, SJM Flex combines cutting edge technology competency with a comprehensive manufacturing experience.Headquartered in Korea, the company is one of only two remaining flexible couplings manufacturers in Africa. Consequently, SJM Flex’s Africa operations have seen significant expansion in recent years with the aim to achieve 26 percent growth this year and to launch four new products by the fourth quarter of 2015.Deon Joubert, Managing Director of SJM Flex South Africa says that although the company is internationally known, the various country branches look to South Africa for the most efficient ways of developing the business. “Our overseas branches like the way we do things in South Africa; the team is more like a family here, with a high work ethic and pleasant working environment.“Some of our managers were flown out to China to provide support to our operations there with great results. They really look up to South Africa’s operations when it comes to manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies,” he adds.Established in 1975, SJM Flex Malaysia has been providing tier one suppliers with flexible exhaust couplings for forty years, building longstanding relationships with key industry players along the way. Tier one companies are direct suppliers to OEMs, making the company a vital contributor in the automotive industry with…
