MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

As the year-end approaches, we are able to reflect on what has been a most difficult year for the foundry industry, having been very negatively affected by the falling commodity and precious metal prices affecting the mining industry, the low growth rates in the domestic economy slowing automotive and other retail sales and the slow implementation of the government’s infrastructural development plans. Many foundries have experienced contracting order inflows and several have had to implement shortened working weeks and in severe cases, restructuring leading to job losses. The 2016 forecasts are predicting only slightly improved growth rates, but still less than two per cent for the year.

The foundry industry has had to dig deep to find innovative means to survive and prosper. There are, however, islands of excellence in the midst of all the doom and gloom, epitomized by the few with export contracts, or replacing imports, assisted by the weakness in the Rand no doubt but also displaying outstanding strategic planning.

This year the SAIF adopted a strategic plan of establishing key focus areas for the Institute and champions to lead small teams to attain set objectives for each area. This will lead to improved participation and focus on deliverables for the benefit of all the members and the sustainability of the Institute.

Amongst the other highlights have been the GIFA/NEWCAST Exhibition held in Germany during June. Nearly two hundred South African delegates visited the displays and were treated to the very latest developments in technology as well as the strong trends towards increased automation, particularly in the finishing areas, increased energy efficiency with plant and equipment, improved environmental friendly materials and processes and the adoption of computational techniques to improve casting design and methods as well as process control and equipment sensoring to achieve consistent casting results.

The formation of the BRICS Foundry Association, of which the SAIF is a member, at the forum held in Russia in September, heralded in a new level of collaboration and assistance with our counterparts in the other countries.

The plans to proceed with the 2nd South African Metal Casting Conference in March 2017, co-hosted with the NFTN and the MCTS, embracing both the BRICS Foundry Forum for 2017 and the WFO Technical Forum are well under way and it promises to be an event of great significance for both the sharing of technical developments as well as opportunity to network with global leaders in metal casting technologies.

The SAIF training courses have once again proved to be very successful. Support for the “diploma” and the in-house courses from the industry has been excellent and our thanks are extended to the industry and all the facilitators who devoted their efforts to this programme.

The SAIF takes this opportunity to wish everyone a blessed Christmas, safe travels and a very happy and prosperous New Year.

ANNUAL SAIF GOLF DAY

The annual Golf Day was held on 12 November at the Reading Country Club. The competition on the day was Fourball Alliance with two scores to count on all holes. The winners of the day with a score of 99 points were Louis Dique, Heinrich Engelbrecth, Marks Sims and Arthur Spires. They were also the first recipients of the Luis Dias Trophy sponsored by Endeco-Omega Foundry Machinery. SAIF would like to thank Rui Dias and the Endeco team for this sponsorship.

The results of the day are as follows:

• 2nd – Allan Atkinson, Andrew McFarlane, Dave Raper and Twayne Steward
• 3rd – Charles McGeer, Louis Miller, Shaun Tredwell and Riaan van Tonder
• 4th – Nigel Brain, Matthew Cockcroft, Kevin Grieves and Alistair Rodgers
• Longest Day: Justin de Beer, Charl Coetzer, Erik Zimmermann and Marius Zwemstra

Four closest to the pin prizes:

• 5th hole – Dijon Brink (Sponsored by SI Group)
• 7th hole – Twayne Stewart (Sponsored by Chemsystems)
• 11th hole – Rudi Pienaar (Sponsored by Insimbi Alloy Supplies)
• 15th hole – Louis Miller (Sponsored by Cobra)

Dwayne Barnes won both the longest drive prizes on the 4th hole (sponsored by VIP Metals) and the 18th hole (sponsored by Pentagon Resources). Well done Dwayne!

The Council thanks the following sponsors for their continued and valued support: Ametex, B&K Castings, Ceramic & Alloy Specialists, Cerefco, Chemsystems, Cobra ISCA, Crawford Publications, Endeco-Omega, Foseco South Africa, FP Specialities, Guestro Castings, IMP Scientific, Insimbi Alloy Supplies, JC Impellers, Lauds Foundry Equipment, LIL Sales, UJ MCTS, Metal Connection, Mineral Zone, Nicast Foundry, Pentagon Resources, Procor, Rely Intracast, SAIF, SI Group, Thos Begbie and VIP Metals.

Special Donations

Procor manned the 15th hole and raised R5000 for the SAIF on the day by means of a challenge to golfers. Procor started with this initiative in 2013 and has since challenged other members of the Institute to match their initiative of raising funds for the SAIF at the annual Golf Day. The SAIF would like to thank Procor for taking this lead.

Thos Begbie manned the 3rd hole and encouraged golfers to participate in a mini competition by donating a golf ball and R10 at their watering hole. The fees that were raised were donated to SAIF to open a library at the Gauteng Foundry Training Centre (GFTC) at the Ekurhuleni East College in Springs. The balls collected were auctioned for R1000 and Rudi Pienaar of High Duty Castings was the successful bidder.

For the list of hole sponsors and Special Thanks please click here.

Important Notice: Membership

Paying membership fees are vitally important to the sustainability of the Institute. It is with great concern that a substantial part of Debtors Age Analysis is outstanding for 120 days and more.

As part of the membership development campaign, a decision was taken that the membership fees for 2016 will not be increased. Membership fees are invoiced annually and is payable in January of each year. Failure to pay membership fees will result in the suspension of membership benefits and services.

Upcoming SAIF Events

• 23 January 2016 – SAIF Training Courses on Metal Melting Module and Quality Control Modules start (University of Johannesburg Doornfontein Campus)
• 23 January 2016 – Training Course in KZN – Pinetown – Supervisory Management Module
• 17 May 2016 – SAIF Annual General Meeting
• 3 June 2016 – SAIF Annual Awards Dinner (Emperors Palace)
• 10 November 2016 – SAIF Annual Golf Day (Reading Country Club)
• 14 – 17 March 2017 – 2nd South African Metal Casting Conference and WFO Technical Forum (Emperors Palace)

The SAIF office will be closed on 15 December 2015 and reopens on Monday 11 January 2016.