December 2020

ByTyrone

Message from the President

As the festive season approaches, let us reflect on the past year, spend some much-needed quality time with family and friends and start 2021 rejuvenated.
 
On behalf of the SAIF Board of Directors, we would like to extend our gratitude to each member, student and service provider to the institute and staff for their diligent support and commitment throughout 2020. We are extremely grateful to have made it to the end of this very difficult year.
 
To say we had a challenging year would be an understatement. An unexpected world pandemic had a devastating impact on the South African foundry industry with a sudden national state of disaster announced in March 2020 by the Presidency.  

COVID-19 and the national lockdown affected the livelihood of many foundries, suppliers and customers within the metal casting industry. We witnessed company closures, job losses, reduced orders, short time and even lost friends and colleagues due to the Coronavirus.  

We wish everyone a blessed Christmas and joyful and prosperous New Year. We ask all to take care, to be safe and rest well. We are confident that our ability to face and overcome the challenges this year has prepared us well to take on any challenges and opportunities that 2021 may bring.

SAIF Annual Golf Day

The annual SAIF Golf Day was held on 12 November at the Reading Country Club with 27 fourballs and 108 players.
 
The event was well supported and enjoyed by everyone who attended and regulations regarding COVID-19 protocols were strictly observed and respected by all. We would like to thank our members for their continued support during difficult times and for showing enthusiasm in ensuring that the golf day remains one of the highlights on the SAIF event calendar.

Winners:
1st Place – Mike Fick, Rob Gordon, Steve Davis, John Brotherton with a score of 93 playing for Rely Intracast 
2nd Place – Gabriel Sekgwele, Tshepo Mahlare, Bertie Ogle, John Smith with a score of 92 playing for Thos Begbie
3rd Place – Herculus van der Merwe, Absalom Ndimande, Seun Potgieter, Amanda van Biljon with a score of 87 playing for Thos Begbie
 
We would like to thank the following sponsors for the following prizes:

Sponsorships: Special Prizes
Nearest to the Pin:
5th Pentagon Resources
7th D-Zanetech
11th Insimbi Alloy Supplies
15th Thos Begbie
 
Longest Drive:
3rd Ametex
4th VIP Recycle (Metals)
13th Foseco
18th FP Specialty
 
Watering Holes & T Boxes:

Manned Watering Holes T Box Sponsorship
4th VIP Recycle (Metals) 1st Groves Foundry
7th D-Zanetech 2nd Star Recycling (MITAK)
11th Insimbi Alloys 3rd Ametex
13th Foseco 10th Mustang Foundry
14th Grinding Techniques 17th RM Solutions
15th Thos Begbie    

The SAIF would like to thank all the companies that sponsored prizes, tee boxes and greens: Ametex, Foseco, FP Specialty, Grinding Techniques, Groves Foundry, Insimbi Alloy Supplies, Mondeco, Mustang Foundry, Pentagon Resources, RM Solutions, Thos Begbie, VIP Recycle (Metals), Star Recycling, SAIF. 

THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Corporate Communication, John Taylor, Marina Biljon, Minute Man Press, Reading Country Club, SAIF Board of Directors.

SAIF Engagements

On the 4th of December, SAIF joined industry stakeholders and representatives from the NFTN (National Foundry Technology Network) at a strategic planning meeting to table challenges and investigate solutions of concerns raised by SAIF members and members of industry.
 
Items on the agenda for discussion included the following:

  • Secure resources and funding for the update of the learning material to meet the new requirements for the artisan trades of; Moulder, Patternmaker and Melter and then the establishment of the associated trade tests
  • Unrealistic BBBEE requirements for small & medium sized foundries 
  • The cost of Environmental Compliance in respect to AEL and waste management 
  • Raw Materials
  • Wage Rate
  • Electricity and other Energy 
  • Capital Investment and Enhancement of Human Capital (Skills Development, Training & Education)
  • Insufficient import tariff protection and promotion of orders from SOE’s for local content
  • Relaxed regulations for the export of quality scrap
  • Access to funding for industry representative bodies to support dissemination of technical information, skills development training and education in the foundry industry
  • Interventions and initiatives to drive and promote job creation for semi-skilled and skilled workers in the foundry industry
  • Support and access to capital funding to implement new technology
  • Orders for locally produced castings to be distributed within neighbouring countries within the African continent

We anticipate a close collaboration with the NFTN in the near future to find practical solutions to address the needs and concerns to promote healthy growth for the South African foundry industry.

Upcoming events and important dates

TRAINING

We are pleased to confirm the following training modules that will be presented in Gauteng as part of the SAIF Foundry Technology Programme. Lectures are scheduled to take place at the Reading Country Club in Alberton and will be confirmed closer to the time.

Quarter 1: 6 February 2021 – 24 April 2021
Metallurgy & Metal Melting
Cores & Core Making
Moulding & Moulding Sands
Contact: Marina Biljon at the SAIF office for more information.
 
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING (SGM)
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) FOR SAIF MEMBERS

Due to COVID-19 regulations the institute was unable to host the 2020 AGM.  A Special General Meeting (SGM) has therefore been scheduled to take place on 9 March 2021.
 
The regular AGM for SAIF members is scheduled to take place on 11 May 2021. Members will be notified to confirm the venue and agendas in due course. Members will be able to attend these meetings via an electronic platform should they wish not to attend in person.

Outstanding membership fees

Members are reminded to ensure that their membership fees are up to date for 2020 as 2021 membership fees are due at the beginning of February. Members are also requested to update their personal and company information with the SAIF office, regardless of whether it has changed in the past year.

Corporate members can take advantage of the Company Member Profile listing on the SAIF website. This is an exclusive service to members. Company members are listed on the website for casting buyers to identify a suitable supplier for their needs and requirements. The service is aimed at providing company members with a platform to advertise themselves to be able to generate potential sales leads. 
 
Your company profile will include: Your company name, logo, contact details and a link to your website. For an example of such a listing please click here and go to Metal Connection. This opportunity will allow you to create awareness of your company and your expertise, products and services and provide potential customers with a direct link to your company information and website.

Should you be interested in taking up this opportunity please complete the Company Member Profile listing form on the website and send back to mbiljon@uj.ac.za. 
 
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SERVICE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO FULLY PAID UP SAIF MEMBERS!

Annual Closure of the SAIF Office

The SAIF office will be closed from 18 December 2020 and will reopen on 11 January 2021.

We look forward to being of service to all our members to reach a common goal to promote, grow and support the South African foundry industry.  We assure you of our commitment and effort to support our members in the new year.