December 2021
Message from the President
Dear Members and Colleagues,
As another year draws to a close most of us are preparing for the festive season. This is a very special time of the year as it gives us a break from the hustle and bustle of our everyday working schedules. This time provides us with opportunities to enjoy the company of family and friends. Christmas is a time for reflection and a renewal of hope for the future. May we be attentive of the spirit of caring, sharing, love and generosity of the Christmas season.
Each year that passes seems to have its own character – there are always challenges, low points, but more often than not highlights which bring happiness and pleasure. I would like to encourage you to take a few minutes to count your blessings. We all have so much to be thankful for including our lives, jobs, businesses, family and friends.
I am aware that the success of SAIF rests upon the valuable support of our members and the hard work of the office, so let me take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support during this taxing year. I challenge each member to become more involved with the happenings of the Institute in the next year as the success of this institute is in all our hands.
Due to the pandemic, we did not have our annual dinner this year. However, I am delighted to say there are many initiatives that we are busy with that would make the year 2022 a great year for the institute.
I would like to ask our members to take care of themselves and their families during this trying times. Let us all observe all the Covid-19 regulations.
On behalf of the Board of the Institute let me end by thanking you once again for your support. We wish you and your families a safe and very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, joy, productivity and prosperity.
Glen Dikgale
President
SAIF Annual Golf Day
The SAIF Annual Golf Day held on Thursday, 11 November 2021 at Reading Country Club in Alberton was once again a resounding success. The event was well supported with 132 players in attendance, 12 sponsors of watering holes and T-boxes and eight special prizes sponsored by members participating.
Winners of the competition were:
- 1st Place (Louis Dias Honorary Trophy Award) – Sponsored by SAIF: Divan Kapp, Arthur Spires, Johan Pullen and Ruan Coetzee with a score of 92 points.
- 2nd Place – Sponsored by SAIF: Brian Clough, Gary van der Elst, Eddie Bester and Greg Kimble with a score of 90 points.
- 3rd Place – Sponsored by SAIF: Hercules van der Merwe, Bernie Botha, Scott Patterson and Rudolph Loots with a score of 89 points.
- Last Place (Longest Day) – Sponsored by SAIF: Joaquim Bernades, Shane Bernades, Craig du Plooy and Elton du Plooy with a score of 27 points.
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Longest Day
Special Prizes were awarded to:
- Closest to the Pin on the 5th – Sponsored by Star Recycling Company: Matthew Liechiti.
- Closest to the Pin on the 7th – Sponsored by Reading Country Club: Brian Clough.
- Closest to the Pin on the 11th – Sponsored by Insimbi Alloy Supplies: Andrew Morton
- Closest to the Pin on the 15th – Sponsored by Thos Begbie: Darren Mower.
- Longest Drive on the 4th – Sponsored by VIP Recycling: Rob Tregonin.
- Longest Drive on the 7th (this was a special competition at the 7th T-off box) Sponsored by D-Zanetech: Jonathan Mkansi.
- Longest Drive on the 13th – Sponsored by Foseco: Gerhard Vos.
- Longest Drive on the 18th – Sponsored by Pentagon Resources: Darren Mower.
Sponsored Watering Holes & T-boxes were as follows:
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A special word of thanks goes to the SAIF Board of Directors, our members, sponsors as well as many of our partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that this was such a successful event.
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Training
| Session | Period | Subjects | Venue | Cost/Subject |
| Platform | R2,800 Excluding VAT |
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| 1 | Q1 | Melting and Metallurgy | Online/Face to Face | |
| 05-Feb | Cores & Core Making | Face to Face | ||
| 23-Apr | Quality Control | Online/Face to Face |
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to confirm the most suitable venue. Further communication will be provided in due course. Registration forms and additional information on the SAIF Foundry Technology Programme will be available from the SAIF office from 10 January 2022. Please contact Marina on 011 559-6455 or email mbiljon@uj.ac.za.
SAIF Membership Fees
The SAIF Membership Fees increase for 2022 will be announced by the Board of Directors in January 2022. Taking current economic challenges into consideration, the estimated increase proposed will be approximately 5%.
It should be noted that the institute has endeavoured to keep annual fees low and has not increased membership fees for four consecutive years. We thank members for their loyalty and commitment to keep membership accounts up to date. Your support is appreciated.
SAIF Membership Benefits: Company Profile on website
The SAIF website has a Company Members Profile section, that allows companies to list their products and services in a directory. This service is only available to paid-up members of SAIF and one of the biggest membership benefits that we encourage companies to take up. A listing on the website is a marketing opportunity for your company to create awareness of your services.
Company members will be categorised to assist casting buyers in finding the right supplier for their needs. Your company profile will include: Your company name, logo, contact details and a link to your website. Visit the SAIF website to see how your company can be profiled.
NFTN: Scope and capacity extended
The National Foundry Technology Network has been hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the past 11 years, on behalf of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). SAIF board members recently met with the new leadership of the NFTN to discuss a way forward.The NFTN will henceforth be operationally managed together with the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC-SA). The Director of the NCPC-SA, Ndivhuho Raphulu, is now the manager responsible for both programmes, the CSIR “Smart Places Cluster” Industry Support Programmes.
The foundry or plant-level support by the NFTN will continue and the programme will share calls for interest from companies in the areas of environmental and technical compliance, product and tooling and other familiar services. Foundries who want to engage directly with the NFTN are encouraged to email the Operations and Stakeholder Manager, Ms Julie Wells on jwells@csir.co.za or the general enquiries email of nftn@csir.co.za.
Industry News
News from The Casting, Forging and Machining Cluster (CFMC), and RSA Clusters Group
Originally initiated by an advisor to the Minister of Health, The RSA Clusters Group helped host an industry discussion group to explore COVID-19 and its impact on industrial businesses, like those in the core metals industry. The group saw a need to continue this industry engagement, following these developments and the changes it brings to our industrial businesses. This weekly meeting sheds light on the current state of things, addresses changing policies and responses to the fallout of the pandemic, discusses ways in which companies have embraced and addressed the ‘new normal’, and explored various elements that arose from the National State of Disaster.
The RSA Clusters Group has been working toward two key projects. A Wadeville Revitalisation Project with National Treasury and the City of Ekurhuleni, and a Middelburg Steel Cluster project with the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Steve Tshwete Municipality. The RSA Clusters Group has identified these tremendous opportunities in the Ekurhuleni and Middelburg areas, as both regions have willing collaboration partners and a formally stated desire to become world-class industrial cities.
Seeing a potential crisis in key economic areas of our economy, the South African government is working to initiate a series of Master Plans in order to profile industries and identify strategic activities that will encourage growth, development and job creation. One of the first Masterplan groups established was the Steel and Metal Fabrication Masterplan. The Masterplan group consists of different committees and workgroups. The RSA Clusters Group reports back regularly on what is being discussed in these sessions and welcomes input from members.
Annual Shutdown
On behalf of the SAIF Board, we would like to thank our members, students, facilitators and service providers for your diligent support during the year. The SAIF offices will be closed from Friday, 17 December 2021 and will re-open on Monday, 10 January 2022.
We wish you a very blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year. We are confident that 2022 will bring success and look forward to the new year.