SA space agency responds to growing demand for in-orbit satellite testing

The ever-increasing need for information generated from space requires several satellites to orbit the earth, which subsequently require more antennas worldwide to track and monitor their orbits... 

R60m Sasolburg business incubator aims to support SMMEs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Sasol have inaugurated the first building of the ChemCity Business Incubator (CBI), in Sasolburg, which will support and promote the development of... 

Hartbeespoort dam remedial programme showing signs of progress

Members of the media from Finland, Zambia, Nigeria, Serbia, Tanzania and the UK toured Hartbeespoort last month, to view best environmental practices in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. 

Sasol completes Phase 1 of its eco-industrial park

Phase 1 of Sasol Group’s new ChemCity Eco Industrial Park (CEIP), a 172 ha site in Sasolburg, in the Free State, has been completed. Phase 1 comprised 110 light-industry stands of between 630 m2... 

Groups in high-voltage collaboration

Building on its commitment to be closer to customers in Africa, General Electric (GE) and China-based high-voltage (HV) transmission equipment manufacturers XD Electric Group have partnered to... 

Shipping group’s philanthropic arm pledges $2.3m for tree planting

The United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS, is pledging another one-million trees worldwide and has awarded $2.3-million in grants to support environmental programmes... 

Group unveils integrated airport security offering

Thales South Africa, part of the global Thales Group, focuses on the security of citizens, infrastructure and nations. Its latest offering is the airport operation control centre (AOCC), which is... 

SA agency on high space-weather alert as current solar cycle nears peak

Space weather has the capacity to have disastrous effects on space and earth based technology infrastructure – from information and communication technology to electrical power distribution systems. 

Breaking the boundary between university and workplace

The boundary between university and business needs to become more porous as new graduates grapple with the increasingly complex demands of a changing workplace. 

Growthpoint Properties opens regional office in upmarket Pretoria building

Property investment company Growthpoint Properties has opened a regional office in the premium 10 000 m2 AAA-grade Menlyn Corner, in Pretoria, which the company owns. 

Civil engineer hopes autobiography will inspire the next generation

Retired civil engineer David Easton wrote an autobiography of his lifelong career in the civil engineering industry, highlighting the industry and his progression therein from 1930 to 2008 and now... 

SA manufacturer in deal to supply concrete cabins for solar farms

Precast concrete manufacturer Rocla has entered into a manufacturing-under-licence agreement with Spain-based precast concrete cabin supplier Prephor to manufacture precast concrete cabins to... 

Learners show they are up to the task during energy-saving competition

St John’s College, in Johannesburg, won first prize in the 2013 Siemens Junior Cyber Junk Yard Challenge earlier this month, – a competition in which talented learners go head-to-head in building... 

Civil engineering education must evolve to enable NDP success

Part of the National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) success will be in South Africa’s ability to strengthen civil engineering qualifications to provide the necessary skills to implement it. 

SA should learn from Brazilian plan for labour market, Cosatu argues

The National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) economic and labour-market strategies are flawed, said Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretariat strategies coordinator Neil Coleman at the... 

First of nine 3 MW wind turbines complete at Eastern Cape wind farm

The first wind turbine for South Africa came on line last month, at the Metrowind Van Stadens wind farm, near Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape. 

Mall extensions almost complete, Growthpoint reports

Growthpoint Properties reports a distribution growth of 7.2% for the year ended June 30, outperforming its original forecast and delivering on higher performance prospects announced at its... 

Site preparations under way for R300m Coega air separation unit

Industrial and specialised gas producer Air Products has started to clear the site for its new R300-million air separation unit (ASU), in Zone 3 of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), in... 

Local company in pneumatic air-hoist breaktrhough

Pneumatic equipment manufacturer ATS 2000 is the first local company to manufacture pneumatic air hoists, which lift more than 15 t, for industrial and mining applications. It is also a first for... 

Partnerships and new thinking needed for regenerative-city plans to prevail

Strong consensus emerged at a recent Infrastructure Dialogues gathering, which took place in Midrand in August, that a combination of behavioural change and partnerships between the private sector,... 

Acquisitions at scale to retail property fund

Specialised retail property fund Synergy Income Fund’s R334-million acquisition of Atlantis City Shopping Centre came into effect earlier this month, which will boost the fund’s property portfolio... 

Property group plans more Pretoria, Joburg inner-city refurbs

A group of property investors, owners and management companies are changing the face of the Pretoria and Johannesburg central business district (CBD) buildings by buying, refurbishing or... 

African countries want ownership of energy projects – Nepad official

Planning and coordinating body of the African Union, the New Partnership for AfricanAfrica Development (Nepad), had established that countries in Africa wanted to take ownership of the energy... 

Kenya-Uganda leg of larger power transmission project under way

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) awarded Spain-based international sustainable energy company Abengoa a contract for the construction of a 132 km electricity transmission line... 

Building infrastructure specialist opens new Gauteng showroom

Electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand has made a further commitment to the South African market with the complete renovation and extension of its existing premises in... 

Study claims steel is closing car-body weight gap with aluminium

The latest studies, released in May, in a continuing series of research studies indicates that steel autobody structures can be as lightweight as the current aluminium bodies and meet all safety... 

Retention structure technology proves effective

Seven years after the completion of a new boundary-wall retention structure for the Italian Embassy, in Ethiopia, the solution has proven to be structurally durable and environmentally friendly. 

Strong planning and management urged as SA begins to come to terms with its water scarcity

It is common cause that South Africa is facing various challenges with regard to its water resources and the management thereof. It is also well recognised that South Africa needs to intensify its... 

Low vacancy rates in Joburg’s inner city could boost investor interest

There is less than a 1% chance of finding a decent flat to rent in the Johannesburg inner city, as vacancies have reached a historic low that is likely to pave the way for new investor interest in... 

Course aims to upgrade skills of horizontal directional drillers

A horizontal directional drill (HDD) operator management course has been developed to improve the skills and safety of operators in the field, as this method is becoming increasingly popular in... 

Challenge fund aims to support African off-grid power innovations

The US African Development Foundation (USADF) is partnering with electric services and capital company General Electric (GE) Africa to launch the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge (Power... 

RBH moves to take majority position in M-Tech Industrial

Community-based investment company Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) has, subject to Competition Commission approval, secured a controlling interest in engineering company M-Tech Industrial, increasing... 

Battery manufacturer adds recycling to service offering

Manufacturer and distributor of lead acid batteries in South Africa, First National Battery, a subsidiary of JSE-listed Metair Investments, has committed to environmental sustainability and has... 

Global aspirations for homegrown gas-pressure regulator

Welding, cutting and gas products and services company African Oxygen (Afrox) launched a technologically advanced and engineered gas-pressure regulator, the Smoothflo regulator, in South Africa... 

Sasol inaugurates the country’s first gas-fired power plant

Sasol New Energy inaugurated South Africa’s first gas-engine power plant at its Sasolburg site, in the Free State, earlier this month. 

Mandela birth town’s first high school under construction

Former President Nelson Mandela’s birth town of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape, is having its first high school built. 

Cape Town’s tallest building awarded five-star rating

The R1.6-billion Portside development, in Cape Town’s central business district, has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star South Africa (SA) office design rating from the Green Building Council of South... 

DEA head office receives six-star rating from Green Building Council

The new Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) head office, in Pretoria, received a 6 Star Green Star South Africa (SA) Office Design certificate from the Green Building Council of South Africa... 

Stockbroking firm opens Africa for South African retail investors

Illovo-based Imara S.P. Reid Stockbrokers launched Africa-wide investment services to South African retail investors – previously the sole preserve of sophisticated international investors, fund... 

Energy management certification can help boost efficiency, reduce consumption

Energy management standards, such as the ISO 50001 Energy Management certification, are crucial to businesses moving forward amid a world energy crisis, said Certification Europe founder and...