EASTERN CAPE INDUSTRIAL & BUSINESS NEWS
YOUR LINK TO INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN CAPE
ISSN NO: 1996-9708
JULY / AUGUST 2016
INSIDE Roofing road show a success page 3
Materials Handling, Bulk Handling & Logistics - page 7 Chemical & Allied Industries - page 12
Plastics & Rubber page 13
Automotive Industry page 14
Company & Product News - page 16
R17,10 (VAT incl.)
ISSUE NO. 74
Switching on the lights 2
500 locally manufactured Solar Power Supply Units have been installed in informal settlements in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality thanks to local innovation and partnership between industry, entrepreneurs and the municipality. This locally designed and manufactured innovation is being installed by local entrepreneurs who have been trained by local manufacturer Microcare to install the Solar Power Supply units in the bay. Currently over 250 units have already been installed in the poorer communities of Nelson Mandela Bay as many locals enjoy electricity in their homes for the first time. Designed and developed in Nelson Mandela Bay by Microcare Solar Components, the unit is a 12V Solar Power supply incorporating a 100W PV panel charging a 100Ah battery. The unit supplies power for
5 LED lights, 2 USB charging ports and a 12V socket ideal for a radio or 12V TV. The 12V Solar Power Unit uses Microcare’s leading MPPT technol-
ogy to extract maximum power from the sun to charge the batteries. Power is then available to provide, as a priority, lights for the home, and secondary a USB charging area
for cell phones and the 12V socket which can be used for varied 12V appliances. Microcare has been innovating solutions for everyday South Africa for the past 26 years and the team believes that a boost in skills development, job creation and a priority to support and buy local is a step in the direction towards overcoming the energy and economic challenges. "Too often institutions and companies do not look in their own back yard for solutions or support. Companies such as Microcare offer local manufacturing solutions which are developed for local conditions and the successes over the last 26 years is evidence that local is lekker. We believe together we can achieve sustainable solutions to our energy and economic challenges," ,says Gordon Upton, National Sales Manager for Microcare. Enquiry no: 1
Newest merchant ship to fly SA flag
T
HE Port of Port Elizabeth is the proud home port of a third ship to be registered on the South African Ships Register. This marks another step in South Africa’s drive to become a recognised Maritime Nation in line with the government’s Operation Phakisa initiative which aims to unlock the potential of the country’s ocean economy. Early in July 2016, oil tanker MT Lefkas docked at the port’s berth 100 where a ceremonial plaque exchange ceremony was officiated. The merchant vessel was previously registered under the flag of Liberia but will be using the Port of Port Elizabeth to provide a new offshore bunkering operation in Algoa Bay. In December 2012 the concept of attracting vessels to the Algoa Bay region was identified as an opportunity to grow the maritime industry in the region. In bringing this initiative to fruition, the South
African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and Aegean Bunkering Marine Services worked together to formalise the concept. Aegean subsequently embarked on a rigorous process of securing approvals from the necessary authorities. The company has also obtained bunkering licenses from Transnet National Ports Authority to conduct bunkering operations in the Ports of Port Elizabeth and Port of Ngqura. Aegean is the first company able to offer fuels outside port limits (OPL) in South Africa and expects to attract passing ships with bunkers at anchorage in South Africa’s Algoa Bay. “The registration of the MT Lefkas and other vessels that will follow is significant for the employment of South African seafarers. Every vessel has extra accommodation that allows for the training and development of cadets. The registration
of the vessel is not only restricted to our bunkering operations only but also introduces many economic benefits for the people of Port Elizabeth such as surveying, offshore services and crew changes (more traffic through the airport), hotel accommodation and light and heavy manufacturing,” said Greek businessman Kosta Argyros. Port of Port Elizabeth Manager, Rajesh Dana added: “The Port of Port Elizabeth is proud and honoured to be the registered home port for the Aegean vessel, MT Lefkas. We congratulate Aegean for the registration of the vessel on the South African flag and look forward to the opportunities that this will present to Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa."
“This historic event is significant to the Port of Port Elizabeth and South Africa at large as it marks the catalytic growth in the South African Ship Registry and once again highlights Nelson Mandela Bay’s attractiveness as a Maritime City and its potential to exploit the Blue Oceans Economy”. Previously the South African Department of Transport had noted that most shipping lines registered their ships outside the country, with the country relying on about 12 000 foreign vessels to export South African goods to the rest of the Enquiry no: 2 world.