Articles

Water remains one of Southern Africa’s most valuable resources, yet much of the region’s infrastructure is under increasing pressure from ageing assets, population growth and climate-related challenges. Across municipalities, mining operations and industrial facilities, significant investment will be required to modernise water supply networks, improve treatment capacity and reduce system losses. For suppliers operating within the pumps, valves, piping and flow-control sector

Namibia’s mining industry continues to attract investment across uranium, gold, copper and other critical minerals, positioning the sector for another period of growth. As mining operations expand, however, success will increasingly be measured not only by production output but by how efficiently natural resources are managed. As one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia has long recognised that sustainable mining depends on responsible water stewardship. Eve

The City of Cape Town effectively processes a mountain of continuous data in order to interpret its current performance and ensure its future projects are able to meet the needs of its ever-changing infrastructure requirements. The data it generates and collects is fed directly into advanced analytics programs that it has developed over the years to give up-to-date information on everything from population dynamics to water levels in reservoirs and even tracks the maintenance

A prominent South African industrial group, working under contract at a Zambian gold mine, secured 45 Lincoln P203 8 KG progressive systems from SKF for leading brand mobile machines to ensure reliable performance for their end user customer. Mining operations rely on these machines for uninterrupted, reliable performance to safeguard uptime and drive productivity. At the core of that reliability is the automatic lubrication of critical points, ensuring end users gain signifi

When engineers discuss pumps, attention is often focused on motors, impellers and performance curves. Yet one relatively small component has a massive impact on equipment reliability, environmental compliance and operating costs – the mechanical seal. Mechanical seals are designed to prevent liquids or gases from leaking where a rotating shaft passes through the pump casing. A failed seal can lead to product loss, environmental contamination, equipment damage and costly downt

Pressure is a critical factor in manufacturing and process industries. It provides the force that pushes or pulls fluids and gases through a facility and is a key metric used to control processes and ensure safety. In order to control pressure, it’s essential to be able to measure it. That is the role performed by pressure transmitters, mechanical devices that measure the expansive force of liquids and gases. Pressure measurements are expressed as the amount of force per unit

The global supply chain disruptions experienced over the past few years have fundamentally changed the way industrial buyers evaluate suppliers. While product quality, technical support and pricing remain important considerations, a new factor has rapidly moved to the top of the priority list: local stock availability. Across Southern Africa, mining houses, municipalities, manufacturers and engineering contractors are increasingly demanding shorter lead times and greater cert

In celebration of Youth Month, Kwikot hosted its Future Skills Experience at its Benoni headquarters, welcoming students, educators, media and industry stakeholders for an immersive look into the career pathways powering South African manufacturing, trade and hospitality infrastructure. Designed to inspire young people to consider futures in technical, operational and service-led industries, the experience gave learners practical exposure to the people, processes and products

When it comes to forklifts in South Africa, reliability, durability, and service support are non-negotiable. Wuhlf South Africa has been a trusted supplier of forklifts, heavy machinery, and material handling equipment since 2005, providing solutions designed for African industrial and logistics operations. Who Is Wuhlf? Wuhlf Equipment (Pty) Ltd, based in Wallmannsthal, Pretoria, is a leading supplier of industrial machinery and forklifts across Southern Africa. With over 1

When most people think about the infrastructure that brings water, gas, heating and cooling into homes, the tools used to install and maintain these systems are rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Yet behind every precisely cut pipe, secure joint and successful repair is a toolbox designed to make the job safer, faster and more reliable. That is where ROTHENBERGER Tools South Africa comes in. From a Trading Company to a Global Tool Specialist The ROTHENBERGER story beg

Women in the Industry: Judith’s Experience When Judith Jacobs joined AVK in February 2020 as a Data Capturer, she had no idea that her career path would take such an exciting turn. What began as a role focused on numbers and systems soon sparked a deeper curiosity one that led her into the world of engineering. By June 2023, her dedication and growing expertise earned her a promotion to Database Administrator. It was a role that tested her resilience, sharpened her skills, an

Valves may represent only a small percentage of the overall cost of a project, but selecting the wrong valve can have serious financial consequences. Across the mining, petrochemical, water treatment and manufacturing sectors, valve failures continue to contribute to production interruptions, increased maintenance costs and reduced equipment reliability. One of the most common mistakes is selecting a valve based solely on initial purchase price. While lower-cost options may a

For 45 years, Corflex Engineering (Pty) Ltd has built its reputation on a simple principle: industrial equipment operating in demanding environments must be designed to withstand the conditions it faces. Established in 1981, the company has become a trusted supplier of specialised industrial pinch valves to the mining and allied industries, where abrasive materials and high-density slurries place significant demands on process equipment. Mining operations rely on the continuo

Emerson has announced that the Sempell™ 181 control valve has successfully passed the NAMUR type test NE 95. Compliance with NE 167 has also been confirmed. The tests were carried out in conjunction with the company’s own Fisher™ FIELDVUE™ DVC7K digital positioner. The test was carried out by Tectrion GmbH. The results demonstrate that the valve is suitable for use in the process industry. The tests examined, amongst other things, leak tightness, performance under pressure an

Ithuba Valves showcases strong first-half 2026 performance through specialised manufacturing and complex valve refurbishment. Ithuba Valves has marked a successful first half of 2026 with the completion of several major valve manufacturing and refurbishment projects supporting South Africa’s critical water infrastructure. The projects demonstrate the company’s capability to manufacture specialised valves, restore large-diameter equipment and manage technically demanding refur

In mining, minerals processing and industrial operations, valves are often small components with major operational consequences. They regulate flow, isolate systems, protect equipment and support safe, reliable plant performance. When a valve is incorrectly specified, poorly maintained or allowed to deteriorate unnoticed, the impact can extend far beyond the component itself. Unplanned downtime, process instability, safety exposure, lost production and avoidable replacement c

Bearings International (Bi), a market-leading supplier and distributor of premium mechanical industrial consumables to Southern Africa’s key industries for close to seven decades, made a deliberate decision to extend its offering into fluid handling products, strengthening the company’s value proposition to valued customers. This strategic move propelled Bi’s entry into the local pumps market in September 2025 through an exclusive distribution agreement with renowned Italian

What separates an effective water equipment rental partner from a simple equipment supplier? An excessively wet season. A major pump breakdown. An unexpected pocket of groundwater. Mines plan for water management and outfit their sites appropriately. But water conditions can vary significantly over the life of a mining operation, making it difficult to anticipate every scenario. Buying and maintaining a sufficient capacity for every plausible scenario is not realistic or fisc

Through a WARMAN® pump upgrade engineered to improve reliability in critical slurry circuits. The solution reduced maintenance risk, enabling more predictable performance and uninterrupted operation. The challenge The mine’s mill circuit is central to its operations - but it was also a source of escalating maintenance costs and unplanned downtime. 1. Frequent maintenance due to short wear life The impeller and throatbush in the competitor’s pump lasted only 700 hours, while

In modern industry, precision isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Whether in chemical manufacturing, mining, food and beverage, or advanced materials processing, the ability to deliver exact volumes of additives or reagents at the right time and place directly impacts product quality, compliance, and operational efficiency. This is where dosing pumps step in as quiet but indispensable enablers of industrial progress. Beyond compliance: The strategic value of dosing pumps Small