Post on 22-Jul-2016
description
transcript
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
June 2015VOL 1 ED 6
AFRICA
A SMAZARS DENEL INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES
Keeping The House In Order Quality, Service and Innovationervice for GoodROFF INDUSTRIES
ProsperousVoyage
Liebherr Africa
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
EDITORS LETTER PRODUCTION
Kayen AlexanderCreative Director
Zain MillingtonProduction Manager
Sam WrightEditor-in-Chief
Lily BradicAssociate EditorE: production@essentialbusinessmag.com
PROJECTS
David TaylorProject DirectorE: dtaylor@essentialbusinessmag.com
PROJECT MANAGERS
Maria AlempicE: malempic@essentialbusinessmag.com
Uzzal HossainE: hossain@essentialbusinessmag.com
Armin DizdarevicE: armin@essentialbusinessmag.com
SALES
Adam CaanSales DirectorE: acaan@essentialbusinessmag.com
Johan van WykSales ExecutiveE: jvanwyk@essentialbusinessmag.com
FINANCE
Miah DizerFinance Manager E: accounts@essentialbusinessmag.com
Scott JamesonOperations DirectorE: sjames@essentialbusinessmag.com
Welcome to the June issue of Essential Business. As usual, the magazine is packed with companies that continue to showcase Africa’s ability for innovation, hard work and perseverance.
While our featured businesses come from quite a wide variety of industries, the common theme is again the thirst for infrastructure across the continent. From the fast-expanding maritime operations of Liebherr Africa to accountancy giant Mazars’ involvement in South Africa’s hugely prospective renewable sector, along with agriculture machinery specialists Agri-Wes’ thoughts on the changing shape of Zambia, we have a wide range of perspectives on how the African landscape is refusing to stand still.
For this reason, we’ve delved into some of the facts and figures behind Africa’s infrastructure investment boom in our lead feature (see page 5). While it is clear that overseas finance is flocking to the country at a rapid rate, much, much more is needed, meaning that opportunities are rife for those willing to take the plunge. This is hugely encouraging, and goes to show that the old clichés about the region being a difficult place to do business are disappearing fast.
We hope you enjoy the publication and, as ever, please feel to get in touch with your thoughts and feed.
Sam Wright Editor-in-chief
09 Chiboni Evans, CEO: South African Electrotechnical Export Council
05 Africa’s Private Investment Boom
17 Liebherr AfricaProsperous Voyage
25 Denel IP
3
www.essent ia lbus iness.com
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zin
e
. . .essent ia l ly your bus iness
33 Chigwell HoldingsDesigning For The Future
39
45
57
Mazars
ROFF Industries
Noordfed
Quality, Service and Innovation
A Service For Good
Keeping The House In Order
Not Just Run-Of -The-Mill
13 Joerg Friedel, Technical Manager for Product: Shell
51 Agri-WesPlanting The Seed
1 5 News Round-Up
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
ma
ga
zin
e
. . .essent ia l ly your bus iness
F E A T U R E
www.esor.co.za
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zi n
e
. . .essent ia l ly your bus iness
Powering
The FuturePowering
The Future
e s s e n t i a l
F E A T U R E
www.esor.co.za
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zi n
e
. . .essent ial ly your bus iness
Squeezing
AheadSqueezing
Ahead
The demand for new infrastructure across Africa is vast. As a result private investors seeking opportunities in transport, energy and power distribution are being welcomed with open arms.
Africa's private investment boom
According to a recent report by
Deloitte, investment in African
infrastructure mega projects —
those that cost more than US$50 million —
stood at US$326billion last year, a rise of
46% from the year before.
Yet while these figures are impressive, they
are a mere drop in the ocean compared to
what is required. Back in 2009, the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) estimated that
around US$8 trillion would be needed for
the continent to fulfill its potential over
the next decade, with 51% earmarked for
electricity, 29% for roads and 13% for
telecommunications.
At the mid-point in this period, it seems
certain that this will not be met. The
global downturn has hit hard, while
Nigeria —Africa's newly crowned largest
economy — is among the exporting
5
The need for power
“Africa needs electric power to fulfillits vast
development potential,” says Jonathan
Hosie, a partner in international law firm
Mayer Brown's construction and engineering
group.
“The rule of thumb in terms of energy needs
for an industrial nation is about 1MW for every
thousand of its population. Taking Nigeria as
an example, with a population of some 180
million, this puts the country's energy needs
in the 180,000MW range.”
This, he adds, illustrates both the size of the
problem and the potential opportunity.
“Many countries, such as Nigeria, have
recognised the scale of the task and set about
reforming the power generation sector in
order to encourage much-needed foreign
direct investment.”
nations struggling with the collapse
in oil prices.
Yet, in infrastructure terms at least,
the outlook is certainly far from
solely doom and gloom. Across the
region, sovereign wealth funds from
the Middle East and China are
ploughing funds into transformative
construction and agriculture
projects, while private equity houses
have stepped up their activity as they
look to diversify their portfolios. At
the same time, governments in
countries such as South Africa,
Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya are all
looking to tap the private sector to
bridge the infrastructure financing
deficit.
6
On May 6, Nigerian National Petroleum
Corp. (NNPC) issued a statement saying
that is was now looking for foreign
investment in gas infrastructure to fuel its
domestic power plants, an area long
neglected in the country in favour of
more lucrative exports.
With the US ending liquefied natural gas
(LNG) imports from the country due to its
own shale-fuelled glut and the naira
plummeting against the dollar, the state-
owned energy firm is now looking closer
to home.
Nigeria “need not be and must not be a
victim of price drop, instead we should
position to benefit from it”, the company
said in a statement. "For example, we
have built over 500 kilometres of gas
pipelines and we are building an
additional 120 kilometres currently.”
This, of course, does not come cheap. As
Hosie says, “power generation projects
tend to be capital intensive and require
investors and lenders with deep pockets”.
Yet the opportunities, he adds, are not
confined to those at the top end of the
scale.
“More modest developments may be
possible with the mining of natural
resources, but with commodity prices
low, having good infrastructure in the
vicinity of the mine is a pre-requisite.
Building transport infrastructure and
licensing this for multiple users is one
model that may find a ready market in
certain African jurisdictions.”
On the rise
Either way, this thirst for investment will not go
away any time soon. By 2040, estimates have
been made that Africa will require a cumulative
investment of US$85 trillion by 2040, with the
economy quadrupling over this period.
“That level of investment and growth cannot be
met by home-grown capital, even from resource-
rich nations when the commodity prices head
north,” says Hosie.“Africa needs a higher oil price
to support growth but it also needs to 'get' the
benefit of foreign direct investment.”
For investors then, both the opportunities and
challenges are clear. For those thinking of taking
the plunge, as ever, caution is advised.
“There are many factors influencing the decision
to invest but, amongst the most important is to
choose your country by reference to the quality of
the host government,” says Hosie.
“Is it stable; does it have a good track record of
keeping to the rules, such as a consistent
approach to the setting of tax levels,
environmental permitting and a regulated energy
sector?”
The presence of strong bilateral investment
treaties, he continues, is also highly desirable.
With the scale of the funds needed though, it is
only a matter of time before fresh incentives for
foreign investors are introduced. At that point,
this initial flurry could turn into a stampede.
7
South African Electrotechnical Export Council
The SAEEC is a non-profit company that acts as the voice of South Africa's US$40 billion electrical engineering, information technology, telecommunications and electronics sector. Here CEO Chiboni Evans tells us about the challenges facing such as dynamic industry.
Can we start with a question about the SAEEC, its goals, history?
The South African Electrotechnical Export
Council (SAEEC) is a public-private-
partnership between South African
business and the Department of Trade and
Industry (thedti).
Members of the SAEEC are South African
registered companies that are
manufacturers and providers of products
and related services from the
Electrotechnical
sector namely: Electrical Engineering,
Electronics, Information Technology and
Telecommunications
The Council was founded in June 1999 and
our aim is to address opportunities and
issues affecting exporting companies by
capitalising on our combined strength. We
provide a value-added and cost-
effective service to our members with
the main focus on growing exports by
identifying and facilitating opportunities,
influencing trade policy issues and
providing operational and logistical
support for our exporters.
In order to provide a holistic support
offering to our members and to grow the
participation of South African companies
in infrastructure projects across the
African continent, the SAEEC has forged
a grouping with five other Export
Councils in the technology and
engineering sectors. The Councils within
this grouping include the Built
Environment Professions Export Council,
Rail Road Association, International Steel
9
Fabricators, Capital Equipment Export
Council and Steel Tube Export
Association.
The SAEEC also acts as a neutral and
formal gateway for public and private
organisations and companies that are
looking to form partnerships or
source goods and services from South
African companies in this sector.
Additionally the SAEEC also provides
an important platform on which to
coordinate the export marketing
efforts of the sector as well as being
an official conduit to government to
enhance strategies and policies to
improve the export support
environment.
Is the SAEEC working on any specific projects that are exciting?
In 2014 the SAEEC Board of Directors and senior
management made a decision to focus on supporting
thedti's drive to diversify and increase the base of
South African exporters. Thus, we have embarked on
a program, supported by thedti to develop the Small
Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in our sector
to realistically and successfully supply goods and
services into large infrastructure projects. Our initial
focus sector will be “Africa Power”.
Because of the global focus on developing the Power
Infrastructure in Africa, this sector (Power) presents
great business opportunities for South African
companies. The Power Africa Initiative, launched by
President Obama in 2013, proposes to ensure that
70% of Africa is electrified by 2030. This will require
an estimated investment in Africa's Power
Infrastructure projects of US$7 Billion per annum
over the next 15 years.
We have therefore developed, and are running a
specific project which is aimed at recruiting,
retaining and developing Emerging Exporters in the
Electrotechnical sector. Currently, 53% of the SAEEC
membership are Small Medium and Micro Enterprises
and 12% can be classified as emerging exporters per
the South African Department of Trade and Industry
definition. We intend to grow this base by recruiting
and supporting sustainable SMMEs, particularly black
and women owned organisations.
The SMME membership although commendable at
53% is still lacking in that very few of these
companies are neither majority black owned and/or
women owned enterprises (BOE and/or WOE).
The initial focus of the SAEEC is thus to identify
those predominately BOE and WOE enterprise and
develop them as emerging exporters in the Electrical
Engineering /Power sub-sector of the
Electrotechnical sector.
10
The companies to be taken through this
current SAEEC emerging exporter
development program comprise ten
companies of which 25% are women
owned and four are 100% black owned.
The objective of the SAEEC is to expose
companies to export opportunities
through technical training and profiling
them at key events where decision
makers to the West and East African
Power Pools are present.
The African Utility Week (AUW) is the
first event of a series of exhibitions that
the Emerging Exporters will participate
in, the other proposed events are the
East African Power Industry Convention
(EAPIC) in August 2015 and the West
Africa Power Industry Convention
(WAPIC) in November 2015.
Thirty six (36) SAEEC member companies
including eleven (11) emerging
exporters are exhibiting at Africa Utility
Week 2015. The larger of our member
companies exhibiting will also support
and mentor our emerging exporters
during this event.
To increase the exposure of our member
companies, especially our emerging
exporters, to key decision makers from
African utilities we have, with the
support of our Export Promotion
Directorate at thedti, also secured the
participation of twelve delegates from
the Power Ministries and Utilities of four
African countries this year.
The challenges faced by the South African Power
Utility Eskom are known to all. The Eskom challenges
have a “knock on” effect on the Electrotechnical
sector. However, the strain placed on our members
by the constraints in our domestic environment has
focussed our attention on the rest of the continent.
What do you see as the main challenges in the utility industry in South Africa?
South Africa should not only offer capabilities and
competences of our sector to our compatriots on the
African continent but also our learnings. The impact
of inadequate planning for both new builds and
maintenance of Power plants in South Africa has
been felt by all facets of our economy. We must use
the capabilities in our sector to not only stabilise the
situation in South Africa but to also assist with the
development of sustainable solutions for the African
continent as a whole. We should therefore engage
with other utilities on the continent to share our
knowledge and learnings and ensure that the few
(but costly) mistakes made in South Africa are
avoided as the rest of the continent implements its
Power Infrastructure plans.
Anything you would like to add?
11
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
ShellWhich products or services by your company are you most excited about currently?
As a leading energy company, Shell's main business activities include Retail and Commercial Fuels, Lubricants and Oils, Chemicals, Manufacturing and Upstream Exploration. Here Joerg Friedel, Technical Manager, Product Application at Shell, talks about the challenges and difficulties facing the industry.
Shell's new GTL (gas to liquids) technology is being used to produce Shell Diala S4 ZX-I, an inhibited transformer oil, which provides enhanced protection, extended oil life and excellent system efficiency. We are particularly impressed with its cooling performance.
We are also using the same Shell GTL (gas to liquids) technology to produce our new range of turbine oils, the Shell Turbo S4 range.
What makes your company a leader in this field?
Shell is the #1 global supplier of finished lubricants (Kline 2013) and has been a supplier of transformer oils for over seventy years. Shell has been investing in Shell GTL (gas to liquids) technology since the 1970s.
13
Any specific projects/success stories that have made a huge difference that you can share?
In customer trials, run by OEMs and utilities, the new Diala S4 ZX-I showed comparable or better cooling properties compared to conventional naphthenic oils. It also showed superior oxidation stability and higher voltage impulse stability. It has been fully approved by a number of OEMs.
What in your opinion are the biggest challenges that the utility/energy industry is facing currently?
The decentralization of power generation, combined with the cut of maintenance budgets, will be a great challenge for the future and will stress the grid and the transformer differently than in the past.
Which regions in Africa are you most interested in at the moment?
In Africa, we have a well-established Shell presence in South Africa, Egypt and Libya, and we are also present through a joint venture, Shell and Vivo Lubricants B.V. (SVL). Together with SVL we have the expertise and people in the field able to respond to the emerging needs of the continent, and have the ambition to become the #1 International Oil Company in Lubricants in Africa.
What excites you about this industry?
The industry continues to change and is at a challenging point in its history. The commitment to investment indicated for the next few years in Africa is an exciting opportunity.
What surprises you about this industry?
Despite the need to grow and adapt to the challenges in the industry, it is sometimes conservative to change.
14
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
Round-UpNEWS
East Africa's largest mall, Garden City, is set to
open its doors to the public this week.
Constructed on a 32 acre piece of land
adjacent to the Thika Super highway in Kenya,
Garden City boasts 33,000 square metres of
retail space in its first phase alone.
"Phase one of the mall is almost fully leased,
and we're expecting more than 50 per cent of
our retail tenants to be ready to open with us on
May 28," said Michael Turner, Director Actis,
Nairobi.
Meanwhile, in Rwanda, construction works on
over 15km of Kigali's roads are almost complete.
Affected roads include Masaka-Kabuga road,
Primature-Cadillac area, Nyandungu-Masoro, and
Minagri -Nyarutarama road among others.
CONSTRUCTION
15
MINING ANDENERGY
After delays caused by the Ebola crisis, the
construction of Liberia's Mount Coffee hydro
power plant is back on track, and is predicted
to be operational by December 2016. The dam,
located on the River Paul, once provided power
to a third of households in Montserrado
Country but was severely damaged during
Liberia's civil war.
In South Africa, Minister of Public Enterprises
Lynne Brown refuted privatisation plans for
Eskom, stating that the blackouts could be
expected to continue for another three years.
American coffee and doughnut giant Krispy
Kreme announced plans this week to enter the
South African market. The brand has signed a
development agreement with local chain KK
Doughnuts, SA and plans to bring 31 Krispy
Kreme shops to South Africa within the next
five years.
“We have collaborated with an operator who
has extensive experience in food service
throughout South Africa. We're confident the
brand will establish itself as the country's
premiere sweet treats provider under its
leadership," said Dan Beem, Senior VP at Krispy
Kreme.
Meanwhile, the African food and beverages
industry is gearing up for a host of conferences
and workshops at Africa's Big Seven (AB7) expo
2015. The event, taking place from 21st -23rd
June in Midrand, will focus on the latest industry
technologies and the opportunities they represent.
FOOD ANDBEVERAGE
MANUFACTURING
Reports this week revealed that South Africa's
gross domestic product slowed to just 1.3% in
the first quarter of 2015, with manufacturing
falling an annualised 2.4%. The last quarter of
2014 saw a GDP of 4.1%, but struggles with
the electricity crisis and a high unemployment
rate are continuing to take their toll on the
country's economic growth.
On a brighter note, Airtel Nigeria has signed
an agreement with African technology
manufacturer RLG to produce handsets,
tablets and power banks for future Airtel
subscribers. Tosin Ilesanmi, regional director
of RLG in West and Central Africa, stated that
the venture could create up to 10,000 new
jobs.
16
www.liebherr.com
17
Prosperous Voyages Last month, Liebherr Africa launched a new maritime centre in Durban. Essential Business spoke to Henner Rodenwoldt, Maritime Division Manager of Liebherr Africa, to find out more about the subsidiary's activities and growing influence across the continent.
March saw the opening of Liebherr
Africa's first maritime hub in
South Africa. Located just outside
of Durban, the new service centre is set to
offer complete service staff training in
addition to sales and spares for all of its
products in South Africa. With Africa being
the second largest market for its parent
Liebherr Group last year, the company has
seen a threefold increase in mobile
harbour crane deliveries from the 2013-
2014 period, and is optimistic about
meeting the on-going demands of the
African market.
“We've had a long business relationship
with Transnet. They have over 60 Liebherr
cranes now, including 31 ship-to-shore
cranes, 13 mobile harbour cranes, and 18
rubber tyre gantry (RTG) cranes,” begins
Rodenwoldt. “As a result of that good
relationship, and together with the
development we've seen here in Africa, we
decided we would open up this maritime
hub as an extended arm of the head offices
in Europe.”
18
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
The last few years have seen a significant
increase in South Africa's infrastructure
spending, with room for more growth to
follow.
“If you look at all the landlocked economies,
they have started to thrive and develop now.
That helps us, and the ports in general, to
deliver the products to and from these
economies,” explains Rodenwoldt. “Over the
last few years, we've seen that a lot of ports
or shipping companies in the oil and gas
sector are pushing for productivity and
safety, so we looked to different industries
to see how we could improve productivity on
the skills front,” he continues.
“We looked at the realistic simulators of the
aerospace industry, and we spent significant
money, research and development (R&D) and
also resources in developing simulators
specifically for our products. This will drive
productivity, reduce risk of damage on the
machines themselves, and eliminate risk
factors — and then pass these advantages
on to the customers.”
The South African skills shortage has proved
challenging for Liebherr Africa, but the
company's solution benefits both its
business and the local economy. “We've
started an apprenticeship programme here
in South Africa, where we take on a number
of apprentices each year and start training
them for the next three years so we can
“ Over the last few years, we've seen that a lot of ports or shipping companies in the oil and gas sector are pushing for productivity and safety, so we looked to different industries to see how we could improve productivity on the skills front
“
19
Henner Rodenwoldt, Maritime Division Manager
21
reduce our expat contingency and work
with local people,” explains Rodenwoldt.
“The crane simulators are for both
operational and technical training, and we
cover the whole maritime range — from
ship-to-shore cranes and RTG to mobile
harbour cranes and offshore cranes. It's
one of the best training centres we have in
our group.”
In October last year, the South African
government launched Operation Phakisa.
The initiative aims to have government,
academia, and industry working together
to find methods of reducing
unemployment, and hopes to create over
one million jobs by 2033. Operation
Phakisa will begin by exploring the
potential of South Africa's oceans —
focusing on industries such as marine
transport and manufacturing; offshore oil
and gas; marine protection; and fish
farming to name just a few.
“Phakisa is a very interesting initiative that
will help the South African economy
significantly, specifically the shipbuilding
and ship repair industry,” says Rodenwoldt.
“And Liebherr is very strong in this field as
well, in terms of delivering cranes and
infrastructure. A lot of the infrastructure
that is in place here in South Africa is very
old, and over the years there have been a
lot of exciting new innovations in this
sector. We are very happy to play our part
in helping to propose possible solutions for
what can be done in the shipyards in terms
of innovation and progress.”
Liebherr's worldwide reputation for
innovation extends to its subsidiaries, with
Liebherr Africa demonstrating its talent for
forward-thinking designs and solutions.
“We're working on a lot of innovations at
the moment. One thing we're looking at is
22
increasing our product portfolio, and in
April 2015 we issued the world's largest
mobile harbour crane, the LHM 800. It has
a lifting capacity of 308 tonnes, which is
100 tonnes more than its predecessor,”
says Rodenwoldt. “We've also looked at
certain operations, specifically the grab
operations, where we've developed the
SmartGrip system.”
The SmartGrip system Rodenwoldt refers
to is an intelligent grabbing technology,
designed to increase turnover and
eliminate stress and overloads on the
crane. SmartGrip technology is currently in
use across the grab operations sector, and
is being tested on transshipment
operations in Africa.
“The SmartGrip innovation has received a
lot of attention, and it's something that the
market has been wanting for a long time,”
says Rodenwoldt.
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
Liebherr Africa is also looking to expand
into new markets, and with its order books
already very full in South Africa, it certainly
looks to be a busy year for the company.
“Obviously the west-African market is a
big market for us, and we have a very
strong presence within it,” says
Rodenwoldt. “This year, we're able to break
into the east African market, where
traditionally our competition has been
strong. We're able to deliver ship-to-shore
cranes to Kenya, and we're able to deliver
mobile harbour cranes to Maputo, so all
from the beginning of the year we will be
represented in the east African countries as
well, which is very interesting.”
“ We're working on a lot of innovations at the moment. One thing we're looking at is increasing our product portfolio, and in April 2015 we issued the world's largest mobile harbour crane, the LHM 800.
“
23
SHAREYOURSTORY
Send us your success story to:production@essentialbusinessmag.com
www.essentialbusinessmag.com
Established in 2004 to centralise the management of Denel's property portfolio, Denel Industrial Properties (DeniProp) provides bespoke infrastructure solutions for both Denel's operating divisions and external tenants. General manager Rentia Geldenhuys tells us about the company's role within the Denel Group and the wider property management industry in South Africa.
Keeping the house in order
www.deniprop.co.za
25
enel provides turn-key solutions of
Ddefence equipment to its clients by
designing, developing, integrating
and supporting artillery, munitions,
missiles, aerostructures, aircraft
maintenance, unmanned aerial vehicle
systems and optical payloads based on
high-end technology. Its defence
capabilities date back more than 70 years
when some of Denel's first manufacturing
plants were established.
“We're currently managing 11 sites in South
Africa,” begins Geldenhuys. “We have
different types of lease agreements,
ranging from triple net leases to full leases.
One of our biggest tenants is Rheinmetall
Denel Munitions, which is situated mainly
in the Cape region.”
One of the toughest challenges that
DeniProp has had to deal with is that of
remediation. Some sites owned by the
company were contaminated in the past,
and the process of determining the
specifics and levels of these
contaminations has been a complicated
one for DeniProp.
“It's been a long process, and has involved
talking to a lot of previous employees to
get the facts,” says Geldenhuys. “But we
have recently completed the remediation
of the Philippi site, which is 517 hectares,
and it is now ready to be sold.”
Registering servitudes on title deeds have
also proven to be challenging. “We've been
dealing with numerous agreements that
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
26
were made previously in an era of trust,”
says Geldenhuys. “These agreements were
not in writing and they now need to be put
on paper, to ensure we have access to
pipelines and roads in the future.”
Elsewhere,DeniPropfaces risks as a result
ofa number of large properties on
whichammunition is manufactured and
stored. These facilities have very large
explosive circles, meaning that the land
surrounding them cannot be occupied.
“This is not readily known to the public,”
says Geldenhuys, "and some people think
they can illegally occupy vacant land
without realising that they are putting their
lives in danger. We recently experienced
problems with illegal occupations at our
Philippi property and had to get a court
order to remove them. Most sites owned by
Denel are classified as National Key Points,
which implies that the higher levels of
security are enforced.”
Introduced during apartheid, the National
Key Points Act is a law designed to
safeguard sites of national strategic
importance in South Africa. The intention
of this legislation was to enable the state to
compel owners of facilities that presented
security risks to secure their facilities at
their own cost.
Despite the obscurity of the legislation, for
DeniProp, it remains a very real part of
their business.
“We also struggle with mining rights and
issuing of permits,” says Geldenhuys.
"Sometimes we need to stop these being
issued as some of our sites are classified as
National Key Points and mining activities
will affect our manufacturing processes.”
At the same time, there are broader
challenges to be faced. The commercial
property market has recently struggled in
South Africa, with a tough environment for
27
manufacturers exasperating the issue.
According to the latest Rode's Report on
the South African property market, office
rentals in Sandton, the country's financial
hub and premier office district, are falling
— a clear sign that the sector is under
severe pressure.
“There's an oversupply of commercial
property in South Africa. Many buildings
are vacant and new ones get built on a
regular basis,” says Geldenhuys.
Commercial rentals in Sandton were down
by 4% in the last quarter of 2014, yet new
developments are being completed every
day. The property boom has also spread to
neighbouring countries such as Botswana,
with Gaborone's commercial property
supply also beginning to exceed demand.
“My view is that the market in South Africa
is currently saturated, and the older
buildings remain vacant,” says Geldenhuys.
“We as property managers need to look at
how we can transform our buildings to
become more green and efficient.”
28
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
DeniProp is currently running the energy
project for the Denel Group and has
managed a saving of more than 10% per
annum to date. Plans are in place to effect
a further 5 to 10% saving in the next
couple of years. This comes as part of a
corporate rebranding of Denel, with
premises being upgraded to meet a more
uniform corporate standard.
“This is a mammoth task, as we have the
11 sites with their own management and
everyone wants to put their own stamp on
the site,” says Geldenhuys. “Managing this
portfolio can be a difficult job, as the
tenants often want to effect structural and
other changes without getting prior written
approval from the Landlord. This has huge
implications for me as the property
manager on compliance issues,” she
“ DeniProp is currently running the energy project for the Denel Group and has managed a saving of more than 10% per annum to date. Plans are in place to effect a further 5 to 10% saving in the next couple of years. This comes as part of a corporate re-branding of Denel, with premises being upgraded to meet a more uniform corporate standard.
“
29
continues. “I am inspecting the sites as often as I can and discussing issues with my own managers, but also with the tenants to make them aware of the consequences of their actions.”
DeniProp has recently introduced a helpdesk system so that all property-related repairs and maintenance issues may be reported, repairs done and progress monitored, with the data being used for trend analysis and developing more effective maintenance plans and schedules.
“This information assists us in evaluating certain products to ensure that whatever item we replace will be a long term solution,” says Geldenhuys. “This helps us to get the best value for money for Denel group and our tenants.”
30
It’s as easy as hittingthe share icon on yourdevice
www.essentialbusinessmag.com
Share your business storywith an essentially committedpartner today!
Send your success story to:production@essentialbusinessmag.com
31
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
housing, Chigwell has three projects under its belt: Phenom Estate, Sidai Village, and Phenom Park.Established in 2005, Chigwell Holdings
Ltd is a property development firm on a mission: to provide quality,
contemporary homes at competitive prices. With a focus on affordable designer
33
Design for the future Essential Business shines the spotlight on
Chigwell Holdings, a company helping to meet the housing needs of the emerging middle class in Kenya and East Africa.
www.chigwellholdings.com
The Chigwell Holdings story starts with Phenom Estate, a Sh250 million project that began in 2007. The 32-acre gated community is located behind Wilson Airport, off the main Lang'ata Road, and consists of 343 maisonettes and a fully developed community centre.
According to Nirish Shah, Executive Director of Chigwell, Phenom Estate, was lead by extensive research into the needs of the target market of young professionals. The research revealed a preference for open spaces and bright, artistic finishes. This is reflected in the architectural design of the project's final phase.
“Lang'ata Road has always been overlooked by developers,” said Mr. Nirish, speaking to Standard Media in 2013. “Land here is
Bold beginnings
34
comparatively cheaper than other suburbs in Nairobi such as Kileleshwa and Lavington. The prices will definitely shoot up after construction of the Southern By-pass, which will open up the area for more development, is finished.”
The success, popularity and substantial profits from the Phenom Estate development went on to fuel Chigwell's second project: Sidai Village in Athi River.
“Interestingly, the same banks which were not willing to offer us loans started making financing proposals after the completion of our first project,” Shah said in an interview with Business Daily Africa.
“Many new building technologies are not received well in Kenya because they are quick and easy, and most Kenyans feel more secure with solid and secure houses,
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ineGaining momentum
so we try to give them the best of both
worlds. Gated communities and affordable
family centered homes are also well sought
after in the market.”
The popularity of Chigwell's developments
would suggest they have got the balance
just right: even the firm's slogan,
“Complement your Lifestyle”, acknowledges
their focus not just on quality builds but
also style and design.
Located on the Nairobi-Mombasa duel
highway, Sidai Village is Chigwell's second
gated community, and demonstrates the
same dedication to providing affordable
designer homes as its predecessor.
Chigwell's latest residential development,
Phenom Park, is yet another gated
community located in the heart of Lang'ata.
Just a ten-minute drive from the central
business district, with classic views of the
Nairobi National Park, the project
comprises of urban ultramodern residential
units, communal amenities and a
commercial shopping area.
The project targets the upper middle class
segment, and as with all Chigwell
developments, the units are stylish,
spacious and contemporary, with natural
light and airflow being integral to the
design.
SHAREYOUR
STORY
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zin
e
Send to:production@essentialbusinessmag.com
37
Nirish ShahExecutive Director Chigwell Holdings
Kenya's growing middle class is keen to invest in housing, and Chigwell's commitment to researching and understanding its market means the firm is well positioned to meet this demand.
The firm has partnered with a consortium of investors and purchased a 400 acre parcel of land in Limuru, a fast growing area in Kenya. The development will feature mixed projects – both Residential & Commercial, and will adopt a self-sustaining concept. Also in planning is Phenom Square, an exciting commercial business park that will be launched soon.
A solid future
Chigwell is also looking to diversify in coming years, and has already expressed an interest in commercial developments in the hospitality industry. Thanks to a passion for identifying the needs of its clients, and a dedication to quality and design, the outlook for Chigwell Holdings looks nothing but positive.
38
Earlier this month, the South African arm of professional services firmMazars was an exhibitor in the Africa Utility Week 2015. Essential Business spoke to managing partner of the Cape Town office, Michelle Olckers, to find out what the renewable sector means to the companyand their plans to boost innovation.
A Servicefor Good
From the 11th to the 15th of May, the fifteenth annual Africa Utility Week connected power
and water professionals for five days of networking, trade exhibitions and conferences in Cape Town. Among the exhibitors was the Cape Town office of Mazars, one of the world’s leading professional servicescompanies providing auditing,accountancyand business advisory services.
“We’ve seen that energy, and particularly renewable energy is a huge focus in South Africaand, with
www.mazars.co.za
39
our current energy challenges, the sector is fast becoming an important stakeholder in finding a solution. Given the growth and Mazars’ expertise and capability within the sector, our involvement with the Africa Utility Week was a good opportunity to introduce our brand and different service lines to the industry. We’ve found a lot of potential new work coming from this sector, so we thought this was a great way to meet potential new clients and showcase the good work we are already doing,” says Olckers.
Mazars has twelve offices in South Africa, and offers services around project financing, financial model reviews, and REIPPP bid submissions to the renewable energy sector. The bulk of the interest in these services comes from the Johannesburg and Cape Town areas, where
the renewable energy developments are currently focused.
“A Partner from our office, specializing in renewable energy, was on hand to showcase Mazars’ services. She found it to be a great experience with fantastic exposure for our business. A lot of good contacts were potentially made from the event,” continues Olckers.
Mazars’ early entrance into the renewables sector has proven to be a wise decision for the company, providing them with a head start over competitors. While this may be bringing a substantial amount of work to Mazars, it’s not without its challenges.
“We’re often underestimated compared to the big four. We offer exactly the same services and have the same expertise,
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
40
qualifications and capabilities, but the big brands generally seem to dominate the market,” explains Olckers.
“So I think our challenge is to really get ourselves recognised, that’s why we’re getting involved with more initiatives like the Africa Utility Week. We try to support different initiativesin specific sectors, as these show that there are different opportunities available in South Africa,” she tells us.
“I think what’s happening, specifically in the audit market, is that economic pressure is causing the bigger firms to reach out into areas they didn’t previously get involved with. And it’s our aim to show why we’re able to offer those services in a better and more effective way for our clients. That’s the reason why they are with us,” says Olckers.
Mazars is founded on the premise that a strong relationship between partner and client is the key to successful business. These strong relationships are then leveraged to generate more services and more leads.
In addition to the relationship-building work of the partners, Mazars also benefits from having a notably young workforce that excels at bringing energy and new ideas to the company.
“Probably 80% of our professionals worldwide are millennials, so we definitely have a young workforce, and we believe it’s important to listen to what they’re saying. That’s why we came up with #MazarsforGood,” she says.
Launched in January this year, #MazarsforGood is an innovation challenge
designed to rally entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs between the ages of 20 and 30. The goal is to design an innovative product, service or process that can positively transform the way companies do business.
“Being quite a young organisation who employs a lot of young people, we realise that innovation is at the heart of everything we do. We get challenged on a daily basis by the young people who come into our business. So we saw this as an opportunity to inspire and allow these young entrepreneurs to really show us what they’re capable of,” explains Olckers.
“So we launched #MazarsforGood. They
41
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
had to choose a category between society, business and employee, and effect change within that corporate environment. We’ve had a lot of people participate so far, and we haven’t got to the end of it yet, but it’s going to be evaluated by a jury chaired by our head of talent management at Mazars Group level. It’s a fascinating challenge and it really reflects our interest in innovation,” she says.
The millennial influence can be seen clearly in Mazars’ plans for the future, with the firm set to take a more technology-based approach and launch new online portals within the next year.
“We’re looking at new ways of interacting with our clients through portals so that clients feel they can access us at any time they want,” Olckers tells us. “Also the client base is changing, so we’re not just dealing with the traditional businesses, but younger entrepreneurs who are starting businesses.”
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
42
“We’re also branching out in terms of our service offering and have expanded quite a lot into advisory services. Being a traditional professional services firm, we started off with audits, tax and accounting, but we’re seeing that we need to offer our clients a broader range of services. We’ve put a lot more investment into tax consulting, as companies aren’t just working within one jurisdiction anymore. They’re operating across the globe, and we’re now able to assist with that.”
Recovery and restructuring services have also been a big add-on for Mazars this year. “It’s sad, but there are a lot of businesses that are struggling, and either going into liquidation or needing assistance to ensure they get out of that position,” explains Olckers.
“We’re recognised in South Africa as one of the leaders in business rescue as we got in early and are offering the service with very skilled attorneys and accountants. Through the business rescue process, we can actually help businesses not go into liquidation, but rather create an opportunity to becomesomething a little bit different but hopefully still exist, thereby preserving economic viability and jobs.”
43
Michelle Olckers Managing Partner Cape Town Branch
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zin
e
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zin
e
Information atyour nger tips
Quality, Service and Innovationwww.roff.co.za
45
Roff Industries, established in 1991, have been in existence for more than 20 years and specialises in the
design and construction of high quality maize milling plants. From the outset Roff have been committed to quality, service and innovation. Today, Roff does not only have a production facility that produces maize milling equipment designed to address customer needs, but also consist of a design department that enable us to do customised projects to fit in most existing buildings and meet specific customer criteria. Our product offering traditionally satisfied production capacities between 500 kg/h up to 4000 kg/h and can be operational in less than six months
from date of order. We have plants operational in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, DRC, Eastern Europe, Syria and Belgium.
With more than 85 employees, we are committed to passionately execute the one thing that makes us tick, “the sound of a milling machine starting up and running at full capacity”. At Roff our employees are one big family. We all back the brand and the product with emotion. From the detail in design right through to supporting our customers to grow their competitive advantage by making sure that extractions
46
are maximised and downtime minimised.
For Roff, success lies in the success of our
customers as profitable business leaders in
their communities.
Strategically Roff Industries are aiming to
be the leading role-player in the Sub-
Saharan African market within the next five
years. Therefore emphasis and investment
is being placed on providing not only the
product to the market, but also excellent
service in terms of parts availability,
technical assistance and support. Being an
African manufacturer, Roff has not only an
African focussed product range but also
understands the unique challenges that
face its customers in South Africa and
neighbouring countries.
Over the past 15 years we have noticed
that the consumer of maize meal is looking
for a more refined and a better quality
product. This has led to African Milling
Companies investing in more technical and
high-tech equipment. In 2012 we launched
a Maize Milling Plant, named the R70. The
R70 Maize Milling Plant produces high
quality maize meal and enables the
entrepreneur to satisfy these market's
needs.
Since then the plant has become the
company's top seller. The Roff R70 plant
offers a compact mill to the entrepreneur
who is looking to enter the maize meal
market as well as, existing milling
companies who wishes to increase their
milling capacity, with an even more cost
effective process. Roff's R70 enables the
client to produce maize meal at an inlet
capacity of 50 to 100 tons per day,
depending on the configuration of the mill
setup. The plant can be set up at 50 tons
and easily upgraded to 100 tons per day,
allowing the customer to grow into the
capacity needed.
The Roff R70 comes standard with a surge
bin for maize inlet, cleaning and
conditioning equipment (with a
conditioning bin), de-germination, milling,
sifting, conveyors, electrical panel,
electrical cabling and all steel structures.
Clients only need to provide the building,
water point and electrical supply to the
panel.
Compact to save floor space and reduce
installation costs, the ROFF R70 has the capacity
to produce up to 30 000 tons per year, which is
a potential annual turnover of R100 million;
The R70 is one of the best value for money
maize mills on the market, with smaller capacity
options also available;
To reduce installation time on site, the mills are
pre-assembled in the ROFF factory;
Sheet metal parts are laser-cut to ensure
excellent quality;
All operational equipment is installed across
two levels, so that processes are visible from
multiple angles. This enables the miller contact
with the process and easy control of the plant;
Being able to satisfy the market needs is of utmost importance to Roff and in 2014 we concluded an agency agreement with the Italian brand Golfetto Sangati, which will enable us to provide solutions for customers with a need to produce more than 120 tonnes per day up to 720 tonnes per day. This will open new opportunities for Roff and its client base.
With a highly innovative design department we are focussing on product development and implementing new technologies constantly. We get feedback from our technical teams on a constant basis with de-briefing sessions after every project in order to improve our processes, information flow and efficiency continuously.
We need to be more than just a supplier to our customers, a lifelong partner, a partner that can grow with our customers. As they become more successful in their particular markets we need to be able to satisfy the need for increased capacity or quality within our product ranges. Roff has always been and will always be the entrepreneur's best choice to partner with in the milling industry.
All components are easily reachable. The top floor is not an operational floor, but mainly used for maintenance purposes;
The R70 is a proudly African mill. With the exception of a few small parts, it is manufactured in ROFF’s Kroonstad factory; and
For the client’s peace of mind, the R70 is covered by an optional service contract
50
Planting the seedPlanting the seedPlanting Planting the seedIn the last few years, agricultural chemical supplier Agri-Wes (Zambia) has recently branched out into the farming machinery market. CEO Nico De Kock tells us how the company — and Zambia's agricultural industry as a whole — has changed since Agri-Wes (Z) was first established.
51
www.agriwes.com
An agronomist by trade, Nico De Kock left South Africa over twenty years ago to pursue opportunities
in the Zambian agricultural industry. By January 1995, he had established a base for Agri-Wes (Z) in FarmCentre Mkushi, and has been supplying agricultural chemicals and seeds to farmers ever since.
“Everyone thought we were mad for going there,” he tells us. “It was a very small place with maybe thirty farmers. But since then we've grown, and Mkushi's grown, and Zambia's grown — and we did not foresee it, at that stage.”
Zambia has changed dramatically over the
past two decades, going from having virtually no infrastructure to being one of the most urbanised countries in Southern Africa. The Minister of Local Government and Housing recently predicted that the majority of people in Zambia will be living in cities and towns by 2030, and with the population also on the rise, sustainable urban development is now a serious priority.
“When we first came here, the main road was one big pothole from Luskaka,” says De Kock. “It was so bad you could barely drive. Today the roads are quite good, but the problem we've got now is that there's too much traffic. The country has grown so
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
52
much and the road structure has struggled to keep up with that, but at least you can drive, albeit slowly and in heavy traffic.”
Agri-Wes is a distributor for some of the most respected chemical companies in the world, including Syngenta, Villa Crop, and Arysta. In 2012, Agri-Wes branched out from chemicals and into the world of machinery and began distributing Vaderstad Verken machines and spare parts.
“We got our first sale after about a year of representing them,” De Kock tells us. “It takes time to gain the confidence of the farmers.”
The success of the Vaderstad products prompted Agri-Wes to expand on their machinery range, and in September 2014, they became the official Zambian dealership for CLAAS farming machinery.
“It's a major addition to our business. We've basically got two divisions now. There are a lot of challenges involved in starting a new business, so we decided to keep it as one company and run it as two divisions,” he explains. “There is already some CLAAS equipment in Zambia, but not a lot. CLAAS had quite a bad name as far as backup service is concerned. Machinery was sold in Zambia, but servicing and support were hard to come by. Most people know they're very good products but the support service was poor. It's our job to convince people
53
“ We get help from CLAAS Germany and we work through Kempston Agri, which is the CLAAS importer into Southern Africa,” ... “Our relationship with both of them is fairly close, and communication is pretty quick. Kempston have a representative who visits Zambia quite regularly.”
“
For Financial Advisory and Business SolutionsTailored to the
Agricultural Industry
Contact:+260 977 824 834+260 978 002 050+260 977 362 388
Email: feranticonsulting@gmail.com
Mkushi Farm Block , Zambia
that we will be able to deliver this service.”
Agri-Wes' reputation for reliability,
integrity, product availability and customer
service has been a point of pride for the
past 20 years, and positions them as the
ideal company to handle the servicing and
support of CLAAS machines.
“We get help from CLAAS Germany and we
work through Kempston Agri, which is the
CLAAS importer into Southern Africa,” says
De Kock. “Our relationship with both of
them is fairly close, and communication is
pretty quick. Kempston have a
representative who visits Zambia quite
regularly.”
Machinery may be new ground for family-
run Agri-Wes, but it's a challenge they've
faced responsibly.
“It's been a big learning curve,” says De
Kock. “Repairing machines is not an area
I've got experience in, but my son is very
technical-minded and he's running that
division of the business.”
Up next for Agri Wes is the possibility of
opening a workshop in Lusaka. Most CLAAS
customers are based around Lusaka and
Southern Zambia, and Agri Wes already has
an office there where spare parts can be
purchased. The company is also busy with
an advertising campaign, designed to raise
its visibility and profile within the Zambian
market.
“Overall, things are going well. Zambia's
agricultural economy is under pressure and
we've got a couple of challenges — for
example, we don't have big capital, which
limits the number of machines we can have
immediately available,” explains De Kock. “I
see the business growing as people get
more convinced that we are here to stay
and we can deliver service. I suspect it's
“ Everyone thought we were mad for going there,” ... “It was a very small place with maybe thirty farmers. But since then we've grown, and Mkushi's grown, and Zambia's grown - and we did not foresee it, at that stage.”
“
going to be a slow growth, and maybe that's
a good thing because then we can grow
with it. It's sustainable. If you get a flash in
the pan and sell twenty machines in one go,
things can become difficult.”
Let us do the writingYou just need to do the talking.
The world is reading
www.essentialbusinessmag.com
Share your business storywith an essentially committedpartner today!
Send your success story to:production@essentialbusinessmag.com
Not Just Run-of-the-MillNoordfedEiendomsBeperk, a subsidiary of agricultural group NWK, has recently acquired a second milling company in KwaZulu-Natal. Essential Business looks at the company's decision and its plans for the future.
57
Not Just Run-of-the-Mill
www.noordfed.co.za
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
As a leading provider of agricultural services and inputs, NWK Group’s activity is vast and varied —
spanning storage solutions, financing packages, agri-economic advisory services and more. The group has over 100 years’ experience serving the South African agricultural market, with the bulk of its activity and distribution taking place in the North West Province.
One example of this activity is Noordfed Ltd, a NWK subsidiary based in Lichtenburg. As a milling company that specialises in maize and wheat, Noordfed’s primary activities include the production and distribution of white maize milling products such as white maize meal, white maize rice and white maize samp for both human and animal consumption. These products are distributed to a number of established brands and long-
standing clients, including 10/10, Super Goal, HayDay, and Fat Fowl chicken feed.
In February this year, Noordfedalso acquired 100% interest in Empangeni Milling, another white maize milling company based in KwaZulu-Natal.
A former subsidiary of holding company Grindrod Ltd, Empangeni Milling is already well established in the KwaZulu Natal maize market. The merger remains safely within Noordfed’s area of expertise, and is as a consequence a relatively low risk endeavour for NWK Group.
The venture will see NWK’s presence expand geographically into the “garden province” of South Africa. Prior to this acquisition, Noordfed’s produce was primarily distributed in the North West and
58
Gauteng, with only limited distribution in Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal — but this is now set to change.“Empangeni Milling/Noordfed has delivered the same service as before to our client base. We foresee a seamless integration that will have no effect on orders, product availability or deliveries,” said Hendrik Roux, former CEO of Empangeni Milling. Roux has since been appointed as managerial head of Noordfed.
“A modern mill, the geographic location close to the raw material, and our established market share in KwaZulu-Natal pave the way for the vision that Empangeni Milling/Noordfed has of the future — to ensure that we feed the people of South Africa with passion and with the best-quality product,” said Roux in a press release.
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
60
Several months into the acquisition, Noordfed is already set to embark on its next project — the establishment of a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment partner within the firm. The company is in consultation with Intshona Holdings, a black-women-owned company established to empower rural women and farmworkers in South Africa.
The transaction proposed by Noordfed would be to the socio-economic benefit of female workers in rural areas and farming communities. Discussions are still underway, but the project looks to be very promising indeed.
The Bags The Solution
Certopac with
fully automatic
-bag magazine
-bag separation
-bag opening
-bag placing
-bag closing
Open-mouth bag
Pillow bag
Gusset bag
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Paper
Block bottom
Pinch bottom
Carrying handle
Fully automatic high-speed packaging machine
certopac
up to
bags per hour1500
CONTACT US TODAYPATERSON HUGHES ENGINEERINGSOUTH AFRICA
Phesa House, Forsdick Rd, Cnr Aberdein St & Arthur Bleksley StRoodekop, Germiston, 1401
Tel: +27 (011) 865 1083Fax: +27 (011) 865 2916Email: info@phesa.co.za
Postal Address:P.O. Box 14330Wadeville, 1422 www.phesa.co.za
SHARE YOURSTORY
www.essentialbusinessmag.com
Share your business storywith an essentially committed
partner today!
Send your success story to:production@essentialbusinessmag.com
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
Post-Event RoundupAfrican Utility WeekFrom the 12th – 14th May, the 15th annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa event took place at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. Through a mix of exhibitions, conferences and workshops, the three-day event provided valuable networking opportunities for power and water utility professionals, from engineers to stakeholders to solution providers.
Among the 250 exhibitors were Sensus, Shell, Accenture, Building Energy, and Mazars, a professional services firm we had the pleasure of speaking to this month.
The conference consisted of eight streams — metering, hydro, clean power, water, larger power users, finance and investment, transmission and distribution, and generation, each addressing industry developments and strategies. There were also three exclusive keynote and plenary sessions designed to share expertise and best practices for effective power and water supply.
The 2015 African Utility Week Industry Awards were given out on the evening of the 13th May, with Kenya's KenGen winning African Power Utility of the Year and Uganda's National Water and Sewerage Corporation winning African Water Utility of the Year. African Community Project of the Year was awarded to the Bokpoort CSP project, ACWA Power.
63
From 6th – 9th May, South Africa's leading international trade fair for the automotive industry, Automechanika, connected trade visitors from the Sub-Saharan region for four days of expositions, showcasing established products and innovations.
The product range was vast and spanned many categories, including parts and components; electronics and systems; repairs and maintenance; accessories and tuning; service station and car wash; and IT and management.
AutomechanikaThe Innovation Awards were also announced, with Car-O-Liner's Vision2 software winning the gold certificate and AI Vision's MobilEye collision avoidance system winning the silver. The bronze certificate was awarded to Bosch for its start/stop system, which is claimed to reduce fuel usage in urban areas by up to 8%.
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
64
Pre-Event RoundupAfrican EduWeek
The ninth annual SABC Education African EduWeek is set to take place on 1st-2nd July, showcasing over 120 local and international education exhibitors. The expo will be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, and if last year's performance is any indication, will draw over 2000 attendees.
African Eduweek brings together visitors from basic & higher education, as well as government officials, NGOs and NPOs, suppliers, and independent education specialists. Among exhibitors this year are Intel Education, Ambit, Netschools, BIC, Macmillan Education, and Pearson.
EduWeek is divided into eight product sectors to help visitors make the most of their time at the event. These sectors are Technology, Maths and Science Equipment; Digital and Print Publishing; School Supplies, Stationery and Educational Toys; Inclusive Education; Safety and Security; Sustainability and Energy Efficiency; Services for Educational Institutions; and International Pavilions.
With 20 free-to-attend education seminars and over 70 technical workshops, Africa Eduweek 2015 is not to be missed. Registrations are open now.
65
Land Forces Africa
The Land Forces Africa expo will be advancing Africa's defence and security objectives between the 6th and 7th July in the Heartfelt Arena in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria.
The conference and exhibition will span two days and see senior military officials, government stakeholders and industry experts come together to share their views and expertise on all matters relating to pan-African defence and security. Industry leaders will be present to discuss interoperability in Africa's multinational operations, with talks from the Eastern Africa Standby Force, Ghanaian Chief of Army Staff, Honourable Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, and UNAMID, among others.
There will also be a wide range of defence equipment available to view, operate and test — including armoured vehicles, combat gear, communication systems, decontamination units and more.
Exhibitors include Armscor, SAAB Grintek Defence, Denel SOC, and TATA Motors.Registration for visitors and exhibitors is currently open.
Disaster Management Africa will be co-located with Land Forces Africa, and will provide conferences, demonstrations and workshops relating to Disaster and Emergency Management.
The 18th annual Africa Rail event is gearing up to take place in Johannesburg, running from the 30th June to 1st July and gathering leading rail and infrastructure speakers from around the world. For nearly 2 decades, Africa Rail has been an unrivalled platform for the continent's railways industry to learn, network and do business.
Co-located with Africa Rail 2015 at the Sandton Convention Centre are:
Africa Rail
Transport Africa Awards 2015 The 8th annual award ceremony recognising individual, operational and project excellence in the African transport sector
Africa Ports & Harbours Show 2015 The leading marketplace and meeting point for African port operators, end-users and governments
66
e s s e n t i a lm
ag
az
ine
The Cargo ShowAfrica's largest transport and infrastructure show, with exhibitions from industry leaders and a VIP conference on operational efficiency and innovation.
Transport Security & Safety ShowAn exhibition and conference aimed at educating the transport sector on safety and security solutions, technology and innovations. Aviation Festival Africa
Africa's leading conference where airlines and airports from across Africa come to share insights and ideas to boost revenue and profits. Aviation Festival Africa is the annual one-stop-shop for buying, learning and choosing partners.
Manufacturing IndabaThe 2nd annual Manufacturing Indaba will be held on the 29th & 30th June 2015 at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni, South Africa.
With South Africa's economy under pressure, the manufacturing industry is facing big challenges. Manufacturing Indaba brings together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions.
2015's theme is Localisation and The Growth Of An Advanced Manufacturing Economy, with topics from financing to energy efficiency up for discussion over a range of plenary sessions and breakaway debates. Exhibitors include Deloitte, SAPICS, Dectra, SANAS, and the DTI.
67
e s s e n t i a l
ma
ga
zin
e
W h e n s h a r i n g b e c o m e s e s s e n t i a l .