September 2010

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COLUMBUS

STAINLESS

Southern Africas producer of stainless steel is

bringing exciting new products into the market

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CONSUMPTION

RECOVERS
Stockists are optimistic as the end of
the recession seems to be in sight

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September 2010

CONTENTS
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

REGULARS

3
22
26
30
32

Perspective
A message from Sassdas Chairman, Sampie Van Rooyen

Q&A
Welding questions with Damian J Kotecki

Industry News
News and events from companies in the industry

Sassda News
News and events from the association

Personality Profile
We talk to Columbuss Charles Cammell

)2&8621
Consumption
African growth revives lackluster stainless steel
figures, according to latest market stats

Demand
Demand for stainless steel is still subdued
due to the recession, says Afrox

Solar Tanks
Kwikot is providing a solar water heating system
solution for the low-income market

PROFILES

ADVERTS

12
14
24

Euro Steel Natal

The Durban stockist celebrates its 10th birthday

Columbus Stainless
The company strives to provide excellent service

Certification
Sassda programme facilitates ISO certification
for small- and medium-sized businesses

Lean Duplex
Columbus duplex range provides an alternative
to conventional austenitic stainless steel

Training

The FoodBev Seta Programme has proven

to be a major success
The stockist is committed to local conversion of product

Macsteel VRN Stainless

4
7
8
10
18
20

Columbus Stainless
Cronimet
Euro Steel Natal
Fischer
Kulungile Metals Group
Macsteel VRN
NDE
Rimex

September 2010

September 2010

PERSPECTIVE
&217$&786
Publisher
Editor

Sales
Photographs
Printers

Maverick Marketing
Melissa Rowlston
Tel: 011 483 0941
melissar@polka.co.za
Dalya Ketz
dalsrab@hotmail.com
Marc Rowlston
marc@pulpfilms.co.za
Goldfields Press
Tel: 011 627 7740
Fax: 011 627 7741

Letters, comments and subscription

requests to melissar@polka.co.za

SASSDA
Acting Executive Director
Marketing and
Communications
Enterprise Develpment
Specialist
Market Intelligence
Mechanical Service
Regulatory Relations
External Relations
Sassda W Cape

Bernard Maguire
Yumna Emeran
Janelle Gravett
Lesley Mortimer
Diego Sella
Mayleen Kyster
Martin Nel
Michel Basson

Tel: 0861 SASSDA (727732)

Fax: 086 639 4280
e-mail: info@sassda.co.za
www.sassda.co.za
Stainless Steel is published every second month
and is distributed to stockists, distributors, fabricators, specifiers, consulting engineers, architects,
mining, petrochemical and chemical industries,
food beverage and pharmaceutical industries,
consumer outlets, end-users, educational institutes
and provincial and government departments.
Neither Maverick Marketing nor Sassda are
responsible for any of the opinions expressed by
individuals. The circulation is 3 500.
September 2010

he past two years have been

difficult for the stainless steel
industry. The recession has
hit all businesses and Sassda, as
a non-profit association, was not
excluded.
In times of trouble it is normal
for a company to look at implementing changes to make sure
that it can sustain its business.
With Sassda it was no different.
The Board started brainstorming
ideas to see what would be best
for the organisation. Once these
issues were identified, they would
then have been brought up for
approval at a members meeting.
The board evaluated the association to identify priority
areas that required support and were of real value to members.
Any changes identified would then go through member approval
prior to adoption. Included in this was the boards review of the
mechanisms for levy collection and the current funding structure
of the association and whether these were in line with changing
legislation and best practice.
It was unfortunate that during this review and prior to
any agreement, rumours spread regarding these changes. These
rumours proved to be disruptive with further damage by managements failure to deal with the issues appropriately.
As a result of a small group of members expressing their
concern, the board decided to implement management changes
and reinstated operations of Sassda that were previously abandoned. Sassda now continues to operate as it has for the past
number of years.
Main committee meetings have been re-instituted and
some sector meetings will continue to take place on a regular
basis. We encourage all members of the association to become
involved on a more regular basis and welcome greater participation from everyone.
Sassda remains committed to its purpose which is to
increase conversion of stainless steel in South Africa.
The Board will continue to review the best practices to
ensure Sassda is not only sustainable but able to focus on implementing sound strategic direction and communication with all of
its stakeholders.
Sampie Van Rooyen
Sassda Chairman

focus on

CONSUMPTION

After a period of de-stocking, stainless steel suppliers

are feeling more CONFIDENT in the industry and beginning to
rebuild their inventories, helping boost consumption figures

African growth revives

stainless steel production
After a lacklustre period for stainless steel in the year to end 2009,
the Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) and the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) have forecast
a revival following renewed interest in African projects and a recovery in consumer confidence.
Apparent consumption of domestic stainless steel fell 32%
from 2008 to 2009 as a result of the worldwide recession according to figures released by Sassda. Significant downscaling in
industries such as the global automotive industry, which fell 40%,
consumption of luxury goods, such as washing machines and
other consumer products, as well as major reductions in project
related business were all negatively affected due to the pressure
on consumer spending.
However, the organisation believes total consumption to
July 2010 should recover from this low base by about 25% to
29%.
In the period 2007 to 2008, world crude stainless steel
production dropped 7% and in the period 2008 to 2009, it fell a
further 5%.
The ISSF in May this year reported stainless steel production levels at just below 7.5 million tons during the first quarter of
2010, which is one of the highest recorded figures for the first
three months of any given year.
The South African market saw a significant recovery in
February 2010; increasing month on month, due to renewed interest in local and African projects.
Projects into Africa included mining exploration in the
DRC, Ghana and Zambia after feasibility studies in the regions
were suspended in 2008 and 2009 due to a lack of funding.
Food and beverage processing equipment in Tanzania, Zambia
and Kenya was also identified as a key driver for African growth.
continued ...

September 2010

In the local market fabricated exports

look set to rise with renewed investment
in the automotive sector, Transnet and
Petro SA. While fabricated exports
were down by nearly 30% in 2009,
we are looking at an estimated growth
in the sector of about 50% for 2010,
says Sampie Van Rooyen, the chairman
of Sassda.
Finished product imports declined slightly in 2008/2009 and
primary imports decreased. These are
forecast to a net increase of about 20%
for finished imported product from 2008
to 2010.
The latest statistics reveal an increase in primary import of long products, which are forecast to increase
further for the 2009/2010 year. Flat
product is forecast to rise substantially.
Wire product, forecast to grow
by more than 200%, will see renewed
buoyancy predominantly due to its export to Zimbabwe, possibly as a result
of re-investment in game tourism in the
country.
The ISSF reports that a yearon-year comparison shows that produc6

tion in the first quarter of 2009 was the

lowest in a decade as a result of the effects of the global recession and heavy
de-stocking. Subsequently market conditions improved, which may have encouraged many fabricators and stainless
steel stockists to replenish their stocks. In
addition, the global economy began to
recover in the second half of 2009 and
manufacturing activity in stainless steel

sectors, such as automotives, has seen

renewed activity.
The ISSF expects the stainless
industry, on a worldwide basis, to continue to return to its normal production
on a reasonable level over the following
quarters of 2010 and 2011. For the full
year, the ISSF expects between 11% and
12% rise in the volume of stainless steel
production globally.
September 2010

focus on

DEMAND

Local demand for stainless

subdued after economic crisis - Afrox
There is a substantial demand for stainless steel in South Africa, but owing to
the global economic crisis experienced
over the past 18 months, this demand
has been subdued, says gas and welding equipment supplier Afroxs Kim
Brightwell, business manager for welding consumables.
He says this has been especially evident in the automotive sector
where demand has dropped by up
to 60%. When it comes to welding
stainless steel, local supply is capable
of meeting demand for covered electrodes for the more common grades,
but local manufacturers need to import
the more exotic grades as the volumes
of these grades are relatively low, says
Brightwell.
Welding wire for stainless
steel is a different story, as there is no
local manufacturer and it is all imported. Demand for this wire is only about
1500 TPA and does not really justify the
capital required to set up a manufacturing line in this country.
Afrox is the leading supplier of welding consumables in
southern Africa, covering the full
range
of
welding
consumables
for the stainless steel industry and
exporting these products to 17 African
countries.
It was the first African company
to produce welding consumables from
specialised stainless steel alloys and has
maintained its position as the countrys
largest manufacturer of stainless steel
electrodes since production began at its
special consumables factory in Spartan
in 1968.
While high volume products are
manufactured at Afroxs state-of-the-art
electrodes plant at Brits, outside Pretoria,
the Spartan facility produces smaller volumes of specialised welding consumables in 19 different grades of stainless
steel electrode, with approximately five
different diameters for each product.
September 2010

The factory, formerly owned by

Oerlikon Electrodes, has the capacity to
produce about 120 tons a month of all
types of electrode.
The specialised manufacturing
process is accredited to ISO 9000 and
ISO 14000, with the main grades of
stainless steel 308L, 309L and 316L
carrying TV approval.
Afrox has an exclusive tech-

nology agreement with Oerlikon which

allows it to manufacture many of their
products under license.
Oerlikon is a global premium brand of welding consumables
for
applications
ranging
from
mild steel to highly specialised
material
such
as
creep
resistant, stainless and nickel based
consumables.
7

focus on

SOLAR TANKS

Kwikot provides solar

solutions for low cost housing
Kwikot is responding to South Africas
need for alternative energy solutions with
the introduction of its solar water tanks
for the low income market. The tanks are
110 litre, low pressure, stainless steel
geysers.
Herman Weber, the technical
director at Kwikot, says: The geysers
are perfect for low income and rural
areas. No electricity or high pressure
plumbing needs to be installed for them
to work.
The solar tanks are made from
grade 304 stainless steel; providing a
cheap solution to alternative energy in
South Africa.
Kwikot is currently the only local
supplier and manufacturer of low pressure solar tanks, a market previously ca8

tered to by imported product. With the

government committed to installing 1 million solar water heaters by 2014, there
is clearly a market for local producers.
The Department of Energy recently launched its Market Sounding
Exercise, which aims to ascertain the
market capacity and capability for services such as the provision of solar water
heater systems, installation and maintenance of solar water heater systems and
measurement and verification of savings
realised. In addition, the Department of
Energy, through its Standard Offer Programme will incentivise solar water heater installers for every kWh of electricity
saved. The suggested rebate of 54c/
kWh would be paid to the solar water
heater installer.

The rebate on introducing

solar tanks ranges from between R2
000 and R12 000. The rebate on
Kwikots 110 litre low pressure geyser
is R4 240 off an installed cost of about
R5 000, which makes the product the
most cost effective solution for the low
income market. After other subsidies
and cardon credits are factored in, the
system ultimately ends up costing the
consumer nothing, says Weber.
The Stainless Steel Solar Water
Heating System Conference, which took
place in February this year, created the
perfect platform for Kwikot to pursue its interests with the right partners. The conference, which included associations, local
industry companies, parastatals and the
government, was initiated by Sassda to
September 2010

Solar tank installers can recoup the costs of installation through the Department of Energy

promote local capability and capacity for

stainless steel solar water heater systems.
At the beginning of manufacture
this year, Kwikot installed a pilot production line that produces seventy 110 litre
low pressure solar water heaters a day
and the company has committed to the
local production of 105 tons of stainless
steel solar water tanks over the next five
months.
By the end of September the
production line will have been expanded to produce 200 units a day. A further R15 million line is on order, which
will boost capacity to 1 000 units per
day. This line will be operational by July
2011, says Weber.
The government is committed
to the national implementation of solar
September 2010

water geysers and Kwikot is perfectly

situated to provide local product to this
market. The current project in Nelson
Mandela Bay is one such example of the
installation of Kwikots geysers through
a government initiative partnered with
Tasol Solar. The initiative provides free
solar systems for community upliftment
and carbon credits.
Kwikots announcement of increased production comes shortly after
Sassda submitted an amendment to
SANS 151, the specification for geysers. This amendment requested the inclusion of stainless steel as a material
in the production of solar water tanks,
essentially opening up the rest of the market for local production.
Kwikot is well positioned to

embark on a delivery of this nature and

as the stainless steel association we look
forward to further supporting our members through various training and skills
development initiatives, says Sampie
Van Rooyen, Sassdas chairman.
Local manufacturing was losing
out to imported products, says Van Rooyen. The latest import statistics revealed
that over a two year period, 2008 to
end 2009, just over 12 570 tons were
imported.
Kwikot, a market leader in domestic and industrial hot water storage
systems, started producing the solar
tanks at the beginning of the year. It has
been a major supplier of traditional ceramic, carbon steel lined geysers for the
past 100 years.
9

focus on

CERTIFICATION

Sassda facilitates
ISO 9000 certificates for SMEs
Energy Engineered Products and
Multi Alloys were ISO 9000 certified
in December last year with the help
of Sassdas new company certification
scheme. The scheme was launched
in October 2008 and originally intended to provide members without ISO
9000 certification with basic quality
management system awareness and
an understanding of the underlying philosophy.
The proposed scheme was not
intended as a quality management system certification, but rather an informal
recognition of the participants capability and competence in the application of
best practices and a high code of ethics in the supply; design; specification;
construction; and installation of stainless
steel products.
There was little interest in the
scheme by fabricator sector members
because many of them already have,
or are in the process of obtaining, ISO
9000 certification, while others held
valid international certifications such as
ISO 3834; the PED Certification; ASME
Stamping; etc.
Sassda developed a specific
programme, aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly the
stockist and distributor sector, which intends to assist companies by providing
a stepping-stone to formal ISO 9000
certification.
Sassda aided Multi Alloys and
Energy Engineered Products with their
certification through a mini-audit, which
reviewed the status of the existing system. It transpired that both companies
were in the process of obtaining the ISO
9000 series certification. The formal
Sassda findings were addressed ahead
of the formal ISO audit. The end result
was a successful ISO 9000 certification
for both companies.
10

UNIDO benchmarks stainless industry

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has made
steady progress into benchmarking the
South African stainless steel industry,
through its Subcontracting and Partnership Exchanges Programme (SPX).
UNIDO entered South Africa
through a bi-lateral partnership agreement with the Department of Trade and
Industry in 2007 and has the objective
of reducing poverty through sustainable
industrial growth.
The SPX project is an initiative that facilitates sustainable linkages
between industrial buyer networks and
suppliers of locally manufactured products, essentially expanding their market
access globally. In addition it assists local suppliers with access to global supply chains.
The SPX Support Centre partners with key local industrial associations, such as Sasda, to provide direct
supplier benchmarking. The profiling of
suppliers is placed in a database that
specifies the local products manufactured and their capacity. This database
is linked to the UNIDO international
website and used to promote localisation within procurement procedures at
parastatals and other project tender
processes.
It provides UNIDO with an

understanding of what the South African

Stainless Steel Industry has to offer. The
expertise of the industry associations are
used to benchmark suppliers to assesses
and rate the quality of manufacturing
and their capacities. A Supplier Development Support is put in place to link
suppliers themselves to appropriate services, such as those that improve manufacturing or management.
Training of benchmarkers that
will execute the program at various
companies in the Western Cape, recently took place with the assistance
of Productivity SA and the Western
Cape Department of Economic Affairs
and Tourism. Interested members will
be prioritised in terms of the sectors
that will be matched faster with SOE
procurement.
September 2010

ISO CERTIFICATION facilitation programme is directed at small- and medium-sized stockists and distributors
Sassda helped us prepare
for the ISO audit, says Graham
Whitty of Energy Engineered Products.
The soft run outlined what we would
face at the audit as well as identifying
any areas of weakness. The feedback
from Diego Sella at Sassda was extremely helpful.
I would definitely recommend
that companies seeking their ISO 9000
series certification use this service at
Sassda, says Whitty.
Ken Perel of Multi Alloys echoed these sentiments: I would recommend this service. Sassda was able to
offer tremendous industry knowledge
with particular cognisance of SMEs.
The benefits of ISO certification are immense. Energy Engineered
September 2010

Products have passed a number of audits and been able to increase its customer base and new business thanks to
the Sassda accreditation, says Whitty.
The company has also been able to
improve the efficiency of its processes,
how it buys materials and how it operates strategically.
The benefits have also extended to our staff, says Whitty. People
enjoy working for a company that takes
quality seriously.
Prior to the launch, Sassda
had investigated the mechanism for
having the Sassda scheme accredited,
but discovered that this was not possible because the criteria against which
the companies would be evaluated
would have to be of a national or inter-

national standard.
Sassda would have to be assessed and accredited by SANAS in
terms of ISO 17021 as an accreditation/certification institution and the people involved in the actual evaluations
and audits would have to hold recognised and valid accreditations.
They also found that there is no
existing national or international standard that covered the rather modest criteria of the Sassda Company Certification
Scheme. In fact the ISO 9000 series
is inclusive of all existing international
quality and safety related systems.
If companies are interested in
having Sassda assist them with their ISO
certification, they can contact Diego
Sella at Sassda on 0861 72 7732.
11

company

PROFILE

Euro Steel Natal

celebrates 10 years in business
The Euro Steel group is just over 18
years old, however, Euro Steel Natal
is celebrating its 10th year of trade being exactly a decade old in August of
this year. Even in volatile conditions the
company is thriving and has gained
the reputation of being the most comprehensive supplier of stainless Steel in
KwaZulu-Natal.
A subsidiary of the Euro Steel
group, the local operation has grown
into the market leader with its focus on
non-corrosive metals, namely stainless
steel and aluminium, which are essential in KZN as the climate is hostile to
ferrous metals.
Dave Wilson, Euro Steel director, says: Euro Steel has a unique style
that differentiates us from our competitors. As world economies move into the
information age and with the increasing
commoditisation of products, we have
recognised that we need to provide the
best product offering in the market as a
minimum requirement.
With speed to market becoming
a key success factor across industries, particularly for Euro Steels customers, quality
of product and service has become vital
to achieve this. Customers increasingly
require reliability from their suppliers and
expect a quality management system to
qualify for vendor accreditation.
Euro Steels ISO status has given the company opportunities to service
new market sectors. The Euro Steel team
are taking the Quality Management System seriously. Says Wilson: We are
making progress toward our goal of
zero defect, if we can get there. We
dont like it when we screw up.
In 2006, after careful consideration, it was decided to consolidate the
collection of companies referred to as the
Euro Steel Group under one company.
There were a number of reasons, not least
being the need for a meaningful Broad
Based Black Economic Empowerment
12

(BBBEE) partner.
Other important drivers for the
consolidation were economies of scale,
unified purpose across the group and the
development of a strong and recognisable national brand.
Euro Steel believes that as market leaders it has an obligation to become the leading agent for change and
transformation. The new BBBEE partner,
headed up by Dr Zolile Maqetuka of the
Isitali consortium, has added considerable synergy to the union, not least as
a user of stainless steel. Importantly from
the outset, Euro Steels BBBEE transaction
was much more than the meeting of a
legal requirement or a moral obligation.
Maqetuka says: While empowerment deals are a step in the right
direction, they do not in themselves
achieve the ultimate purpose of the countrys transformation objectives. What we
need is a sustainable economy that meets
all our citizens needs and expectations.
Such an economy can only be achieved

if we utilise and develop people in all of

our communities. Quite simply, societies
characterised by inequalities and wealth
disparities are not likely to be socially
and politically stable.
Considerable emphasis is being placed on attracting skills and developing people. Euro Steel has always
recognised the importance of having the
best people in the industry.
It was largely due to the
skills and expertise of the management
team that the company has thrived and
grown, says Wilson. I had anticipated
a slower start when we opened KZN operations in August 2000. What I had not
anticipated was the momentum you get
when you kick off with the A Team.
I attribute the success of the
company largely to the skills and abilities of the current directors; Gavin Weyer
and his team of Willy Naicker and Roy
Moonilal, who had previously headed
up Stalcor, the then market leader.
Many in our industry claim and
September 2010

THE KZN OFFICE is committed to providing the best service centre, with a zero defect goal

advertise their excellence in customer service and reliability, however, Euro Steels
track record of growth and position has
set us apart as the countrys pre-eminent
service provider, largely due to the skills
and experience of quality people we
have been fortunate enough to have attracted. Given the backdrop of an ever
shrinking skills pool this can make or
break any business, says Wilson.
Considerable emphasis is now
being placed on developing human
capital within the group, enabling employees to build worthwhile careers.
Wilson says: As transformation
is about much more than ownership, the
group has also focused on uplifting its
own employees and their families. It is
not sufficient to rely on a good management team. A company needs depth of
talent and skills and this is likely to be
our greatest challenge going forward.
Against South Africas dire skills shortage
Euro Steel is presently investing further
resources into training and development
of its people.
Euro Steels range of products
and services is extensive, including:
stainless steel and aluminium flat products such as plate sheet and coil, and
long products such as angle, flat and
round bar, wire, tubing, electrogalvaSeptember 2010

FOUNDERS OF THE A TEAM

Euro Steel Natals directors (from
left) Roy Moonilal, Dave Wilson,
Willy Naicker and Gavin Weyer
(seated)
nised sheet and coated metals. More recently the full range of pipe, pipe fittings
and valves has been added.
We are pretty much a one-stop
shop and we are grateful for the quality

relationships and partnerships we have

formed with our customers and our supply chain. As in all businesses without our
customers and suppliers we are nothing.
From a procurement point of
view, Euro Steels investment into valueadded equipment and the service centre
concept provides its customers with the
ability to outsource some production.
There is a point reached when
we may be competing with our own customers and that is where we draw the
line, says Wilson.
We value our customers and
want them to succeed. The management is confident in the future of Euro
Steel and for South Africa as a whole.
We are proud to have a
strong customer and supply base evidenced by the support we have received in this market. With solid business like these supporting us we are
confident and optimistic about South
Africas future, and will continue to invest and develop our people and business beyond 2010, he says.
Colin Wilson, Euro Steels
group chief executive officer, says: We
believe that partnerships and joint venture type relationships are the key to
South Africa positioning itself as an advanced manufacturing economy.
13

company

PROFILE

Columbus Stainless
an aerial view of the
Middelburg plant

The company constantly strives to

improve COMPETITIVENESS to meet the challenges
of the local and international industries

Columbus produces
stainless steel for Africa & the world
Columbus Stainless, a member of the Acerinox Group, is one of the worlds
largest producers of stainless steel. With expanded production facilities over
the past few years, it is the only fully integrated stainless steel plant in Africa
and one of only two in the southern hemisphere.
The Acerinox Groups Excellence Plan focuses on customer service,
plant optimisation and working capital management. Every facet of the business is scutinised to ensure business improvement and competitiveness. The
company mission at Columbus Stainless is to be a globally competitive and
preferred supplier of stainless steel. The company therefore aligns its goals to
this mission.
Columbus Stainless continuously strives to improve competitiveness
to meet the challenges that the local and international stainless steel industry
faces.
Like all other manufacturing sectors, the international stainless steel
markets are equally affected by the weak and varied global economic situation. De-stocking, as a result of the credit crisis, has resulted in volatile
raw material prices, affecting normal supply and demand patterns. With
significant new stainless steel production capacity in China, the worlds largest importer has become a net exporter.
Charles Cammell, the senior commercial manager for the
local industry at Columbus, says: Central to our strategy is to develop the
local market, first in South Africa and then to the surrounding regions. The
key to the success of Columbus will be the strength and long term viability
of the South African domestic market. Our long term strategy as a company
is to provide competitive products to South African fabricators to ensure we
continue to grow local conversion of stainless steel and thereby sustain employment in the manufacturing industry.
South Africa is capable of supplying plant and equipment into the
burgeoning mining and energy sectors in neighbouring countries and other
developing areas on the continent. A large consumer group requiring domestic ware, food and beverage equipment and other stainless steel items is
also expected to develop in the coming years.
Although the current demand for stainless steel is under pressure,
Columbus remains committed to its strategy while facing the industry challenges. Selling product to end-user and project customers, building strong
relationships with our distributors, continually looking at how we can strengthen South Africas position in the global stainless industry, developing the use
of duplex and other new products and continued focus on value adding are
our core focus areas, says Cammell.

September 2010

15

Columbus Stainless increases cold

Columbus Stainless produced the first
stainless steel coil on the new Sendzimer
cold rolling mill, ZM4, in March 2009.
The project, approved in January
2007, resulted in an investment project of
R681 million and was completed within
the forecasted project schedule.
This second cold rolling expansion, since becoming part of the Acerinox
16

group in 2002, increased the Middelburg

plants cold rolling capacity to 545 000
tons annually. This capacity increase complements the steel making capacity potential of 1 million tons per annum.
Civil construction commenced
in February 2007 with the relocation of
roads and environmental dams. In April
2007, the main civil and structural works

were started by Stefanutti & Bressan (now

Stefanutti & Stocks).
Cooling water and power utilities
were expanded to supply the new equipment, and mill installation commenced in
August 2008.
The contract, signed with
Japans Sojitz Corporation, was for the
installation of a 1300mm wide cold rollSeptember 2010

rolling capacity at Middelburg plant

ing mill, which is specified for thin gauge
bright anneal (BA) products. The mill has
met all of its performance guarantees during a very successful commissioning and
reached 5 000 tons per month in August
2009, only 5 months after the first coil.
The mill is performing well and continuous
improvements in productivity are evident.
This places Columbus in a good
September 2010

position for an upturn in demand with the

ability to fully utilise the current available
bright annealing capacity, servicing the
needs of customers in South Africa and
across the world.
Charles Cammell, Columbus
Stainlesss senior commercial manager for
the local market comments: The investment further enhances Columbuss ability

to meet the stringent quality requirements

associated with BA products. We are
now even better placed to meet the upturn
in demand for BA products required for
critical end-user markets.
This capital investment once
again reflects Acerinoxs continued confidence in Columbus Stainless and South
Africa.
17

focus on

LEAN DUPLEX

Columbus offers new

lean duplex range
Lean duplex stainless steels are a subset
of the duplex family and characterised by
good corrosion resistance, high strength
and reduced nickel content. They are
leaner alloys than the conventional duplex stainless steels such as the second
generation 2205 and have less chromium, nickel and molybdenum and often
have higher manganese contents.
The term duplex refers to their
mixed microstructure of about equal
proportions of austenite and ferrite. This
microstructure ensures that they are more
resistant to stress corrosion cracking than
conventional austenitic stainless steels
such as 304L and 316L.
Lean duplex stainless steels are
currently experiencing significant market
growth, which is being driven by increasing alloy costs and a need for improved
corrosion resistance and strength when
compared to conventional austenitics.
Columbus Stainless has added
two lean duplex grades to their product
range, namely, UNS S32001 (2001)
and UNS S32304 (2304). The chemical compositions of these additional
grades can be seen in table 1 below.
The common austenitic grades 304L
and 316L as well as the standard duplex grade 2205, have been added for
comparative purposes.
The general corrosion resistance of 2001 and 2304 will be similar

168m3 ethanol receiver vessel in 2304/1.4362

Table 1: Chemical Composition

All values are maximum unless a range is indicated. The chemical composition requirements are according to both ASTM A240 and EN 10088-2
18

September 2010

Table 2: Potential Savings when using Lean Duplex Stainless Steel

to 304L and 316L respectively but the

localised corrosion resistance will be better as indicated by the higher PRE numbers
(a measure of pitting resistance in chloride environments). 2001 can be seen
as a substitute for 304L and 2304 as
a substitute for 316L when considering
chloride environments.
The lean duplex stainless steels
have approximately double the yield
strength of the conventional austenitic
grades and have good ductility and
toughness. The fabrication of lean duplex
stainless steels is different but not difficult
and they can be successfully welded in
thick gauges.
Lean duplex stainless steels can
provide a cost effective alternative to
austenitics in many instances. Table 2
above shows the relative price range,
based on historical data, as a percentage, based on the cost per ton of the
substituted conventional austenitic.
The increased strength of the
lean duplex stainless steels allows

down gauging, which depending on

Youngs Modulus and buckling limitations, is typically between 15% and
40%. This weight (and thus cost) saving, together with the price per ton difference are presented in Table 2.
Further benefits include greater
price stability due to lower exposure to
nickel price fluctuations, less welding
and easier handling due to the reduction
in mass.
Lean duplexes are used extensively for process tanks and vessels, water tanks, food and wine storage tanks,
industrial cookers, piping, structural applications, reinforcing bar, roofing and
solar heating water tanks. In South Africa, Zambia, the DRC and Namibia,
lean duplexes are being used extensively in the mining industry for process
tanks and cathode plates in hydrometallurgical and solvent extraction / electrowinning (SX/EW) plants.
2001 and 2304 lean duplexes
are available from Columbus Stainless in

2B cold rolled sheet and coil from 1 mm

up to 3 mm gauges. They are available
in No.1 finish in coil gauges from 4 mm
to 6 mm and from 4 mm to 30 mm plate.
It can be seen that duplex
stainless steels can offer a cost effective alternative to conventional austenitic stainless steels such as 304L and
316L, by down gauging with resultant cost savings. They can be used in
applications where the conventional
austenitics are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking and in applications
which require more resistance to pitting
and crevice corrosion.

2000l juice mixer in 2001/1.4482

1000l process tank in 2001/1.4482
September 2010

19

focus on

TRAINING

Sassda companies
benefit from artisan programme
The FoodBev Seta may extend a memorandum of understanding with Sassda
for its highly successful apprentice programme that was initiated in 2008.
Sassda and the FoodBev Seta
entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2008 whereby
Sassda member companies were able
to place their employees on a 2-year apprenticeship programme that is funded
by the FoodBev Seta.
Apprentices in the programme
must be in possession of a N2 certificate. The programme is targeted at apprentices who may have completed all
the theory related to the artisan trade,
but have very little practical experience
or alternatively have taken a trade test
and not passed.
If Sassda companies met the
criteria, they were able to sign up their
apprentices to take part in the Artisan
Training Programme. The Sassda member companies were paid R60 000 per
apprentice over the 2-year period. This
grant was paid by the FoodBev SETA in
3-month tranches.
An additional R12 000 was
available to the company once the
apprentice successfully passed their
trade test.
We are very pleased that
some of our member companies took
up this opportunity, says Sassdas Enterprise Development Specialist, Janelle
Gravett. To date eight apprentices in
both companies have gone through their
training and are due to take their tests in
the next 3 months.
As a result of the success of
this programme the FoodBev Seta has
indicated that it would like to extend
the MOU with Sassda for another two
years.
Sassda affiliated companies
can benefit from the programme as they
receive funding to pay for the appren20

ARTISANS learn the on the job and may be employed permanently at

a later stage
tices practical training. As the apprentice must already have their N2, there
is no requirement for theory training.
Companys also benefit by taking on an apprentice as it allows a companys experienced artisans to focus on
crucial jobs that have to be completed
immediately, and gives the apprentice
the opportunity to work on the non-priority
jobs under guidance of an artisan.
When the apprentice has com-

pleted all training and trade tests, the

member company has the opportunity
to employ the apprentice in a full-time
capacity.
The apprentice has previously been on a fixed-term contract,
with no cost to the company, and has
learned all the required methods and
processes. You now have a skilled
and qualified artisan available to your
company, says Gravett.
September 2010

welding

Q&A
with Damian J Kotecki

Question:
I understand that
a little ferrite in a nominally
austenitic stainless steel weld is
very helpful in preventing solidification cracking. But why
are there two measures percent ferrite and Ferrite Number? What is the difference?
Does it matter which I specify?
Answer: You are quite correct that a little
ferrite in a nominally austenitic stainless
steel weld metal, such as 308L or 316L,
is very helpful in preventing solidification cracking. So, of course, the various
organizations involved in provision of a
welding filler metal have a vested interest
in how the ferrite requirements for a weld
filler metal are specified. This has an important bearing on whether or not a given
lot of filler metal is accepted for use.
At least by the time of World
War II, the desirability of ferrite in nominally austenitic stainless steel welds, as
a means of preventing solidification
cracking, was recognized. The ferrite
was originally detected by metallographic examination. The weld metal
examined had to be cut into a specimen
suitable for polishing, etched carefully
to differentiate between ferrite and austenite, and then some means of determining the volume fraction of ferrite had
to be applied.
Most usually, this involved point
counting, in which a grid of orthogonal
intersecting lines would be overlaid on a
photograph of the microstructure. Then
the percent ferrite would be obtained
as the number of grid intersection points
falling on ferrite as a percentage of the
total number of grid intersection points.
The method of point counting to estimate volume percent of a given phase
is defined in the ASTM E 562 standard.
Manual point counting is laborious, but
the job can be automated by using an
image analyzing microscope, following
the method of ASTM E 1245.
A major drawback to point
counting is that it is a destructive test
22

the weld metal actually sampled cant

usually be the weldment put into service. A second major drawback is that
point counting results are very sensitive
to the quality of the etching of the sample, and to interpretation of points falling on boundaries between phases.
Several laboratories might
measure anywhere from 3% to 8% ferrite on a single sample of weld metal.
So it was difficult for several organizations to agree that a specification like
5% to 10% ferrite was actually met.
When they didnt agree, delays in construction resulted, while the
disagreeing parties attempted to resolve their differences.
Besides etching appearance,
ferrite has another property that allows it
to be differentiated from austenite ferrite is ferro-magnetic, while austenite is
not. To a first approximation, the magnetic properties of a ferrite/austenite
mixture of weld metal are proportional
to the ferrite content.
There is also a compositional
effect in general, ferrite that is higher
in alloy content has a somewhat weaker magnetic response than lower alloy
ferrite, but this effect is not important in
interpreting the measurements.) A mag-

netic scale for ferrite determination was

developed by the Welding Research
Council, and was published as the
AWS A4.2 standard in 1974.
The A4.2 standard has been
updated several times since 1974,
and the latest edition was published
in 1997. The magnetic method has
become an international standard,
ISO 8249, which was first published
in 1985, and was updated in 2000.
ISO 8249 was adopted as AWS A4.2
in 2006. The magnetic scale describes
its measurements in terms of Ferrite
Numbers (FN), which were originally
believed to numerically approximate
percent ferrite.
However, it is quite clear today that, at least at higher Ferrite Numbers, the FN overstates the volume percent ferrite. From the point of view of
whether or not a specification requirement is met, the exact amount by which
the FN overstates the percent ferrite is
unimportant. Of primary importance
is that the various parties in the supply
and consumption chain for weld metal
can reproduce the ferrite measurement
results, so there is no disagreement
about whether or not the specification
was met. And, of course, links must be
established between the specified ferrite
range and acceptable weld properties.
After more than 35 years of experience
with Ferrite Numbers, the links between
FN and properties are well established.
Round robin studies of FN determination by the Welding Research
Council, and by the International Institute of Welding, for samples in the 5 to
10 FN range, demonstrated that the reproducibility among a number of measuring laboratories is better than plus or
minus 1 FN. So the reproducibility of
FN measurements is considerably better than that of percent ferrite determinations. In addition, FN measurement is
non-destructive. That is, the actual weldment can be evaluated, rather than a
pre-fabrication weld sample.
Predicting diagrams for welds,
September 2010

STAINLESS STEEL WELDING can be problematic if you do not know how to prevent solidification cracking

relating Ferrite Number to chemical

composition, have been developed
experimentally. The DeLong Diagram
(Welding Journal, 52(7): 281-s to
297-s) of 1973 was updated by the
Welding Research Council in 1988
(Welding Journal, 67(12): 289-s to
298-s), and again in 1992 (Welding
Journal, 71(5): 171-s to 178-s). Today,
the WRC-1992 Diagram is the official
method of the ASME Code, for predicting FN when FN cannot be measured.
But FN measurement is preferred to prediction from a Diagram.
So, to summarize, Ferrite Number measurement is more reproducible
than ferrite percent measurement. Ferrite Number is more conveniently measured than ferrite percent. And, because
the Ferrite Number measurement is a
non-destructive test, it is suitable for in
September 2010

process quality assurance, while ferrite

percent is generally not.
Specification of a Ferrite Number minimum, or of a FN range when
necessary, is far preferable to specifying a percent ferrite minimum or range.
For most weldments in nominally austenitic stainless steels, where the main
concern is freedom from solidification
cracking sensitivity, specification of 3
FN minimum is all that is necessary. For
347 weld metal, and for some higher
alloyed weld metals such as 317L and
309LMo, 5 FN minimum provides assurance of freedom from sensitivity to solidification cracking. Where elevated
temperature service and/or postweld
heat treatment are to be applied, an
upper limit of 10 or 15 FN is often appropriate to avoid embrittlement due
to phase transformations at high tem-

perature. And for duplex ferritic-austenitic stainless steel weld metals such
as 2209, a specification range of 30
to 70 FN has been found to correlate
well with good corrosion resistance and
good mechanical properties.
The Welding Research Council, the International Institute of Welding,
and the ASME Code strongly recommend specification of ferrite in stainless
steel weld metals by Ferrite Number, not
by percent ferrite.
If you have any stainless steel questions, even if you
have the answers but feel they
will help the rest of the industry,
please send them through to
melissar@polka.co.za and our
technical desk will answer
them and run them in our new
Technical Column.
23

company

PROFILE

THE FIMI hot rolled cut to length line, which is capable of coping with coils of 2m wide and 6mm thick

LASER PROFILER, which is capable of cutting

up to 25mm thick stainless steel
24

TUBE POLISHER, which can handle diameters from

15mm to 100mm
September 2010

The stockist and service centre is committed to driving

local CONVERSION of stainless steel
with its equipment expansion programme

Macsteel VRNs proudly SA

service centre comes of age
Macsteel VRN Stainless has commissioned a second cold rolled cut to length
line for its stainless steel operations in Roodekop, just outside of Johannesburg. This latest piece of world-class equipment is the final part of the puzzle
for the massive expansion of its service centre. The company now has the
best service centre offering in the country, rivalling most operations in the
world as well.
Our options were clear, says Kit Williamson, Macsteel VRN
Stainlesss managing director. We knew we needed to install the equipment
in order to have a sustainable business model.
Through dedication and a commitment to the local market and installing state-of-the-art equipment, the expansion programme that was started in 2003 has finally been completed. 2010 saw the culmination of a
vision of becoming a world-leading service centre. The
14 000m facility is able to compete with the best the
We can provide
world has to offer, says Williamson.
Its investment in the sophisticated equipment has
anything, at any
taken the company to the next level. The service centre
length,
in any
now boasts the following offerings: slitting, cut to length,
drilling, rolling and weld prep, laser and plasma cutting, shape with any
sheet polishing, tube polishing, precision shearing and holes, for any client
bending.
The new cold rolled line compliments the Fimi hot
rolled line. The relatively new scotch bright sheet polishing
line offers an alternative finish to the conventional No 4 finish. The centre
also boasts top-of-the-line laser and plasma profiling machines, as well as a
full range of CNC, bending, rolling and drilling equipment.
Macsteel VRN Stainless can cater for any customers precise requirements. Our CNC rolls mean we can roll stainless for drums and cones,
therefore helping supply more complete product to a broad range of industries. This has opened opportunities for a number of fabricators, says Mike
Hall, director of marketing and business development.
Macsteel VRN Stainless is far more than a stockist or supplier. Customers seeking additional value can have all their needs met by a facility that
offers true flexibility. Companies can now move away from standard size
products, says Hall. Anything, at any length, in any shape, with any holes,
is now a possibility straight from the supplier.
Macsteel VRN Stainless is committed to sourcing local primary
product and driving South African conversion thereof.
Williamson believes that supporting local product and conversion
is imperative for the South African stainless steel industry. Imports of finished
goods are eroding our manufacturing base, he says.

September 2010

25

sassda

NEWS
SASSDA

PEMA

Maguire appointed acting head

In June this year, Bernard Maguire, a director of Cronimet RSA, was
elected by the Sassda board for the position of acting executive director of the
stainless steel association.
In this role, he will head up the
day-to-day running of the association until a new executive director is appointed
and takes office.
Maguire will split his time between Sassda and Cronimet, the local arm of the international Cronimet
Group, a leading stainless steel recycling company.

26

Sassda welcomes PEMA

The recently launched Pressure Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) was welcomed by Sassda chairman, Sampie van Rooyen
at the Sassda Main Committee Meeting held in July. Speaking at the
meeting, Peter Viljoen, PEMAs newly elected chairman, explained that
larger pressure equipment manufacturers needs were best met with a
focussed approach.
Sassda looks forward to a beneficial working relationship and
wishes PEMA success for its future.

&/($1352'8&7
Sassda teams up with NCPC-SA
In 2009 the National
Cleaner Production Centre of South
Africa (NCPC-SA) through the
Metals Fabrication, Capital & Transport Equipment Sector approached
Sassda to establish a working
relationship to obtain buy-in and
support of the Cleaner Production
Programme.
Following the road show,
NCPC-SA has recruited the following companies who are interested in
Cleaner Production Assessments:
Fabrinox, Cape Town
Cape Stainless, Cape Town
Tenneco, Port Elizabeth
Metso ND Engineering, Durban
Elgin, Durban
Bohler Uddeholm Africa, Durban
Flexi Cast, Durban
NMC Exquisite, Durban
For more information contact The Metals Fabrication Sector
Project Manager, Ms Azwihangwisi
Takalani on (012) 841 2475 or
email ATakalani@csir.co.za
September 2010

sassda

AIRPORT
King Shaka International
Airport
The King Shaka International Airport has presented some
great opportunities for the stainless steel industry. Balustrading at
the airport was mainly supplied
in grade AISI 444 stainless steel,
which allowed the designers to
take advantage of its mechanical
and corrosive properties.
It was used in applications such as counters, bump rails,
flooring and stairways, which
will prove to be a cost effective
solution in these high-traffic areas
due to the minimal maintenance
requirements and practicality.

JEWELLERY

NEWS
Sassdas Jewellery Initiative
The Sassda Jewellery Initiative was formed
to address the low skills level of local communities in
order to create sustainable jobs.
During an economic summit held in the
Overberg region it was decided to assist a local
community in the region with manufacturing arts and
crafts from stainless steel and abalone shells. These
products are created with a definite local flavour and export potential.
Sassda aims to facilitate the engagement of academic institutions,
such as the Arts Department at the University of Stellenbosch and the Jewellery Department at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), local
business, members and relevant non-governmental organisations to create
a program that will deliver the necessary skills, designs, equipment and
knowledge to the local community.
Although the consumption of stainless steel in this project will be
low, the exposure to the alternative uses of stainless steel will contribute to
sustainable jobs in the region.
This is a great example of the stainless steel industry delivering
value to the South African community and promoting the national agenda of
mineral beneficiation.

sassda

EVENTS

LEGISLATION

8 September
Free IDC workshop, MSP Chambers, CT
9 September
IDC workshop, Kelway Hotel, PE
15 September
IDC workshop, The Albany, Durban
16 September
Golf Day, Irene Country Club, Pretoria
21 & 22 September
IDC workshop, IDC Head Office, JHB
October
Consumer Protection Act breakfast seminar
October 12, 13
Basic Stainless Steel Course, KZN
October 19
Columbus Mill Visit
October 19, 20, 21
Basic Stainless Steel Course, East London
28 October
Gauteng Sports Day, Glen Vista Club
4 November
End of Year Social Function, KZN
November 8, 9, 10
Basic Stainless Steel Course, Bellville
November 9, 10
Basic Stainless Steel Course, Richards Bay
11 November
End of Year Social Function, Cape Town
18 November
End of Year Social Function, PE
25 November
End of Year Social Function, JHB

28

NEWS

NEWS
Sassda Regional KZN head concludes his tenure
Sassda has announced that Ian Elsdon-Dew of the KwaZulu-Natal regional office has concluded his service with Sassda as of
1 July 2010.
Sassda will continue to serve the KwaZulu-Natal region
including its membership. In the meantime all queries should be referred
to the Sassdas head office in Johannesburg on 0861 727732 or
comms@sassda.co.za.

Sassda Sponsors SAIW Young Welder of the Year Competition

Sassda is proud to announces its sponsorship of R25 000 for the
Young Welder of the Year Competition hosted by the South African Institute of
Welding (SAIW). The competition, to be held in October 2010 and aimed
at promoting skills excellence in welding, synergises with Sassdas mission of
promoting quality local manufacturing.
Sassda AGM
The Sassda Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 30 September 2010 at 3M South Africa, 146A Kelvin Drive, Woodmead. Voting
for the Main Committee Members will take place at this years AGM. Board
members are then elected from members of the main committee. We urge all
members to attend, however, proxy forms have been e-mailed should you be
unable to attend. For further information, please contact Sassda.
ISO 9001 for Small Businesses
A new edition of the successful handbook, ISO 9001 for Small Businesses, has been jointly published by ISO and the International Trade Centre.
The handbook has been updated to take into account the latest edition of
ISO 9001, published in 2008.
This standard, which gives the requirements for quality management
systems, is among ISOs most well known and widely implemented standards.
Through numerous concrete examples from a wide range of sectors,
ISO 9001 for Small Businesses aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises understand and implement the standard.
Copies of the handbook are available directly from the SABS Standards Sales office in Groenkloof, Pretoria.

Consumer Protection Act

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) was passed by Parliament
and will affect all marketing, sales and service activities taking place
after 24 October 2010. The act will apply not only to South African
suppliers but includes foreign suppliers and services providers, non-profit
agencies, associations, trade unions, clubs, governments and parastatals. Moreover warranties are now required from importers, distributors and retailers.
Sassda is preparing to host the Consumer Protection Act Workshop in October/November 2010. For more information, please join
us at the CPA roadshow, which will be held in the main regions, Cape
Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. Contact Mayleen
Kyster at Sassda for further information.
September 2010

industry

MINOX
Reduction of duties
Minox Trading has applied to Itac for the reduction
of duties on stainless steel nuts
imported into South Africa.
This application has
been made on the basis that
there is no local manufacturer of
stainless steel nuts in South Africa
and would result in a more competitive stainless steel nut industry.
This
initiative
was
embarked
upon
almost two years ago and a
decision is imminent.

BOHLER

NEWS
Bohler Uddeholm Africa opens Austrian Welding Academy
Bohler Uddeholm Africa have opened a new welding training centre
in Isando, Johannesburg, offering a range of practical welding courses based
on international and local welding standards of both short- and medium-term
duration. Focused personal instruction by qualified, professional instructors ensure students benefit from detailed training standards.
The welding centre is supported by its founding members Bohler
Welding SA and Fronius International, world leaders in the design and manufacture welding equipment and consumables technology. The Austrian Development Agency has also played a key role in championing the vision of the
academy. As a result students benefit from the latest welding solution technology and the most widely-preferred welding processes and positions in local
and regional industry.
Safety and environmental health practices form part of the instruction. A typical process course includes classroom technical theory training
and practical welding exercises. State-of-the-art welding booths are used
to simulate job site applications. Advanced programs include Aluminium
MIG, Pulse and Cold Metal transfer processes, Maintenance & Repair,
Stainless Steel MIG, Pulse and GTAW TIG welding.

Fischer
advert

industry

NEWS
ARTIST
Artist designs stainless steel
whistle
Artist Duncan Stewart designed and
manufactured a stainless steel whistle for
the Soccer World Cup.
He created the sculpture after
reflecting on how a small piece of metal
controls millions of people by dictating
when the opening game of the World
Cup would kick off.
Stewart says: The humble instrument, which is operated by wind
and hence spirit, directs and guides
play for the enjoyment of the fans and to
ensure a fair contest between the teams.
Consider then, should the whistle blow
a player off-sides, and he continues to
dribble and score, is the goal allowed?
Of course not. Any advantage gained
after the whistle has been blown is invalid, worthless and has no bearing on the
final outcome of the game.
My hope is that as people
see their reflections in this sculpture, the
question may arise: Who is blowing

FREE
SUBSCRIPTION
30

the whistle on every decision I am making in my life? When conviction comes,

where does it come from?.
The whistle was showcased at a exhibition held at Hyde Park Shopping
Centre in Johannesburg. The whistle is now up for sale.
Stewart is currently designing and manufacturing a 30m-long stainless
steel sculpture from tubing for the city of Port Elizabeth, which is scheduled to be
completed in August.

Interested in getting your favourite stainless steel

magazine delivered to your client?
Contact us for a subscription.
E-mail: melissar@polka.co.za
or call: 0861 727732

September 2010

industry

GOSCOR

NEWS
Imperial buys share in Goscor
Imperial Holdings Limited, through its subsidiary
AMH, announces that it has acquired a majority shareholding in the Goscor Group of companies, a diversified industrial and engineering group.
Founded in South Africa, the Goscor Group has
been supplying the local market with state-of-the-art industrial
equipment and world-class solutions for the past 26 years.
It consists of 6 key divisions, and is an exclusive distributor
of leading and world-class brands of industrial equipment.
Goscor employs 250 personnel and has a national footprint
and distribution network, supplying to a blue chip customer
base across various sectors of the market.
Neil Wilson, the CEO of Goscor, says: Being
part of the Imperial Group gives us a new platform, allowing us to take advantage of Imperials substantial Southern
African footprint; it is their financial muscle and solid reputation in the market which will help us to further develop
our business. Goscor prides itself on its excellent customer
relationships, built on a foundation of exceptional service.
We take long-term views on everything we do, resulting
in Goscor being a strong and sustainable business which
is highly respected in the markets in which it operates.

We are delighted to have Imperial executives,

Manny de Canha and Osman Arbee (pictured
above), on our board to add their expertise
and experience to our team.
Goscor ARC is a leading local supplier of welding and cutting solutions. Supplying
brands such as Lincoln Electric and ESAB.

CRONIMET
(R.S.A.) (PTY) LTD

VLEKVRYE STAAL

Buyers of stainless steel scrap

Suppliers of quality graded secondary
raw materials to mills and foundries
locally and internationally
A major stainless steel scrap
recycler in South Africa

STAINLESS STEEL

JOHANNESBURG
6 Fuchs Street
Alrode Ext. 2, Alberton
Tel: 011 908 1620
Fax: 011 864 6604
www.cronimet.co.za

DURBAN
Mason Road
Amanzimtoti, Durban
Tel: 031 903 5628
Fax: 031 903 2166
www.cronimet.co.za

SUROH

CHARLES CAMMELL
C

harles Cammell is Columbus Stainlesss Senior Commercial Manager for the local market. He has been
with the South African stainless steel producer since
1986 and is one of the most well-known and recognised people in the industry. He is responsible for all sales of stainless
steel to the domestic market.

What are your career highlights?

Far too many to mention. I started off in the public relations field, moved on to market development and over time
have progressed through the business to my current position. I enjoy being able to operate inside a fantastic group,
Acerinox, who have added a global perspective to my job.
What is your best personal achievement?
Marrying Karen and raising 3 fantastic children.
What is your best career achievement?
Being involved from the very beginning in the development
and evolution of the automotive catalytic converter industry,
from a tiny consumer of stainless steel material to a key sector
in local manufacture for local and export markets.
With the Columbus mill operation in Middleburg
and offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, how do you manage all the
travelling?
Unlike many people who find travelling tiring, I think it is a
privilege to do so. I dont know too many people who have
the luxury of close to two hours undisturbed time in the early
morning just to think about the day ahead, plan and consider
issues currently affecting business. I also get to visit international customers on a fairly regular basis, which also helps
broaden my perspective on global business.
You work behind the scenes with the real basics
of stainless steel. Is it a purely functional metal for
you or do you have a personal favourite stainless
steel possession?
Stainless steel is a passion and like many people
who are involved in the industry, I find it fascinating.
My favourite stainless steel item has to be my double wall
insulated stainless steel coffee mug after all, there is nothing
better than a hot cup of good coffee early in the morning.
What is your favourite stainless steel building?
The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. I
have been fortunate to view them first hand and if you consider the age of the building (1998) and the number of tons
of 316 used, they would have made a stainless steel salesman very happy!
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What are you currently reading?

I survive on a daily diet of Business Day, Engineering
News and I always have at least one novel on the go
currently Mark Giminezs Accused.
How do you define happiness?
Being able to get up and look forward to the challenges
the day will bring.
What cant you live without?
Quiet time out, coffee, my family and friends and my
I-Touch.
Describe your perfect weekend?
After a crazy week, I generally like to relax on a Friday
evening, get in some exercise, maybe sleep a little late,
spend time with my family and friends and most definitely
get out on the road on my bicycle.
Why stainless steel?
Its a great product, long lasting, recyclable, clean and
extremely versatile.
September 2010