Architectural, Building and Construction

Construction is the fastest growing sector of the South African economy. The industry is expected to double in size over the next six to seven years, presenting healthy opportunities for stainless steel. Redevelopment of former townships is on a similar growth curve.

The use of stainless in construction is increasing rapidly due to the material's properties, including aesthetics, durability, corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance and fire resistance. If appropriate grades and finishes are selected, there should be no need to replace stainless steel, even if a building's life spans hundreds of years.

When total life cycle costs are considered, stainless steel is often the least expensive material option available for architects, designers and quantity surveyors.

Maintenance costs are low, it is easily fabricated and its mechanical properties allow thinner sections to be used, reducing weight without compromising strength.

Stainless Steel is also used increasingly as a structural material in construction. Stainless anchors and fasteners help ensure that stone, masonry, slate and tiles reach their full service life potential. It is also used in remedial repairs of existing building stock.

The most versatile and common grades of stainless steel used in the Architectural, Building and Construction are the austenitic 300 series; types 304, 304L, 316 and 316L.

Aside from designed fabrications, ABC represents thinner gauge fabricators who produce items such as balustrades, cladding for lifts, columns and buildings, light fittings, hinges, screws, nuts, bolts and countertops, among others.

The industry provides products and services on a par with the best available. Sassda has initiated a competence evaluation programme as a means of aligning its members with best practices, and thereby reducing the risks involved in using non-certified fabricators.

Surface Finishes

Sassda assists specifiers and end users in the correct selection of surface finishes and in critical areas such as post fabrication and installation treatments, handling, storage, cover protection, cleaning and maintenance.

Resource Centre

To gain information about stainless steel and the activities of Sassda members, Sassda offers the use of its Resource Centre to architects, quantity surveyors, designers and decorators as well as Sassda members.

The Resource Centre houses a wealth of topical and up-to-date marketing and technical information from around the world, as well as world class products from local fabricators.

The Resource Centre opened its doors in April 2007, with the aim of promoting local stainless steel products to specifiers and other industry parties wishing to source information about stainless steel.

It is equipped with the latest reference materials, manuals, trade journals and other relevant publications - all focused on stainless steel. Along with written material, it also features display boards of members' products and promotional material for products and services offered.

The centre's computer is also loaded with the latest presentations which can be viewed, or downloaded.

The Resource Centre is considered to be a valuable asset insofar as dispelling the many misconceptions about the specification and fabrication of stainless steel products.

Individuals and companies such as project houses, architects, quantity surveyors, designers, students, property developers, DIY enthusiasts or engineers who are interested in learning about stainless steel are invited to spend time in the Resource Centre.

No appointment needs to be made, and interested parties are welcome to visit and browse the Resource Centre's offerings from Monday to Friday during office hours 08h30 - 16h30. Should commercial advice or technical information be required an appointment should be made.

For further information please contact Sassda on (0861) 727732

Stainless Steel Case Studies

Stainless Steel has been used successfully in a variety of architectural applications within South Africa.

Click below for more information:

• Durban Hilton, Durban

Architectural Presentations
Amendments to Legislations
Possibilities in Eastern and Southern Africa from IDC
Stainless Steel In Architecture
Preamble for Architects
Street Furniture

Castings

The castings industry is dedicated to the development of the stainless steel foundry industry through the integration of technological advancement, market development and sound environmental management and is well placed to offer competitive custom, high spec cast products to a wide range of industries worldwide.

Consumerware

Stainless steel's quality as a material that can easily be kept hygienically clean, as well as its non-corrosive properties, favours it above other material choices in the consumerware, catering and hospitality industries.

Manufacturing is seen by government as an important catalyst in the economy.

It has already seen the growth of consumer goods within traditional and upmarket chain stores as well as in the export of products around the world.

Products range from cutlery and holloware to custom-made commercial kitchens and catering appliances.

Consumer Protection Act

Government has released the Consumer Act to promote a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services and for that purpose to establish national norms and standards relating to consumer protection, to provide for improved standards of consumer information, to prohibit certain unfair marketing and business practices, to promote responsible consumer behaviour, to promote a consistent legislative and enforcement framework relating to consumer transactions and agreements, to establish the National Consumer Commission.

[click here to download full document]

Consumer Protection Act Seminar

Sassda hosted a Breakfast Seminar for it's members on the 20 October presented by Haydn Davies of Webber Wentzel Attorneys to outline the implications of the recent Consumer Protection Act (CPA) which will come into full effect in October 2010.

[click here to download presentation]

Import & Export of Stainless Steel

Exports of fabricated stainless steel products are driven mainly by the catalytic converter industry. South Africa produces 10% of the world's catalytic converters in a R1 billion a year export business.

While the local automotive sector is the greatest consumer of stainless steel, last year the overall transport sector accounted for 42% of total production, 80% to 90% of which was exported in one form or another.

Columbus Stainless, as South Africa's main producer of primary product, exports more than 80% of its primary (flat) product. In 2006 automotive products accounted for 76% of total product exports of 66 326 tons, tank containers 18%, tubes and fittings 3% and other manufactured articles 3%.

Government policy is to develop downstream beneficiation industries and achieve sustained export growth by developing a world-class, internationally competitive, stainless steel manufacturing industry with a strong focus on high value-added products and the world market.

The manufacturing industry believes South African products need to be more cost effective and of better quality than Asian products, in order to boost exports.

Sassda works closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and TISA (Trade & Industry South Africa)

Through the DTI's Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS), Sassda can access 80% of required funding for projects researching specific markets.

For outward and inward bound missions Sassda can access 80% funding through the Export Marketing & Investment Scheme (EMIA). There are additional support mechanisms available to Sassda working through EMIA.

In terms of marketing the sector has access to South African consulates and embassies around the world and has facilitated and participated in many overseas missions to promote members' products.

In 2006/2007 members, recognizing the significant contribution, at 32%, that imported stainless steel makes to SA apparent consumption, agreed to extend the levy on the sale of stainless steel to include primary stainless steel imports.

The imports landscape altered in 2006 when the government withdrew the 5% import duty on primary stainless steel product.

In 2006, holloware and cutlery accounted for 56% of product imports of 18 803 tons, other hollow profiles 24%, seamless tubes 9%, sinks and washbasins 5%, tube/pipe fittings 5%, cloth, grill and fencing 1%.

Fabrication

This industry represents fabricators engaged in specific processes in the chemical, petrochemical, power generation, pulp and paper, water treatment and sanitation, mining (beneficiation and refining), sugar and food and beverage industries.

This industry is represented on the Technical Committee of the Department of Labour and its tasked with overhauling Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER)

It is also active on the South African Qualification and Certification Committee (SAQCC), run by the SA Institute of Welding (SAIW) and is involved in the certification of Competent Persons (CP), Inspectors of Pressure Equipment (IPE); and NDT Personnel.

On the technical committees of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) it overhauls and updates standards relating to stainless steel fabrication, pressure equipment and welding.

It participates in the SA Qualifications Authority Standards Generating Bodies tasked with developing unit standards for welding and engineering fabrication.

It supports the drive behind the Certification of Fabricator Companies to SANS/ISO 3834, Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding of Metallic Materials.

The industry also conducts Quality Management System pre-screening evaluations and audits of Sassda member companies.

Sassda maintains a close relationship with major end-users such as Sasol, SAB-Miller, Sappi, Rand Water Boad and Tongaat-Hulett Sugar, especially in technical, engineering, and QMS activities. It engages end users in the selection of appropriate stainless steel grades for specific applications, and assists in problem-solving. It promotes networking between members and potential end users, as well as project and engineering houses.

Sassda identifies potential projects via an extensive project pipeline and mega projects in Southern Africa, co-ordinates skills training and is complying a database of the capacity and capability of fabricator members.

Sassda is committed to developing the industry and to ensuring it is the leader in technology, training and management philosophy.

Services

The Services, Support and Ancillary Product industry covers those companies that supply ancillary services to the stainless steel industry.

Members offer services that allow fabricators and end-users to receive articles ready for processing.

The industry also includes those companies supplying ancillary equipment, finishing, external services, products and joining systems.

The capital equipment required for these services are usually beyond the means of many in the industry. Coupled with the expertise to supply the service and the economies of scale make these outside support services essential to all.

These services and products include :

Service centres: with cut to size, slitting, blanking, polishing, de-coiling, and plastic coating facilities;

Profiling Facilities: including cutting by laser, plasma, waterjet and pipe cutting;

Finishing procedures and supplies: chemical passivation and pickling;

Outside services: consultancies, NDT testing, TPI inspection, corrosion and mechanical testing;

Chemical passivation and pickling: services and supplies; and

Products: abrasives, polishing consumables, fasteners, (bolts, nuts and screws)

Tube & Pipe

This sector manufactures pipe and tube value added products for exhaust systems, including catalytic converters. The moders automobile exhaust system is increasingly made almost entirely of stainless steel and the manufacture of emission control systems in South Africa is one of the fastest growing industry sectors in the world.

Founded on the growth and development of catalytic converter manufacturing, the auto emission industry is now supplying hightly sophisticated systems to many of the world's vehicle companies.

Production of catalytic converters now exceeds 10 million units a year, which means that South Africa now produces 10 percent of the worlds catalytic converters, representing a R1 billion a year export business. This industry consumes 30 percent of primary material supplied into the domestic market by Columbus.

Growth in the industry is driven by the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), which is aimed at making the local automotive sector internationally competitive growing exports, modernising the industry and increasing production volume and scale.

The programme was introduced in 1995 and extended until 2007 by The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The sector is now awaiting the outcome of a review of the MIDP review process, which is expected to have a major bearing on the short-term prospects in the automotive sector.

The sector also supplies products for the architectural, energy, food and beverage, petro-chemical and industrial industries. It produces ornamental tube manufactured to A554 standards used in architectural applications, schedule pipe manufactured to A213 standards used in petro-chemical and industrial applications, specificatoin tube manufactured to A249 and A269 standards used in applications such as heat exchangers.

Member companies manufacture longitudinal and spiral-welded pipe and tube in a variety of grades and diameters or wall thicknesses, including grades 409, 430, 439, 444, 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 3CR12.

The welding processes include TIG, MIG, High Frequency and Laser.

Pipe and tube is produced to International Specifications A including ASTM 249, A268, A269, A270, A312 in accordance with ASTM A450.

Tube is produced for the decorative (balustrade) architectural industry generally in accordance with the dimensional tolerances shown in ASTM a 450/A 450M -02. Various finishes such as 180 grit - 240 grit, 400 grit are available.

Capacity throughout the sector is almost fully utilised. Import volumes have surged due to favourable market conditions.

Infrastructural spend, a major influence on this market, is expected to drive volumes, but the impact of the nickel price and other alloy surcharges is behind increased subsititution of stainless steel with other products in the pipe and tube sector.

Welding

The welding industry consists of companies involved in the supply of welding equipment, consumables, wire, gases and associated services and who offer technical expertise to support their products.

Key factors for members competing in regional and international markets include quality, delivery and price. Welding sector members are well-placed to support the industry in planning and in focusing on how best to achieve and sustain an advantage in terms of major factors affecting the markets.

These include the transfer of welding technology to the fabrication and architectural, building and construction sectors through seminars, workshops, training programmes and communication via print and electronic media.

Welding and safety technology products are varied and include welding machines, welding consumables, welder environmental safety products and product support programmes.

While widely-used welding processes such as stick/MMA,Mig/MAG semi automatic, sub arc and fluxcored continue to be used. Welding technology has seen a rapid development of inverter-based welding power sources and matching electrodes and consumables.

The industry does not advocate that fabricators change to a particular welding process or product but believes they should be aware of available technology and how it might benefit them in the longer term.

Sassda is closely linked with the [South African Institute of Welding] and the Welding Institute in the UK.

For more information please contact us at General Enquiries