Gauteng Business 2019-20 edition

OVERVIEW
Engineering
Investments in railways and infrastructure are on the rise.
SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS
A Swiss company has
revived a rolling stock
manufacturing site.
The Boksburg site where DCD Rolling Stock used to make
rail wagons and fix locomotives is up and running again,
courtesy of TMH Africa, a part of the TMH Group, which has
head offices in Switzerland.
Lucchini South Africa recently received tax and training allowances
from the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) which helped it decide
to invest R200-million in a new forged wheel-making facility. Blank
railway wheels imported from Italy are completed at the Germiston
plant. Lucchini previously sold their wheels in South Africa through DCD
Ringrollers, themselves a maker of forged steel tyre products. Lucchini
has committed to increasing the amount of local content used in the
manufacturing process.
A R134-million project to expand the capacity of Elmcast Engineering’s
foundry is underway. The Springs facility supplies casted components
for the mining, automotive, electric motor and agricultural sectors.
Spending on infrastructure in Gauteng Province represents a major
opportunity for companies in the engineering sector. The Provincial
Government of Gauteng spent R30-billion on infrastructure between
2013 and 2016. A further R46-billion has been pledged for the years to
2019. In addition, Gauteng municipalities will spend R94-billion over
the next five years using their city budgets. Some 31 major housing
developments have been approved for the various development
ONLINE RESOURCES
Consulting Engineers South Africa: www.cesa.co.za
Engineering Council of South Africa: www.ecsa.co.za
Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development:
www.gauteng.gov.za
South African Consulting Engineering Firms:
www.consultsa.co.za
corridors around Johannesburg.
These projects will attract public
and private money.
A study carried out by KMPG for the
province found that spending on
infrastructure resulted in additional
economic activity worth R26-billion
and created 92 000 direct jobs.
The University of Pretoria’s
Graduate School of Technology
Management (GSTM) offers
a range of degrees and short
courses in engineering-related
fields, including a Master’s in
Engineering Management.
Transnet Engineering (TE) is in
the process of changing its focus
from only providing engineering
services to other companies in
the Transnet group to becoming
a multi-faceted business.
The company is exploring
opportunities in Africa to provide
maintenance, repair and overhaul
services (MRO). As an original
equipment manufacturer (OEM)
with the ability to manufacture
locomotives, rail wagons and
coaches, TE is opening up a
wide range of markets not only
in South Africa but in Africa and
the rest of the world. The Trans-
Africa Locomotive is the first locally
designed locomotive produced
by TE in its Koedoespoort factory
where there are seven business
units, including a foundry.
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