North West Business 2023-24
The 2023/24 edition of North West Business marks the 12th publication of this highly successful journal that, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the North West Province. Renewable energy is a huge global trend, and the impact this burgeoning sector is having on the North West can be seen in the development of several new solar farms which are under construction. The North West’s strong suit in platinum group metals (PGMs) already puts the province at the forefront of the drive towards a greener and renewable economy because of the applicability of so many of those minerals and metals for the cleaner energy movement. North West Business includes news and analysis of the most important sectors. Best known for its platinum mines, grain and livestock farming and tourism, the province is making a concerted effort to bolster its manufacturing capacity through a dedicated new strategy which includes trying to attract solar panel manufacturing to the province. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on the North West is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the new addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
The 2023/24 edition of North West Business marks the 12th publication of this highly successful journal that, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the North West Province. Renewable energy is a huge global trend, and the impact this burgeoning sector is having on the North West can be seen in the development of several new solar farms which are under construction. The North West’s strong suit in platinum group metals (PGMs) already puts the province at the forefront of the drive towards a greener and renewable economy because of the applicability of so many of those minerals and metals for the cleaner energy movement. North West Business includes news and analysis of the most important sectors. Best known for its platinum mines, grain and livestock farming and tourism, the province is making a concerted effort to bolster its manufacturing capacity through a dedicated new strategy which includes trying to attract solar panel manufacturing to the province.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on the North West is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the new addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
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OVERVIEW<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Solar panels could be made in the <strong>North</strong> <strong>West</strong>.<br />
SECTOR INSIGHT<br />
Supreme Chicken has invested<br />
R180-million at Tigane.<br />
Supreme Chicken has expanded its operations.<br />
The announcement that AMEA Power has been awarded a<br />
120MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Doornhoek is interesting<br />
beyond the implications for energy generation.<br />
Doornhoek is near Klerksdorp which in turn is near Stilfontein,<br />
and that is the site chosen by the <strong>North</strong> <strong>West</strong> Provincial Government<br />
as the possible location for a factory that will produce solar panels. The<br />
nascent renewable energy manufacturing sector has great potential.<br />
Just north of Klerksdorp is the small town of Hartbeesfontein, and<br />
it is in the Tigane area of that town that Supreme Chicken has spent<br />
R180-million upgrading facilities and expanding production capabilities.<br />
A million chickens per week will now be processed, 300 000 more<br />
than was previously possible. Improved chilling technology allows the<br />
company, a part of Country Bird Holdings, to reduce its water usage.<br />
The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM) at <strong>North</strong>-<strong>West</strong><br />
University specialises in extruder technology and the recent introduction<br />
by NWU of a new qualification in mechatronic engineering will give<br />
graduates a head start in a wide range of enterprises.<br />
Bridgestone South Africa’s investment in new technology at its plant<br />
in Brits is allowing the company to produce 19-inch tyres for the BMW<br />
X3 being assembled in Pretoria. Bridgestone’s factory is one of only four<br />
in the world that produces runflat tyres. About 850 people are employed<br />
at the plant.<br />
Also in Brits are Bosch and Dubigeon Body and Coach. SOS Tie &<br />
Die is a manufacturer of precision pressings, components and press<br />
tools. AVMY Steel Science is the largest supplier of small-quantity steel<br />
ONLINE RESOURCES<br />
Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC): www.aidc.co.za<br />
National Department Trade, Industry and Competition: www.dtic.gov.za<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>West</strong> Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za<br />
in the SADC region. Chassis<br />
manufacturer KLT Group has<br />
acquired the Brits plant which<br />
comprises a pressing, welding,<br />
assembly and e-coating facility.<br />
The KLT Group has four plants in<br />
South Africa and employs more<br />
than 1 000 people.<br />
In addition to Brits<br />
(automotive components and<br />
tyres), other concentrations<br />
include mining equipment<br />
and engineering (Klerksdorp)<br />
and food and beverages<br />
(Potchefstroom).<br />
Rustenburg has a mixture of<br />
enterprises, the biggest of which<br />
are mining-related smelters.<br />
Production of non-metallic<br />
mineral products is concentrated<br />
around Lichtenburg and<br />
Mahikeng (cement), and<br />
Rustenburg (stone). Totpak is<br />
located in Ventersdorp. RCL Foods<br />
has a large processing plant at<br />
Rustenburg, an EPOL feeds facility.<br />
Clover’s decision in 2021 to leave<br />
Lichtenburg because of a lack of<br />
reliable services was a blow for<br />
employment opportunities in the<br />
Ditsobotla Local Municipality.<br />
About 30% of the country’s<br />
grain and oil-seed crop pass<br />
through Senwes silos every year.<br />
Sasko operates a white-maize mill<br />
in Klerksdorp. The SAB Rosslyn<br />
Brewery supplies the <strong>North</strong> <strong>West</strong><br />
with most of its beer. ■<br />
NORTH WEST BUSINESS <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
22<br />
PHOTO: Supreme Chicken
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