South African Business 2017 edition

FOCUS Advantages of

FOCUS Advantages of commercial rainwater harvesting In a country that is prone to drought and water shortages, SBS Tanks is promoting the value of commercial rainwater harvesting. With the rise in green, sustainable building technology, property developers all over the country are turning to solutions that help to save resources. Rainwater tanks are common in the residential sector, but are now becoming popular in commercial developments. Schools, factories, hotels, mining corporations, municipal buildings, office parks, shopping centres and many other industries can benefit from a large-scale tank. Five reasons to consider commercial rainwater harvesting Much as residential water tanks help homeowners save money and water, commercial rainwater tanks are designed to save water on a large scale. Rainwater is collected and stored in heavy-duty bolted steel tanks that are coated in Zincalume, which ensures that tanks are resistant to corrosion and able to withstand virtually any climate and condition. Tanks for commercial rainwater range in size from 12kl to 3 300kl, and, as they are modular in design, they can be relocated should the need arise. Some of the most significant benefits of commercial rainwater harvesting include the following: • Savings on water costs: From a municipal rates perspective, a water tank can reduce water costs notably. For industries that typically require a large amount of non-potable water for manufacturing or operation, these savings are especially high. • Clean, safe, soft water: Rainwater is free of chemicals, and in some cases, it is safe and clean enough to be used for drinking water. It makes excellent "grey" water to use for fleet washing, toilets and showers. Grounds and gardens also benefit from rainwater. • Reduces run-off: In high-rainfall areas particularly, run-off from gutters and downpipes can wreak havoc on soil, causing erosion and increasing the risk of damp and flooding. Tanks are designed to integrate within the current roofing and gutter structure, but can be relocated as needed. Once drainage paths have been identified, tanks can be placed strategically to capture run-off. • Reduces stress on public water supply: Public water is used for a variety of purposes, including plumbing, drinking water supply, reservoirs for fire control, maintenance for public spaces and numerous other purposes. By collecting and using rainwater, businesses can help lower the risk of water shortages in the event of drought and restrictions. • Increases sustainability: Rainwater is a free commodity that can be utilised in a wide range of applications without putting further strain on diminishing supplies. As a specialist in high-quality Zincalume tanks, SBS Tanks can assist with a wide range of commercial rainwater harvesting tanks. Contact us to discuss your tank requirements. Call us on 086 048 2657 or visit us at www.sbstanks.co.za SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2017 72

Engineering Transnet Engineering is targeting international orders. OVERVIEW South Africa has several vertically integrated engineering and consulting companies that offer a wide range of services and are active internationally. All of the biggest construction companies (including Murray & Roberts, WBHO and Group Five) are multi-disciplinary companies and they are active in several sectors. Concerns about delays in the implementation of national government’s ambitious infrastructure plans have persuaded several companies to load their order books in favour of international projects. Aveng has cut its reliance on South African projects to 37% as opposed to 56% in 2015. Aveng, South Africa's largest construction company, will increase its profile in Asia and Australia. The downturn in the South African mining and manufacturing sectors is another factor that has dampened growth in engineering. However, Murray & Roberts (which now operates in oil and gas, power and water, construction, underground mining and infrastructure) still managed to bring in revenue – from operations on five continents – of R30.6-billion in 2015. At home, the company was involved in the Gautrain project and is delivering the boilers to the power stations at Medupi and Kusile for Hitachi Power Africa. Some elements of the national infrastructure plan are moving faster than others. Renewable energy is a massive new sector for engineers, and construction companies are busy building solar and wind power infrastructure in many parts of the country. Housing (such as Basil Read's R1.8-billion housing project north-west of Johannesburg, Malibongwe Ridge) continues to be a national priority, and several new dams are being built. Transnet Engineering (TE) wants to cut its reliance on other divisions of Transnet. At the moment, just more than 10% of orders come ONLINE RESOURCES Engineering Council of South Africa: www.ecsa.co.za South African Association of Consulting Engineers: www.saace.co.za Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa: www.seifsa.co.za Transnet Engineering: www.transnetengineering.net SECTOR INSIGHT Prominent South African engineering and construction companies are increasingly focusing on international projects. from outside the group – the aim is to grow that to 40%. A locally designed and developed locomotive, the Trans-Africa Locomotive, is symbolic of this thinking: some R300-million went into research and development of this unit, which, it is hoped, will sell well in other parts of Africa. TE wants to become an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of wagons, coaches and locomotives. It also hopes to offer its services in Africa for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). TE’s new business unit, Port Equipment Maintenance, is another signal of the company’s wider focus. There are 13 000 TE employees at 132 depots and six factories around South Africa. 73 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2017