Despite the current turmoil in the Ukraine / Russian war zone, South African steel supplies have not been badly affected, even though these warring countries are two of the world’s largest steel producing and exporting countries, together accounting for some 20 percent of the European Union’s imports of finished steel products. Nonetheless, the local steel industry still faces challenges of its own, which the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) is poised to assist with. This is according to Amanuel Gebremeskel, Technical Director at the SAISC.
He says, “we are satisfied that the war in Europe will not create a local steel supply shortage, at least for the moment. It should also be noted that as a country, we are a primary steel producer ourselves and an importer of steel from China, so there is still a steady supply of steel currently. Nonetheless, we are keeping a careful eye on the availability of supplies and other local challenges which must be addressed,” he adds.
“The SAISC is well-known as a custodian of steel industry knowledge and standards and proud of its willingness to innovate, adapt and be an industry trailblazer!” comments Denise Sherman, SAISC Marketing Director.
Sherman says that following two years of the global Covid-19 pandemic and several years of steel sector difficulties prior to that, the sector requires a champion now more than ever.
Gebremeskel points out that the steel industry plays an important role in South Africa’s economy. “As such, the SAISC has been the sector’s official representative body, pioneering and championing its interests, innovation and development since its founding in 1956 and the Institute is respected for its reservoir of authoritative technical knowledge and its role as the collective voice of the steel construction industry.”
In fact, with access to over 60 years’ worth of local steel industry project case studies and an impressive number of experienced and highly-qualified team members, the SAISC is one of only six Institutes of its kind in the world and an extremely valuable resource for the local steel industry.
“It is our particular strength to be able to see the bigger picture, while liaising with role players and organisations across the steel value chain. From engaging with the primary steel producer, merchants and fabricators to consulting with engineers, specifiers and architects on technology and design recommendations, we play a key role for decision makers across the steel industry. The SAISC therefore encourages interested and eligible professionals to join as members, particularly engineers and fabricators and also looks forward to partnering with an increased number of large engineering companies, which perform such a key role in building the nation,” he explains.
“In this way, we hope to play a unifying role, helping South Africa to reindustrialise and thereby strengthening our economy. We are currently hard at work on one of the most important events in our annual calendar, the SAISC Steel Awards, which celebrates the use of steel in both industry as well as daily life, and showcases our role in fostering a spirit of innovation and a paradigm of excellence across South Africa’s steel value chain,” he says.
Sherman adds that during the lockdown period, the SAISC and its members, like most organisations around the world, adopted a remote and digital way of working. “This model definitely kept the wheels turning during the first two years of the pandemic. At the same time, the SAISC was changing to keep pace with a younger average industry age of its engineers and the on-boarding of a new digital generation.
“We have, however, started implementing face-to-face meetings again, wherever possible. In essence, we are preparing to foster a hybrid future, in which we continue to embrace digital working, while preserving our strong heritage of facilitating in-person relationships and networking.”
