castings sa A specialised journal covering the technology, processors and materials field for castings volume 12 number 5 February 2012 Castings SA vol 12 no 5 6 cover story ISSN 1605-7589 Growth and development at Endeco Publishing Editor Bruce Crawford Editorial Board 10 industry news Marc Hindle Mineral-Loy; Technical Articles AfriMold; WCNDT 2012; Reprinted with permission from NFTN Electricity Work Group questionnaire; Institute of Cast Metals Engineers journal – Foundryman and Foundry Halberg Guss South Africa renamed; Coega; Trade Journal published by dmg Learnership programme; Insimbi Alloy; Business Media Ltd, UK. Temperature measurement; Production Manager DST; Petmin; SAIF news; Wendy Crawford Heat-to-power study for Vanderbijl; Reproduction Mittal Newcastle plant; Jericho Graphic Design Energy optimisation; Printed By SAIF 2011 Annual Golf Day; Masterpack Harchris; RMS Advertising Bruce Crawford/Wendy Crawford Tel: +27 11 463 0489 38 Cell: + 27 83 628 7654 international news E-mail: [email protected] Chinese aluminium manufacturers; Metef-Foundeq 2012; castings sa is published by BA Crawford Specialised New President - Foseco; Publications (Pty) Ltd. HA International; Professor Dr. Wolf; PO Box 69 299, Bryanston, South Africa, 2021 Sert consolidating with Vesuvius Group 41 Arklow Road, Bryanston, South Africa, 2021 Tel: + 27 11 463 0489 42 product review E-mail: [email protected] Low emission cold-box binder systems; Subscriptions STØTEK Dosotherm furnaces; Annual – Local: R130.00 (incl. VAT) iNEXIV VMA-2520; International: On application Data logger for humidity, Copyright 2 All rights reserved. No editorial matter temperature, air pressure and CO ; published in Castings SA may be Quad-Trak System installed and commissioned reproduced in any form or language without written permission of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure accurate reproduction the editor, authors, publishers and their Printed on: employees or agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the publication whether arising from negligence or otherwise or for any consequences arising therefrom. The inclusion or exclusion of any product does not mean that the publisher or editorial board advocates or rejects its use either generally or in any particular field or fields. castings sa is the official journal of the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF) castings sa vol 12 no 5 February 2012 1 south african institute of foundrymen EDITOR’S COMMENT The aim of the SAIF is to promote and develop within Southern Africa the science, technology and application of The scourge of theft in the foundry industry founding for individuals and involved industries. Fees hroughout the industrialised world, stealing valuable Individual Member (local) – R625.00 Tmetal has become a serious Individual Membership (country) – R380.00 concern for the police, businesses, Junior Member – R100.00 – must be enrolled as a full public utilities, and the community schedule student, in an accredited educational institution at large. Efforts to combat metal in the Metals Industry as a trainee, and who has not theft have occurred for several reached his 23rd birthday. decades. However, reports of Retired Member – R250.00 dramatic increases in metal theft Company Member (local) – 1 to 150 foundry related are occurring throughout the employees – R2 550.00 world. While we cannot be sure Company Member (local) – more than 150 foundry related about the exact amount of metal employees – R5 265.00 stolen, the practice will continue Company Membership (country) 1 to 150 foundry related as long as there is a high value employees – R1 525.00 for metals such as copper, aluminium, brass, zinc, nickel, Company Membership (country) more than 150 foundry platinum, and bronze and there is a willing buyer society, related employees – R3 100.00 with no business ethics, just wanting to enrich themselves, All of the above fees include VAT and are per annum no matter the means used to achieve this. No single factor accounts for the rise in scrap metal Council Appointments for 2010/2011 theft. Instead, a combination of high demand for metal on the international market, increased opportunities for President – Luis Dias offenders to target places and metal types not previously Vice President – Enno Krueger susceptible to theft, and weak regulation of the metals resale market have coincided to increase the metal theft Constitutional Members problem. Immediate Past President – Bruce Crawford Despite these dramatic headlines, a small percentage Previous Immediate Past President – Richard Seymore-Wright of scrap metal theft cases involve large amounts of metal. Most involve small amounts taken in each incident, often Elected Members with repeat victims. However, the belief in industry is that the petty criminals, although on the increase, are not the Bruce Crawford Nigel Pardoe serious problem. Peter van Wyk John Davies We don't have to embellish on the harms and economic Janley Kotze Jaco Grobler consequences caused by metal theft. They are immense Mpho Mabotja Takalani Madzivhandila and incalculable and we all know it!! The foundry industry, in particular, is at risk. Whether it Western Cape is the theft of castings, scrap metal and the high cost Ferro President - Mike Killain and noble alloys used to manufacture castings. Companies Training Coordinator – Anthony O’ Brien importing these Ferro and noble alloys are also susceptible. Financial & Technical Speakers – Dean Horne & Sean Stadler In a recent case in South Africa an importer and Administration – Kevin Missenheimer supplier to the foundry industry, Ceramic & Alloy Specialists, Social Co-ordinator & Technical Speakers –Mike Killain had 10 tons of Ferro Molybdenum and two tons of tin stolen from their premises in less than four hours during the night, Address Details despite elaborate security measures being in place. This is a huge amount - tonnage and value - to be removed from a University of Johannesburg factory in such a short period of time. One does not need to Metal Casting Technology Station - Metallurgy speculate about the organisational skills and planning Room G101, John Orr Building, involved in such an operation. Corner Siemert and Beit Street, Doornfontein, Fingers must not just be pointed at the SAP for not Johannesburg, Gauteng. combating or indeed having the will to stop this crime Postal Address: P.O. Box 14863, Wadeville, 1422. because there is always a willing buyer, whether John Davies - Tel: +27 (11) 559 6468; inadvertently or knowingly. In the case of Ferro Molybdenum Cell: 083 630 2809; email: [email protected] there are very few suppliers in South Africa and an analysis certificate has to be issued when sold. The primary rule Executive Secretary - Tel: +27 (11) 559 6455; when investing your hard earned cash is, if it is too good to Fax: +27 (11) 559 6526; Fax to email: 086 509 7045; be true then don't touch it. The same criteria applies here. email: [email protected] / [email protected] Foundries and the recycling industry need to think morally because we all know that this type of crime is escalating Website: www.foundries.org.za out of control. We need to Contact details for Western Cape: work together to impose an Tel: 021 573 7311; Fax: 021 573 7296; Cell: 072 313 8375 effective solution to the problem. 2 castings sa vol 12 no 5 February 2012 letters South African recycling industry spokesperson questions industry calls for future benchmark pricing for scrap metal Eds Comment: Dear Bruce I thank you for your letter and take note of your comments, On page 31 of your December 2011 publication of The article you referred to has been sourced from a reputable Castings SA, you have published an article regarding the international website and has appeared as a general interest recycling industry. As part of the "recycling industry", I find story in the international section of castings sa with no sinister this article inappropriate and misleading. intentions. It is my duty to keep the readers informed, as best Firstly, I could not follow your comment on recycling as possible, of what is happening locally and internationally. a booming industry and I - being deeply involved in this Considering that the article has been published for industry - can confirm that it is not booming and like all worldwide consumption one must assume that there is other industrial sectors, we are just surviving. While we concern internationally about the volatility and the price of save energy, both Eskom and the city municipalities are scrap metal and maybe there is a move to stabilise prices destroying our industries with the current energy costs and worldwide. increases. I'm not sure where you got your information David, it is presumptuous of you to assume that foundry from, but it is totally incorrect. castings are based on the import achievable price. Whilst this You quite rightly report that both the LME and may be so in certain situations, it is not the rule, to my NYMEX-COMEX are the two major global trading markets knowledge, as the price is only one of several considerations for base metals. For the 40 years that I have been in in the supply/purchase contracts for castings. business, all scrap or alloy prices which have base metal Your letter also confuses international market prices, components such as copper, brass, gunmetal, aluminium, global standard prices, export and import achievable prices etc., have been based on these market prices. It is and willing buyer and willing seller price agreements. It would important to note that LME and NYMEX-COMEX prices are be appropriate to meet with you and obtain clarity on all of for good delivery grades which have been approved these issues as they affect the foundry industry and the whereas scrap comes in hundreds of different qualities downstream industries. and grades shipped by thousands of scrap collectors and The concerns of the foundry industry about metal scrap producers.