With funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), PP Excel officially opened its Cape Town plant this week, offering woven polypropylene block bottom cement and raffia bags for the African market and beyond. 20 Jul 2017
Manufacturing production fared better than expected, falling only marginally in May 2017. It fell by 0.8% year on year compared with May 2016. 12 Jul 2017
Manufacturing today is no longer simply about making physical products but about finding new ways to create and capture value for the end user. Changes in consumer demand, the nature of products, the economics of production and the economics of the value chain have led to major shifts in the way goods are designed, produced and sold. Increasingly customers who are spoilt for choice are demanding personalisation and customisation, almost blurring the line between consumer and creator. 11 Jul 2017
South Africa's clothing and textile industry has seen some trying times. In the past 15 years, jobs in the local sector have decreased from 200,000 to 19,000 and numerous factories have shut their doors - some following reports of worker exploitation. Then there's the competition from large international retail chains and brands with an eye on increasing their South African footprint, their profits sometimes built on the backs of low-cost foreign labour sourced from the likes of China and Bangladesh. 10 Jul 2017
The third batch of Nigerian entrepreneurs has graduated from GE Lagos Garage Training Programme, which provided participants the opportunity to interact directly with the latest manufacturing technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters that enable innovation through rapid prototyping. 7 Jul 2017
NEW YORK, US: Samsung plans to invest $380 million and hire nearly 1,000 workers for a new manufacturing plant for home appliances in South Carolina, the company announced Wednesday. 29 Jun 2017
The inaugural Africa-ASEAN Business Expo (AABE) 2017 launches 6-8 November at the Sandton Convention Centre to establish a new trading launch pad between the two most vibrant economies in the world. 12 Jun 2017
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Rheinmetall Air Defence, Siemens Industry Software and ESTEQ Industry Solutions have signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) to support industry development in South Africa. 9 Jun 2017
Industry 4.0, otherwise known as the 4th Industrial Revolution, along with IoT (internet of things) is central to digital transformation in the manufacturing industry. Creating a significant level of manufacturing agility is key to making it possible for customers' needs, to be aligned with a business's ability to deliver a product - virtually on demand. 5 Jun 2017
Manufacturers remain somewhat upbeat about their prospects despite a contraction in the first quarter. 31 May 2017
L to R: Eastern Cape Development Corporation Board chairperson Nhlanganiso Dladla, Buffalo City Metro Executive Mayor Xola Phakathi, MEC for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism Sakhumzi Somyo, Massmart group supplier development manager Von Stander and Ikusasa Green MD Thami Gxowa.
Ikusasa Green has become the latest tenant of the Dimbaza Industrial Park, as part of the government's broader strategy of revitalising industrial parks which were once hubs of economic activity across the Eastern Cape. Government has already re-opened the Vulindlela Industrial Park in Mthatha and the iKomani Industrial Park in Queenstown. 23 May 2017
Euromonitor International has recently released research on how industrial changes are shaping the B2B marketplace around the world and that 11 out of the 20 fastest growing economies in the future will be in Africa. 16 May 2017
Cape Town's food and beverage manufacturing sector is an important earner of foreign exchange for the city. This is according to the City of Cape Town's Economic Performance Indicators (EPIC) Report for the fourth quarter of 2016, which shows that this sector is one of the few manufacturing industries in the city that has a positive trade balance. 15 May 2017
Manufacturing production slumped in the first quarter of the year, Statistics SA reported on Thursday. Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 0.9% in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. 12 May 2017
The ninth iteration of the industrial action plan (Ipap) that Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies launched on Monday is an action plan and an effort to promote domestic and regional industrialisation. 9 May 2017
South African manufacturer of branded tissue products, The Twinsaver Group (Twinsaver), has announced the acquisition of Sylko, a supplier of disposable and recyclable household products. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory and Competition Commission approval, builds on Twinsaver's commitment to extend its footprint and expand its offering as a large-scale FMCG business. 3 May 2017
They are the country's biggest-selling frozen beef patties but a close look at the packaging reveals that they are not very beefy at all - just 36% beef. 25 Apr 2017
NEW YORK, US - Apple wants to "one day" end the need to mine materials from the earth to make its gadgets, the technology giant said in its annual environmental responsibility report out Thursday. 21 Apr 2017
New consumer trends are emerging continuously and the retail market is changing fast. These dynamics lead to product and service providers having to incessantly consider their offering and strive for product development and innovation. However, very few organisations execute on product development successfully. One needs to understand that product development for the consumer is based on the product or user experience, whilst product development for the brand owner is based on beneficial changes to the product itself, its processes or services. 19 Apr 2017
Growth in the manufacturing sector fell again in February with signs that the sector will not make much of a contribution to GDP in the first quarter. 13 Apr 2017
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