African Fusion July 2023

SAIW bulletin board

South African Steel Summit: golden opportunity to showcase welding prowess!

T he SAIW is proud to partner with the South African Iron & Steel Institute (SAISI) and the Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) on the first South African Steel Summit, which will take place on 30 August 2023 at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Kempton Park, JHB. The focus of the event will be the current state of the South African steel industry and the need for it to consolidate its competi tive advantage. This is against the backdrop of the steel industry’s intense distress dur ing the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting financial fallout, where many

explains; “A core focus of the conference will be growing downstream industries, something of particular interest to our members and ISO 3834 clients. The fo cused panel discussions and technical presentations will allow for an NDT and welding-specific focus and the event will also give NDT and welding equipment and consumable suppliers the opportunity to showcase their products amongst a top tier audience.” Conference format To address these questions, the fact-driven one-day Southern African Steel Summit (SASS) will explore key inputs and topics influencing the competitiveness of the Southern African steel sector, demand and supply, cost implications for the next three years, and innovation. The goal of this information-packed event is to provide conference attendees with an understanding of the Southern African steel market and the near-term out look for steel. This will enable steel industry stakeholders to make informed decisions, build realistic budgets and forecasts, assess risks and investments, etc. It will also provide an opportunity to interrogate challenges hindering sector growth, hear from policymakers, produc ers, buyers, suppliers, analysts and inves tors, and unpack the drivers presented by

companies downscaled while others were forced to close, resulting in job losses. Pressing questions However, with the introduction of trade remedies, the question now is whether steel manufacturers can consolidate for a competitive advantage, or should the industry accept that the recent improve ment in trading conditions was more of a fleeting event? Another pressing question is whether technology advancements are changing the landscape for steel and steel applications? SAIW Executive Director John Tarboton,

The SAIW, in partnership with SAISI and Sassda, will be hosting the first South African Steel Summit on 30 August 2023 at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Kempton Park, JHB.

IIW launches 4 th Digital Collection of Welded Art T he IIW’s 2023 Digital Collection of Photographic Welded Art, which has the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals as the underpinning theme, has now been published and is avail able for viewing. The Collection involved the cooperation and collaboration of 36 artists and 36 exhibits from 16 countries. “I would like to thank the artists for their valuable contribu tions to the Collection, which we hope will have positive effects around the world by helping to highlight some of the big issues that are at the forefront of our consciousness,” said the Exhibi tions coordinator, Chris Smallbone.

“This subject is very close to my heart. In line with funda mental humanitarian principles, any plan for improving the SDGs must have, as a main objective, the improvement of the quality of life and biodiversity in the country. A common purpose

The Blacksmiths’ Tree, developed by a collaboration of volunteer blacksmiths from all over the world under the leadership of the Australian Blacksmiths Association. Inset: Gumnuts & Leaves by Henk Welton. Photos: Amanda Grant.

links people throughout the world: em ployment, security and health for their families, a decent roof over their heads, education for their children, food in their stomachs and a sustainable positive environment around them,” he added. iiwelding.org/2023-Digitalcollection

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July 2023

AFRICAN FUSION