SA's infrastructure lagging behind: BMW SA

South Africa's inadequate infrastructure poses a challenge to the automotive industry in terms of growth prospects, says car manufacturer BMW SA. 14 Sep 2011 15:27

Nestlé opens Potchefstroom coffee creamer factory

Engineering News Online reports that food manufacturer Nestlé South Africa's proclaimed the opening of a new coffee creamer factory in Potchefstroom, in the North West province, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The launch follows Nestlé's recent R106-million acquisition of Potchefstroom-based Specialised Protein Products - absorbing its 142 employees. 6 Feb 2012 12:21

Peugeot aims for 40% sales jump, mulls taxi assembly

Engineering News Online reports that Peugeot South Africa (PSA) has big plans to increase sales in the country, according to PSA MD Francis Harnie, including the semi-knockdown assembly of minibus taxis. The French automaker hopes to increase its local market share to 1% (up 0.3% from 2011), and for a 40% jump in sales volumes. By 2015, notes Harnie, PSA hopes for a 2% market share. 23 Jan 2012 12:08

Complementary medicine: Is your product safe?

Complementary medicines have come under scrutiny once more, following recent revelations that many of these products are not doing what their labels say. In the most recent case, four 'herbal' medicines that are supposed to treat low libidos were reportedly found to contain illegal ingredients. That's raised the question for South African consumers: do we know what's in the complementary medicine we're buying; and who is checking up on these manufacturers? 18 Jan 2011 08:08

Unilever to halve CO2 impact

Unilever has announced plans to halve the environmental footprint of its products by 2020, to help 1 billion people improve their health and well-being and to source all of its agricultural raw materials sustainably. 16 Nov 2010 13:17

Plan to root out waste tyres

South Africa's new waste tyre management plan is set to support government's targets to put the country's economy onto a stronger job growth trajectory while meeting ambitious climate change goals, government said early last week. 18 Jan 2012 09:27

Euro Zone debt crisis threatens car export growth

IOL reports that one of the biggest threats facing the new vehicle manufacturing industry this year is that the ongoing debt crisis in the Euro Zone - a major destination for South Africa's vehicle exports, would lower further the already depressed volumes in production of new vehicles. 6 Jan 2012 15:25

Nampak packing for Africa

Andrew Marshall had a clear strategy when he took over as Nampak's CEO in March 2009. He was tasked with putting SA's biggest packaging company back on a growth path, a path it wandered off a decade earlier. His approach was simple: if underperforming business units can't be fixed sell them or close them down. 6 Jan 2012 07:52

PetroSA's Project Ikhwezi gets green light

Bua News reports that national oil company PetroSA has received environmental authorisation for Project Ikhwezi - PetroSA's refinery project in Coega in the Eastern Cape, which is aimed at sustaining the life of the Mossel Bay gas-to-liquid refinery. PetroSA announced that it received the news of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) from the Department of Environmental Affairs this month. 24 Nov 2011 08:03

2011 car sales significantly higher: Naamsa

Timeslive.co.za reports that, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa), 2011 domestic new car sales could be significantly higher than last year. 11 Nov 2011 10:02

Eskom: Medupi power station's construction schedule "at risk"

Manufacturers, mines, small businesses and township residents are reeling as rising electricity prices hit home while Eskom holds on to R50-billion earmarked for its mega-expansion programme dominated by the construction of the massive Medupi and Kusile power plants, due to supply 4 764MW and 4 800MW, respectively. 14 Oct 2011 13:45

International Council of Chemical Associations

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) is the world-wide voice of the chemical industry, representing chemical manufacturers and producers all over the world. 29 Jul 2011 11:59

High pay, low productivity, skills shortage, restrictive labour laws...

South Africa is not an attractive manufacturing destination because the rates of pay in this country are too high and the productivity levels far too low and when this is combined with a shortage of skills it makes it a highly unlikely destination for low-cost assembly-line manufacturing that has underpinned much of the growth in Asia. 6 Jul 2011 13:42