20 Aug 2013

Manufacturing

Don't sucker Zucker

A researcher who hacked into Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg's profile to expose a security flaw won't be in the money. Facebook offers rewards for people who find security weaknesses, but not, apparently, if you target the big man himself... in which case you seem to be deemed a hacker who went too far.

Meanwhile, back at Armscor, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has gunned for a couple of the top people and has fired the chairman and his deputy. The dismissals at the state-owned arms procurement agency‚ which are effective immediately‚ follow delays in crucial decisions that have stalled a R9bn manufacturing production contract for a new infantry fighting vehicle by Denel Land Systems (DLS).

Looking for a job? Juliette Attwell, writing this week in the BizCareers column, discusses the social media landscape and how it can affect your career.

Are you in the estate agency business and if so, do you use online marketing tools to generate sales? Here we show you some simple and cost-effective ways to embrace the internet and get the most out of it for your business.

And to end... Don't forget to vote in the Times' Creative Press Ad Challenge and stand a chance to win yourself a Samsung tablet.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

SA has policies to stave off deindustrialisation danger
[Linda Ensor] "SA faced deindustrialisation‚ as evidenced in declining levels of employment in the manufacturing sector‚ factory closures‚ increasing imports and declining exports of some manufactured products‚" Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Monday (19 August). Read more >>

Manufacturing
NEF investment enables black buyout of white-owned textile business
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the agency of the DTI mandated to grow black economic participation in South Africa, has invested R35 million in the Delswa Group to assist the trade union, NEHAWU, managers and staff of the company to acquire and expand the business. Read more >>

Saint-Gobain Gyproc completes LCA
Local manufacturer Saint-Gobain Gyproc, the interior building solutions group, has completed a critical life cycle assessment (LCA) on its products. Read more >>


Machinery
Megatron Federal supplies TCS' for Kalkbult Project
Megatron Federal has supplied a total of 42 Transformer Containerised Substations ("TCS") to the 75-megawatt Kalkbult Project, which is located in the Northern Cape and is being constructed by the Norwegian PV power plant developer Scatec Solar. The plant is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2013. Read more >>


Manufacturing
Dunkin' Brands plans big-scoop entry into SA
[Zeenat Moorad] American-based ice cream and doughnut franchisor Dunkin' Brands plans to open up to 100 Baskin Robbins outlets in SA over the long-term. The group will also launch a Dunkin' Donuts chain Read more >>

Masonite (Africa)'s interim earnings down 55.7%
Hardboard products manufacturer Masonite (Africa) on Friday (16 August) reported a 55.7% decline in headline earnings from R16.736m to R7.428m for the six months to June because of lower profits from operations, increased costs and foreign exchange losses. Read more >>

Thales keeps an eye on safety
To paraphrase from the iconic Star Trek, Africa is the "next (as opposed to the final) business frontier". And judging from exceptional recent economic growth, wealth in natural resources and sheer international business interest on the continent, it seems no-one has trouble believing this. Read more >>

Union, Motlanthe meet over rail fleet
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe heard the Federation of Unions of SA's (Fedusa) concerns over a multi-billion rand fleet renewal programme. Read more >>

Africa lifts SA fruit and veg retailers
[Shannon Sherry] African markets to the northern parts of SA are proving lucrative for local fruit and vegetable retailers, with business accounting for at least 10% of turnover for the sector. Read more >>

Manufacturing confidence still fragile: survey
[Ntsakisi Mawanganyi] Confidence among local manufacturers remains fragile and weak despite a competitive boost from the weaker rand and some signs of improving demand in economies globally. Read more >>

Wholesale trade sales up 7.5% y/y
Measured in real terms (constant 2012 prices)‚ wholesale trade sales increased by 7.5% year-on-year in June 2013‚ data released on Thursday (15 August) by Statistics South Africa showed. Read more >>

ARB Holdings earnings up 16% to 39.49c
Electrical and lighting products distributor ARB Holdings reported a 16% rise in diluted headline earnings per share (diluted HEPS) to 39.49c for the year to June‚ from 34.18c a year ago. Read more >>

Slower retail sales growth in June
Retail trade sales growth came in below expectations in June‚ although the quarterly figures indicate the sector contributed positively to gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter. Read more >>

Mpact earnings up to 76.2c a share
[Alistair Anderson] Paper and packaging company Mpact reported diluted headline earnings per share of 76.2c for the six months to June compared with 61.1c a year ago. Read more >>

Italtile's profits of R611m for year
Tile manufacturer and retailer Italtile on Wednesday (14 August) reported a 16% rise in headline earnings per share from continuing operations to 47.3c for the year to June. Read more >>

Foodcorp's ratings confirmed by Moody's
Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday (13 August) confirmed Foodcorp's B2 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and B2-PD Probability of Default Rating‚ as well as the B2/LGD3 senior secured bond ratings of Foodcorp. Read more >>

Impala Platinum says earnings will be lower
Impala Platinum advised that its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year to June are expected to be between 308c and 343c which is between 50% and 55% lower than last year when earnings were 685c. Read more >>

Numsa plans national vehicle industry strike
[Mark Allix] The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) plans to launch a national strike across SA's vehicle industry from 19 August after wage negotiations deadlocked‚ a senior union official said on Wednesday (14 August). Read more >>


International

Dell profits take a hit amid PC woes
NEW YORK, USA: Dell said last week its quarterly profit plunged 72% from a year ago as the struggling computer company felt the impact of weak PC sales. Read more >>

Smartphones now a majority of mobile sales: survey
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: - Smartphones took a majority of mobile phone sales worldwide for the first time in the April to June quarter, a survey showed on Wednesday (14 August). Read more >>

Taiwan's Hon Hai Q2 net profit up 41%
TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taiwan's tech giant Hon Hai Precision, a major supplier to Apple, said on Tuesday that its net profit in the three months to June rose 41% year-on-year. Read more >>

Icahn buys large stake in Apple
NEW YORK CITY, USA: Corporate raider Carl Icahn said on Tuesday (13 August) he has taken a "large position" in Apple, calling the US technology company "extremely under-valued." Read more >>

Samsung sued over working conditions
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: The Brazilian authorities have filed a lawsuit against Samsung alleging poor working conditions at a factory in the Amazon and is demanding more than US$100m in damages, the government said on Tuesday (13 July) Read more >>

SABMiller raises US$1,1bn in bonds
International brewing giant SABMiller said on Tuesday (13 August) that it had completed a US$1.1bn bond issue‚ comprising US$750m in 2.2% notes and US$350m floating rate notes both due in August 2018. Read more >>


More International


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