skills on site may2012

Skills on Site May 2012 1

2 Skills on Site May 2012


May 2012

CopyrightAll rights reserved. No editorial matter published in “Skills On Site” may be 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 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.

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AcknowledgementsIn order to bring you the most up-to-date information from around the globe, we make use of many information sources including one-on-one interviews, press releases, training material and relevant websites.

COVER STORY4 Installation Methodology

SAFETY ALERT7 Excavation Collapse - Fatality

FINANCE9 Saving your Business

TRANSPORT15 Mixers for Africa

hOw TO18 how to Paint Metal21 Estimating Roofing Materials

RETAIL CENTRE23 Purchasing Power in Soweto

24 LEADING INFO

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION25 New Life for City Centres

SChOOLS27 Children to Get Schools

SUCCESS STORY28 An African Dream

LEGAL EAGLE31 A Permanent Record

ExhIBITIONS34 watch Out!

PRODUCTS & SERVICES33 Taking water seriously35 Ride-on Rollers35 wireless wall light36 Cable ties36 Metal cutting option37 Ultra-smooth

38 IN TOUCh

Promech Publishing has a BEE rating of 168.75%

The “Skills On Site” team - Top: Susan Custers, publisher; Jackie Nene, subscriptions/circulation; Seated: Zinobia Docrat, production; Colleen Cleary, advertising sales

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1• Measure the distance between tie beams using a tape measure. • While still in the bag, cut Aerolite to the required size. Aerolite should

be cut 50mm more than the distance between the tie beams.

3• Cut Aerolite out around trap doors and fix the cut section to the trap

door using good quality contact adhesive.

Installation Methodology

Handling and StorageStore undercover, and in dry conditions. Handle with care, especially on the edges and corners, which can be damaged if subject to sharp impact. Do not apply excessive pressure, for example by standing or sitting on the product, as permanent damage may be caused.

2• Remove the Aerolite from the bag.• Roll out the Aerolite between the tie-beams ensuring that it fits tightly

between the tie beams. • Ensure that Aerolite is tightly against butted against each other.

COVER STORY

Simply save energy with Think Pink Aerolite and Geyser Pack insulationDid you know / There’s new building legislation regarding energy efficiency. Its good news for the environ-ment and will help you save electricity. Insulation is one of the most effective ways to save energy and will have to be included in the design of all new buildings. Isover`s Think Pink Aerolite and Geyser Pack insulation already meets all the requirements helping improve your homes comfort and making it more cost efficient.A average home looses 25% of its energy through the ceiling in winter and gains a similar amount in summer.


5• Cut Aerolite

out around down lights.

4• Wrap water

pipes using Aerolite insulation

1• Gently wipe the

geyser with soft cloth to remove dust.

Simply Install Geyser Insulation PackA geysers use 35 - 40% of a households energy and this can be reduced by up to 58% - if you install Isover’s geyser installation pack.

3• Use a piece of

binding tape (sup-plied) to secure the blanket and seal longitudinal-ly along the joints.

5• Secure and seal

the cut circular piece of the blan-ket to the cylindri-cal section at each end with a binding tape.

4• Measure the diameter

of the geyser end cap and cut two circular pieces of blanket al-lowing for an addi-tional 50mm overlap.

• Enclose each geyser end cap with the cir-cular piece of blanket.

2• Measure the cir-

cumference and length of the geyser and cut the geyser blanket to size al-lowing an additional 100mm overlap.

• Wrap the cylindrical section of the gey-ser with the blanket, ensuring that the foil faces outwards.

6• Install snap-on-pipe

insulation around the pipes running to and from the geyser.

• From the geyser inlet, insulate the first 2m of cold water pipe and insulate all the hot wa-ter pipes (mitre cut pipe sections at the bends).

• Measure the circumference of the pipe.• Cut Aerolite to the required size ensuring that there is 10mm overlap

when Aerolite is wrapped around the pipe. • Secure the Aerolite using strings/cable ties at than 300mm centres.


Location: UAE – Middle East

What happened?

A subcontractor was performing piling close to the side of an excavation. The worker was acting as a helper and was requested by the piling rig operator to confirm the depth of the pile that was being drilled. The worker positioned himself next to the pile when the side of the excavation collapsed, trapping him up to the waist in soil at the bottom of the trench.Other workers in the area rushed towards the trapped person to try and free him from the soil. Due to the unstable embankment around the excavation the soil continued to cover the trapped person during the attempts to rescue him. The workers could not man-age to free the trapped person and the soil engulfed him totally. All efforts were made by the workers to try and dig out the trapped person, but the rate of soil falling over was too quick.

What caused it?

• Worker permitted to enter area with unstable ground conditions and no edge protection• Excavation walls too deep and without suitable or

Excavation Collapse - Fatality

SAFETY ALERT

sufficient stepping, battering, sloping, or other func-tional support. Method of work found to be insufficient!• Lack of supervision as well as poor management for the operational tasks at hand.• Inappropriate emergency planning of foreseeable circumstances.

Corrective actions: List of corrective and preventative actions taken as a result

• All projects must inspect and check that all excava-tions are safe with edge protection in place.• Undertake a toolbox talk, to all site employees, with details of accident, safe rescue procedures (relevant to your contract and location conditions) and lessons learnt from this tragedy.• Site management are responsible for ensuring that the content of this safety alert is communicated to their workforce by means of toolbox talks and via staff meetings.• The soil conditions, being predominantly sand and affected by the water produced during piling played a role. The prevailing soil conditions and other factors must be addressed by the task risk assessment.

The scene of the fatality

Area where trapped person was allegedly standing before the excavation collapsed

Area where workers tried to rescue the trapped person

Path of travel when excavation collapsed

www.buildsafe.co.za


Here’s how to set goals, keep your spending in check, and get the most for your money:

1First things first - get rid of your debt. If you calculate how much you spend each month on your debts, it will show you that this is the fastest way to free up money. The sooner you pay off debt, the less interest you’ll pay, and that money can be saved instead.If you choose to start saving before you completely pay off your debt, however, look into consolidating your debts so that you’re not paying as much interest.

2The only money-saving idea more important than getting out of debt is to create an emergency fund (setting aside enough money so that if you lose your income, you can survive for 3-6 months). If you don’t already have an emergency fund, you should start contributing to one immediately.

3

Saving your businessSaving money is one of those tasks that's so much easier said than done. There's more to it than spending less money (although that part alone can be challenging). How much money will your business save, where will you put it, and how can you make sure it stays there?

FINANCE


FINANCE

Set savings goals. For short-term goals, this is easy. If you want to buy a computers, find out how much it costs; if you want to buy a vehicle, determine how much of a deposit you’ll need. For long-term goals, such as retirement, you’ll need to do a lot more plan-ning (figuring out how much money you’ll need to live comfortably for 20 or 30 years after you stop working), and you’ll also need to see how investments will help you achieve your goals.

4

Establish a time-frame. For example: “I want to be able to buy a concrete mixer two years from today.” Set a particular date for accomplishing shorter-term goals, and make sure the goal is attainable within that time period. If it’s not attainable, you’ll just get discouraged.

5

Figure out how much you’ll have to save per week, per month, or per invoice to attain each of your savings goals. Take each thing you want to save for and figure out how much you need to start saving now. For most savings goals, it’s best to save the same amount each period. For example, if you want to put a R20 000 deposit on a vehicle in 36 months (three years), you’ll need to save about R550 per month every month. But if your income isn’t enough to cover the savings then adjust your time-frame until you come up with a realistic amount.

6Keep a record of your expenses. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it’s wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything your business spends money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Give each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Vehicles,


Salaries, Car payments, Phone Bill, Water & Lights etc. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program. There are also many applica-tions you can download to your phone that will help you keep track of your expenses.

7

Trim your expenses. Take a good, hard look at your spending records after a month or two have passed. You’ll probably be surprised when you look back at your record of expenses: R500 on speeding fines, R350 on stationery, R2000 on petrol? You’ll probably see some obvious cuts you can make. Depending on how much you need to save you may need to make some difficult decisions. Think about priorities, and make cuts your business can live with. Calculate how much those cuts will save per year and you’ll be much more motivated to save more. Can you move to a less expensive office? Can you refinance your bond? Can you save money on petrol, or get smaller more economical cars? Can you get a better price on insurance? Call around and make sure you are getting the best price you can. Can you drop a telephone land line or two and or use free services such as Skype? Can you cut down on your utility bills? Buy materials in bulk?

8

FINANCE


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Assess your savings goals. Subtract your expenses (the ones you can’t live without) from your income (after tax has been taken off). What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals? If there is absolutely no way you can fit all the savings goals into your budget, take a look at what you’re saving for and cut the less important things or adjust the time-frame. Maybe you need to put off buying a new vehicle for the fleet for another year, or maybe you don’t really need a new IT system.

9

Make a budget. Once you’ve managed to balance your income with your savings goals and spending,

write down a budget so you’ll know each month how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is especially important for expenses which tend to go up and down, or which you know you have a particularly hard time controlling.

10

Open an interest-bearing savings account. It’s a lot easier to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. You can also usually get better interest on savings accounts than on cheque accounts (if you get interest on your cheque account at all). Consider higher interest options such as money-market accounts for longer savings goals.

11

Pay yourself first. Savings should be your priority, so don’t just say that you’ll save whatever is left over at the end of the month. Deposit savings into an account as soon as you get paid for a job. An easy, effective way to start saving is to simply deposit 10% of every invoice paid into a savings account. If you get a cheque or sum of cash, eg. R710.68 you just move the decimal point one place to the left and deposit that amount ie. R71.07 - this works well and needs little thought.

FINANCE


12Don’t get discouraged and don’t give up. You may

FINANCE

not think your business can become wealthy but it is possible if you set up an aggressive savings plan and stick to it. You may be surprised how much money you can put away. Good things often take time and the longer you save the more interest you will be making on your savings as well!

Until FAW Vehicle Manufac-turers started supplying the truck and mixer as a complete unit, buy-ers had to specify truck

tractors separately and have the bodies built by local body building companies. Apart from long wait-ing periods for delivery of trucks, the cost of buying the truck and mixer body is on average about R300 000 more expensive than FAW’s offering.“That means that for the same price as one of our competitor trucks you can buy an FAW truck and a complete new dry batching plant and still have change spare to buy cement and aggregates needed to start operating,” says Mehdi Abbas, FAW’s operations manager.

TRANSPORT

Mixers for AfricaBig contracting companies and ready-mix concrete plant operators now have the option of buying mixer trucks that are purpose built by the manufacturer to be used as mixers complete with factory specified and fitted mixer bodies.

FAW’s operations manager, Mehdi Abbas, with the full FAW factory built concrete mixer


Top reasons why customers choose FAW trucks according to Mehdi Abbas, the company’s operations manager:

1. At least R300 000 cheaper than other established rivals

2. Rugged, reliable, simple construction

3. Strong rigid chasis

4. Constant drive PTO

5. Strength of materials used for drum construction

6. Off road ability

7. Efficient, reliable Steyr engine

8. Wide range of applications

9. 2 year or 200 000km warranty

10. Own finance for flexible solutions

TRANSPORT

Tough African conditions“What’s more, our trucks chassis are built extra tough for African conditions and our advanced Austrian Steyr engines are made to last. The fact that the trucks are specially built by FAW to be used as mixers

FAW tippers are available in different sizes for any application. Here FAW national sales manager, Eugene van der Berg, shows of the biggest in the construction tipper range, the 28.280FD

means that they are purpose designed and can handle the rigours of working in tough environments.“That includes long idling times while waiting for pouring to take place, as well as being able to handle off-road conditions and all the other hard work that comes with ready-mix operations. The double strength chassis and extra strength mountings mean that the truck will last for years in even the toughest conditions.FAW national sales manager, Eugene van der Berg, adds that the mixing drum is also built to last at least 4-5 years before needing to be relined. On site the truck is also able to keep concrete fresh for longer because of its constant drive power take off (PTE) that operates separately from the gearbox.

Demanding buyersHe says that South African ready-mix operators and building contractors are

among the most demanding buyers out there be-cause the success of their entire operation relies on their trucks. Breakdowns or unreliable vehicles costs them money and can even lead to the shut-down of their entire operation.“For the past 19 years we have supplied trucks to concrete and cement applications around South Africa and that speaks volumes for our reputation of reliability,” he adds.With 25 sales and service centres, and another 13 service-only centres around the country, there is back-up for the vehicles everywhere in South Africa (and even across the border in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho). It enables the company to uphold its motto of supplying parts and having their trucks back on the road within 24-hours of any breakdown.

Custom finance“We understand the demands of doing business in Africa and for that reason we have adapted our trucks and way of doing business to African conditions rather than trying to force Africans to do business like it is done overseas,” says Mehdi.“That is why we offer our own custom-designed fi-nance options to suit the needs of the local market. Most established customers that come to us for a truck end up using our finance options because we tailor make it to their requirements,” he concludes.FAW Vehicle Manufacturers, Eugene van der Berg, Tel: (011) 392 1530, Fax: (011) 974 3933, Email: [email protected], Web: www.faw.co.za



Painting metal is a fairly easy task if done correctly. Unlike painting wood, painting metal does not necessarily require you to be as careful of the previous colour. Still, you must make sure you are careful with the surface you

choose to paint over and the type of paint you use. Always read the labels and be especially careful when painting over a rusted surface. Though it seems that metal requires less preparation than wood, that's not always the case, depending on the state of the metal you are painting on.

1

Read the labels. Make sure your primer and your coat of paint are compatible. Check the drying time to make sure you don't put more primer on than you can possibly paint the next day. Planning ahead is always of the utmost importance when painting.

2

Clean off all loose paint, dirt, grease and grime from the surface of your metal. Failure to do so will result in a bad paint job that does not stick to the metal and will peel off easily. Even oils on the surface that may not be visible will hinder your paint job, so give your metal a thorough rub down even if you don't think it is necessary.

How to PaintMetal


3Sand down your metal. By sandblasting the surface of your metal, you are ensuring an even longer-lasting and more durable paint job. The rougher your metal, the more it will stick to the surface.

4Apply a zinc-chromate primer if you are working with

rusted metal. Scrape all the loose rust and residual dust off first, and then coat it with this special primer. You don't have to throw that rusted piece of metal out after all. A good paint job can save you time and money on any rusted metal.

5Double coat with primer. Because metal is extremely prone to the effects of rust, more primer is often better for the metal. Not only will it help the top coat of paint stick to the surface, but will also make the metal less vulnerable to the effects of time, especially rust, far into the future. Again, make sure that your primer and top coat of paint will work well together.

6Paint. Acrylic latex paint is usually the best bet for metal. A cheap metal paint or a spray paint is likely to rub off, forcing you to have to repeat your job sooner than necessary. By being careful and applying your paint evenly on the surface, you can save yourself some major hassles in the future.

HOW TO

Book your advertising space Now!

Contact Colleen Cleary on Tel (011) 781-1401, Fax (011) 781-1403 or

E-mail: [email protected] for further details


Buying materials requires that contractors know at least the basics of estimating. When it comes to roofing materials, mistakes can be costly and spare materials left on the building site are likely to be stolen or damaged.

Here is a basic ‘how to estimate’:

S t e p s 1Find the square metres of the roof by measuring the length and width of each portion of the roof. Multiply length by width for each level and then add the planes together for the total square metres of the roof.

S t e p s 2Divide the total metres by 100 to get the number of “squares” in the roof. Roofers measure surfaces in square metres.

S t e p s 3Determine the amount of tiles that fit into a square metre bundle or the amount of roof sheets that fit into 10 square metres eg. 3 sheets. Ask the suppliers if you need assistance.

Estimating r o o f i n g materials

S t e p s 4Add 10% to the estimate to account for waste. If the roof has valleys, make it 15% because of waste in cutting materials to fit the valleys.

HOW TO

Measure each level

Calculate the square metres

Always estimate about 10% for damage and breakage

How many tiles fit into a square metre


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RETAIL CENTRE

We recognise the enormous potential for growth in the area, with the high-est purchasing price in Soweto,” says developer, Mike Nkuna of Masingita Property Investment Holdings. “Protea

Glen Shopping Centre is right on the doorstep of a recently-completed R50 million sectional title resi-dential development with a planned second phase already in the works.”More than 20 000 affordable housing units have already been built in Protea Glen, with another 15 000 in the construction or planning phases. The 2 000 sectional title units around the new shopping centre – along with a new 130-bed private hospital and Grace Bible

Purchasing Power in Soweto

South African retailers have moved quickly to secure space in the 30 000sqm Protea Glen Shopping Centre in Soweto. Situated at the highly-visible nexus of Protea Boulevard and the K15 highway – the main arterial be-tween Lenasia and Krugersdorp – the R360 million centre is the only retail destination in this area of budding residential development.

Church – are expected to stimulate even more resi-dential growth.That’s in addition to 27 000 new houses at Lufhereng, next to Protea Glen, and 35 000 new houses being planned for the southern side of the N12 next to Lenasia. Leasing specialists Retail Network Services have al-ready signed up a 3 500sqm Shoprite and a 3 500sqm Pick ‘n Pay for the new centre, which is scheduled to open for trade on 27 September 2012. The centre will have a selection of 90 stores in total when it opens.Protea Glen Shopping Centre leasing information, Jonathan Tagg of Retail Network Services, Tel: 073 226 0944, Email: [email protected]


LEADING INFO

These statistics are provided exclusively for Skills on Site readers by Databuild, the leading provider of construction related information in South Africa. Databuild has been providing information for thirty five years and tracks projects from

planning through to awarded stages. Each month Databuild will provide statistics reflecting trends in the industry. For more information about Databuild please contact us on (011) 259-4500 or visit us at www.databuild.co.za

Value of awarded projects by province in R millions Mar 2012 Province Value RmEastern Cape 393

Free State 486

Gauteng 2217

Kwazulu Natal 1267

Limpopo 106

Mpumalanga 1303

North West Province 91

Northern Cape 178

Western Cape 797

Grand Total 6839

Grade 2 Value Rm Grade 3 Value Rm Grade 4 Value Rm Grade 5 Value Rm Grade 6 Value RmEastern Cape 3 4.3 11 15.2 12 27.4 8 61.7 7 55.3

Free State 1 1.0 3 3.5 4 113.3 1 5.7 7 48.7

Gauteng 4 8.1 9 28.5 7 110.5 8 51.0

Kwazulu Natal 8 8.2 21 25.6 30 97.8 26 118.1 15 148.4

Limpopo 1 0.6 2 3.2 5 9.2 2 11.1 2 19.1

Mpumalanga 3 37.2 12 23.0 13 40.0 2 11.7 3 17.0

North West Province 1 0.2 1 1.1 2 9.0 1 3.0 3 20.6

Northern Cape 2 4.4 4 5.0 3 12.9 2 12.8

Western Cape 10 4.9 19 25.6 3 4.9 5 29.2 7 86.4

Grand Total 29 56.6 77.0 110.3 81 342.9 52 350.9 54 459.2

*Not applicable refers to private project and projects where the CIDB grading had not been disclosed at the time of going to print


Property developers are rejuvenating city centres across the country by turning old office blocks into upmarket accommodation for university students. In Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban, there’s a shortage of student accommodation at universities and tertiary institutions.

With university budgets facing major cut-backs from national government, many have put the priority on teaching and academics rather than upgrading or building new university residences. Out of a student population of 530 000, there is currently only enough student accommodation for 100 000 students, meeting just 18% of the demand.

Education for allAccommodation costs can push education out of the reach of many disadvantaged students as rent eats up a major proportion of their monthly budgets. “Studying away from home is simply not an option for many students with limited funds because they can’t access safe, secure and affordable accommodation. Many opt to stay in poorer areas or informal settlements and travel long distances to lectures each day instead. This has a negative affect on their academic performance.”Most students’ loans don’t cover day-to-day expenses such as accommodation. Some students have to take out personal loans at higher interest rates in order to cover the costs of renting living spaces closer to campus, leaving them with a large amount of debt when they graduate.

But a series of agreements between Aengus and various tertiary institutions nationally, offer students an alternative. After piloting their successful student accommodation model in Johannesburg with 10 buildings, the property development and management company has purchased and converted 11 additional buildings in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth into high quality student apartments.

Moving nationally “For the past four years Aengus has been focusing squarely on its Gauteng portfolio,” says Richard Rubin, CEO of Aengus. “However, we are now pleased

with our move to some of the coastal areas in South Africa and look forward to introducing our brand to both the conventional affordable housing market as well as students looking for a safe and secure off campus residence.”The upgrading of buildings has other positive spin-offs for city centres, creating student hubs in areas which were previously degenerating.“These student developments help to improve security and bring in new customers who support retail outlets, restaurants and coffee-shops,” adds Rubin. “Student accommodation is breathing new life into South Africa’s city centres.”Aengus Property Holdings, Tel: (011) 403 0554, Email: [email protected] student accommodation - Johannesburg interior

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

New Life for City Centres


With the Artix® articulated forklift, pallets can be managed in aisles as narrow as 1.5m – allowing you to up overall storage capacity. It also lifts up to 2.5t to heights of 12.5m, and packs pallets at double-depth with extendible forks.

• Front and all-wheel drive • Indoor and outdoor operation• Deep-cycle batteries for all day use• Advanced stability and cushioned tyres• Integrated high defi nition LCD CCTV for advanced visibility• Operators are trained in driving and forklift maintenance

Let the Artix® elevate your bottom line, contact us now!

Open your warehouse to narrow aisles

0861 61 61 61 • www.apcstoragesolutions.co.za


Children will be the main beneficiaries of a bold proj-ect to uplift the quality of education in the Gauteng Province with the building of schools and refurbish-ments of existing schools that are in need of attention.The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in partnership with the Gauteng Funding Agency (GFA) and the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), is set to speed-up school upgrades as part of the Gauteng Schools Programme, which kicked-off in March last year.Running over four years, the programme aims to ad-dress the GDE’s immediate need for 91 new schools (including the upgrade and refurbishment of 12 Phase 1 schools) and the refurbishment of 273 existing schools.Aurecon, in association with BTKM Quantity Surveyors, Indigo Kulani Architects and Risk Insight, was appointed to head up parts of this big undertaking.

Challenge“As part of this pressing and complex project, our challenge was to deliver business plans for 79 schools over a three month period,” says Jean Bouwer, Au-recon, senior project manager for the GDE project.

Conventional consulting practices inform that one business plan would normally take approximately three months at a cost of 2.05% of the capital value of the school. This means that the new schools sec-tion of the development should have taken a single project team approximately 20 years to complete at a total cost of R58,5 million. “But, the assignment was completed within three months at a cost of merely R4,91 million,” explains Bouwer.This involved a unique model in which Aurecon and its partners could judge the expected needs for new schools. This model could be used by a wide range of teams, and provided a set of standard data that could be used.The plans for the schools include concept designs, site layouts, full condition surveys and elemental cost estimates. In addition, a proposed implementation plan and project schedule for the establishment of every new school has also been developed.Aurecon, Jody Boshoff, Tel: (012) 427 2066, Fax: 086 606 0671, Email: [email protected], Web: www.aurecongroup.com

With the Artix® articulated forklift, pallets can be managed in aisles as narrow as 1.5m – allowing you to up overall storage capacity. It also lifts up to 2.5t to heights of 12.5m, and packs pallets at double-depth with extendible forks.

• Front and all-wheel drive • Indoor and outdoor operation• Deep-cycle batteries for all day use• Advanced stability and cushioned tyres• Integrated high defi nition LCD CCTV for advanced visibility• Operators are trained in driving and forklift maintenance

Let the Artix® elevate your bottom line, contact us now!

Open your warehouse to narrow aisles

0861 61 61 61 • www.apcstoragesolutions.co.za

SCHOOLS

Children


Very often, the most ardent supporters of African potential are those who’ve seen the country from an outside perspective.

to establish an African division, he jumped at the opportunity. “I was young and looking for excitement,” he laughingly tells “Skills On Site”. When he moved to South Africa the day before the 1994 elections, it was with the intention of introducing Lisec’s sophisticated range of double glazing machinery. The market did not welcome him with open arms. “In the begin-ning, I was told to go back to Europe,” he chuckles again. “But I was convinced then, as I am now, that Africa needs this equipment.”

Chilly receptionThe introduction may have been reluctantly received, but within two years, the company had done a million dollar deal with a local company. “We’ve never looked back,” Afam assures us. The Lisec brand has spread across the continent, with offices in Egypt, Algeria as well as South Africa and more than 700 machines in use in Africa.

Where many believe that Africa can’t accom-modate sophisticated machinery, Afam feels this is precisely what we need. “Our dream is to have machines in every African country because we believe conditions are available locally to sustain business,” he insists. “We need to turn the focus away from import and the way to do this is to show people how to add value themselves, while providing the tools to do it. We don’t want to give clients the finished product; we want to help them make it. You can’t develop a society through importation.

Growing with the business“Our products are solid and they’re engineered to last. More importantly, they’re modular, so a small business can start with one section and add on as capacity and abilities increase. This allows small operators to get in at the bottom and grow. In some cases we even offer financ-ing to boost the process.” Not only does Lisec supply a full range of specialised double glaz-ing machinery, such as cutting tables, bending equipment and insulation production lines, but it has also recently introduced photovoltaic production systems.“We offer solar machinery for anyone from small to large companies,” he says.“This glass technology incorporates the usual photovol-taic systems, as well as bent mirror options for concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. We’re the only people in world with tempering lines to manufacture 2mm glass.”

Sharing skillsLisec’s technical ability positions it perfectly

In the beginning, I was told to go back to Europe

An African Dream

Salzburg-educated Afam Ike may be Nigerian-born Austrian, but he first set foot on African soil in October 1993, and was overwhelmed by the opportunities he saw. Having been invited by Austrian-based Lisec

SUCCESS STORY

The company has introduced a photovoltaic range to meet both residential and commercial needs


SUCCESS STORY

to bring much-needed skills to the continent. “Often because of a lack of technical expertise in outlying areas, some architects aren’t aware of the capabili-ties of glass,” Afam adds.“Africa has a construction backlog of 200 million houses, which has a lot to do with a lack of knowledge.

“We’ve conducted seminars in Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa and we’ve had an amazing response; many are keen to learn about the highly sophisticated nature of the material.We’re also planning a massive marketing exercise with key role players in the industry, but the details still need to be finalised,” he adds.

Addicted to glassIf anyone is suited to the task of marketing glass, it’s Afam; the man oozes enthusiasm for the stuff. “Once you’ve worked with glass you become addicted to it. It’s amazing,” he grins. “It can be a support system within a building, or a barrier between external and internal areas; it provides insulation, noise reduction and energy efficiency. It can be used in all sorts of

architectural interiors such as shelves, floors, lighting systems or water features. It can be strong enough to walk on, or even stop a bullet. There’s so much more to it than windows.”He’s also excited about the opportunities for energy efficiency offered by correct use of glass. “If you can reduce the amount of energy used by all South Africans, the social impact would be enormous,” he says.“Unfortunately energy is taken for granted here, and many people don’t realise that it costs more to cool than to heat.We often think winter is more expen-sive in terms of energy consumption, but actually we have a long hot summer that puts tremendous strain on our resources because so few of our buildings are optimally constructed.

Energy ideas“Any energy efficient building saves money from day one. Overall thermal performance of a building needs greater understanding from the entire industry not just glass. The construction sector is incredibly segmented – it could do with an umbrella organisation controlling all areas and we should be working together.

“Unfortunately that’s often not the case. In many instances it’s every man for himself and the results

We don’t want to give clients the finished product; we want to help them make it. You can’t develop a society through importation

Lisec’s systems are modular and can be customised to suit the needs of the company as it grows


New technology includes bent mirror options for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems

can be disastrous. For example, undeclared imports have had a major impact on us. The building industry reflects the economy of a country; when the building industry is down then everything is down. And look at us, we’ve had huge companies closing shop.Where regulations are in place for the public good, this has a positive effect on industry which in turn creates jobs.”

Social benefitsAnother important benefit that is overlooked comes in the form of quality of life. Good insulation doesn’t only provide ambient comfort, but also protects against noise. “People think of double glazing as a high-end material but the benefits for low-cost hous-ing could have significant economic implications,” Afam explains. “Apart from the energy savings accumulated by these millions of homes, think of the psychological benefits of minimising exposure to the surrounding noise pollution – much of which might be due to crime or domestic violence!”

A range of equipment, including cutting boards, loaders, encapsulation units and more – in options from basic to highly sophisticated

Afam Ike, Lisec Africa

SUCCESS STORY

Afam is a passionate supporter of social reform as a means of improving the economy, and in his opinion the solution begins with teamwork. “Society seems more divided now than in ‘94,” he says. “With income disparities of 200%-300% between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, it’s inevitable that crime will be an issue. When a man has nothing, he has nothing to lose.

Perpetually dependant“This country is great. It has enormous potential and tremendous resources, but we need to have faith in ourselves and our ability to produce items of value. To this end, job and skill creation is vital, so we’re planning to open a glass school in as-sociation with key players in the field. We don’t want to make people continuously dependent on the system. They must have a certain time frame in which to learn a skill and get a job. It’s the only way to improve things,” he says in closing.Afam Ike, Lisec Africa, Tel. 011 478 2313,Email. [email protected], Website. www.lisec.com


No w t h a t y o u ’ v e been to the i n t e r v i e w and a “job

offer” is made, watch for the following:• The offer is made

for the same as you earned previously. The employer should have decided what he is willing to pay for the position. To ask the interviewee what he/she earns, has nothing to do with the offer. The company must say what they are willing to pay. This offer can then be rejected or discussed to get to a settlement.

• The offer document is poorly developed and often does not cover all the important issues. Issues such as medical aid, pension fund, relocation costs etc, are often not touched on.

It must be remembered that when we started with this series of articles we said that the job relationship is like a marriage. Once agreed to and signed, it becomes permanent and one cannot just walk away from it. The process to get “divorced” is often complicated and costly.Therefore, the advice is to take the offer home, think about it, discuss with somebody who can advise on the issue. Make notes on the offer and ask the company

to clarify issues. This often does not go down well with the company as the person who put the offer together looks like they have not done a proper job.A while ago a family member came to see me with an offer from a company on the Stock Exchange. I was shocked to see the poor quality of the offer. There were so many questions that I asked that were not covered in the “letter” that I just could not believe it.Generally, people don’t understand that the “letter of offer” which becomes the “letter of employment”

A Permanent RecordIn the interest of keeping our readers up-to-date and informed of the latest employment law related issues, Nico Pienaar, director for Aggregate and Sand Producers Association (Aspasa) and Southern African Readymix Association (Sarma) writes a short monthly column for “Skills On Site” that deals with practical labour issues at the workplace.

Nico Pienaar

LEGAL EAGLE


is a legally binding contract that gets asked for at the court, the CCMA, at Arbitration or any other dispute resolution forum. Companies have lost many disputes due to the original contract not being up to standards.Once the offer is accepted and signed, then the “relationship” has started. The “Employee” who has not started work cannot now just decide not to attend work or call the offer off. Sometimes individuals use the new offer to go back to the old employer and bargain for an increase. Not only is this unprofessional from the individual’s side, but should the offer be signed, then the individual cannot just not turn up for the job.It is also essential that individuals and companies agree in detail what type of contract is being agreed to. Is it a fixed term contract, a normal employment contract, a sub-contractors contract, a part time contract, etc.We will have to spend some time dealing with them in the following months.ASPASA, Tel: (011) 791 3327, Email: [email protected] Web: www.aspasa.co.za SARMA, Tel: (011) 791 3327, Web: www.sarma.co.za

LEGAL EAGLE


Taking water seriosly

Have you ever wondered where all the water goes when it rains? Well, down the drain, and into the ground is the short answer. If we use a lot of water lavishly for clothes and car washing, garden irrigation, and multiple bathing, we usually end up with a fat water bill at the end of the month. What can we do about

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

it? The water bill can be halved by harvesting rain water - catching rainwater from the roof gutters and storing it in tanks for later use. If rainwater is harvested, it can easily supply a household of 4 people with fresh drinking, bath and toilet water. Depending on where you are building houses and how much water falls in that area, you can install one or more 5000 litre tanks outside and connected to the roof gutters. A booster pump then supplies consistent pressure to the home. Most homes are connected directly to the municipal water mains, and often, water pressure can be low. Booster pumps raise household water pressure. The size of pump required depends on how many taps there are in the house. Davey pumps have invented a pressure-controlling water pump, Torruim, which thinks for itself. It has a built in “brain” that supplies a steady reliable flow of water pressure day after day, year after year. It will balance the supply of rainwater and mains water depending on how much water is stored in the rainwater tank.Domestic water users, businesses, and plumbers are invited to contact AquaQuip to make use of Davey water products and implement serious cost savings in water usageMike O’ Donoghue, Tel: (011) 397-7723 Email: [email protected], Web: www.aquaquip.co.za


EXHIBITIONS

This year’s show will have the usual favourites such as bathrooms, kitchens, doors, windows, paint, flooring, walling, roofing, insulation, tiling, electrical, lighting, air-conditioning, paving, reinforcing, bricks, cement, con-

crete, scaffolding, plant hire and equipment, civil engineering equipment, affordable housing products and all aspects of the hardware and allied products industries, as well as woodworking, processing and furniture manufacturing.Together with the exhibition will be the Glass Expo Africa the spotlighting a broad range of glass and aluminium products, embracing all aspects of the glass and aluminium window industries.

With a history spanning more than 40 years, The Star Interbuild Africa 2012 exhibition is set to deliver outstanding value. Visitors came from across the African continent as well as from Europe, Asia and Australia. The majority of visitors are top decision-makers from building-related industries.

Watch Out!!!!

The EcoAfribuild show will focus on the designs, technologies, materials and solutions relevant in the South African context and the effect each has on the environmental impact of buildings. As part of Interbuild, the Plumbdrain Africa show will cover water conveyance and water conservation, domestic plumbing, drainage, sewerage and pipe works, water supply and hot water systems, plus a focus on sanitation and sanitaryware.The Star Interbuild Africa, EcoAfribuild, Glass Expo Africa and Plumbdrain Africa will be held at the Expo Cen-tre, NASREC, Johannesburg, from 15-18 August 2012. Specialised Exhibitions, Tel: (011) 835-1565, www.interbuild.co.za


Ride-On Rollers

A specially designed and constructed trailer now makes Lambson’s Hire ride-on rollers widely available

Wireless wall light Providing both a motion sensor and a torch in one unit, the multifunction Nightlux provides light when it is most needed. The Nightlux runs on AAA batteries, which last up to a year. Since it is wireless, it can be installed wherever it is required. It is simple and easy to fit, using either a magnetic fitting or with glue.This wireless wall light has an integrated mo-tion sensor for increased visibility, security and guidance. A brightness sensor automatically checks how dark it is – only reacting when there is a real need for light. The Nightlux will switch off auto-matically after 10 to 60 seconds, depending on what setting you have chosen.The Nightlux is designed to focus its light on the lower third of any room. The LED strip can be swiveled up and down by 60 degrees, to ensure that it provides light to the exact spot where it is needed most. Being

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

A special trailer now makes Lambson’s Hire ride-on rollers widely available from all its branches outside the greater Johannesburg area.Rohan Lambson, CEO of Lambson’s Hire, comments, “Previously ride-on rollers could be drawn only from our compact plant division in Benrose. This caused some problems for customers. Now the ride-on rollers can be easily transported to customer sites.”The trailer is designed to handle either a 1.6 ton ride-on roller or a 1.5 ton dumper. An added benefit is that customers can move the rollers from site to site.Lambson’s hire, Rohan LambsonTel: (011) 627 7700Website: www.lambsonshire.co.za

entirely weather-resistant, the Nightlux is perfect for both indoor and outdoor The Lighting Warehouse Tel: 0861 54 44 84 64 Web: www.lightingwarehouse.co.za

• Roofs – structures, lintels, frames, joining, fasteners, • sheeting, tiles, waterproofing• Waterproofinganddrainage – membranes, coatings and

sealants, films, geofabrics, culverts, pipes• Transport – bakkies, trucks, trailers, financing, spares,

servicing, insurance, etc• Earthworks and plant hire – earthmoving machines, • equipment, rentals, finance, parts, maintenance

Contact Colleen Cleary on Tel (011) 781-1401, Fax (011) 781-1403 or

E-mail: [email protected] for further details

Book Now for July 2012


any intermediate angle. The three-phase HB version of the PH 261 also allows the device to make single cuts without operators, while still making the manual cutting cycle available.After positioning the bar and closing the vice, the cutting phase is started, using the weight of the saw frame controlled by a hydraulic circuit to adjust the down-feed speed. After the cut is completed, the band stops and the frame is manually lifted in order to reposition the bar for the cut position required by the operator. At this point, the head frame is locked by the manually-controlled hydraulic valve.An electrical pump, which provides lubrication and cooling to the band, adds to the longevity of the saw and greatly reduces maintenance requirements by preventing overheating. A moveable pulley slide with two adjustable gibs ensures that the material is rigidly held in place dur-ing the cutting process, for a resultant straight and superior cutting edge. “Adding to the stability of the saw are the blade-guide heads with 6 Carbide pads instead of bearings.

Elquip Solutions, Mike Cronin (CEO) Tel: (011) 826 7117, Email: [email protected]

Legrand is marketing Colson cable ties, designed for

use in areas where there is exposure to aggressive chemicals, moisture, extreme

temperatures and ultra violet rays. These flexible and corrosive resistant Colson

cable ties can withstand the effects of oils, greases, petroleum products, chlorinated solvents and saline mists. They have a humidity absorption under 2% and can endure temperatures of between -40 and +85 °C. This range is also fire resistant, with a flame application time according to EN 50146: 10 s.

Cable ties

Colson cable t ies are available with halogen-free black polyamide, with external or internal teeth. This range has a minimum

tensile strength of 22 daN (EN 50146) and a maximum ratchet force of 5,5 daN.

A special tool used to tighten these cable ties, ensures a perfectly tight and secure installation, and for a neat finish, excess material is easily cut off.Accessories include screw-on, wall plug bases and DLP trunking bases, as well as screw-in wall plugs and bolts for cable trays and sheet metal. The flexibility of Legrand’s products enables the use of Colson cable ties, irrespective of the type of support in the installation.Legrand SA, Tel: (011) 444 7971, Fax: (011) 444 7980 Email: [email protected]: www.legrand.co.za

Metal cutting optionBecause of its small foot-print of 1620 mm (wide) by 720 mm (high), the PH 261 is compact enough to integrate into the smallest available space and at a mass of only 240 kg is it is relatively easy to transport and manoeuvre.The design of the PH 261.HB is based on the proven technology of the larger band saws, and has a cutting ca-pacity of 225 round, 200 square and 260 x 140 flat. At 45º it will cut

160 round, 140 square and 155 x 155 flat while at 60º it cuts 90 round, 90 square and 90 x 90 flat.A differentiating factor with this saw when compared to others in its class, is the fact that it can cut from 0 to 60º, with the clamping lever used for locking at

PRODUCTS & SERVICES


The ultra-smooth, self-levelling, flowing and pumpable TAL Screedmaster is suitable for all floor coverings including hospitals and food preparation areas, as it contains no casein or other protein-bearing addi-tives, making it very hygienic. TAL Screedmaster offers a smooth finish, is reliable and stands the test of time. It is time-saving, as it is less labour-intensive and easy to apply.TAL offers a free pump ser-vice with the purchase of TAL Screedmaster that allows for fast-track installations and en-sures a smooth and consistent finish. Pumps are available to contractors throughout the country free of charge. The company trains the contractor’s staff in the mix-ing and application of the product, as well as the use of the pump. TAL provides free on-site technical assistance and customers can call its contact centre

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

for a quote. This is not a free installation service, but rather TAL offers free on-site technical assistance.TAL, Obert Rukato, Tel: (011) 206 9700, Fax: (011) 316 3278, Web: www.tal.co.za


Ash-built classroomsSasol has handed over newly-built classrooms to the Department of Education at the Thistle Grove Com-bined School in Kinross. A new technology using fine ash to create a foamed cement mixture developed by Sasol ChemCity and Tower Technologies was used to build eight new classrooms for the school.In 2011 the situation deteriorated, forcing the school to convert the library and laboratory into class-rooms. Sasol invested over R2.5 million in the new classrooms. Isaac Modise, acting general manager Secunda Corporate Affairs says, “By aligning our projects to government’s developmental strategies, we sustainably develop our communities in a way that makes a meaningful impact. Education is a foundation of our country’s growth and remains a priority for Sasol.”A solar water heater has been installed in the kitchen of the school to replace the conventional stove to heat water to prepare meals for the pupils, and energy efficient lighting has also been installed in the classrooms.FNB has furnished the new classrooms in support of this deserving initiative. “Education is the cornerstone of every thriving community and every child should have access to a decent education, including the learning environment. It was with this in mind that we did not hesitate to get involved when an op-portunity to create an enabling environment for our children came up,” says Marius Marais, CEO of FNB Housing Finance.Through collaboration, Tower Technologies and Sasol ChemCity developed the technology to use fine ash to create a foamed cement mixture. The walls and roof of an 85 square kilometre ash building takes five days to assemble, making this a highly efficient and cost effective building material. It has been approved by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). Planning is at an advanced stage to establish a panel manufacturing factory targeting the com-mercial market. The panels have a low carbon footprint and on a per house basis, approximately 25 tons less cement is required. Mr Masilela, Principal of the Thistle Groove Combined School says, “We have a school of determined teach-ers and pupils who can now work in a comfortable environment. The new additions lend themselves to great teaching practice and we are grateful to everybody who made this possible.”Jacqui O’Sullivan, Tel: (011) 441-3252, Cell: 082 883 9697, [email protected]

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