COMMENT
Rebuilding economies , together …
2020
will be a year remembered long into the future .
As news of a devastating threat originating from Wuhan , China spread across the globe at the beginning of the year , no one could have been prepared for what would be dealt to world economies . It has also been noted by various leadership that no one alive today would have previously navigated such circumstances , and this has therefore truly revealed unprecedented times .
With most countries opting for hard lockdowns in some or other form , South Africa , which had one of the world ’ s earliest and strictest lockdowns , found its plant equipment sector at the receiving end of the shorter straws as every industry that wasn ’ t considered ‘ essential services ’ was brought to an abrupt halt .
From forestry to mining to construction projects , and even ports and harbours being affected , this put the plant equipment industry under extreme pressure throughout Africa , with various other sectors further reporting massive losses in revenues affecting capital expenditure plans as well as sweating assets , and business confidence sinking to the lowest levels since the 70s ( in South Africa ).
The global pandemic has stretched or depleted many companies ’ reserves as businesses scramble for ways to retain their employees under difficult circumstances above anything else , but on the positive side it has opened doors to new and innovative thinking as well as for many sectors to relook at their strategies , requirements and supply chains – which will prove to be very important for local manufacturing in future .
Further positives are that , in most cases , postrecession cycles produce a V-shape recovery which is essentially a rapid growth trajectory as trading conditions normalise and businesses are able to become fully operational once again . With the promise of massive infrastructure investment being announced by President Ramaphosa recently , being fast-tracked to kick start desperately needed growth in South Africa , and certain commodity prices seeing their highest levels from the mining sector , there remains a positive outlook as everyone works together to rebuild the economy .
Now is the time for industry stakeholders , from manufacturers to distributors , end-users to associations and official bodies and yes , the media , to stand together to rebuild and reinvent , and to encourage positive rhetoric . We hope that the Equipment Specs Handbook proves to be an integral tool in this process by equipping decision makers with the latest in equipment specs and innovative industry solutions .
IMD has been collaborating with MEMSA and the CPHA to see what value we can add to the industry in these tough times . With the help of MEMSA and their members we have expanded our Underground Mining Category in this handbook substantially , and we are now able to showcase far more equipment in this category than ever before .
Our rhetoric this coming year should be one of positivity , innovation and team work to rebuild and expand the industries that are our bread and butter . All stakeholders along the value chain – individual companies , the industry as a whole ( and associated experts in civil society and academia ) and governments – should take action to move the industry forward .
Editorial team
LEON LOUW www . equipmentandhire . co . za
EQUIPMENT SPECS HANDBOOK 2021
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