STEEL
Commercialising steel innovation
For years, South Africa’ s steel industry adapted international advances for local use. That narrative has changed.
Amanuel Gebremeskel of the Southern Africa Institute of Steel Construction( SAISC) says South Africa has carved out a leadership role in steel industry innovation.
He notes the following milestones:
• SA developed unpropped, long-span light steel decking years ahead of similar research in the US.
• Macsteel manufactured roof sheets on-site that exceeded 250m in length earning a Guinness World Record.
• At the recent Steel Awards, the Lycopodium Modular Project by Betterect was recognised as the first of its kind globally.
Positioning local innovation on a global stage Gebremeskel highlights that SA’ s innovative capacity can be leveraged to strengthen competitiveness.
He explains:“ The first is to publicise them widely. Engineers, contractors and researchers must be made aware of South African innovations so they can utilise them in their projects and research. Secondly, we need to encourage collaboration with global stakeholders that have similar agendas to move construction innovation forward. This could be in the arena of R & D or actual implementation and commercialisation of novel products and methods. For instance, using modular construction methods to lower the timeframe and risk on a mining project can be of interest to insurance firms, investors and other players who may not be directly involved in construction.”
Steel IS a key driver of transformation According to SAISC, the local steel industry is already responding to mounting pressures pertaining to water scarcity, rising energy costs, urban housing demand, and global mineral needs.
While the construction industry has historically lagged in efficiency, Gebremeskel argues that this provides opportunities.“ Many clients would pay a premium to complete projects early, provided quality is maintained.”
For example, the factory-first approach promotes efficiency in the construction sector. In fabrication shops, components can be produced off-site and then transported to projects in modular, almost“ Lego-like” pieces for easy assembly. The result is faster project delivery with reduced risk. He notes that innovations such as these are predominantly being driven by steel subcontractors.
“ Many clients would pay a premium to complete projects early, provided quality is maintained.”
Investment, Gebremeskel urges, should be prioritised to drive R & D, reduce commercialisation risk, and scale proven innovations. He identifies three immediate steps needed to support innovation and commercialisation: 1. Industry and government financial support for local research and development projects at institutes, universities and companies.
2. Capacity building at the South African Bureau of Standards( SABS) to speed up the process of standards development.
3. Establishing formal legal, marketing and sales support systems that industry members can tap into to promote new products and methods. �
For more information: www. saisc. co. za
36 sabusinessintegrator. co. za