STEEL CONSTRUCTION
SAISC therefore developed its Material Quality Certification Programme( MQCP), an industry-led initiative designed to strengthen confidence in structural steel entering the South African market, whether produced locally or imported.
The programme supports greater assurance around material quality, compliance, and traceability, enabling the value chain to make more informed decisions about material supply and recognised standards. Quality, however, is not the responsibility of any single link in the chain. It requires collaboration throughout the process, from production and supply onwards.
These achievements demonstrate the local engineering, manufacturing, and fabrication capability...
Bringing the industry together
An encouraging development this year has been SAISC’ s regional Steel Forward 2026 breakfast series. The series took important industry conversations directly to engineers, fabricators, merchants, and mills in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Supply, quality, and traceability were discussed from different points in the value chain, giving participants an opportunity to share practical experience, challenge assumptions, and consider how the industry can respond collectively. The strong engagement across all three regions reflects a sector that wants to play an active role in shaping its future.
Knowledge transfer through technical training, webinars, online question-andanswer sessions, and industry events creates opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers to learn from experienced practitioners.
Local steel innovation, global recognition
South Africa developed unpropped, long-
Hands-on steel verification testing conducted with the support of Tass Engineering.
span light steel decking years before similar research was initiated in the United States. Macsteel rollformed a 280m roof sheet onsite, earning a Guinness World Records title. The Lycopodium Modular Project, delivered by Betterect and recognised through the SAISC Steel Awards, is another example of local capability delivering an innovative solution with global relevance.
These achievements demonstrate the local engineering, manufacturing, and fabrication capability that allows South African expertise to contribute to the global industry.
Our Steel Awards will take place on 29 October 2026 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. They promise to showcase steel constructions capability across architecture, infrastructure, mining, industrial, and commercial developments. It will recognise both the structures and the engineers, fabricators, detailers, suppliers, contractors, and project teams behind them.
Built to adapt
Seventy years have taught us the importance of adaptability. The supply landscape has changed significantly over this period, reshaping how the industry sources, specifies, and assures the material at the heart of what it builds.
Through these changes, the fundamentals remain. Technical expertise matters. Quality and standards matter. Trusted relationships throughout the value chain matter.
As SAISC enters its next chapter, our commitment remains much the same as it was in 1956. Through our member network, quality initiatives, technical training, and knowledge sharing, regional engagement and platforms such as the Steel Awards, we will continue to support an industry that is connected, technically capable, and confident in its future.
We will continue to evolve with the industry.
www. tobuild. co. za | spring 2026 45