Babcock has been named the Preferred Partner for Lincoln Electric across Sub-Saharan Africa. This landmark appointment signals a significant shift in how world-class welding technology will be delivered across the region.

With the new Velo velocity assistant, Fronius is taking manual MIG/MAG welding to a whole new level. Velo offers assisted torch guidance and constant welding speed, supporting reproducible high-quality seams while reducing physical strain on welders.

The OmniScan™ X4, available in South Africa through Techtra Engineering Consultants, is a comprehensive multi-technology inspection toolbox that enables multiple ultrasonic testing techniques to be used to reliably detect and accurately assess flaws and corrosion damage.

Swedish-based special steel maker, SSAB, has introduced Hardox® HiAce, an innovative wear-resistant material engineered to outperform conventional abrasion-resistant (AR) steels, stainless steels and even ceramics in environments where wear, corrosion and elevated temperatures combine.

Unique Welding has launched the Thermamax Pro Laser Welding range to meet the growing demand for hand-held welding technology that is more accessible, practical and relevant to real-world fabrication environments.

Leading industrial construction, turnaround and maintenance company Aurex Constructors closed out 2025 on a strong footing, navigating shifting market conditions while delivering record progress across its renewables portfolio and expanding its geographic reach.

Fabrication companies are facing a growing skills shortage. Experienced welding specialists are increasingly retiring, while there is a lack of young talent. ABICOR BINZEL believes that modern automations using robots or cobots can help relieve this burden.

Andrew Crackett, Managing Director at Yaskawa Southern Africa, highlights a quiet shift taking place in the South African fabrication due to advances in integrated welding cells, particularly those combining robotics with modern power sources and laser technology, that are lowering the barrier to entry for SMEs and manufacturers who previously felt robotics were out of reach.

Steinmüller Africa’s Kendal Power Station team has been recognised at the Eskom Managers Awards 2025 as a key player in Corporate Social Investment (CSI), earning praise for a community-focused approach that prioritises listening to local schools and responding with practical, high-impact support.

Bolt and Engineering Distributors Group (B.E.D.) has been appointed as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group, representing its full portfolio of metalworking equipment and consumables in South Africa.

Air Products South Africa has launched a unique customer-owned 20 ℓ welding gas cylinder, the Magmix 3 Compact, designed to meet the growing demand for compact, lightweight and affordable welding solutions, particularly for on-site maintenance, small businesses and the DIY markets. Jörg Scholz, Air Products South Africa’s Business  Manager for Distributors, and Sean Young, Air Products SA’s Welding Specialist, introduce the offering.

With the launch of the Artis 300 and Ignis 250 welding power sources, Fronius extends the power and capabilities of the Artis TIG series and Ignis MMA series.

In this white paper, voestalpine Böhler Welding highlights, through case studies, the advantages of moving away from manual welding by adopting more automated solutions, using solutions such as the company’s CO-BRO® FLEX collaborative robot, or mechanised solutions, such as railRunner.

African Fusion speaks with Keegan Govender, QA Manager at GENMAC (Pty) Ltd, about the niche, customised manufacturing and construction solutions offered by the company’s ISO 3834-2 certified facilities in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.

Lemogang Maclean, SAIW’s Acting Training and Technical Manager, explains why the SAIW has reintroduced Level 3 NDT courses in Visual, Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle, Ulrasonic and Radiographic Testing for 2026, motivated by the increasing need to secure the safety and integrity of new and in-service structures and industrial plants.

ESAB South Africa is launching a new and comprehensive automation range into South Africa this year, starting with the company’s new COBOT solution, while also including dedicated solutions for bore cladding with a continuously rotating torch (CRT), a tank welder for jack-up tank construction, and several welding tractors for butt, fillet, rail and double-sided stiffener welding.

Last month, we lost an extraordinary character, an exceptional teacher, a champion in the Inspection and NDT fields, and, to many of his students, an excellent mentor. On behalf of the SAIW, I would like to convey our sorrow and heartfelt condolences to Mark Digby’s family and all his friends and colleagues. He will be missed, and at SAIW, we will strive to keep his legacy alive.

In a bid to plug a critical technical skills gap threatening South Africa’s industrial and energy sectors, engineering heavyweight Steinmüller Africa has officially opened registration for its 2026 Boiler Technology Course.

Bolt and Engineering Distributors Group (B.E.D.), the long-term, exclusive distributor of Fronius welding technology nationwide, has announced the local launch of the new Fronius Ignis Battery.

Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.) has once again demonstrated its long-standing commitment to the South African and pan-African steel industry, through two prestigious sponsorships at the 2025 Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) Steel Awards.