With its large installed base of KREBS® products, FLSmidth’s Stormill facility west of Johannesburg is providing the platform for technology evolution and market expansion.

There are over 4,000 units of equipment from KREBS® pump, cyclone and valve ranges installed around its Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & South Asia (SSAMESA) region. FLSmidth’s pure play mining strategy sees the regions taking these solutions to the market, supported by resources in countries across the globe.

Deon de Kock, FLSmidth’s President for SSAMESA, highlights the Stormill plant’s key role in the success of the KREBS range – not just in the region but globally. The facility conducts remanufacturing, rebuilding and product assembly, as well as service exchange and testing.

It also stores a large inventory of stock worth over R250 million, ensuring quick lead times for spares and components. Aligned with FLSmidth’s CORE’26 strategy, the ongoing technological improvements focus on achieving a sustainable future by prioritising efficiency. According to Stephan Kruger, Vice President Pumps, Cyclones & Valves at FLSmidth, the KREBS® range undergoes continuous innovation through a large variety of research and development projects.

It has been five years since Trafo Power Solutions supplied Alphamin’s Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo with two dry-type transformers; they have performed so well that another three of these modular substations equipped with dry-type transformers will soon be on their way, to keep up with the mine’s expansion.

“This latest order is testament to the operational performance of our dry-type transformers at Bisie mine over the past five years,” says David Claassen, Managing Director of Trafo Power Solutions. “There were numerous challenges that our design had to accommodate, not least of which is a very arduous section of road in the journey to the mine.”

The mine’s location in the Walikale Territory of DRC is remote, being about 180 km north west of Goma, and more than 30 km from the national route linking Walikale with Kisangani. Like the initial order, the three 3000 kVA, 400 V/11 kV substations will be supplied in standard six metre containers to facilitate transportation. However, specialised steel bracing is required – to withstand the challenging road conditions, especially over the last part the journey.

Trafo Power Solutions

“These conditions make the road almost impassable by any vehicle other than a six-wheeled Unimog,” says Claassen. “There is intense vibration and tilting of the cargo on these trailers, so our design and bracing is done with this in mind.”

Specialised Container Agencies (SCA) – suppliers of niche market container products – has developed SCA Intermodal Side Tipper Bins that ensure quick, safe and cost-efficient bulk handling in rail and road applications.

“Robust Intermodal Side Tipper Bins have been designed for rapid and efficient off-loading of materials from both rail wagons and road trucks, using specially designed hydraulic tipping cylinders,” explains Ken Mouritzen, Specialised Container Agencies. “SCA’s Intermodal Side Tipper Bins, which are easily handled onto container rail wagons and road trucks by a container handler, increase payload on rail wagons, from 54 metric tons to 60 metric tons.

“An important feature of Intermodal Side Tipper Bins – which are able to be stacked four-high for storage – is they can be used across different modes of transport, including road and rail, without the need for investment in double handling cargo. This system is boosting the utilisation of rail infrastructure, which significantly reduces transport costs, decreases national road congestion and minimises product damage.

SCA range

“In areas that are not fully serviced by rail, the intermodal side tipper can be loaded onto road transport, for closed loop, short-haul operations. Road vehicles are then used to carry the tipper bin containing bulk material to the railhead. This means cargo can be received at non-rail serviced facilities, for example on mines, terminals and ports.”

EMMANUEL SCHALIT NAMED CEO

AYRO, the designer and manufacturer of the revolutionary OceanWings® wingsail solutio for
cargo ships and yachts, announced today the close of a 19.2 million € ($21 m) Series B round, led
by Blue Ocean, managed by SWEN Capital Partners, which brings the total funding for the leader
in Wind Powered Decarbonation solutions for the maritime sector to over 30 million €.

Existing investors Ocean Zero and Bpifrance, through its Ecotechnology 2 fund, as part of France
2030 initiatives, participated in the round, alongside new investors AmInvest, Colam Impact,
Normandie Participations, Normandie Littoral and FCPI Capital Innovant n°2 managed by SWEN
Capital Partners. Christian Lim, Managing Director of Blue Ocean will join the board of AYRO.

This major investment in AYRO occurs at a unique moment when both the company and the
market are at an inflection point. 2023 was the warmest year on record for the planet, and

shipping is expected to represent up to 17% of human CO² emissions by 2050 if no action is taken.1

“Every year, some 90,000 ships transport nine billion tons of goods globally, accounting for almost
90% of all logistics flows. Reducing the emissions of these ships is an urgent priority,” said

Emmanuel Schalit, AYRO’s new CEO. “The good news is that wind is free, available on every ocean,
and the technology to harness it is now mature and available.”
In July, AYRO installed 4 OceanWings® 363 wingsails on the Canopée, a groundbreaking vessel
dedicated to transporting Ariane 6 space launch system components from Europe to French
Guiana, which will enable a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and CO² emissions over its regular

route.
1
“Emission Reduction Targets for International Aviation and Shipping,” Policy Department A for the Committee
on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), November 2015
PRESS RELEASE
“Blue Ocean backs startups that can deliver both systemic impact for ocean health and
competitive market returns. We studied the wind propulsion market in detail for 2 years and
concluded that AYRO is clearly positioned to be a global leader in this sector,” said Christian

Lim, managing director of SWEN Capital Partners. “Wind propulsion is critical for
decarbonization of shipping in the context of what is now being called ‘global boiling, and
ambitious targets set by the International Maritime Organization and carbon reduction
regulations coming into effect across the globe. The transformation of the maritime industry
has begun, and we are excited about the major contribution that AYRO will make.”
AYRO STORY
AYRO was founded in 2018 by Marc Van Peteghem, also Co-Founder of the VPLP Naval
Architecture firm, who imagined the OceanWings® concept based on the wingsail design which

won the America’s cup in 2010 with the BMW Oracle racing trimaran. Marc’s pioneering vision
was to take that high-performance concept and apply it to the decarbonization of shipping. The
concept was perfected with prototypes and demonstrators such as the Energy Observer zero
emission Catamaran which verified the high-performance wingsail design over several years and
across several oceans. The new generation of OceanWings® powering Canopée represents a

major step-up in scale (40 meters high / 363 m2
), ease of use (OceanWings® are fully automated)
and maturity of the solution.
“For centuries sails were used in maritime trade. When coal started being used in the 19th century,
transport vessels continued to need sails because they could not transport enough coal to cross
oceans,” said Marc Van Peteghem, Founder of AYRO. “Now that we need to abandon oil with its
high energy density as the single source of power for ships, wind will be an essential component,
alongside other technologies, to create hybrid zero-emission ships in the coming years.”
Marc who until recently was the CEO of AYRO, will continue to support the company as Chairman

of the Board. Emmanuel, who was since 2022 Chairman of the Board, has been appointed as CEO
to succeed Marc, and he will join Romain Grandsart in his new role as COO of AYRO.
Prior to joining AYRO’s board, Emmanuel was Co-Founder and CEO of Dashlane which he led for
9 years, growing the company from 4 to 350 employees, raising more than $200 million in capital
from tier 1 US investors. Prior to Dashlane, Emmanuel was the CEO of CBS Outdoor France, a top
3 Outdoor advertising company, the COO of LMG Group, a leading international publishing group,

and SVP at Vivendi Universal where he led a global K-12 Publishing division with 1.5 billion € in
revenue. Emmanuel holds a master’s degree in Math and Physics from Ecole Polytechnique in
Paris and a PhD in Computer Science from Université of Toulouse. He also studied Marketing and
Finance in the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.
“Having worked with Marc, Romain and the rest of the board over the last 18 months, I know how
exceptional the team is: they enabled the building of the most advanced wind powered transport
vessel in history in just 24 months,” continued Schalit. “I am honoured to have been offered the
opportunity to join as CEO and am looking forward to helping scale the company to its massive
potential.”
PRESS RELEASE
About AYRO
AYRO, a leader in maritime transport decarbonation, is a French industrial start-up that designs,
manufactures and markets OceanWings®, rigid wings designed for installation on cargo ships
and yachts, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by cutting fossil fuel consumption.
For more information, please visit our website: https://ayro.fr/

Corporate Communications: communication@ayro.fr
About SWEN Capital Partners and Blue Ocean
SWEN Capital Partners is a leading responsible investor in unlisted assets in Europe, with €8
billion under management (cumulative commitments). Blue Ocean is SWEN’s venture capital
fund investing in innovations that help regenerate ocean health, hence contributing to achieve
SDG14. It was launched in scientific partnership with Ifremer, France’s ocean research institute.

Blue Ocean is the largest ocean impact innovation fund in the world to date, with a size of €170m.
Press inquiries: lfornari@swen-cp.fr
About Ocean Zero LLC
Ocean Zero invests in innovative young companies such as AYRO that can make a
breakthrough difference in decarbonizing transportation on the world’s oceans, rivers and
seas. The fund seeks visionaries who have a realistic opportunity to make a significant leap in

scale and impact that can dramatically change the overall emissions of CO2 and other
pollutants incurred by sea shipping, ferries and recreational boats. Ocean Zero was the lead
investor in AYRO’s Series A raise and a repeat investor of significance in Series B. AYRO was the
second of eight companies Ocean Zero invested in since its founding in 2020.
For more information, visit OceanZeroLLC.com

About Bpifrance
Bpifrance Investissement is the management company that handles Bpifrance’s equity
investments. Bpifrance is the French national investment bank: it finances businesses – at every
stage of their development – through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export
insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra financial services (training, consultancy) to help
entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export…).
For more information, please visit: https://www.bpifrance.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance
– @BpifrancePresse

South Africa faces a pressing road safety challenge, with a disproportionate number of accidents involving heavy vehicles, particularly trucks. In an effort to address this issue and promote safer road conditions, it is imperative to raise safety awareness among truck drivers across the country.

To promote safe driving amongst heavy vehicle truck drivers, certifications solutions company JC Auditors (JCA) will participate in a series of road shows in collaboration with industry partners, dedicated to raising awareness among heavy vehicle truck drivers and promoting safe driving behaviours.

The first event will be hosted at the Highway Junction Truck Stop on 4 October 2023, targeting an audience of 2 000 drivers. During this event, drivers will not only be treated to delightful surprises and giveaways, but will also receive a crucial safety message emphasising the importance of responsible driving. The Highway Junction team are spearheading this event, with the JCA team providing driver safety resources and support.

For the second year, JCA will partner with the Reinhardt Transport Group (RTG) for their “Safer Roads” road shows, which will take place in various locations, including Komatipoort, Steelpoort, Rustenburg, Brits and Richards Bay. This collaboration will enable the dissemination of vital road safety information to a broader audience of truck drivers across these high-volume routes.

In addition to these road shows, JCA will host its third Annual Driver Day at Highway Junction, which will encompass driver health checks and the highly successful one-on-one driver motivational talks. This event further recognises the challenges faced by truck drivers and aims to express appreciation for their demanding profession. Each driver will receive a token of gratitude as a gesture of recognition for their commitment to one of the most challenging jobs around.

“The JCA team strongly encourages all stakeholders in the road safety ecosystem to consider and implement initiatives that elevate the professional status of drivers,” says Managing Director Oliver Naidoo. “By collectively addressing the issues faced by truck drivers and promoting safer driving practices, we can work towards improving South Africa’s lamentable road safety record.”

JCA is committed to fostering a culture of road safety and believes that these road shows, in collaboration with industry partners, are a meaningful step towards making our roads safer for everyone.

“South Africa’s trucking industry plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, facilitating the transportation of goods that are essential for daily life,” continues Naidoo. “The significant increase in freight volumes proportionately increases the safety risk exposure, hence the need for greater awareness and adherence to safety protocols among truck drivers.”

In this regard, Naidoo highlights some key factors the road freight sector should consider:

High accident rates: South Africa has one of the highest road crash rates in the world, and a significant proportion of these accidents involve heavy vehicles. The consequences of these accidents are often devastating, resulting in loss of life, injury, and damage to property.

Economic impact: Road accidents involving trucks have a substantial economic impact, causing delays in supply chains, increased insurance costs, and damage to infrastructure. These costs ultimately affect businesses, consumers, and the overall economy.

Driver well-being: Truck driving is a demanding profession, often requiring long hours on the road, exposure to adverse weather conditions, and significant physical and mental strain. Ensuring the well-being of truck drivers is not only a safety concern, but also a matter of basic human rights. The increasing truck crime statistics and social unrest incidents make the situation even worse.

To address these challenges, there is a growing need for comprehensive safety awareness programs targeting truck drivers. These initiatives should include:

Education and training: Providing truck drivers with access to training programs that focus on safe driving practices, defensive driving techniques, and understanding road conditions. This should not be purely classroom based which has limited impact, but should use personal, innovative, and consistent means of engaging with the drivers to bring about the desired shift in safety culture.

Mental and physical health support: Offering resources and services that address the mental and physical health of truck drivers, including stress management, nutrition, and regular health check-ups, especially for drivers with chronic illnesses.

Technology integration: Implementing advanced safety technologies such as collision avoidance systems, fatigue monitoring, and using telematics data to enhance driver safety.

Community engagement: Encouraging collaboration between government agencies, the trucking industry, and local communities, to create a collective commitment to road safety.

Recognition and appreciation: Recognising and appreciating the contributions of truck drivers who undertake one of the toughest jobs in the country, often under challenging conditions.

We are proud to announce that we have expanded our product range with two types of waterflow switches, U-bolt & threaded. They’re designed for the detection of a water flow in fire sprinkler piping systems. Both types are CE certified, UL listed and FM approved. In addition they’re both suitable for use in fire protection and HVAC systems. Order them now in our webshop!

PROFIT WATERFLOW SWITCH WITH U-BOLT – WFS
Profit waterflow switches, type WFS, are used for the detection of a water flow in fire sprinkler piping systems. They’re available from 2 to 8 inch. The installation is similar to a mechanical sprinkler tee with U-bolt clamp.

The main features are:

• Only suitable for wet systems on pipes sched 10 to sched 40.
• All parts have a corrosion resistant finish.
• Contains two synchronised switches (SPDT contacts model).
• Working pressure:    – UL/FM: 450 PSI

– CE: 16 bar

PROFIT THREADED WATERFLOW SWITCH – WFST
The Profit waterflow switches, type WFST, are used for the detection of a water flow in fire sprinkler piping systems. They’re suitable for 1”, 1¼”, 1½” and 2”. The installation is with a threaded male connector into a classic threaded malleable mechanical tee.

The main features are:

• Only suitable for wet systems on classic threaded tees.
• All parts have a corrosion resistant finish.
• Contains two synchronised switches (SPDT contacts model).
• Working pressure:    – UL/FM: 450 PSI

– CE: 16 bar

Profit by Piping Logistics
www.pipinglogistics.eu
info@pipinglogistics.eu

Leading provider of railway infrastructure solutions, VAESA, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a significant three-year contract by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) to manufacture and supply TFR’s demand for turnout sets and components annually. This collaboration is a testament to VAESA’s commitment to delivering high-quality railway products and services that enhance South Africa’s rail network.

TFR’s decision to award VAESA with this game-changing contract from a rail network infrastructure perspective, underscores the company’s reputation for excellence and innovation within the railway industry.

“We are delighted to have been selected by TFR for this significant contract,” says Pulane Tshabalala Kingston, VAESA’s Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership between ourselves and TFR aligns perfectly with our mission to provide cutting-edge railway solutions that contribute to South Africa’s transportation infrastructure progress. Our team is dedicated to delivering products of the highest quality that meet the stringent standards set by TFR.”

Local production a boost for the economy

The turnout sets and components for this project will be manufactured at VAESA’s state-of-the-art Isando facility in Johannesburg. The facility holds a unique history, as it was acquired 26 years ago by voestalpine Railway Systems, part of the voestalpine group, a distinguished Austrian-listed metal company renowned as the unrivalled leader in turnout technology globally. In 2021, Mirai Rail Corporation, a black woman-owned company, acquired a controlling interest in VAESA.

“As the only facility of its scale in sub-Saharan Africa, our Isando facility stands as a testament – not only to the company’s dedication to advancing railway infrastructure and technology on the Continent, but also to our commitment to local manufacture in South Africa,” says Tshabalala Kingston. “In this regard, it is important to note that our facility has the capacity to comfortably meet both TFR’s demand in terms of the awarded contract, as well as our other customers’ demands. We have gone to great lengths to ensure the security of supply for our customers, as we understand how important this is.”

“It is noteworthy that this is the first substantial turnouts contract to have been successfully awarded in the last five years – and explains TFR’s significant maintenance backlog. This award is an important and positive step forward by TFR, which will go a long way to resolving cycle time issues, creating jobs, bolstering the revenues of users on the rail network and ultimately contributing to our overall economic growth,” continues Tshabalala Kingston.

Turnouts are a critical component of modern railway infrastructure. They let trains change tracks smoothly, without needing to stop. Turnouts allow trains to be re-routed to avoid congestion, delays, or maintenance work. Additionally, rail turnouts enable the creation of sidings, which are essential for freight trains to pass each other on single-track lines.

Empowering communities and driving economic growth

According to Tshabalala Kingston, the significance of the contract goes well beyond VAESA, casting a positive light on the entire perway industry. “This award heralds a much-needed turnaround that will breathe new life into various facets of the industry – including job prospects and the livelihood of downstream suppliers, who provide essential components like nuts, bolts, chairs, and fishplates. The positive impact of this award extends across the industry, as it revitalises not only VAESA, but also the network of companies that support its operations.”

Already, VAESA has supplied TFR with 18 complete turnout sets. These were installed in July this year during the annual shutdown of the coal line that runs from Lephalale in Limpopo, through Mpumalanga, to the Port of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. The turnouts were installed on the Ermelo, Vryheid, Ulundi and Richards Bay lines. As of January 2023, the coal line had a number of clamped turnouts, which hurt the ability of coal mining companies to evacuate their export coal. Replacing 18 turnouts has been heralded as a game-changer, significantly improving cycle times and overall turnaround time in the TFR Ermelo yard – ultimately halving the overall cycle time.

“The awarding of this contract and the successful engagement and participation in the yearly coal line shutdown, through collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, serves as undeniable evidence of what is possible when all stakeholders come together with a common purpose, ” concludes Tshabalala Kingston. “It benefits the manufacturing industry at large and users of the various rail corridors. Equally important, is that it will increase tariff revenues for Transnet – given the greater operational efficiencies achieved, allowing for more volumes to be transported between the coal mines and the Port of Richards Bay. This impact of the award cannot be underestimated – it has the capability of contributing to the re-awakening of the South African rail renaissance.”