As one of the most active stainless steel industry associations in the world, Sassda has been intrinsically involved in increasing the awareness and use of stainless steel in Southern Africa since its inception in 1964.
Practised at adapting to existing market influences over the associations lifetime, Sassda has once again tackled industry disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic by adding value to its new and existing members through a tiered membership structure which streamlines and targets their pursuit of promoting the sustainable growth and development of the industry; with the main emphasis on stainless steel converted within the South African economy.
Now offering a comprehensive list of services to its wide-ranging member base, including technical information and advice, education, training and skills upgrading, a range of publications and marketing, and industry and business development support, Sassda’s new tiered membership structure will allow its members to choose from a bouquet of benefits according to their industry focus and manufacturing needs.
As the only local association that has all its services and products available in easy-to-deliver packaging available online, Sassda has placed the power in its member’s hands, allowing each member organisation to be in control of maximising the value and delivery of services according to their membership structure.
In the past, Sassda’s value to members was service-based according to member requirements. The new structure leads the association into the new future with a ‘user pays’ principle according to a basket of defined value-adding items on the table.
Sassda Acting Executive Director Michel Basson comments; “Our members now know exactly what the full value of membership entails, and they can take advantage of the value at any time. They can now even customise their basket of services to add maximum value,”
“In line with our goal of pioneering a new approach to stainless steel in South Africa, we are pleased with having identified a range of potential projects for the ‘new look Sassda’ to deliver enhanced returns on member investment.”
Comprising a set of competitive membership packages, which are based on cost and inherent added-value, each package is tailor-made for the size of members’ operations, as well as the number of employees within an operation specifically assigned to the production of stainless steel. Among these developments is the conversion of Sassda’s existing fundamentals course to an electronic-learning course to increase accessibility.
The new model puts the power back in the members’ hands across a range of proven technical support and advice, world-class training, marketing for your business, solid sales leads, effective lobbying and export promotion and increased influence and networking opportunities where members will at all times be in control of maximising the value of membership.
“Whilst our website is packed with information that covers all aspects of our industry, there will be areas on the site only accessible to members. In the Members Only zone there will be information and products only available to Sassda members, including documents, statistics as well as member-specific products such as the Information Series,” confirms Basson.
As an added benefit, the Sassda COVID-19 33% membership discount makes it possible for all current members to keep membership through the challenges posed by the economic effects of the virus. This discount is only applicable to members for the duration of the 2020 financial year.
Membership of the Association is open to both National and Sub-Saharan Africa companies and individuals in good standing involved in the production, distribution, fabrication, conversion and use of stainless steel.