The greatest strength of the South African stainless steel sector is undoubtedly its people who believe in the material’s ability to enhance and sustain the South African economy no matter how onerous the challenges it faces. For this reason, we have decided to launch a profile series on passionate stainless professionals who embody the bold spirit and forward-thinking who will shape our industry for many years to come. In this issue, we speak to Columbus Stainless Manager: Market Development,
Lerato Mashiga…
“There are so many benefits (of stainless steel); with the most important one being Life Cycle Costing. It’s so amazing how this becomes a game changer once the differences between stainless steel and competing metals are highlighted…”
Why did you decide to study a Bachelor of Engineering specialising in metallurgy – what is it about the discipline that attracted you to this field of study?
To be honest, I had no idea what Metallurgy was all about when I applied for the course. I was attracted to the engineering field because of the challenge of breaking into a male-dominated industry. I enjoyed Maths and Science in school, so at the time I figured any field in engineering would be worth my while. In retrospect, it has been a perfect fit.
If I had to choose all over again knowing what I know now, I would choose Metallurgy. I love the fact that the field in itself is not rigid – one is not limited to a specific industry or a specific department. The knowledge is so diverse that I feel you can do everything with it.
How did the first years of your career build on what you learnt at university but in a more practical setting? What were the key lessons you learnt during this time?
At the core of our university training is the concept of problem-solving and strategic thinking. No matter what the topic or course content, this was the fundamental/key lesson learnt.
During practical vacation work, while still in university, the exposure to the industry involved applying practical knowledge to the theory learnt that year. As a “physical metallurgist in training”, this entailed work at the lab, learning how to do routine lab testing (tensile test, chemical analysis – and on rare occasions, being exposed to more sophisticated equipment and analyses like the scanning electron microscope). My first few years out of varsity were different.; call it a wake-up call. The technical knowledge was in place; however, implementing wider strategic thinking became critical.
I remember one of my first big projects was being involved in a” troubleshooting” group for the plant – trying to sort out excessive yield losses through one of their continuous lines. I remember going back to my books, trying to see if there is anything “metallurgical” I could have missed.
Long story short, I eventually found the cause of the defect – and it was far from what I could have imagined. What I eventually learnt from that experience was to think outside the box. Sometimes the culprit for defect or failures or any situation in life is not cut and dry. You have to be open to other possibilities– not dismissing them too quickly because they don’t fit the mould. I continue to keep this lesson.
How would you describe a typical day in your current position?
My current position is in market development. The objective is to find opportunities for stainless steel usage. My typical day entails researching various sectors to find a gap where stainless steel would be a perfect fit; liaising with customers or potential stainless steel users on grades that can be used for their specific applications, looking at various operating factors while balancing this with what they need to achieve. At the heart of this lies assisting and educating willing participants on the benefits of stainless steel. There are so many benefits; with the most important one being Life Cycle Costing. It’s so amazing how this becomes a game changer once the differences between stainless steel and competing metals are highlighted.
“The increasing need for sterile surfaces and components in various sectors I believe will drive the demand for stainless steel, and manufacturing in general – stimulating economic growth”
Why do you feel that stainless steel has such an important role to play in getting South Africa’s economy back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic?
My opinion is two-fold:
a) One has to look at the benefits of stainless steel to see that its hygienic properties and sterilisation capabilities are an essential characteristic going forward, especially in the medical and food industries. This is due to the ability to resist rust and corrosion due to the passive, tenacious and thin oxide film that forms on the stainless steel surface.
For this reason, stainless steel is easy to clean, wash and sanitize – an important and desired characteristic going forward to reduce the spread of germs and diseases. The increasing need for sterile surfaces and components in various sectors
I believe, will drive the demand for stainless steel, and manufacturing in general – stimulating economic growth.
b) With the current financial constraints, new projects and expansions have become scarce. I believe material specification should be done right from the get-go. Stainless steel, in most instances, becomes the most cost-efficient material of choice. This means that over the lifespan of the equipment
project, the eventual cost savings and extended service lifespan are beneficial, not only for the financial attributes but also to reduce the resultant carbon footprint manufacturing imparts on our environment. As an added benefit, stainless steel production contributes significantly in terms of sustainability, being 100% recyclable and also using recycled materials as part of the manufacturing process. Overall reduction in costs and improved sustainability are key drivers to ensure sustainable and continued growth in the manufacturing sector. Stainless steel plays an important role in achieving these objectives.
3CR12 is a local ‘invention’ – why do you feel this particular grade was so significant in the evolution and awareness of stainless steel in the market and why is it so important to the growth of certain sectors now i.e. key applications where it’s the ideal choice?
3CR12 is a proudly Columbus Stainless product. It was designed to bridge the gap between traditional “expensive” stainless steel grades and mild steel. The benefits achieved I believe were more than what was bargained for. 3CR12 exhibits excellent wet abrasion resistance – which is beneficial in materials handling equipment; good weldability even in thick sections – which is the Achilles heel for most ferritic stainless steel grades; and high strength – matching most structural steels. With 3CR12 being so versatile, the end uses are endless. Even though 3CR12 discolour (forms a brown patina) when exposed to certain environments, it still maintains its corrosion resistance and structural integrity.
The popular illustrations made are the electrification masts erected over 30 years ago in Port Elizabeth. Even exposed to direct sea washing, the resultant metal loss over the years is considered negligible. One has to be mindful though to specify the correct metal for each application…but overall, 3CR12 has proven to be the most cost-effective and diverse metal to be used. It has realised great success in the coal handling and transportation industries, and even in the food industry, like the sugar processing sector for various components. This is key to developments and growth in any sector.
What do you consider as the most exciting innovations/product developments happening in stainless steel right now and what sectors hold the greatest potential for the use of stainless steel in the future, e.g., aerospace, etc.
The exciting developments happening in the USA with Elon Musk’s SpaceX projects shows there are endless potentials for stainless steel in man’s quest of space exploration. Sustainability of our environment is also stimulating great innovations in the stainless steel industry. Inventions ranging from simplistic solutions like stainless steel drinking straws to complicated systems such as in the medical field (e.g. artificial coronary valves), shows stainless steel to be able to withstand the test of time with prolonged service lives. The material is thus suitably positioned to reduce our carbon footprint to sustain our planet for future generations. I believe this will continue to be a driving force for more innovations as the benefits of stainless steel in sustainability become more apparent.