MONTHLY MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2026
ISSUE NO. 10
The Reliability Brief
Fix the Old Before Buying the New
While road transport serves its purpose, rail is generally regarded as the more affordable option for transporting bulk goods between countries. But this advantage counts for little to nothing if ageing infrastructure and unreliable locomotives prevent operators from meeting demand.
Rail Rolling Stock Maintenance
Going Beyond Assumptions in Locomotive Fleet Maintenance
Tristan le Masne, the Managing Director of Alstom, highlights the importance of understanding individual locomotives’ operating histories and conditions to ensure effective fleet maintenance. The rail OEM and lifecycle maintenance solutions provider is keen to explore opportunities across Africa.
The Small Fleet Dilemma: Maintain or Keep Running?
A common challenge in Africa’s freight rail sector is that some operators have relatively small and ageing locomotive fleets, yet demand for their services is high. Faced with this situation, and with limited resources, they find it difficult to carry out maintenance as recommended.
Earthmoving Equipment
Keeping the Fleet on its Feet
In the last quarter of 2026, it is business as usual for the Aftermarket team at Bell Equipment Limited. We chat to the Aftermarket and Product Support Director, Meltus Badenhorst, who tells us about the intricacies of meeting customer maintenance needs for earthmoving equipment in the mining and construction sectors across the continent.
Why Mining Operations are Still Losing Productivity Despite More data
Asset intelligence goes beyond simply knowing where a machine is located or how many hours it has worked. It involves using operational data to understand how effectively assets are being utilised, where inefficiencies exist and what actions can be taken to improve overall site performance.
Power
Power Quality Becomes a Strategic Priority for Modern Industrial Operations
As industrial operations become increasingly automated, maintaining high power quality is essential for protecting equipment, improving energy efficiency and ensuring reliable production. Trafo Power Solutions highlights how properly engineered transformer solutions….
Appointments
Johnathan Kalula Takes Over as Managing Director at VEGA Controls SA
Kalula joined VEGA for in-service training after earning his diploma from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Soon afterwards, he was seconded to customer Safripol in Sasolburg, where 18 months in the field shaped his approach to instrumentation.
Condition Monitoring
Combining Advanced Monitoring, AI and Human Expertise to Improve Plant Reliability
The future of asset reliability does not lie in choosing between technology and human expertise, but in using both effectively. AI can process information, detect anomalies and prioritise attention, while condition monitoring technologies provide …
Lubricants
Additive Depletion: When Oil Runs on Empty
Specialist condition monitoring company, WearCheck, continues the discussion around oil condition – the latest topic is additive depletion.
Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO)
Look Beyond Price in Maintenance, Repair and Operations Procurement
For many organisations, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) procurement is viewed primarily through the lens of purchase price. The focus is often on securing the best possible price for parts, tools, consumables and other essential supplies.….
South African Wind Farms Could Benefit from German Oil-Debris Monitoring Technology
Gastops’ MetalSCAN oil-debris monitoring technology could provide another condition-monitoring option for South African wind-farm operators. Recently, Gastops renewed its long-term supply agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S for MetalSCAN oil-debris monitoring technology...
Predictive Maintenance
Why the Pumps Industry is Moving Past the Spec Sheet
In a typical 20-year industrial asset cycle, the initial purchase price of a pump represents only a fraction of what it will cost to own, commonly cited around 10%, with energy and maintenance making up the rest. In the thought leadership piece, Referro Systems MD Adrian van Wyk explains why the industry is finally moving past the spec sheet and what that means for every plant still buying on price alone.
