CHAMBER ONE

PETROLEUM AND BASE CHEMICALS CHAMBER


What is the Petroleum sub-sector?


Characteristics


What is the Base Chemicals sector?

Characteristics

What factors influence the Petroleum and Base Chemicals Chamber?


The Skills Needs of the Petroleum and Base Chemicals Chamber


CHAMBER TWO

PHARMACEUTICAL AND FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS CHAMBER


What is the Pharmaceutical sub-sector?


The pharmaceutical industry is involved in the manufacture, fabricating processing and distribution (excluding wholesale) of drugs, medicines and health-monitoring preparations, including biological products such as bacterial and virus vaccines, serums and plasmas; medicinal chemicals and botanical products such as antibiotics, quinine, strychnine, sulpha drugs, opium and derivatives, adrenal, caffeine, codeine derivatives, vitamins; and pharmaceutical preparations for human or veterinary use; and antiseptics for medical but not for household use, and all operations incidental to these activities.


Characteristics


Factors influencing the Pharmaceutical sub-sector


Skills Needs of the Pharmaceutical sub-sector


Chemically related consumer goods

Influencing Factors


Characteristics

Globally the trend is to find economies of scale through the establishment of centralised manufacturing sites in countries with profitable production conditions. This trend impacts negatively on operations in developing countries.

Multinationals have central - often global - buying arrangements and access to sophisticated technology. Currently, bigger companies concentrate on the richer segment of the market, while smaller operations survive by concentrating on the poorer end of the scale If multinationals succeeds in lowering their unit costs they will start moving into some of the niche segments currently served by smaller operations.


What are the Skills Needs of the chemically related consumer goods Sub Sector


Skills needs differ between the larger and smaller manufacturers. Multinationals have a need for technically skilled employees with emphasis on mechanical and electrical skills.


Employers require generic skills or abilities from their employees, such as problem solving and multi-skilling capabilities; and a generic skills focus.


Shortages are experienced in non-technical areas, such as business skills, people management skills, particularly at supervisory level. This sub-sector needs process operators who are multi skilled including engineering and quality/product enhancement.


CHAMBER THREE

Explosives and Fertilisers Chamber


The fertiliser and explosives industries share many characteristics, such as common feedstocks (mainly ammonium nitrate and similar basic chemical technologies).


The Explosives sub-sector covers all commercial enterprises whose primary activities are governed by the Explosives Act, and includes the manufacturing and marketing of explosive accessories and related activities.


Characteristics of the explosives industry


Characteristics

The demand for fertilisers for household gardening purposes is estimated to be between 3% and 5% of total sales.


The Skills Needs of the Explosives and Fertilisers Chamber


CHAMBER FOUR

SPECIALITY CHEMICALS AND SURFACE COATINGS CHAMBER


What
makes up the Speciality Chemicals sub-sector


The manufacture, sale and/or distribution of diversified speciality chemicals for mainly industrial use; including but not limited to: furniture, metal and other polishes; waxes and dressings; disinfectants, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides for industrial / agricultural use, dry and wet cell batteries; sterilants and deodorisers: metallurgical powders: additives for plastics; candles: food additives; fine chemicals and enzymes.


The speciality chemical industries sub-sector is a diverse sub-sector, producing a wide range of products. It is estimated that as many as 200 companies comprise this sector. The sector is dominated by small and medium enterprises operating in niche markets.


Characteristics


What is the Surface Coatings sub-sector


Characteristics of the Surface Coatings Industry


The annual turnover for the paint and coating industry is estimated to be between R3 and R5 billion, with current employment levels of about 7,000 workers. The sub-sector caters almost entirely for the domestic market, as only speciality and novel products not available locally, are imported.


Influencing Factors


The Skills Needs of the Speciality Chemicals & Surface Coatings Chamber


CHAMBER FIVE

GLASS CHAMBER

What is the Glass sub sector?


The manufacturing, smelting, decorating, distribution and storage processes of glass products in the following markets:


Packaging and container ware, Blown glass, whether this is performed mechanically or manually, including glass bending, building glass for building, architectural, toughening and silvering use, including applications, Automotive glass for original equipment and replacement, Fibreglass, mineral wools, slagwool and rockwool,


The extraction, processing and distribution of industrial minerals and other non-metallic mineral products which are specifically employed in the manufacture of glass and/or glass products, or are by-products from the extraction and processing of silicate, glass sand or any other non-metallic mineral product primarily for use in the manufacture of glass.


Characteristics


What are the factors influencing the Glass Chamber?


What Skills are needed in the Glass Chamber?