The two events, which are certain to become the most crucial on the annual metals and engineering sector calendar, were introduced not only to encourage growth in a sector that has under-performed over the past few years, but also to celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering industries.

SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said the combination of these two very crucial events will afford both Indaba delegates and Awards guests an opportunity to celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering sector.

He said a number of companies had indicated their intention to submit entries for the Awards, but had expressed concern that the 31 January deadline was too tight. The new closing date for entries is now 17h00 on Friday, 24 April 2015.

Delegates attending the Metals and Engineering Indaba do not need to pay an additional fee to attend the Awards dinner, since dinner was already included in the delegate fee.

The SEIFSA Awards for Excellence offer 10 different categories and manufacturers in metals and engineering operating in Southern Africa are invited to submit their entries. The 10 categories are:

  • The Most Innovative Company of the Year, which will be awarded to a company which showed the highest level of innovation in research and development or production in 2014.
  • The Health and Safety Award of the Year will be offered to a company with the best legal compliance record in Health and Safety or the lowest Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate in 2014.
  • Entries are also invited from companies whose Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme/s in 2014 had a major impact on the lives of its beneficiaries.
  • Companies rated the highest in customer service performance in 2014 will receive the Customer Service Award of the Year.
  • The Most Transformed Company of the Year award will be received by a company that showed the highest transformation level in the composition of its Board of Directors, Executive Management and Managerial Team in 2014. This award category pits companies employing fewer than 100 people against those of similar size, and companies employing more than 100 companies against others of similar size.
  • This is the Decade of the Artisan, and an award will be made to the company that trained the highest number of artisans in 2014.
  • The Environment Stewardship Award will go to a company that has made the biggest or best strides towards conserving the environment or mitigating the impact of its operations on the environment in 2014.

Commenting on the industry awards, SEIFSA Marketing and Communications Executive Adelia Pimentel said: “It is of paramount importance that companies play a crucial role in socio-economic upliftment and that they are recognised for their contributions and encouraged to do more.”

Companies operating in these vital economic sectors are encouraged not only to enter for any one of the categories offered, but also to consider taking up the various marketing opportunities available.

Guests wishing to attend the Awards Dinner only, excluding the Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba, will find ticket prices on the Awards website www.seifsaawards.co.za.