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14 February 2018 Photo Varsity Cup
Shimlas make it two out of three
Menzi Nhlabathi, flank of the Shimlas, celebrates his try against Wits.

The Shimlas are back in the top half of the Varsity Cup log thanks to a second win in three matches.

They recorded a 44-24 victory over Wits at Shimla Park on Monday night, a team who have been in red-hot form with wins over the Ikeys and Tuks in the first two rounds.

Wits had the upper hand shortly before half time when they led by 12-5, but four tries within 15 minutes, two of them seven pointers, took the wind out of their sails and turned a 5-12 deficit into a 35-12 lead for the Shimlas.

From there the Blue Train never looked back, although Wits closed the gap to 24-35 towards the end, but at that stage the win was already sealed. Flyhalf Nakkie Naudé scored nearly half (20 points) of his team’s total which included two tries.

Next up for the Shimlas is a clash with the Ikeys in Cape Town on Monday.

Vishuis and U-20 also on the winning side

Meanwhile the Shimlas U-20 team won their opening fixture against their counterparts of the North-West University. The Shimlas Young Guns under new head coach, Wian du Preez, were victorious by 47-37. They will be in action again on 26 February 2018 when they face the Young Guns of the Central University of the Free State (CUT) at Shimla Park.

Vishuis, who represents the University of the Free State in the competition for hostels, opened the defence of their title with a 42-0 thumping of the Lions of CUT.

News Archive

When entrepreneurship meets industrial innovation
2014-12-13

Johan Eksteen (Photo: Supplied)

Internationally acclaimed Argicon Pelleting is a worldwide supplier of pelleting machinery and equipment as well as agri-processing factories. The company was established in 1993 by André and Johan Eksteen, UFS 2004 MBA graduate. After taking over sole ownership, the company grew from a one-man business to an internationally respected specialist in the design and manufacturing of pelleting solutions for the agricultural industry.

A common practice in industrial procedures, pelleting involves processing material into small dry pellets. This is used globally by manufacturers of animal feed or recycling facilities that specialise in processing materials for reuse. This process, however, can only be successfully accomplished with specialised equipment, namely a pelletizer. With fifteen years’ experience in agriculture, and international exposure in countries such as Uganda, Australia, Singapore and New Caledonia, this was not a tall order for Johan.

Agricon focuses on consistently developing innovative ways to add value to its offering. The business has successfully installed pelleting equipment for a range of products, including tobacco dust, rooibos tea, human sludge waste, organic fertilizers and vermi-compost. In addition to the manufacturing of machines and equipment, the company also provides training and on-site installation for clients, as well as support following a sale or the provision of spare parts. The company also provides advice on new product developments and business opportunities for clients within the sector.

Apart from doubling its sales between 2013 and 2014, the company gained great recognition within the industry. Johan was awarded the University of the Free State Business School’s Entrepreneur award in 2013 and he is the first-prize winner of the ILO Free State EnterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge for 2014. He is currently one of 15 finalists countrywide in the Entrepreneur of the Year competition sponsored by Business Partners and Sanlam. Johan is the mentor and stand-in manager for Almenta, a skills development company (winner of the ILO Best Social Entrepreneur for Skills Development award) and Equus Groom School (winner of the ILO Social Entrepreneur in Youth Development award).

Johan was also announced as the winner of the SA entrepreneur of the year for small businesses.

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