SEW-Eurodrive South Africa has delivered 67 Movigear mechatronic integrated drive units to a major glass-manufacturing facility in the Western Cape in a record turnaround time of six weeks. Components were sourced from Germany, while the units were assembled in Cape Town. “The order for the Western Cape facility follows on from work that the company undertook for its customer in Gauteng about six years ago,” explains sales engineer Sean Tibbott.
The fact that the original bottling line has been running successfully on Movigear units to date means that the technology is tried-and-tested. “That essentially paved the way for the Western Cape expansion, in keeping with the general industry trend of energy-efficiency and cost-saving,” highlights Tibbott. The project is a good benchmark for mechatronics in general, and Movigear in particular.”
“Industry has tended to shy away from this technology in the past, mainly due to a lack of understanding on its part,” reveals sales manager, Clive O’Reilly. “However, major customers such as this have not only assisted us make inroads into important markets such as food and beverage, but have raised the profile of mechatronics in general.”
A challenge for SEW-Eurodrive South Africa is to educate the engineering community about the benefits of mechatronics, and in particular, its contribution to the lowest total cost of ownership. “Our practical approach to the issue of raising awareness and providing fact-based figures is to install a Movigear unit for a trial period, and then to measure and compare the power consumption. The energy saving is dramatic, which has a significant impact on the investment decision.”
SEW-Eurodrive South Africa is fast establishing itself as a mechatronics leader in the country due to its local manufacturing capability and its technical support. “If you look at some of our competitors, none of their units are even repaired locally, whereas we not only have the spares stockholding and necessary expertise, but we offer a 24/7 aftermarket service as well,” says Tibbott.
Another factor giving Movigeaer an edge in the local market is that it is available in four variants, increasing its adaptability to different plant layouts. “This extends our flexibility considerably to respond to customers’ diverse requirements and applications. In addition, the Movigear units are ideal for corrosive environments or those where strict hygiene standards are applicable,” Tibbott concludes.
For more information contact Jana Klut, SEW-Eurodrive, +27 11 248 7000, [email protected], www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
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