Momentum continues to grow behind the ambitious plans of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa to become a leading force in the continent’s industrial gearbox business, drives and automation solutions. “Building on years of planning and proactive investment we are successfully rolling out our African Strategy plans to get closer to customers all over the continent,” says managing director, Raymond Obermeyer. “To do this effectively, we are continuing to strengthen our foundation of technical capability and expertise.”
With a firm footprint in many southern African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, the company is extending its reach northwards into the likes of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania and Morocco. At its 26 000 m2 headquarters in Aeroton near Johannesburg, which the company occupied in 2022, work has already begun on expanding its footprint by building a second adjacent facility.
“This service centre will further support our expansion of sales, support, engineering and training capabilities,” he says. “We have begun appointing key staff for the facility, and will add another 20 to 30 employees</nobr> over the course of this year.”
He points out that many local gearbox users face the challenge of inadequate support for products being sold onto the market and highlights that SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa focuses on being well equipped to service and repair all its products.
“As one of the few gearbox OEMs in the country with advanced design and engineering infrastructure, we can also make use of our group’s world class facilities in Germany,” he explains. “This even allows us to service and repair the products of other OEMs – and to the same high standard as the original item.”
The new SEW-EURODRIVE service centre facility in Aeroton will house the company’s existing industrial gearbox repairs division as well as an expanded Drive Academy – which trains staff and customers. Other capabilities to be brought in-house include base plate fabrication and sand blasting, while new equipment will include robotic welders, five-axis gear cutting machines and heavy cranage.
SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is also pursuing its growth plans through finding new markets, a drive which is supported by the group’s wide and expanding range of products and solutions. In 2025, the group has already launched 16 new products, says Obermeyer, as it pushes boundaries in fields such as industrial gears, geared motors, electronics and artificial intelligence.
“This reflects the innovative approach and the research and development capability that is opening up opportunities in existing and new markets,” he says. “At SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa we understand the importance of keeping up our investments in Africa, positioning ourselves for a leadership position.”
Construction on the expansions for the new SEW-EURODRIVE service centre began in November 2024 and the facility will be operational by the end of 2025. Obermeyer says that customers can look forward to the facility further raising the service bar for the industry from 2026.
New Würth Elektronik location in South Africa
News
A new Würth Elektronik branch has opened in Brackenfell, Western Cape. The location operates under the name Wurth Electronics South Africa and will serve local customers, as well as being responsible for markets in Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
Read more...John Thompson and BECS partner to deliver biomass energy solutions ACTOM Electrical Machines
News
John Thompson, a division of ACTOM and South Africa’s leading provider of industrial energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions, a specialist developer and supplier of biomass energy projects. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the deployment of reliable, renewable steam solutions to industrial customers across Africa.
Read more...Academy pumps out the next generation of experts
News
KSB Pumps and Valves has invested in a specialised training centre designed to equip internal and branch staff and certified partners with in-depth knowledge of KSB products and systems.
Read more...Celebrating the power of diversity in the engineering sector
News
The engineering sector has historically been a male-dominated field, and to a large extent it still is. However, this is changing, and the shift is gaining significant momentum as more women begin to take up leadership roles, spearheading innovation and driving inclusive growth.
Read more...From the Editor's desk: What happened to the metaverse? Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
One of the most interesting technical crashes in recent years is the metaverse. As recently as 2022, it was white hot, with massive hype led by Meta. Even Bill Gates was saying that in two to three years ...
Read more...Nidec adopts Siemens Teamcenter for electric motor development Siemens South Africa
News
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Nidec Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of electric motors, has adopted Teamcenter X software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to achieve innovative motor development and supply to set new industry standards, including automotive.
Read more...Yaskawa Southern Africa and Sol-Tech advance industrial robotics training Yaskawa Southern Africa
News
Yaskawa Southern Africa has announced a strategic collaboration with Sol-Tech, a private vocational training institution based in Pretoria, to strengthen technical education in industrial robotics and support the development of future-focused talent for South Africa’s evolving manufacturing sector.
Read more...Building skills and sharing knowledge for growth in Africa SEW-EURODRIVE
News
As a leading provider of drive and automation solutions across the continent, SEW-EURODRIVE recognises that local insight and on-the-ground capability are critical to delivering effective sustainable results. The company continues to invest in people development and technical training within its network of African subsidiaries and partners, supporting the long-term growth of its customers and the broader industrial ecosystem.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version