SOUTH AFRICAN SUPPLIERS
undue damage . This also reduces dust creation , Tintinger notes , which is an ongoing health and safety concern on mines .
“ Controlling material flow through the right chute design also protects costly equipment like conveyor belts ,” he says . In one example , Weba Chute Systems installed a Cascade Chute at a southern African copper mine to better control the flow of material onto conveyor belts . This saved immediately on belt costs , while boosting productivity through improved uptime .
Powering up in the region
Having carved a niche in dry-type transformer applications in Africa , and steadily grown its offering , Trafo Power Solutions says it sees a future as a leading provider of electrical power solutions to the southern African mining sector .
This evolution has been underpinned by the company ’ s strong design and engineering capability , and its in-depth technical understanding of various aspects of electrical projects , it says .
Managing Director of Trafo Power Solutions , David Claassen , says the success to date has been based on its customised design and rapid execution of solutions that fit into the broader project requirements .
“ We have a reputation for how well we understand the conditions and applications in which our transformers must operate ,” Claassen says . “ This broad technical knowledge has also allowed us to build more complete solutions that include a transformer as one of the many components .”
For instance , Trafo Power Solutions has been growing into the field of integrated modular substations for mining and other sectors . These installations have seen enthusiastic uptake in mining due to the often remote locations in which power is required . Building a traditional brick-and-mortar substation on site can be complex and time consuming , whereas a modular substation or e-house can be constructed and tested in a specialised workshop – and then shipped to site .
“ Our dry-type transformers are ideally suited for these installations , as their high safety rating allows them to be integrated into the substation structure during assembly ,” Claassen says . “ In contrast , conventional oil-cooled transformers carry a higher safety risk , so must usually be located separately ; they also need protective infrastructure to ensure that any oil leakage does not cause environmental contamination .”
Gearing up to service clients
As part of its strategy to ‘ close the loop ’ in its service offering , SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa , a specialist in drive and control technologies , has broken ground on a new 17,000 sq . m Service and Repair Centre .
The establishment of the facility , it says , plugs the gap for expert repair services for gearboxes in Africa .
Having moved into its new 26,000 sq . m headquarters complex in Aeroton , Johannesburg , in early 2022 , which represented Phase 1 of an investment drive in South Africa , SEW- EURODRIVE commenced Phase 2 of its local expansion drive . Following the turning of the first sod on September 2 , 2024 , groundworks commenced the following week with completion of the project expected by November 2025 and occupation in early 2026 .
Having invested R500 million ($ 27.6 million ) in the new headquarters a few years ago , the plus- R384 million investment in a new service and repair centre right next to the head office signals SEW-EURODRIVE ’ s commitment to servicing customers in Africa and its confidence in the future of South Africa and the African continent in general , it says .
Raymond Obermeyer , Managing Director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa , says the new facility represents the company ’ s largest investment , post the COVID-19 pandemic . It also forms part of SEW-EURODRIVE ’ s € 1 billion ($ 1.05 billion ) investment in the expansion of its service capabilities in various markets across the world in 2024 alone .
“ Currently , our competitors in the gearbox market primarily focus on selling equipment with
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