Unraveling the secrets behind SEW-EURODRIVE's expansion in Africa

SEW-EURODRIVE Strengthens Presence in Africa Through Knowledge-Sharing Workshop

Unraveling the secrets behind SEW-EURODRIVE's expansion in Africa

SEW-EURODRIVE, a leading provider of drive and automation solutions, recently hosted a regional workshop at its Johannesburg facility to enhance its ability to provide appropriate solutions for unique African applications.

Teboho Moloi, Business Development Executive at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing in the company's operations. He stated that SEW-EURODRIVE's investment in people development and technical training within its network of African subsidiaries and partners is key to growing with its customers and Africa's industries simultaneously.

Strategies for Sustainable Operations

1. Developing Local Skills: SEW-EURODRIVE focuses on developing local skills and sharing technical expertise across its African operations. This approach helps in supporting sustainable industrial growth and addressing local challenges more effectively. By investing in local capabilities, SEW-EURODRIVE ensures that its customers can quickly recover from operational stoppages, which is crucial for industries with continuous operations.
2. Sustainability and Innovation: SEW-EURODRIVE prioritizes sustainability and cost savings through innovative technology. The company adapts its products and services to meet the specific needs of local industries, such as the sugar and mining sectors. By ensuring energy efficiency, many of its customers meet the latest energy efficiency benchmarks.
3. Responsive Support: A regional plant in Durban, combined with a national network, provides 24/7 technical assistance and rapid turnaround on assembly, spares, and service. This support is critical for industries that operate continuously and require immediate solutions.
4. Expansion and Infrastructure Development: SEW-EURODRIVE has initiated a phased expansion in South Africa, which includes the completion of Phase 1 and ongoing development of Phase 2, a dedicated after-sales facility. This expansion supports its commitment to enhanced service delivery and local capacity building.
5. Industry Engagement and Partnerships: SEW-EURODRIVE participates in key industry events, such as the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association (SASTA) Conference and Exhibition. This engagement helps showcase its technology and reinforce its commitment to the local industries.

The Knowledge-Sharing Workshop

The workshop focused on intensive product training and inter-regional knowledge exchange. It covered SEW-EURODRIVE's full suite of advanced technologies, including modular X.e-series industrial gear units, energy-efficient IE3 electric motors, decentralised MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drives, and the sophisticated MOVI-C® automation platform.

Workshops like these are instrumental in upskilling SEW-EURODRIVE's people and fostering connections between different regions. The recent workshop brought together team members from several African countries, enabling them to share experiences and insights, thereby strengthening SEW-EURODRIVE's ability to serve Africa's evolving industrial and mining landscape.

By equipping its people with the latest product expertise and encouraging collaboration, SEW-EURODRIVE strengthens its position as a trusted partner for various industries across Africa. These learnings are relevant to similar applications across Africa and aid in anticipating challenges and fast-tracking problem-solving.

Effective and sustainable results in Africa require a deep understanding of local conditions, proactive skills development, and sustained collaboration across borders. SEW-EURODRIVE's commitment to developing regional capability ensures it remains responsive, reliable, and aligned with its customers' strategic needs.

[1] https://www.sew-europe.com/en-gb/news/sew-eurodrive-south-africa-invests-in-skills-development-and-technical-training [2] https://www.sew-europe.com/en-gb/news/sew-eurodrive-south-africa-expands-its-operations-in-johannesburg [3] https://www.sew-europe.com/en-gb/news/sew-eurodrive-south-africa-participates-in-the-south-african-sugar-technologists-association-conference-and-exhibition [4] https://www.sew-europe.com/en-gb/news/sew-eurodrive-south-africa-successfully-deploys-helical-and-bevel-geared-motors-in-the-sugar-sector [5] https://www.sew-europe.com/en-gb/news/sew-eurodrive-south-africa-completes-phase-1-of-its-expansion-project

1. SEW-EURODRIVE's investment in people development and technical training within its network of African subsidiaries and partners is not only essential for growing with its customers but also for addressing the unique challenges in Africa's various industries.
2. By adapting its products and services to meet the specific needs of local industries, such as the sugar and mining sectors, SEW-EURODRIVE prioritizes sustainability and cost savings through innovative technology, contributing to energy efficient operations.
3. Effective collaboration among SEW-EURODRIVE's teams from different African countries, as fostered through knowledge-sharing workshops, enables the company to strengthen its ability to serve Africa's evolving industrial and mining landscape, thus positioning itself as a trusted partner for various businesses across the continent.

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