With an extensive installed base in Zambia already, SEW-EURODRIVE is further building its capacity to serve customers with in-country skills, resources and inventory.

Francis Musaba, Business Development Representative in Zambia for SEW-EURODRIVE, says the country holds exciting prospects in a number of the economic sectors – and the company is embracing these with its proactive approach. The establishment of its Zambian branch, for instance, aligns well with the recent priority given to localisation of business. Further, there is a growing focus on conserving energy in the power-constrained economy – for which SEW-EURODRIVE’s innovative technology is ideally positioned.

As an electrical and mechanical engineer with more than a decade of experience in Zambia, Musaba’s knowledge of products and markets gives him deep insight into local business dynamics and demands. He points out that the company’s Zambian branch is allowing quicker turnaround times and continuously improving service levels for customers in mining, milling, sugar and beverage sectors.

“There is also a strong move by the country’s business chambers of commerce and industry to localise transactions,” he notes. “The company’s commitment to strengthening our branch in Zambia is aligned with a strong focus on l ensuring that the technical capacity and skills base for locally supplying and servicing our equipment matches the global standards demanded by SEW-EURODRIVE.”

Musaba already works closely with customers to analyse their critical components and plan their inventory requirements. This includes applying condition monitoring and preventative maintenance plans.

“An important consideration for all sectors in Zambia is our shortage of electricity – and this is another area where SEW-EURODRIVE has a strong competitive advantage,” he says. “Our engineered solutions are renowned for their energy efficiency, and this is becoming critical for Zambian companies.”

Poor rainfall over recent years has undermined the electricity generation levels from the country’s hydropower stations. He highlights that government is driving regulations that penalise energy users who have a poor power factor in their operations. This factor usually derives from the user’s process itself and the efficiency of their equipment, including the standard motors used by many companies. As a certified energy auditor, Musaba is also able to audit customers’ operations and advise on strategies to improve energy efficiency.

“As a start, it is important to migrate to high efficiency motors,” he explains. “This begins the payback process towards the capital cost immediately by reducing energy costs, and contributes to reducing the risk of penalisation.”

He also points to other SEW-EURODRIVE products such as gearmotors, frequency inverters, industrial gear units, decentralised drive systems and servo technology IEC certified motors, electronic drives, frequency inverters and in particular to the innovative DriveRadar® solution. All products are designed to  achieve high efficiency levels due to their advanced design and engineering. From the materials of construction to the smart technology, this innovation allows less energy to be used to generate the same torque as many competitor products.

Pinpointing climate change as possibly the most serious challenge humankind has ever had to tackle, SEW-EURODRIVE has for many years pursued a sustainability agenda that is applied across every aspect of its business.

According to SEW-EURODRIVE Managing Partner Jürgen Blickle, the company recognises that the number and scale of natural disasters is growing at an alarming rate – threatening people all round the world.

“This means every one of us has a responsibility to do what we can to slow down and stop this process, and this is particularly true for industry,” says Blickle. He points out that sustainability is nothing new for SEW‑EURODRIVE, which has long since seen recycling as an essential step in achieving a sustainable circular economy. The company has also championed renewable and efficient energy sources, and maximised the energy efficiency of its drives.

Living up to responsibilities

“We believe that sustainability goes even further than that, though,” he says. “We are determined to live up to our responsibilities in every way, whether in relation to the environment, our customers, our business partners, our employees, and not least our children and the world in which they will live.”

Through a long-term sustainability initiative called sustainability@SEW, the company is gradually and consistently safeguarding resources, lowering CO₂ emissions and optimising its entire value chain. Much progress has already been made, as it has for many years adopted a philosophy and practical approach that is centred on sustainable, durable products and an unwavering focus on customers and their requirements.

This ‘cradle-to-cradle’ approach – established back in 1990 as an end-to-end system for a circular economy – is now a benchmark for the environmentally friendly development of products and associated processes. It means that all the products, materials and substances used to manufacture a product can be fully returned to, or reused in, biological or technical loops.

Eco-design

This holistic approach is really the basis for planning the roll-out of SEW-EURODRIVE’s in-house eco-design guidelines. An example of how this is applied can be found in the way the company is developing and documenting two projects already underway on the recycling of brake components and magnets. These projects will provide a basis for eco-design to extend to the product categories of motors and electronics.

Another project will take these findings further and incorporate more product families. With its depth of expertise built from its sustained commitment to quality, SEW-EURODRIVE is opening a completely new chapter in product design with this sustainable product concept development. Its design guidelines will be distilled it into practical recommendations such as avoiding the use of certain adhesives or casting resin.

Reuse and recycling

The company will also produce an extended product qualification system as a benchmark for product development. Among the focus areas are reuse and recycling, which give many components a second lease on life. The scope of recycling is to be maximised, while leveraging a reuse system that puts as many products as possible back into service.

This means inspecting and cleaning reusable parts to possibly be fed back directly into the production process. This saves on the energy required to recycle copper, steel and die-cast aluminium parts – including the transport, separation and melting down of used parts.

Gear lubricant from sustainable biomass

In another sustainability innovation, SEW-EURODRIVE has developed a CO₂-reduced lubricant for its gear units. With 90 years of experience in developing and building gear units, the company has considerable expertise in tribology – the study of friction, lubrication and wear. Last year, it launched GearFluid Poly 220 E1, the first CO₂-reduced gear unit lubricant made from sustainable biomass – rather than from petroleum or another fossil raw material.

This improves the carbon footprint of GearFluid by 84% compared to petroleum-based polyglycol base oils. The biomass we have developed does not even need to be specially produced, and it takes up no additional agricultural land. Instead, the biomass comes from green cuttings and food waste, which is readily available and can now be very easily recycled.

This biowaste undergoes a complex synthesis process that transforms it into a high-quality base oil. The packaging has also been designed with sustainability in mind, so there is 25% recycled plastic in the cannisters for the oil.

Sustainable service

SEW-EURODRIVE’s holistic sustainability focus extends to the service end of its business – demanding that its products should always be designed to be as maintenance-friendly and repair-friendly as possible. An example of this is how gear units and gearmotors can be disassembled non-destructively and then reassembled again once faulty or worn parts have been replaced. Extending the service life of existing products also means having all individual components available worldwide for decades – to avoid unnecessarily using up resources on new equipment.

The company’s Life Cycle Services are the next logical step in this approach. These services are based on the concept of a holistic, closed loop that covers a product’s entire service lifespan while in use with the customer.

Provided by a dedicated contact, customers receive the best possible expertise and advice for their drive technology. An illustration of how this supports sustainability is the maintenance-friendly connection between SEW-EURODRIVE’s gear units and motors. This connection is made with a pinion shaft that has a key and a mounted pinion with a corresponding slot. Unlike on crimped pinions, this connection can be disassembled without destroying the parts. Any necessary repairs can be carried out at the customer’s premises or in one of SEW-EURODRIVE’s service centres.

In conclusion, Blickle emphasises how SEW-EURODRIVE works hand-in-hand with dedicated people to ensure the company is focused on people and on the future of humankind.

“Maintaining and protecting the very basis of our existence – that is exactly what sustainability means and that is what drives us at SEW‑EURODRIVE,” he says.

Constantly improving its technology and value offering to the market, SEW-EURODRIVE recently launched its innovative AMS adapter with added features to benefit the end-user.

According to Andreas Meid, SEW-EURODRIVE head of engineering, the company’s adapter has always fulfilled a valuable role in the company’s product line-up. Allowing SEW-EURODRIVE’s IEC motor to be integrated with an SEW-EURODRIVE gearbox, the AMS adapter has now been upgraded with even more refinements in mind.

“The first improvement we introduced with this AMS adapter is to make it more compact,” says Meid. “Its smaller footprint allows users to install it more easily in areas where space is constrained; in fact, we have been able to reduce its dimensions by up to a full 25%.”

The bearing selection in the AMS adapter has also been reviewed to optimise the bearing life relative to the operating temperatures. He highlights the growing demand in the market for longer service intervals and more uptime, to which this upgrade is a proactive response.

“We have also considered the specific requirements of vertical installations, and included a drain hole to ensure that any liquid can easily exit the adapter,” he says. “The flinger transports the liquid to the through bores in the intermediate flange, where it can drain out.”

This is important because it means that liquid will not enter the bearings and gears – thereby ensuring that the components can achieve the longest possible operating life. Customers have always appreciated the reliability and low cost of ownership of SEW-EURODRIVE’s offerings, says Marcio Sicchiero, SEW-EURODRIVE head of exports.

“The AMS adapter comes from the same heritage of high-precision German engineering,” says Sicchiero. “The range of frame sizes also makes it versatile across many industry applications; we offer 12 sizes from IEC 71 to IEC 280.”

There was an enthusiastic response to the new version when it was first launched at the Electra Mining exhibition in South Africa last year. It was also introduced to existing users of the AM adapter, who responded positively to the improvements. The innovation is being manufactured at a number of SEW-EURODRIVE’s plants around the world.

“The AMS adapters, together with our gearboxes and high efficiency IEC motors, offer customers a full package that comes with a two-year extended warranty,” he says. “There is the convenience of sourcing from one supplier, as well as the peace of mind when it comes to support and servicing – we look after all that.”

He notes that this package comes already assembled, reducing the time and cost – not to mention any operational risk – of trying to assemble components on site. Among the most common applications of the AMS adapter, motor and gearbox are in agitation and mixing activities in the mining and water sectors.

Despite the travails of the global economy and uncertainty in many countries, Africa will be the place to do business in the coming years.

So says Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, whose company has worked successfully around southern, central and east Africa for decades. The company’s expansion efforts are now ramping up, as SEW-EURODRIVE has embarked on a progressive branch establishment strategy.

“Customers around Africa know our brand well, and respect the precision German engineering that underlies all our products,” says Obermeyer. “They also rely on our strong service ethic, which is based on our culture of responsiveness and understanding customer needs.”

A key aspect of the company’s high levels of customer support derives from its infrastructure and capability – as well as having a presence close to customers’ sites. Ready availability of stock, and quick turnaround times for designed solutions, are ensured by SEW-EURODRIVE’s newly built and expanded facility in Aeroton, Johannesburg.

“These new headquarters – worth around R500 million in infrastructure and stock – was a carefully considered investment in our future growth,” he explains. “It has also enabled a three-fold increase in our stockholding, which is vital to ensuring that customers get what they need, when they need it.”

In addition to serving branches in Nelspruit, Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha, this state-of-the-art facility supports over 23 more countries in Africa. It is this proven branch model that the company is now rolling out. Moving gradually away from the distributor model of product sales and support, he explains that four countries are strategically targeted each year for a branch establishment.

“Taking a phased approach to our growth strategy, we began establishing branches in our key growth areas of Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and Tanzania in 2022,” he says. “In the years to come, we aim to target around four countries a year in which to put a branch in place.”

The model, emphasises Obermeyer, has benefits not only to customers but also to the host countries. While the investment is greater, there is more control over factors like service quality and performance. By appointing and training its own staff, SEW-EURODRIVE is ensuring that customers get a uniformly high standard of support, irrespective of their location.

“This strategy also aligns with the growing trend in Africa towards localisation,” he points out. “Countries are wanting to see more local benefit from economic growth, and a move away from relying on foreign companies and expatriate workers.”

Building on the experience of running its own strong branch network in South Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE is excited about the prospect of building capacity around Africa. This includes more formal training and mentorship of local staff in African branches – to service the continent’s already large population of SEW-EURODRIVE motors, gearboxes, geared motors and other equipment.

“Our equipment is to be found in a wide range of industries around Africa – from food and beverage to cement, mining and pharmaceutical,” says Obermeyer. “Our hands-on approach to our work means that we understand operating conditions in each country, and so we have developed the expertise to deliver the way our customers require.”

He emphasises that casual observers tend to underestimate the recent growth – and potential – in most African countries. It is being driven by considerable investment in world class industrial facilities which demand high-tech equipment supported by qualified and experienced experts.

“This is where SEW-EURODRIVE is positioned,” he concludes. “We are leveraging our experience in these markets to deliver the best quality equipment and components – supported by unsurpassed service and commitment to customers.”

SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, a specialist in drive and control technologies, moved into its new state-of-the-art 26 000-m² headquarters complex in Aeroton, Johannesburg, earlier this year. The new complex more than triples the floor and factory space that was available at its previous premises.

Built and equipped at a cost of R200 million and modelled on SEW-EURODRIVE’s showcase factory in Graben-Neudorf in Germany, the facility – which accommodates approximately 150 employees– makes extensive use of the latest technologies to effectively network people, processes, services and data.

The investment reflects SEW-EURODRIVE’s confidence in the future of both South Africa and the African continent. The company points out that Africa is regarded as the world’s next growth market. Home to 17 % of the global population in 2019, it is expected to account for 26 % by 2050, as well as an estimated US$16,2 trillion of combined consumer and business spending.

Commenting on the investment, Raymond Obermeyer, Managing Director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, says: “This is a bold step that demonstrates our commitment to being part of solving South Africa’s problems and developing the economies of countries across Africa.”

SEW-EURODRIVE currently services 23 countries throughout the African continent from South Africa. “With the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol, which came into effect in early 2021, and a push to grow manufacturing on the continent, we are expecting African markets to account for around 50 % of our turnover within the next few years,” says Obermeyer.

The new facility will play a pivotal role in allowing SEW-EURODRIVE to service the burgeoning Africa market efficiently. It houses not only the group’s African head office but also an assembly plant for industrial gears and electric drives, expanded central warehousing and repair facilities. It also encompasses assembly and repair of all VSD’s, AGV’s and Servo motor technology. SEW-EURODRIVE also employs multiple mechanical, electrical and mechatronic engineers to further support technical customer queries.

In addition, it accommodates SEW-EURODRIVE’s unrivalled Drive Academy, which delivers product awareness and maintenance training to customers. Online and virtual AR training and support is also now available, in direct support of SEW-EURODRIVE’s social development plans.

The expanded warehousing gives SEW-EURODRIVE the ability to increase stock levels, a huge benefit given the problems currently affecting the global supply chain. It means the company’s customers in Africa will be able to able to get orders – for new equipment or spares – fulfilled with minimal delay.

“The new facility allows us to service our customers more efficiently, reducing the high cost of unplanned downtime and allowing them to adhere to their scheduled maintenance programmes,” Obermeyer states. “Ensuring our customers’ continued productivity has been the key driver behind the development of our new premises.”

Over a three to five-year period, SEW-EURODRIVE will incorporate further 4IR technologies, including automated assembly machines and guided vehicles, into the Aeroton factory at a cost of an additional R200 million.

“We are working hard to shape the factory of tomorrow with system solutions for Industry 4.0 and a focus on raising productivity and implementing smart maintenance while, at the same time, providing ergonomic support for the people working in these facilities,” notes Obermeyer.

SEW-EURODRIVE has used its own technology to automate operations at the Aeroton facility, with the main production conveyor being based on the company’s high-tech MOVI-C® all-in-one modular drive solution which is now being introduced to the African market. MOVI-C® had its official African launch at the recent Electra Mining Africa 2022 show in Johannesburg.

In essence, MOVI-C®C is a suite of products – which includes controllers (PLCs), variable speed drives, gear motors and servomotors – that automates drive applications, whether they be simple or very complex.

The installation – which has resulted in a 40 % productivity gain – includes the MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drive system. The MOVIGEAR® units – which combine an energy-efficient IE5 motor, gear unit and corresponding drive electronics in a single housing – control and drive the production conveyor. The modular nature of the installation means it can easily be extended in the future should the need arise.

The assembly line for geared motors can accommodate 7 000 units per month while assembly of industrial gear (IG) units is currently being ramped up to between 100 to 140 IG units per month, doubling current capacity. New spray booths and automated oil filling stations have been installed to cater for these volumes.

All local assembly is conducted in accordance with SEW-EURODRIVE’s global quality standards, with the assembly of VSDs, servo motors and other sensitive equipment being conducted in an isolated clean area – with copper grounding and anti-static mats – of the facility. The assembly and logistics processes are also now incorporated into SEW-EURODRIVE’s SAP system, which gives better traceability and visibility of all orders as they move through assembly processes.

Among the products to be produced at the new facility  are SEW-EURODRIVE’s modular air-cooled condenser (MACC) drives, which have already experienced excellent sales in South Africa with two units having been installed recently in the Northern Cape and a further 24 units at a Limpopo site.

Forming part of SEW-EURODRIVE’s M-Series modular IG range, the MACC is a purpose-designed gearbox solution for driving the modern fan-based air-cooled condenser systems used in steam-driven power generation units.

SEW-EURODRIVE will stock a single casing size with multiple components and specific ratios depending on which power station requires the drive. This modular approach will enable the new facility to custom assemble MACCs at a rate of approximately two to three units a week, drastically cutting the long lead times typically associated with equipment of this type.

Other notable products to be locally assembled include the New Generation X.e Series industrial gears; the P-series planetary industrial gears for high torque mining applications; short importation and commission lead times for mill drive solutions with power packs; electric motors; and the customised single-stage M1 range of speed reducers, which consists of 37 options for fine tuning a drive’s output speed and torque.

Illustrating the benefits of the new Johannesburg facility, SEW-EURODRIVE anticipates being able to assemble and test customised M1 units within two to three weeks from an order being placed. Previously they had to be imported from overseas with lead times of between 16 and 20 weeks.

Quick facts

• Purpose-designed facility offering 26 000 m² of floor and office space
• Serves as the hub for SEW-EURODRIVE’s fast-expanding African operations
• Allows delivery times to customers to be cut dramatically
• Operates in accordance with SEW-EURODRIVE’s demanding global quality standards
• Incorporates the latest 4IR technologies
• Features a main production conveyor based on the MOVI-C® modular drive solution

Drive technology specialist SEW-EURODRIVE is installing four of its large segmented girth gear systems at De Beer’s Venetia Diamond Mine in Limpopo province.

Venetia mine, in operation since 1992, is upgrading its two primary scrubbers and two secondary scrubbers, and the girth gear replacement is an integral element of this project. According to Bruce Farthing, project engineer at SEW-EURODRIVE, the order was placed in 2020 and all four units were manufactured and delivered within six months. This short lead time was achieved despite the global disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have planned the installations in close collaboration with Venetia mine, making sure our teams are ready when the mine’s shutdown periods allow,” says Farthing. “The first girth gear was installed on one of Venetia’s secondary scrubbers in September 2021, confirming the accuracy and duration of our installation procedure.” 

The expertise of the installation team was brought to the fore by the scrubber’s specific design. The bearing design in particular makes it impractical to bring the whole drum to ground before changing over the girth gear. Instead, the replacement has to be conducted with the drum in situ, at a height of about three storeys high. 

“In the first installation, we therefore assembled the girth gear on the ground, lifting it into position once the old components had been removed from the scrubber,” he says. “The challenge, of course, was to ensure no damage to any of the new components, which we managed with careful planning and experienced execution using large overhead cranes.”

These large girth gears measure 5,3 metres in diameter and weigh about 6 tonnes each. Given the scale of the equipment, the segmentation of the gear makes for easier transportation and handling. He explains that each girth gear is made up of 10 identical segments which are easily assembled on site. 

“The segments allow for relatively quick assembly with less lifting equipment,” says Farthing. “A further advantage is that individual segments can be kept in stock and used as replacements in the event of a breakdown – keeping downtime to a minimum.”

The second and third installations – to be conducted on the two primary scrubbers – are scheduled for later this year. With the limited time available during a plant shutdown, the installation team adopts a 24-hour work cycle. 

The contract includes the supply of SEW-EURODRIVE’s large two-stage industrial gearboxes and the external pinions to drive the girth gear. The motors are coupled to the gearboxes using a fluid coupling on a purpose-built, drop-in baseplate. Smaller gearboxes from SEW- EURODRIVE’s X series range are also coupled to the main gearbox as auxiliary drives for commissioning and maintenance.

Farthing notes that the company’s segmented girth gear systems have recently been a popular choice for South African customers, with six orders being received within about a year. Apart from the four supplied to De Beers Venetia Diamond Mine, SEW-EURODRIVE also recently supplied these solutions to applications in a paper mill and a cement mill. 

One of the star attractions at SEW-EURODRIVE’s stand at the Electra Mining Africa 2022 exhibition was the company’s new-generation MOVI-C® all-in-one modular drive solution, which had its African launch at the show.

In essence, MOVI-C® is a suite of products that automates drive applications, whether they be simple or very complex. It is ideal for optimising or expanding existing automation systems or for rapidly implementing new automation projects where flexibility, rapid deployment and cost-effectiveness are key.

A true 4IR solution that offers huge productivity benefits to users, MOVI-C® can be used in a wide range of applications where processes and operations need to be automated – for example, production lines or packaging operations. “It can be applied to any situation where the speed, acceleration and torque and position of drives needs to be regulated and controlled,” says Dylan Enslin, SEW-EURODRIVE’s MAXOLUTION® engineer.

He adds that MOVI-C® can be used to implement standards-based single-axis or multi-axis applications or customised and/or particularly complex motion control applications or automation solutions.

“Generation C is a big step up from its predecessor Generation B, with better control, higher efficiency, added flexibility and a much-improved interface,” he says. “It represents the future of automation and we see it having a big future in South Africa, and further afield on the African continent.”

MOVI-C® has four main components – the requisite engineering software (MOVISUITE®); advanced control technology (MOVI-C® Controller); cutting-edge inverter technology for motor control (MOVIDRIVE®); and decentralised drive technology (MOVIGEAR® and MOVIMOT®). Together these components represent a single end-to-end modular automation system, all available from SEW-EURODRIVE with no necessity for any add-ins from third parties.

All the components can be fully integrated into any automation design, fieldbus technology or network standard. There is complete freedom of configuration when it comes to the communication technology as MOVI-C® is compatible with protocols from Profibus and Industrial Ethernet through to Modbus, Profinet and EtherCat. Another benefit is the EtherCat CiA402 protocol.

SEW-EURODRIVE has used MOVI-C® to automate operations at its brand new Aeroton facility in Johannesburg, which now acts as the hub for its African operations. The complex includes a factory which significantly expands SEW-EURODRIVE’s manufacturing capability and which will ultimately assemble most products in the SEW-EURODRIVE range. 

The main production conveyor at the new facility is based on MOVI-C®. The installation includes the MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drive system. The MOVIGEAR® units – which combine an energy-efficient IE5 motor, gear unit and corresponding drive electronics in a single housing – control and drive a conveyor line used in the assembly of gearboxes. The modular nature of the installation means it can easily be extended in the future should the need arise.

Installation of MOVI-C® at the Aeroton facility has resulted in a 40 % productivity gain compared to the less advanced, more manual systems for assembly used in the past, says Jacques Kemp, SEW-EURODRIVE’s Geared Motor Production Manager. “This increase in productivity stems from MOVI-C®’s ability to eliminate ‘wasteful’ activities, which were previously carried out manually but which are now being done by machines.”

Kemp points out that automation should not be seen as a means of reducing employee headcount. “We have not replaced a single worker – quite the opposite, in fact. Instead, we’ve empowered our existing employees to be far more productive. This is what MOVI-C® does.”

The installation not only demonstrates SEW-EURODRIVE’s confidence in MOVI-C® but it will also allow the company to show its customers the system in operation in a ‘real world’ application. 

As Enslin says: “It showcases our abilities very effectively. It will allow customers to see MOVI-C® in action and judge for themselves the efficiencies that can be achieved when SEW-EURODRIVE’s advanced drive technology is installed in a production environment.” 

Visitors to this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition in Johannesburg will be spoilt for choice as SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa unleashes more technology to drive productivity and efficiency.

Addressing growing demand for reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa will launch its DriveRadar® solution for remote condition monitoring and maintenance forecasting. An extensive package of sensors captures all operationally relevant physical parameters including vibration behaviour, oil level, oil temperature, ambient temperature and input speed. 

Gear unit data is digitally recorded and automatically assessed. Results can be used to evaluate the unit’s condition and predict future changes in condition, providing a firm basis for predictive maintenance. 

Also on the Electra Mining Africa launch pad is the single-stage M1 series industrial gearbox, for high speed and high power applications – relevant to pumping duties in mining as one example. 

“We will be demonstrating our girth gear capability, with a 3,5 metre diameter static model specially imported for the show,” says Jonathan McKey, national sales and marketing manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa. “Visitors can experience how the model reflects both the mill and kiln application.” 

Four of these girth gears have already been supplied to a large mining operation in Limpopo province. At the SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa stand will also be the company’s purpose-built gearbox solution for air-cooled condensers (ACCs) used for driving fans in power stations. 

“Our SEW MACCs will be locally assembled, which differentiates us from competitors,” he says. “No-one else stocks these components, and we will be able to slash the lead times of other OEMs by a multitude of weeks.”

McKey says the new Aeroton production facility could deliver at a rate of three units a week. High efficiency IE3 SEW electric motors will also be on show, as examples of the extensive range from 0,75 to 335 kW rating. 

“An important benefit of our electric motors is that SEW-EURODRIVE designs and supplies the add-ons, such as encoders and braking systems,” he says. “Customers can source add-on accessories from us, which ensures them of world class quality and accountability.”

He notes that customers will also appreciate the different ways that SEW-EURODRIVE strives to reduce total cost of ownership on its motors. For instance, in contrast to competitors, the motor casing design features a detachable foot. If this is broken, it can be easily replaced, rather than forfeiting the whole casing or motor.

The MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drive system will also be there, comprising motor, gearbox and VSD. This is designed for flexible use across various communication infrastructures, making it ideal for decentralised applications in the field. MOVIGEAR® is especially tailored for efficient use in the general materials handling sector.

Customers will be exposed to SEW’s new electronic drive – the MOVI-C® – which will soon be one of the key product lines to be locally assembled. This suite of modular products will allow SEW-EURODRIVE to offer better-than-ever capabilities to control the speed, acceleration, position and torque of multiple motor-driven axes of control systems.

“Another exciting innovation is our automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), which we will also want to exhibit at Electra Mining Africa,” says McKey. “These are valuable assets in any automated process, and they are typically used for logistics and in the automotive industry.”

He says they can be programmed by a SEW mechatronics engineer to perform many different tasks of a frequent and repetitive nature. These AGVs will be able to be locally assembled, supplied and supported from the new Aeroton factory, he explains.