In a quest to expand its global operations, Tokyo-based pneumatics and industrial automation components technology company SMC Corporation Japan, in March, established a new subsidiary in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The company says the creation of SMC Pneumatics South Africa will give companies in South Africa and its neighbouring countries easier access to SMC Corporation’s range of more than 12 000 basic components, which are available in more than 700 000 variant forms.

Further benefits to both machine builders and end-users will be the increased levels of high- quality technical support and the availability of customised products and local assemblies produced in the state-of-the-art Johannesburg factory.
“We have a brand, new 4 000 m2 office, with a trade counter, showroom, warehouse and manufacturing facility under construction. It is a very exciting time,” says SMC Pneumatics South Africa GM Adrian Buddingh.

The company’s planned investment includes not only experienced professionals in the pneumatics industry, but also an extensive stock inventory along with state-of-the-art machinery to make local special pricing and assemblies possible, says Buddingh.

He adds that, following this expansion into South Africa, it is likely that, over the coming months, SMC Corporation will announce additional distribution and supply chain partnerships, together with direct purchase options, which reflects the same approach the company employs in other countries, entailing a focus on establishing a strong brand and market leadership through customercentric activities.

SMC Corporation says it has steadily expanded into international markets worldwide and now has global production with factories and local subsidiaries in 50 countries, as well as 400 sales offices and a distribution network in a further 32 countries.

The global expansion of SMC has been supported by a team of more than 1 400 research and development engineers at SMC’s technical centres in Japan, China, the US and Europe.

SMC Corporation says it employs around 22 000 people globally and, in line with its focus on face-to-face customer communication, 5 000 of these employees are trained technical sales engineers who deliver the highest levels of customer support.

“This approach has helped the company achieve a global market share exceeding 30%,” the company states.

Energy Saving
South Africa remains one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gas per capita in the world, says SMC Pneumatics South Africa.

In government’s first Energy Efficiency Strategy document, published in 2005, it outlined clear and practical guidelines for the implementation of efficient practices in the economy. This included the setting up of governance structures to promote energy efficiency in industry. The national energy efficiency improvement target was 12% by this year.
Buddingh says South Africa is in a fortunate position as the country is able to learn from the studies and solutions implemented in Europe to help the country achieve its own target.
“The European Council has set some ambitious targets for energy saving [by 2020]. It has pledged to save 20% of the European Union’s total energy consumption, and also plans to reach 20% of renewable energy in total consumption and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 20%.”
Buddingh adds that, despite being one of the main energy sources used by industry in South Africa, compressed air is often misused and many operators are unaware of its potential to assist in achieving financial and environmental savings.
“SMC Corporation appreciates the benefits of compressed air. Air is an unlimited, natural resource, it is safe and simple to regulate and control,” says Buddingh.
He adds that South Africa will acquire insight into best practice and international studies through SMC Corporation’s experience in the energy-saving field.
“As much as 50% of the energy consumed can be easily saved. This comprises 20% from air leakage monitoring and control and 30% from optimisation, which includes working with the right pressure, sectorisation or using energy efficient components,” says Buddingh.

SMC Corporation’s energy-saving components feature the air amplifier, energy efficient air blow guns, nozzles, actuators or the multistage vacuum ejector, all of which provide significant financial and environmental savings.
Buddingh says the efficiency of these savings can be measured through SMC Corporation’s online saving assessment tools.