Having continuous technical support and collaboration from its German parent company enables SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa to not only manage local and international crises but also keep strengthening local engineering capacity in times of uncertainty.

SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa MD Raymond Obermeyer tells Engineering News that the eight global technical steering committees that inform SEW-EURODRIVE’s operational strategy and product development have met to discuss potential supply chain issues and how products can be sourced from different regions within the group.

The committees have acknowledged challenges, such as diesel price spikes, and power and fuel shortages, which have led to the group’s implementing proactive measures to acquire larger diesel tanks and leverage solar power to mitigate adverse impacts.

Obermeyer affirms that SEW-EURODRIVE, in Germany, has remained committed to its involvement and investment in meeting the needs of its African business and customers, and it plays an integral role in ensuring the growth and resilience of its operations, personnel and customers.

Personnel from South Africa often receive training in Germany covering product development, technology upliftment and standard assembly, he adds. This ensures that South African plants continue to meet stringent German standards.

SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa’s involvement in the steering committees helps to ensure that products meet modern customer needs and align with technological advancements, facilitating interaction in 23 countries. South Africa’s inclusion in the maintenance and service steering committee is testament to SEW-EURODRIVE’s recognition of the country’s experience, knowledge and capabilities.

The close collaboration with international experts ensures that insights from African industries directly inform global innovation.

“In turn, customers across the African continent benefit from faster access to advanced drive technologies, application expertise and solutions that are better aligned to the realities of local operating conditions,” Obermeyer adds.

SEW-EURODRIVE has supported South Africa’s industrial operations for 40 years through strengthened local engineering capability, investment in training infrastructure and assembly facilities, as well as support for service capacity.

Obermeyer concludes that this kind of collaboration positions SEW-EURODRIVE to continue delivering tailored drive and automation solutions that support productivity, efficiency and long-term industrial growth across Africa.