As the South African Sugar Technologists' Association (SASTA) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, SEW-EURODRIVE is proud to mark its own significant milestone - 40 years of supporting this South African industry through world class drive technology, engineering expertise and local service capability.

The shared anniversaries provide a fitting opportunity to reflect on the critical role that both organisations have played in advancing industrial excellence, innovation and skills development within South Africa's manufacturing and processing sectors.

For four decades, SEW-EURODRIVE has supplied reliable drive and automation solutions to a wide range of industries including sugar production, where operational reliability, energy efficiency and plant availability remain essential to profitability and productivity.

"SASTA's 100 year contribution to the South African sugar industry is an achievement worthy of recognition," Cliffton Bridge SEW-EURODRIVE KZN branch manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, says. "We are equally proud to be celebrating 40 years in South Africa, during which time we have worked alongside many of the country's leading industrial operations, helping them improve reliability, efficiency and long-term performance."

Sugar milling operations depend heavily on robust mechanical power transmission systems throughout the production process. From cane preparation and conveying systems to milling, crystallisation plants, centrifuges, pumps, cooling towers and materials handling applications, drive technology plays a central role in ensuring continuous and efficient production.

SEW-EURODRIVE offers a comprehensive range of geared motors, industrial gear units, variable speed drives, electronic control systems and automation solutions designed to meet the demanding requirements of sugar processing environments. The company's solutions are engineered to withstand harsh operating conditions while delivering the performance and reliability required for continuous operation.

Beyond products, SEW-EURODRIVE places significant emphasis on lifecycle support. The company works closely with customers to optimise equipment performance through preventative maintenance programmes, condition monitoring, technical assessments, energy surveys, repair services and modernisation initiatives.

Its substantial investment in local infrastructure further strengthens this support capability. The company's world class Service and Repair Centre in Aeroton, Johannesburg, provides gearbox servicing, refurbishment, assembly and testing capabilities, backed by highly skilled technical teams. Regional branch operations and field service personnel ensure responsive support across South Africa and neighbouring countries.

As sugar producers increasingly focus on improving operational efficiency and reducing energy consumption, SEW-EURODRIVE's advanced automation and digital technologies are creating new opportunities for performance improvement. Solutions such as the MOVI-C® automation platform, DriveRadar® condition monitoring technologies and intelligent drive systems provide valuable operational insights that support predictive maintenance strategies and reduce unplanned downtime.

Skills development also remains a key focus area. Through its Drive Academy training facility, SEW-EURODRIVE continues to invest in developing the technical competencies required to support modern industrial drive systems, helping customers build internal capability and maximise the value of their technology investments.

"Our commitment extends far beyond supplying equipment," Bridge explains. "We see ourselves as long-term partners to the sugar industry, providing the products, technical expertise, service support and training required to help customers achieve sustainable operational success."

As SASTA celebrates a century of serving the sugar industry, SEW-EURODRIVE looks forward to continuing its contribution to the sector's future growth and competitiveness through innovative technologies, local support and customer-focused engineering solutions.