Customers looking for panels can experience the flexibility and cost competitiveness that they would normally get from a very small operation, but with the assurance of knowing that products are supported by the full Zest WEG Group network. This African multi-national organisation grows its footprint by matching customer demand with the ability to provide consistent quality. A classic example of this entrepreneurial spirit is the establishment of the Zest WEG Group Small Works Facility in 2011, which has seen a tripling of demand since its inception.

“We identified a niche in the market for small specialised jobs that service the needs of many of our OEM customers and our end users. Most of these jobs are too small for large facilities, but too complex for a small operation. It was apparent that there was a growing need for a quality, cost effective option for customers. This operation would see the supply of small panels, manufactured to the highest standards of workmanship, synonymous with all Zest WEG Group and WEG brands,” says Johan van Niekerk, manager drives and automation at Zest WEG Group. The Small Works Facility forms an essential part of the Zest WEG Group capability by producing high quality panels at reasonable price. “We are able to compete across the board with other players in this sector in terms of both pricing and quality. Catering for both OEMs and end users, this facility is ISO 9000 accredited and all work is done according to these quality standards,” says van Niekerk.

The Zest WEG Group Small Works Facility capability includes any small electrical panel that would be used for 0.55 kW direct on line starters up to a 500 kW VSD panel. The facility caters for new panels as well as retrofitting, for example, where a customer wishes to retain the existing panel but also requires a fully populated and wired chassis plate.

“The success of the facility is based on the experience of the team and their comprehensive understanding of the wide diversity of technical requirements in the market. Zest WEG Group personnel not only bring extensive knowledge and expertise to the table, but they are also able to leverage the broad global capability base of WEG,” says Van Niekerk. The Zest WEG Group Small Works Facility has access to the full WEG range of switchgear and automation products, which makes manufacturing cost competitive while at same time ensuring that this local operation meets both European and South African electrical standards. Support is available through the normal Zest WEG Group branch and service network throughout Africa.

The facility designs and builds a wide range of customised products such as PLC panels, water treatment panels, and panels for underground applications, including winder panels. In 2014 the manufacturing capability was expanded to include two ranges of standard products that are now available ex stock, namely direct on line starters and star delta starters. “Zest WEG Group is known for the exceptionally high levels of stock that it retains across all of its branches and the decision to manufacture and stock the two ranges of standard panels is in line with this philosophy. Any other non-standard or non-stock products are produced on request. This flexibility to accommodate unusual and diverse customer requirements provides us with a notable market advantage,” Van Niekerk points out.

The Small Works Facility business model has worked well for the Zest WEG Group and to cater for the demand which has arisen in the Western Cape region, the Group established a similar facility in January 2014 at its Cape Town branch.

ZWG SMALL WORKS FACILITY PIC 01: Johan Van Niekerk, Automation Manager, Carlos Guilhas, Small Works Manager and Hannes van der Colff, Small Works Supervisor at the Small Works Facility, which forms an essential part of the Zest WEG Group’s capability of producing high quality panels at a reasonable cost.

ZWG SMALL WORKS FACILITY PIC 02: Carlos Guilhas, Small Works Manager, Zest WEG Group, says the Small Works Facility designs and builds a range of customised products such as PLC panels, water treatment panels and panels for underground applications, including winder panels.

ZWG SMALL WORKS FACILITY PIC 03: (From left) Thabo Mohala, Crispen Kilumba and Leonardo Zulu engaged in panel assembly at the Zest WEG Group’s Small Works Facility.

ZWG SMALL WORKS FACILITY PIC 04: Olweto Mgoduka and Leonardo Zulu inspecting product prior to installation at the Zest WEG Group’s Small Works Facility.