SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa has opened a new service and repair facility next to its headquarters in Aeroton, Johannesburg.

The R385-million, 17 000 m² facility is said to offer full original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) gearbox servicing with quicker turnaround times and better warranties. The company says its almost R385-million investment in the new development follows its R500-million head office expansion in 2022, both of which form part of its €1-billion global drive to strengthen service capabilities.

“For the first time, customers can have all aspects of their industrial gearbox dealt with in one place – and to the highest OEM quality standards,” affirms SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa MD Raymond Obermeyer. He goes on to explain that previously South African industrial gearbox users would have to involve multiple service providers in a single repair or refurbishment contract.

“The expertise and equipment in this facility allow SEW-EURODRIVE to conduct all aspects of a drivetrain repair – from the gearbox and coupling to the motor, steelwork and electronics,” he says. “We now have all this capability at our disposal, which is gamechanging in terms of quality, reliability and warranties.”

The new service centre will even conduct work on gear units from other manufacturers, notes Obermeyer, adding that over 65 additional technical staff are in the process of being brought on board at the site including engineering managers, field service engineers and artisans in various specialised disciplines.

“Our centre is being equipped with some of the most experienced skills in the local market, and our in-house DriveAcademy is busy finetuning their expertise in line with our wide range of drive solutions,” Obermeyer says.

Fully equipped with the latest technical infrastructure, the work of the new facility will include vibration analysis and diagnostic testing for motors and drives as well as equipment for 3D scanning and computer numerical control machining. Winding machines will allow for motors to be rewound in-house and tested in line with SEW-EURODRIVE OEM standards.

“The facility will also include a fabrication department, so that we don’t have to outsource aspects like base plates, flanges, guards and other steelwork,” says Obermeyer. “With the capacity to do our own cutting, bending and welding, this department allows us to conduct all this work in-house – speeding up turnaround times and ensuring constant quality control.”

Obermeyer asserts that the breadth of in-house services and engineering equipment at the SEW EURODRIVE service and repair centre represents a significant investment in the re-industrialisation of the local economy.