Standby power has become an essential component of doing business locally, as evidenced by the power blackouts in the Western Cape in 2006. The increased demand for standby power has seen Zest Electric Motors & Drives introduce a range of quality gensets to the local market.



As an electrical systems solutions provider, it was logical that Zest should make the strategic decision to enter the power-generation market. It is adding gensets to its pro-duct range to enhance its offering, having supplied WEG alternators for the past eight years. The company has concluded an agreement with Stemac, of Brazil.



The full range of gensets are supplied by Zest and, currently, off-the-shelf stock units from 31 kVA to 149 kVA are available.



Zest marketing manager Chris Chryssoulis says the company is aware that its pricing may not be the lowest in the market. However, as the product is fully imported, this can be attributed to the fact that the local industry is protected by a 20% duty on all imports of complete gensets.



“With the demand and the local market unable to supply all the units required, we believe the company can fill a definite need with the supply of these quality products with the appropriate support,” says Chryssoulis.



This is confirmed by the com-pany, having sold 40% of its projected annual generator sales in a single month during the power outages in the Cape.



The Stemac gensets are fitted with WEG alternators and Deep Sea controllers, both of which are well known for reliability and performance. There are a number of different options available, for example, sets with a manual base load panel; fully automatic mains failure sets; open sets or fully enclosed sets with different silenced enclosures for noise levels of 85 dba or 75 dba (measured at a distance of 1,5 metres). The gensets presently in stock are automatic mains failure units, some of which are in an enclosure and feature changeover switchgear.



Both WEG and Stemac products are manufactured according to ISO 9001:2000 quality standards. Stemac has extensive research and development facilities for design and engineering. The company also has extensive references in all types of applications.



Established 50 years ago, Stemac’s main manufacturing facility is located in Porto Alegre, in Brazil. It is the largest manufacturer of diesel-powered gensets in South America. Units range from 10 kVA to 5 000 kVA and all units are fitted with WEG alternators, while the engines are well established makes, such as Perkins, Cummins, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Volvo, MTU, Mitsubishi and MWM. Engines are selected according to the genset size.



Zest is the distributor and marketer of a wide range of low-voltage, high-voltage, direct current and special electric motors, variable-speed drives, soft starters, switchgear and transformers in sub-Saharan Africa, and is the sole importer of SABS-approved WEG products in the region. The company has a countrywide network of branches and distributors, enabling it to provide efficient backup to its customers in terms of pre- and postsales support, as well as parts supply. Zest has been serving the mining, manufacturing, engineering, petrochemicals and pulp and paper industries since 1980, and is committed to business development in South Africa.