As part of its strategy to ‘close the loop’ in its service offering, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, a specialist in drive and control technologies, has broken ground on a new 17 000 m² Service and Repair Centre. The establishment of the state-of-the-art facility plugs the gap for expert repair services for  gearboxes in Africa.

Having moved into its contemporary 26 000 m² headquarters complex in Aeroton, Johannesburg, in early 2022, which represented Phase 1 of its investment drive in South Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE has commenced Phase 2 of its local expansion drive. Following the turning of the first sod on 2 September 2024, groundworks commenced the following week with completion of the project expected by November 2025 and occupation in early 2026.

Having invested R500 million in the new headquarters complex a few years ago, the ±R384 million investment in a new Service and Repair Centre right next to the head office signals SEW-EURODRIVE’s commitment to servicing customers in Africa and reflects the company’s confidence in the future of South Africa and the African continent in general.

Raymond Obermeyer, Managing Director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, says the new facility – to be built on a 27 935 m² site area with 17 000 m² under roof – represents the company’s largest investment post the COVID-19 pandemic. It also forms part of SEW-EURODRIVE’s €1 billion investment in the expansion of its service capabilities in various markets across the world in 2024 alone.

Commenting on the reasoning behind this massive investment, Obermeyer explains that as a market leader in planetary gearboxes with over 40 years of trading in South Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE recognises the need to enhance its capabilities to service and repair millions of units in the region. As a leading global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the company’s expertise positions it to meet the growing demand for repair services in Africa.

“Currently, our competitors in the gearbox market primarily focus on selling equipment with a limited offering of the necessary repair and support services,” says Obermeyer. “This gap presents a significant opportunity for SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa to not only service our own products but also to repair competitors’ equipment, thereby increasing our market share and fostering sustainable growth.”

According to Obermeyer, major players in the gearbox repair market are often private companies offering services that most OEMs neglect. By establishing its own Service and Repair Centre, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa can minimise reliance on external contractors, reducing risks associated with quality control and service delivery.

The new facility’s workshop will offer full service and repair capabilities such as sand blasting, spray painting and stripping of products. It will also contain a fabrication section to manufacture baseplates, guards and steelworks.

In addition, it will have a full motor repair department for motor rewinding, as well as offering assembly and repairs with burnout ovens and rotor balancing. This will be complemented by state-of-the art load test facilities.

Moreover, a storage facility and a fully operational 30 bay assembly area will give SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa the capacity to assemble in excess of 300 repaired units per month.

“The new Service and Repair Centre offers us enhanced capabilities. The decision to expand our operations includes manufacturing of all steel products and providing comprehensive repair and rewind services for our own products. This vertical integration allows us to maintain control over quality and service standards, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and sustainability,” says Obermeyer.

The new centre, he adds, now enables the company to offer a full suite of services in its quest to ‘close the loop’. By doing so, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa aims to deliver the complete SEW-EURODRIVE experience, ensuring that its customers receive top notch service and quality throughout the value chain. This is particularly important in the mining value chain where mines have a clear focus on reducing their operating costs and total cost of ownership.

Obermeyer expects the new facility to create 80 to 100 job opportunities, adding to the 100 created as a result of the Phase 1 expansion. He, however, notes that these opportunities will be for highly sought after skills which are often in short supply. To bridge the technical skills gap, the new Service and Repair Centre will house a larger DriveAcademy, significantly upgrading the current 1 500 m² training facility located at the headquarters’ complex. This will be complemented by SEW-EURODRIVE’s information technology centre.

“The establishment of the new Service and Repair Centre is a strategic move to enhance our service offering, address market gaps and strengthen our position as the leading gearbox OEM in South Africa. This investment not only secures our legacy but also paves the way for future growth and innovation,” concludes Obermeyer.