The Durban branch of SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. has passed an internal audit by its German parent with flying colours. This means that not only does it comply with the latest standards such as ISO 9001:2015, but is on par with other group companies globally in terms of quality and internal policies and procedures.

The fact that KwaZulu-Natal is home to some of the harshest operating environments in the country, from sawmills and sugar mills to ports and pulp and paper, assures clients that all products supplied adhere to stringent international standards, according to Clive O’Reilly, Branch Manager for KwaZulu-Natal, who is based in Prospecton, Durban.

Not only is it a high-humidity climate, but there is a lot of salt and dust to contend with as well, which has a corrosive impact on equipment, especially in the sugar industry. “Therefore we assemble our gearboxes and motors in accordance with a strict specification and assembly process verified by our German parent,” O’Reilly notes.

As a result, the staff are highly motivated due to the fact that the Durban branch passed the audit successfully. It underlines the fact that SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. is able to offer the best solutions available locally, based on the highest-quality products. “It gives our customers peace of mind that they will not incur any downtime due to unplanned breakdowns,” O’Reilly affirms.

This is supported with a 24/7 service offering, with technicians on standby to attend to any emergencies throughout the province. “We can handle any breakdown situation. We also stock aggressively in-house, which reduces lead times considerably. All of this affirms our high capability, which has now been underscored by the international audit.”

SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd.’s strong standing in the sugar industry in KwaZulu-Natal was recently underscored when it clinched an award for the best exhibit at the 91st congress of the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association (SASTA) from 14 to 16 August at the International Convention Centre in Durban. “It was a very successful event for us, capped off by our award. We found that a lot of engineers in this and other industries are unaware of our turnkey solutions, which poses a huge scope for growth,” O’Reilly notes.

Commenting on the growth opportunities in the sugar industry, O’Reilly reveals that SEW-EURODRIVE (Pty) Ltd. is already providing detailed assistance with planning for next year’s off-crop season in the sugar industry, a period during which general maintenance and refurbishment traditionally take place.