Drone technology and rapid-response capabilities are some of the main reasons that have earned engineering company Steinmüller Africa top industry honours at Eskom's Duvha Power Station awards. The company claimed Key Service Provider in Maintenance 2025 and Best CSI Contribution Team at the station's annual supplier recognition programme.

The maintenance award caps a landmark year in which Steinmüller Africa completed South Africa's first three-unit simultaneous shutdown in over a decade, a logistical and technical feat that has set a new benchmark for large-scale maintenance execution.

The accolade recognises operational breakthroughs that directly impact plant availability and cost control. Steinmüller Africa deployed drone technology that eliminated high-risk manual inspections and built a rapid mobilisation model that turns multi-day emergency repairs into same-day solutions.

"Our team mobilises tube-leak repairs within hours, not days," said Thomas Maduna, Project Manager at Steinmüller Africa Duvha Power Station. "We plan, resource and execute under intense time pressure whilst maintaining quality standards that don't slip, even on repetitive work. This award validates an approach that's delivering measurable results for our clients."

The maintenance shutdown saw three generating units serviced concurrently, requiring precision coordination across trades, compressed timelines and zero tolerance for safety compromise.

Equally transformative has been Steinmüller Africa’s introduction of the Elios 3 drone for furnace and confined-space inspections. This previously required erecting sky climbers that are expensive, time-consuming and dangerous. The drone eliminated the need to put personnel into high-risk environments, delivered instant data-rich reporting and reduced both inspection times and costs. Safety incidents dropped, downtime reduced and operational expenses fell.

"Presence matters," says Maduna, "Leadership was on the ground throughout execution, unblocking issues in real time and recognising excellence as it happened. That's what drove performance."

The company's zero-harm philosophy is embedded through daily toolbox talks and the "My Brother's Keeper" safety initiative, supported by incentives for consistently safe behaviours.

Beyond the plant fence, Steinmüller Africa's Best CSI Contribution award reflects sustained community investment. The company donated to more than seven schools and community centres in 2025. Highlights included a vehicle for CMR Witbank, a fully equipped kitchen for Mmagobana Primary School's feeding scheme, and distributions of blankets, groceries and toiletries.

Teachers report the kitchen has significantly improved meal quality for pupils, and the vehicle is enabling better administrative support at CMR Witbank. This is particularly significant as the majority of Steinmüller Africa's workforce comes from these communities.

For industrial maintenance providers, the message is clear: excellence isn't about compliance, it’s about speed, safety and commercial impact.