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Mechanical Technology — June 2016
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On the cover
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SEW-Eurodrive’s South African works manager,
Peter McEvoy.
While mining and mineral processing industries are sluggish, SEW-Eurodrive is gaining ground in
better-performing sectors such as logistics, automotive and the food and beverage industries.
and beyond
ensure years of productivity and long-
term return-on-investment.
The benefits of regular gearbox and
motor care and maintenance include:
extended product lifespan; efficient and
cost-effective service; reduced downtime;
and safer working environments.
According to works manager Peter
McEvoy, effective care and maintenance
means using the correct unit for the cor-
rect application, and servicing according
to specified OEM standards. “Operating
instructions come with every unit and can
also be downloaded from the Internet.
These provide the end-user with com-
prehensive information on operation and
maintenance,” he explains.
Genuine parts and spares are also es-
sential. “This provides the user with the
peace-of-mind that all parts conform to
SEW-Eurodrive’s international standards,
thereby ensuring component lifespan is
maximised,” he adds.
McEvoy points out that SEW-Eurodrive
boasts an extensive stockholding to en-
sure minimal turnaround times. “In the
event that the part is not available, we
are committed to sourcing or importing
whatever is required,” he continues.
“What’s more, a correctly-specified,
high-quality lubricant is vital to the per-
formance of a geared unit. A damaged
or contaminated lubricant will severely
impact on the performance, lifespan and
maintenance costs.”
“As part of its value-added service
offering, our company provides clients
across South Africa and beyond, with a
qualified field service team to do the re-
quired lubricant change and assist in any
other ways possible,” McEvoy assures.
Commitment to customer service
In addition to high-quality products,
excellent customer service is at the core
of the company’s business model. This
is clearly evident on a local level, as
exemplified by milling equipment manu-
facturer Eureka Construction, which has
been making use of SEW motors since
its establishment in 1980.
Based in the Free State, Eureka
features a team of 25 employees that
specialise in the manufacture of milling
conveying and elevator equipment for the
food processing industry.
Eureka owner Koos Theunissen notes
that the company’s wide range of prod-
ucts are exported to high-profile clients
in regions such as Botswana, the DRC,
Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. “Our
clients in include Bokomo, Resulta, Sasko
and Tiger Brands,” he elaborates.
Theunissen says all of Eureka’s mo-
tors are supplied by SEW-Eurodrive. “We
have received excellent service from the
company since day one, with regards to
delivery times and after-sales support.
We tried other suppliers in the past, but
were not satisfied.
“SEW also boasts a variety of products
that are manufactured to internationally
recognised quality standards. As a result,
we make regular purchases, the most
recent being an order for 23 EPKO mo-
tors only a few weeks ago,” he continues.
According to Theunissen, steel avail-
ability is a challenge in the industry that
leads to delays. “The economic slow-
down in South Africa is also a challenge.
Despite these challenges, we continue
to perform strongly, and will continue
to partner with SEW-Eurodrive for the
foreseeable future.”
Obermeyer says that despite difficult
economic conditions, there are still many
opportunities for growth. “We have found
new avenues for growth, not only by iden-
tifying new markets, but also by changing
our entire strategic approach regarding
sales. Being open to change is one of
the most important aspects of business
success,” he concludes.
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