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Mechanical Technology — June 2016

5

On the cover

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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