Specialist in drive and control technologies, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, has broken ground on its new 17 000 m² Service and Repair Centre next to its Aeroton, Johannesburg headquarters. The new investment speaks directly to the company’s strategy to ‘close the loop’, addressing market gaps and enhancing its service offering in the African market.
SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is expanding its capabilities in the African market with a new Service and Repair Centre.
Having moved into its newly built 26 000 m² headquarters complex in early 2022, which represented Phase 1 of its investment drive in South Africa, SEW-EURODRIVE has embarked on Phase 2 of its local expansion. Following the sod-turning on 2 September 2024, groundworks began the following week; project completion is expected by November 2025 and occupation in early 2026.
The ±R384 million investment in the new Service and Repair Centre adds to the initial R500 million invested in the company’s new headquarters complex. It further confirms 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.
Raymond Obermeyer, Managing Director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, says the new facility – to be built on a 27 935 m² site and provide 17 000 m² under roof – represents the company’s largest investment post the Covid-19 pandemic. It forms part of SEW-EURODRIVE’s €1 billion investment, in the current year, in the expansion of its service capabilities in various markets around the world.
Commenting on this significant local investment, Obermeyer says 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 – not only to service our own products but also to repair competitors’ equipment, increasing our market share and supporting sustainable growth.”
He says 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.
A storage facility and a fully operational 30-bay assembly area will give SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa the capacity to assemble more than 300 repaired units a month.
The new Service and Repair Centre builds SEW EURODRIVE’s in-house 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.
He expects the new facility to create 80 to 100 job opportunities, adding to the 100 created in the Phase 1 expansion. However, he notes that these opportunities will be for people with highly sought after skills, which are often in short supply. To bridge the technical skills gap, the new Service and Repair Centre will also house a larger DriveAcademy, significantly upgraded from the 1 500 m² training facility currently located in the headquarters complex. It 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 secures our legacy and paves the way for future growth and innovation,” says Obermeyer.
For more information visit: www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
