German engineering firm Bosch Rexroth’s 50% acquisition of hydraulic and pneumatic manufacturer Hytec at the end of last year offers greater expansion opportunities into sub-Saharan Africa’s hydraulics and automation markets.

The Hytec–Bosch Rexroth merger represents the next step in a partnership that started with Hytec’s accreditation as the sole importer of Bosch Rexroth products into South Africa since the 1960s.

With the region’s mining, oil and gas, power and general support industries identified as key growth markets, the joint venture (JV) enables each entity to leverage each other’s core offerings to provide automation solutions for the region.

The closer affiliation with the Bosch Rexroth brand will position the Hytec Group as the recognised service, repair and manufacturer partner of Bosch Rexroth components, such as pumps, cylinders, motors, filters and valves.

“This will enhance our service support capabilities for industrial projects and enable us to better fulfil the needs of our customers,” explains Hytec CEO John Wingrove.

The merger will also result in the Bosch Rexroth brand being represented alongside several complementary product brands as part of a complete turnkey hydraulic and automation solution, fully supported by the Hytec group.

With an established operational presence, Hytec provides strong local knowledge, a proven technical capability and experience base for Bosch Rexroth in Africa.

“Another important pillar of our expansion will be our training capabilities for the whole range of hydraulic, automation and servicing skills,” says Hytec deputy CEO Roland Keller.

Hytec has a strong didactics engineering portfolio, with a fully equipped training centre in Spartan, Johannesburg. The company’s specialists are presenting training courses in, for example, Nigeria, Kenya and the Seychelles.

The Hytec–Bosch Rexroth JV senior management board will comprise of CEO John Wingrove, deputy CEO Roland Keller, group fincancier controller John Dunmow and CFO Andrew Castle.

Having widely modelled itself to quality and competency standards – with the group managing one of just 11 Bosch Rexroth certified service centres of competence worldwide – the merger will not present any major organisational changes.

In addition to the Hytec Holdings head office and its centralised procurement and distribution warehouse, six Hytec companies will form part of the new JV: Hytec/Afripower, Tectra Automation, Hydraulic and Automation Warehouse, Hytec Engineering, Hytec Fluid Technology, and Hytec Services Africa incorporating the subsidiaries in Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Ghana.