The increasing shift from reactive repairs to intelligent predictive maintenance in African mining, where high costs, harsh environments and tight margins are prevalent, is being furthered through the incorporation of AI into diagnostic systems such as SEW-EURODRIVE’s DriveRadar technology.

“We started introducing various forms of instrumentation and condition monitoring systems in South Africa in 2008. Since then, we have evolved our technology to encompass more drive information in a singular diagnostic system. This has resulted in the introduction of DriveRadar,” explains SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa sales and marketing manager Jonathan McKey.

The diagnostic unit incorporates elements of AI to continuously monitor a set of parameters such as external conditions, harmonics, vibrations and temperatures to give an assessment of the state of a drive as well as a projected outcome if preventative measures are not undertaken.

The practical value of the AI‑style approach is in predictive maintenance, explains McKey. Instead of rigid service schedules or last‑minute fixes, the system is designed to help mines act at precisely the right time. Early identification of problems and accurately estimating safe remaining life helps mines avoid emergency breakdowns, reduce costly rush orders and plan maintenance around production.

“It monitors these changes and these variations, and the impact that would have on the oil and the viscosity and reliability, and it actually intervenes and tells a customer how much longer they can operate a drive safely before it results in premature wear or damage. For mining operations where every hour of lost production translates into significant revenue, that foresight is invaluable,” he adds.

Looking ahead, McKey says he expects this intelligence to deepen, reducing the analytical burden on the human workforce. “For African mines, that trajectory points to a future where smart drives and AI‑style diagnostics work hand in hand with skilled technicians, delivering higher reliability, lower maintenance costs and a much clearer picture of what is happening inside every critical gearbox and motor long before anything fails.”