The need to improve industrial resilience for businesses across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has resulted in an uptick in demand for technical support, strong stockholding and energy-efficient drive solutions from drive technology manufacturers, says drive and automation specialist SEW-EURODRIVE KZN branch manager Cliffton Bridge.

He highlights growing customer demand for stronger technical support and faster response capability, particularly as many workers and artisans entering the industrial sector may possess the requisite theoretical knowledge but lack the practical experience in the workplace.

“We do find that there is a lack of experience in the industrial sector when it comes to practical knowledge given that many artisans and workers are entering industry directly from universities and colleges,” Bridge explains.

He also notes that practical knowledge and the ability to gather the correct technical information is developed after years of experience in industrial environments.

Consequently, Bridge notes that customers increasingly prefer to rely on the institutional knowledge of SEW-EURODRIVE KZN for practical support and long-term technical solutions in drive technology.

Stockholding, Energy Efficiency

This branch also supports customers through local stockholding and rapid assembly capability, particularly for food and beverage, manufacturing and original-equipment manufacturer customers, which Bridge describes as among the company’s most exacting clients.

SEW-EURODRIVE KZN maintains precise stock of geared motors ranging from 0.37 kW to 22 kW, which Bridge says covers between 85% and 90% of customer requirements in the province’s food and beverage and manufacturing sectors.

While advanced technologies such as variable-speed drives, MOVIGEAR systems and servo geared motors are manufactured and repaired in Johannesburg, Bridge notes that overnight logistics support ensures that customers in KZN still have rapid access to these specialised technologies.

Energy efficiency is also becoming an increasingly important discussion across the industrial segment, particularly among KZN’s biggest food and beverage companies.

Moreover, Bridge notes that many conveying applications are being upgraded to more energy-efficient systems, with older International Efficiency 1 (IE1) and IE2 motors increasingly being replaced with IE3 motors in line with Minimum Energy Performance Standards. “Fortunately, customers who have been using SEW-EURODRIVE motors for a number of years are already operating with IE3 technology,” he says.

SEW-EURODRIVE has been specifying IE3 motors for the past eight to ten years, and larger industrial customers are also increasingly exploring the adoption of higher- efficiency MOVIGEAR solutions, which incorporate IE4 and IE5 technologies.

Maintenance Imperative

In addition to energy efficiency, SEW-EURODRIVE KZN is also working to support customers in shifting from reactive to preventative maintenance strategies and Bridge acknowledges that reactive maintenance remains widespread in the province owing to significant financial pressures.

To support customers, the company conducts free plant surveys aimed at identifying problem areas, critical spare requirements and preventative maintenance opportunities, and over and above these initiatives, many customers in KZN still rely on SEW-EURODRIVE to maintain critical spare stock and provide around-the-clock support.

In addition, the company offers service level agreements and maintenance programmes that support planned preventative maintenance, helping to maximise equipment reliability and minimise unplanned downtime.

Looking ahead, Bridge believes that newer drive technologies will become increasingly important as companies seek to reduce operating costs and improve competitiveness. He adds that customers adopting newer IE3 motors and IE5 MOVIGEAR technologies could achieve significant long-term savings despite the initial capital outlay required.

“After the units have run, for instance, a year, they have pretty much paid for themselves. Companies using older and less efficient equipment have the potential to reduce power costs by as much as 40% by upgrading to newer drive technologies,” he concludes.