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Johannesburg – Forget whispers of ambition; at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, the roar of industrial progress is echoing across the continent. Managing Director Raymond Obermeyer has declared the company’s strategic “African Strategy” is no longer just a blueprint but a thriving reality, positioning them to seize a leading role in the industrial gearbox, drives, and automation sectors.
“Years of meticulous planning and proactive investment are now bearing fruit as we aggressively roll out our plans to be closer to our customers throughout Africa,” a confident Obermeyer stated. “Crucially, we are fortifying our technical prowess and deep expertise to underpin this expansion.”
Having already established a strong foothold in Southern African nations like Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, the German-owned powerhouse is now casting its net wider, venturing north into burgeoning markets such as Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Morocco.
Back home, at their sprawling 26,000 m² headquarters in Aeroton, the sound of construction signals even bigger things to come. Just two years after moving into the state-of-the-art facility, SEW-EURODRIVE is already breaking ground on an adjacent service centre.
“This significant investment will supercharge our sales, support, engineering, and crucial training capabilities,” Obermeyer explained. “We’ve already begun headhunting key personnel for this new hub, and we anticipate adding another 20 to 30 skilled individuals to our team this year alone.”
Obermeyer didn’t mince his words when addressing a critical pain point for many local industrial gearbox users: the often-lamentable lack of after-sales support. He emphasized that SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is laser-focused on providing comprehensive service and repair for its entire product range.
“As one of the few original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the country boasting advanced design and engineering infrastructure, we also have the formidable backing of our group’s world-class facilities in Germany,” he revealed. “This unique advantage even allows us to service and repair gearboxes from other manufacturers, ensuring they are brought back to the same exacting standards as the original.”
The new Aeroton service centre will become the central nervous system for the company’s existing industrial gearbox repair division and will house an expanded Drive Academy, dedicated to upskilling both their own staff and their clientele. In a move to further enhance their in-house capabilities, the facility will also incorporate base plate fabrication and sand blasting, complemented by cutting-edge equipment including robotic welders, precision five-axis gear cutting machines, and heavy-duty cranage.
But SEW-EURODRIVE’s growth strategy isn’t solely reliant on geographical expansion. The company is actively pursuing new markets, a drive fueled by the group’s ever-widening portfolio of innovative products and solutions. Obermeyer proudly highlighted the launch of an impressive 16 new products already in 2025, demonstrating their commitment to pushing the boundaries in industrial gears, geared motors, electronics, and even the realm of artificial intelligence.
“This relentless innovation and our significant investment in research and development are unlocking exciting opportunities in both established and emerging sectors,” he asserted. “At SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, we understand the vital importance of sustained investment in Africa, firmly positioning ourselves to become the undisputed leader in this dynamic market.”
Construction on the ambitious expansion project commenced in November last year, with the new service centre slated to be fully operational by the close of 2025. Obermeyer confidently predicts that from 2026 onwards, customers across the continent can expect a significant elevation in the industry’s service standards, courtesy of SEW-EURODRIVE’s unwavering commitment to the African market.
