A new partnership between a global energy management company, Schneider Electric, and a Gqeberha firm, Eya Bantu Switchgear, will see the launch of new locally produced PIX Easy Switchgear products in the Eastern Cape.
The air-insulated medium-voltage switchgear was unveiled at Eya Bantu’s manufacturing plant in Fairview on Thursday.
The switchgear, previously imported from India and sold to the local market, will provide a high level of safety and high reliability for various applications.
With the new licence, the products will be assembled in the city, creating an opportunity for SA to produce the bulk of the sheet metal.
Delivering the keynote address, department of trade, industry and competition advanced manufacturing director Rashmee Ragaven applauded the strides made to produce solutions for medium-voltage distribution networks in the province.
“This is a collaboration between the government and the private sector in an effort to officially launch Eya Bantu as a partner to Schneider Electric in the assembly of the PIX Easy Switchgear in SA.
“We would like to applaud Schneider Electric on its strategy that aligns with the government’s vision to promote localisation.
“It is about bringing the intellectual property and world-class technology and transferring it to an SA company that, not only has transferred and adapted those skills but been a custodian of that,” she said.
Ragaven revealed that the local manufacturer made a multimillion-rand investment to license and produce the new equipment.
“The R10m investment will go towards the factory, machinery and equipment required.
“The employees within the organisation will be upskilled so they can take the company to the next level.
“It allows them to not just be a channel partner for Schneider Electric, but certainly be a competitive company that plays in the mainstream of our economy, especially in this sector.”
Schneider Electric power systems vice-president Vladimir Milovanovic said the company had worked closely with the department to optimise the programmes that currently existed.
Milovanovic said the collaboration with Eya Bantu was multidimensional, and he hoped it would make the partnership one of the biggest between a local and international manufacturer globally.
“We are a company for which sustainability is one of the key drivers behind everything that we do.
“The engagement with Eya Bantu, more so in the renewable space, is something that is aligned with our vision as a company,” he said.
“Further to that, obviously, localising the manufacturing of the range of switchgear and having a road map of expanding that is a way for us to make good on making this the biggest local-global company in the world.
“Schneider really tries to establish a local footprint and support the ecosystem, which, in turn, gives back to the local community.
“These are the things that we have aligned with the department’s vision.
“We really look forward to this partnership evolving even further.”
Eya Bantu engineering and business development director Jadri Hurter, who oversees the manufacturing process at the Gqeberha plant, said he was delighted about the collaboration.
“We went into partnership about four years ago,” he said.
“Since then, we’ve moved on and become licensed partners with Schneider Electric in the power systems environment.
“We are excited to officially launch the factory and celebrate our partnership in terms of the licence, in addition to showcasing the first products produced under that licence.”
HeraldLIVE
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