SEW-EURODRIVE brings intelligent energy optimisation to EMA
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, SEW-EURODRIVE used one of its two exhibition stands to show how intelligent electronics and mechatronics solutions help mines improve reliability, reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs through predictive maintenance, digital monitoring and real-time energy optimisation.
SEW-EURODRIVE’s DriveRadar® IoT Suite for industrial gear units provides real-time condition monitoring, improving reliability and supporting predictive maintenance.
At Electra Mining Africa this year, SEW-EURODRIVE dedicated one of its two exhibition stands to showcase an exciting range of electronics and mechatronics solutions to help mines improve reliability and reduce operating costs.
This included an immersive look at the future of intelligent plant operation, with the company focusing on predictive maintenance, digital monitoring and real-time energy optimisation, according to Willem Strydom, Business Development Electronics Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa.
“A key attraction demonstrated how we conduct plant energy surveys using specialised measurement equipment deployed by our field service teams,” he says. “These surveys provide practical insights into reducing energy usage, carbon emissions and operating costs.”
Strydom points out that many customers initially believed installing higher-efficiency motors would solve their energy challenges. However, the company’s experience shows that much larger savings often lie elsewhere in the system. “We look at the whole system, not just the motors, and analyse operating loads, automation logic, gearbox efficiency and maintenance practices,” he explains.
This process identifies where energy is being lost unnecessarily, with applications such as pumps, conveyors and lifting systems often among the most promising opportunities for optimisation. Visitors to Electra Mining Africa could also see how SEW-EURODRIVE’s DriveRadar® Internet of Things (IoT) platform continuously monitors equipment condition and performance. “This enables mines to shift away from time-based maintenance schedules toward condition-based interventions,” Strydom says.
The predictive maintenance system also lets operations compare equipment performance before and after maintenance work, providing measurable feedback on whether interventions are improving plant efficiency.
Werner Engelbrecht, Works Manager for Electronics and Mechatronics at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa, said one of the company’s biggest findings during site assessments is how many industrial applications remain over-engineered. “We can also demonstrate how intelligent automation can eliminate hidden energy waste,” Engelbrecht says. “In some conveyor applications, for example, systems continue running unnecessarily because they lack basic control intelligence.”
SEW-EURODRIVE’s stand also featured one of the largest motors ever displayed by the company locally: an 11 t medium voltage motor rated at 1 850 kW and 6.6 kV, highlighting its expanding presence in heavy-duty mining and industrial applications. Strydom says the company expects strong interest from mining operations across southern and central Africa, where energy supply constraints are increasingly shaping operational strategies.
“With mines expanding into areas where infrastructure cannot always keep up, companies are being forced to become more efficient in everything they do,” he concluded.
Contact information on behalf of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa
