The International Efficiency 3 (IE3) motor standard will soon become South Africa’s legal minimum standard, mandating that local suppliers offer more efficient electric motors. What is driving this change, and how does it affect the many industries that rely on these modern electric workhorses?

Steam turbines represent mission-critical equipment for a range of industries, from sugar and paper to steel and petrochemicals, and there is now greater opportunity among these sectors to generate energy to sell into the national grid.

The application of soft starters has become a well-established strategy to improve the uptime and lifespan for motors and mechanical equipment driven by motors, but they need to be chosen carefully.

To improve its local manufacturing processes, WEG has taken delivery of two laser cutting machines and three bending machines. These have significantly increased productivity and efficiency, reducing internal delivery times, and ultimately customer lead times.

The increasing reliance of South African businesses on generator sets to mitigate power disruptions highlights a crucial need for proper selection based on specific operational demands. Despite their growing usage, there is still widespread confusion about how to choose the appropriate genset, often leading to inefficient and costly decisions.

For over 20 years, WEG has been a strategic supplier to the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its local South African manufacturing base has been central to reduced lead times, while a well-established distribution and service network has enhanced support capabilities and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.

Mines today look to partner with OEMs who share their commitment to sustainability, and can offer the latest technology to optimise production while reducing their carbon footprint. To this end, WEG Africa’s exhibit at Electra Mining Africa highlighted the company’s extensive range of energy technologies – including solar, wind, steam and battery energy storage solutions.

Now in the final stages of installation and commissioning, an important substation E-house facility at Sasol’s Upstream Production Sharing Agreement Project in Mozambique has relied on WEG Africa’s depth of experience, locally based technical infrastructure, and specialised skill sets.

WEG has maintained a formidable presence on the African continent for over four decades, consistently demonstrating its industry-leading capabilities at Electra Mining Africa under the Zest WEG brand. This year, a rebranded WEG is poised to make a powerful debut with a renewed focus on innovation and sustainability.