Industry-specific focus and life cycle support are the standout features of SEW-EURODRIVE’s presence at Electra Mining Africa 2026, according to Jonathan McKey, National Sales & Marketing Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE.
“Our exhibition stands will reflect how we partner with customers across the full operational lifecycle – from new installations through to maintenance, upgrades, optimisation and long-term asset management,” McKey says. “The overarching message is about business integration and modernisation, to take customers further down their sustainability and productivity journey.”
He highlights that SEW-EURODRIVE has expanded its offerings not only through exciting innovations in equipment and solutions, but through services to assess customers’ existing infrastructure and enhance it for more efficient and productive operation. This philosophy shapes both of the company’s stands at the show.
“Visitors to our main stand in Hall 5 will appreciate the industry-focused layout facilitating conversations that are both relevant and technically focused,” he explains. “Instead of a generalised display, visitors will be able to engage directly with specialists aligned to specific sectors including mining, materials handling and logistics.”
To enhance the value of these vital face-to-face discussions, SEW-EURODRIVE will have management and technical experts on hand throughout the exhibition. Dedicated meeting areas will also allow for more private discussions around operational challenges, project requirements or longer-term strategic partnerships.
At the company’s second exhibition stand which is in Hall 4, SEW-EURODRIVE will focus on its electronics offerings while also showcasing its on-site energy surveys. The company’s experts will demonstrate how they use advanced tools to conduct these surveys and the important benefits they deliver.
“We will unveil selected newer technologies on our stands with the focus on showing how this innovation is driven by customer need,” McKey says. “We avoid promoting products for their own sake; rather, we use these forums to ask visitors about the technical challenges they face and then we design our solutions to address them.”
This extends beyond physical equipment to include digital tools, training, service agreements and maintenance programmes. SEW-EURODRIVE will also be showcasing its training, digital solutions, after-sales and maintenance service.
“Another theme at the exhibition will be the modernisation of existing plant infrastructure,” he says. “This is particularly relevant to mining operations where legacy equipment often remains in service for decades.”
While older systems may still be functional, their performance may be compromised and cost effectiveness may not be optimal. SEW-EURODRIVE increasingly works with customers to evaluate existing installations, comparing them against current technologies and identifying opportunities for improvement. This can include energy surveys, drivetrain assessments, maintenance reviews and broader operational optimisation studies.
“We can modernise those products, give better service life and make an impact across multiple facets of a customer’s business – including running costs,” he says. “We can enhance all of that by modernising the plant with technology.”
Importantly, the company aims to reduce the disruption often associated with upgrading legacy infrastructure with specialised solutions to streamline the transition while mitigating the associated risk. Another key talking point across the stands will be SEW-EURODRIVE’s growing service capability in South Africa including its expanded aftermarket support, reverse engineering and repair services. This capability extends beyond servicing its own products, to include other OEMs’ equipment.
“Our recently expanded facilities in Aeroton, Johannesburg, have further improved our service capabilities not just for our own product but also for non-SEW products,” he says. “With our depth of technical expertise and specialised workshop equipment, we can reverse engineer and repair obsolete products back to workable health.”
By visiting SEW-EURODRIVE, Electra Mining Africa visitors can begin a holistic discussion about their current operational demands and future plans at their specific mine or industrial plant. The experienced SEW-EURODRIVE people on hand at the exhibition will help plot the road the improved asset performance.
“Our presence further underscores that mining remains a major global growth sector for us, especially as mines look for ways of getting minerals out of the ground more efficiently,” McKey says. “This pressure is accelerating demand for modern drive technology, automation and broader operational optimisation which are the areas where we see growing opportunity.”
McKey also expects plenty of interest from Electra Mining Africa visitors in infrastructure development and asset improvement more broadly. He notes that SEW-EURODRIVE is increasingly becoming involved in projects that not only support industrial operations, but help modernise economies through better engineering, improved reliability and smarter technologies.
