2nd Quarter 2014Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Sennah Handling Systems – a Paarl-based manufacturer of high quality potato bagging machines and materials handling equipment for the agricultural sector – has substantially improved its productivity with new packaging machines that make use of SEW-Eurodrive products. In 2013, Sennah upped its production from 26 machines the previous year to 94 machines. This means that more than 1000 SEW-Eurodrive geared motors are currently operational in the local potato and onion farming industry.
Sennah Handling Systems – a Paarl-based manufacturer of high quality potato bagging machines and materials handling equipment for the agricultural sector – has substantially improved its productivity with new packaging machines that make use of SEW-Eurodrive products. In 2013, Sennah upped its production from 26 machines the previous year to 94 machines. This means that more than 1000 SEW-Eurodrive geared motors are currently operational in the local potato and onion farming industry.
Owner, Hannes Visser says: “What we envisage is for man and machine to complement each other. Whatever man cannot do is left to the machine. That complementary technology is substantiated in the machines that we offer for the weighing and packaging of potatoes and onions.” The current machine is able to pack 480 10 kg bags per hour. The company focuses on end of line packaging solutions, which involves the process that follows after sizing and sorting. In the cut-throat business of farming where there are so many factors playing a role in profit margins, specialisation is a key aspect.
“We have over the years managed to refine and optimise our process in such a way that the machine is built to an exact specification which has been tried and tested. The company has built over 300 machines which are exact replicates of each other. The machines are manufactured according to high quality specifications using Sew-Eurodrive products to ensure smooth running and minimum downtime for the farmer,” he continues.
Although there is a trend towards automation, Visser points out that there is still always a human element which is vital to the local economy. “Many people will be without employment if everything is automated. People will always be part of the production manufacturing process, but without automation there can be no real growth for the farmer.”
Visser reveals that he has been doing business with SEW-Eurodrive throughout the duration of his career. “I was introduced to the company in my first employment and have grown the relationship with the company, its products and its people. I selected SEW-Eurodrive because of its pricing structure, low maintenance and quality.”
Sennah machines are sold nationwide, and Visser adds that it was key that the products used should be reliable and robust to ensure not just his reputation as a machine builder, but also the ongoing production and profitability for the farmers who are his customers. Furthermore, the national presence and local stock holding offered by SEW-Eurodrive ensured the competitive edge for Sennah Handling Systems. Visser notes: “Through our detailed project management and planning, SEW-Eurodrive was able to ensure that we had the required stock at the appropriate time.”
The success of the new potato packaging machines means that Sennah Handling Systems has moved into the list of top 20 SEW-Eurodrive customers. “It is always good to work with SEW-Eurodrive as it is a business partnership that is mutually beneficial. The service I received from the Cape Town branch and in particular Eugene Vorster, my sales engineer, is truly excellent and I look forward to seeing more SEW-Eurodrive products in the field in the near future,” concludes Visser.
Understanding standby, prime and continuous gensets WEG Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
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.
Read more...PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The proportion of renewable energies from solar, wind and water is rising continuously. However, sufficient storage options are of the essence to use these energies as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.
Read more...Axiom reaches new heights Axiom Hydraulics
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
When Rula Bulk Handling could not source a cable tensioner large enough for a new cableway, the engineers knew they had to come up with an inventive solution. After discovering that no such tensioner was immediately available, Rula approached Axiom Hydraulics and ifm to assist with building their own.
Read more...Local range of planetary units SEW-EURODRIVE
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
s SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa actively extends its offerings to customers, the SEW PPK and SEW P2.e industrial gearbox ranges are good examples of solutions that are well suited to the local business environment.
Read more...At least 60 million strokes Horne Technologies
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Designing and constructing compact automation systems is one of the core activities of the Austrian machine manufacturer, STIWA. Its modular LTM-CI system has been optimised for small parts assembly. Linear and rotating micromotors from Faulhaber perform key tasks in these systems.
Read more...Innovative five-axis laser precession scanner
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Motion control specialist, Aerotech has launched the AGV5D, an innovative five-axis laser precession scanner specially developed for laser micromachining. This makes it possible to create high-precision bores, contoured slots and other complex geometries with dimensional tolerances in the sub-micrometre range.
Read more...Minetruck with electric drivetrain combines power and innovation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one, without requiring changes to a mine’s infrastructure.
Read more...Modular hydraulic control blocks for brake actuation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Electrohydraulic brake release valves are exposed to extreme loads, and can become uncontrollable in the event of a power failure. The experts at WEBER-HYDRAULIK GMBH have developed a practical, modular solution that ensures the safety of construction machinery, and is also suitable for a wide range of other vehicles with hydrostatic drive systems.
Read more...Modular assembly platform for clean manufacturing Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.
printer friendly version