MechChem Africa May-June 2024

Quality gearboxes for centre pivot irrigation SEW-EURODRIVE's 'closing the loop' strategy within the agricultural sector has seen the company offer a comprehensive gear solution for centre pivot irrigation systems to the local market.

efits of our gearboxes for the centre pivot market is that we use the same internal gearing as our popular and robust 7-series range,” Strydom explains. “The heart of our gearboxes for centre pivot irrigation has therefore proven itself beyond doubt over decades in many arduous applications and industries.” It also means that SEW-EURODRIVE already has extensive stockholding in its large and modern facility in Aeroton, west of Johannesburg, and all the necessary ex pertise to assess and refurbish gearboxes using these components. The company also has its own quality motors for 0.55, 0.75 or 1.1 kW irrigation systems. While the duty performed by the gear boxes and motors on centre pivot irrigation systems might be considered lighter than certain other applications in more de manding sectors, Strydom emphasises that regular inspection and maintenance remain important. “This agricultural equipment may need to be moved from one location to another on the farm, for instance,” he says. “In some cases, this process can damage both the gears and motors – so it is vital to check regularly that the performance of the equipment is still optimal.” The attention of trained service staff from SEW-EURODRIVE can make this process easier and less time consuming for farm managers. The on-site assessment can also confirm whether cost effective repairs are possible, rather than replacing whole gearboxes. Repairing or replacing just the internal gears will allow the casing to be pre served – minimising the wastage and cost. Another growing concern for farmers is the rising cost of electricity, and SEW EURODRIVE’s solutions for centre pivot systems also help address this challenge, says Strydom. “Most competitors in this field use standard efficiency IE1 class motors,” he explains. “To save our custom ers on the cost of their electricity, SEW EURODRIVE standardises on the use of premium efficiency IE3 motors.” “We are proud to be a full-service OEM in the agricultural space,” concludes McKey. “We are also excited about this and other opportunities in the sector, in which we will be closing the loop by offering an ever wider range of complete solutions for our customers.” www.sew-eurodrive.co.za

SEW-EURODRIVE’s portfolio has expanded to include the supply, installation and servicing of quality centre drive and wheel drives for pivot irrigation systems in the agricultural industry.

O ffering a complete gear solution for centre pivot irrigation sys tems, SEW-EURODRIVE brings its quality products and support as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) closer to South Africa’s farming sector. “As a key strategic sector in this country, the agricultural industry deserves to be serviced by OEMs – not just by resellers of imported products,” says Jonathan McKey, National Sales and Marketing Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE. “As a global company with a world class reputation, our strong lo cal footprint across South Africa and Africa ensures that the farming community gets the support it needs from us.” Through its strategy of ‘closing the loop’, SEW-EURODRIVE is able to supply, install and service the centre drive and wheel drives for pivot irrigation systems – as well as the drive technology to power the system. “Our SEW-EURODRIVE gearbox solu tions have proven themselves in this ap plication since the 1980s in Brazil, where numerous units are sold every month into their farming sector,” says McKey. “The similarities of the agricultural environment between our two countries have convinced us that our offering adds plenty of value locally.” Aligning to the shaft sizes and flange connections on existing centre pivot irriga

tion equipment, SEW-EURODIVE provides a ‘plug and play’ solution for the gearing, casing and motor. Willem Strydom, elec tronics business development manager for SEW-EURODRIVE, emphasises that the company presents a game-changing concept in sustainability, serviceability and cost ef fectiveness, which is exactly what the local agricultural sector needs. “Generally, the drive systems on this type of equipment are simply replaced when they no longer perform, and there is little capability in South Africa to repair them,” says Strydom. “Not only will we assemble our own gearboxes in-country, but we can also repair and refurbish the various com ponents to our stringent OEM standards.” The company’s infrastructure includes service teams that visit customers’ sites, whether these are commercial farms or smaller privately owned enterprises. These teams are highly experienced in various gearbox systems and applications, so they can inspect existing installations and advise on optimal solutions. “Large operations can even be supported with formal service level agreements, where the size and efficiency of the operation warrants it,” he says. SEW-EURODRIVE can serve the market’s standardised wheel ratios of 50:1 and 52:1, to accommodate the specifications of the key suppliers of centre pivot irrigation systems. “One of the ben

34 ¦ MechChem Africa • May-June 2024