New opportunities for SA market

Lightning and surge protection equipment specialist DEHN + SÖHNE, of Germany, has officially opened a local subsidiary in Johannesburg.

Group joint MD Dr Philipp Dehn reports that the market slowdown in Europe prompted the company to seek expansion opportunities in developing regions.

“We have specifically concentrated on the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) emerging economies as part of our ongoing growth strategy by establishing our presence in China, India and Russia over the past few years and now in South Africa,” Dehn says, adding that moves are also advancing to expand into Mexico and Brazil.

“By expanding our international activities to include the African market, we can adapt our sales activities to suit the specific requirements of this region and also participate in active premarketing activities, shorten delivery times and facilitate product avail- ability,” he explains.

The South African unit will be led by MD Alexis Barwise, who says the subsidiary will focus on the telecommunications, oil and gas, energy supply, transportation, mining and solar sectors, and will broaden its product and solutions offering in the marketplace.

It will also pursue formal partner programmes, having already introduced light- ning and surge protection specialist Surgetek as its first platinum-level partner in South Africa.

“As a company that has always fostered a pioneering spirit, having invented several world firsts, including the first surge arrester for indoor use, the first separable earth electrode and surge arrester for the protec- tion of measuring and control equipment and data systems, we will continue to display this attitude at the local branch,” he adds.

In addition to bringing new technology and products to the African markets, Barwise says the family-owned company, which has been operating for more than 100 years, will also seek to share its knowledge through seminars and training initiatives.