Local distributor experiences growth in SA motors industry

Electrical, automation and mechanical products and equipment supplier Elquip Solutions, a distributor of ABB South Africa’s low- voltage motors, aims to increase its local market share by expanding its operations.

This year, the company expanded and upgraded its business premises by adding a new warehouse in Boksburg, on the East Rand, thereby increasing the size of its floor space by 1 200 m2 to enable the stocking of additional motors and related components.

Cronin adds that, although the low-voltage-motor distribution industry in South Africa is competitive, Elquip Solutions aims to become a major player in not only the South African market, but also other African countries, as part of its long-term vision.

“We are bolstering our marketing campaigns to facilitate our goals. This includes having on-site demonstrations and attending trade shows,” he says.

Last year, Engineering News reported that Elquip Solutions had become the largest stockholder of ABB motors in South Africa.

“We are proud to be associated with world-leading brands, which include high-quality South African Bureau of Standards-approved cast-iron low-voltage motors, with capabilities from 0.18 kW to 315 kW, in 400 V and 525 V options,” said Elquip Solutions MD Mike Cronin.

Cronin says the company is the sole South African distributor of the ABB IE1 premium efficiency motors. “We are very fortunate to be a distributor of these motors,” he asserts, noting that the motors, if well maintained, should last more than 30 years.

The company supplies its products to several industries, including the machine-building sectors, original-equipment manufacturers and end-users of the replacement markets.

“We provide a full guarantee for the low-voltage motors and have subcontracted servicing providers, should they be required, but we have had not a single complaint about the motors yet,” says Cronin.

He adds that the product is competi- tively priced, considering that the motor is manufactured by a well-known motor manufacturer.

A major challenge that still remains is the time it takes to ship the product to South Africa, as it takes, on average, about five weeks for the motors and accessory parts to reach South African shores.

However, Cronin explains that the vola- tile currency exchange rate is the biggest challenge facing the company.

“There are no increases from our suppliers but we are definitely affected by the fluctuations in the exchange rate,” he notes.

The low-voltage motors supplied by Equip Solutions are designed and manufactured in accordance with the IEC34, IEC72, DIN432673, BS4999, AS1359, GB100069 and Q/JBQS27 international standards.

“The 1.1 kW two-pole and four-pole S-1 ABB M2QA motors are among the Class 2 category of European manufacturers of electrical machines and power electronics equipment and systems standards,” explains Cronin.

The motors windings are made of the newest materials in class F protection and temperature rise, limited to class B in standard motors, to ensure the engine’s extended life span, he says.

“All the motors are provided with deep-groove ball bearings to extend their life span. Cast-iron motors in sizes from 71 to 225 are greased for life and motors in sizes from 250 to 355 have a standard regreasing device, which alleviates the maintenance burden on site technicians,” Cronin says.

“The motor’s regreasing capability offers effective protection against corrosion. Another important part of the motor system is its unidirectional fan, which reduces the noise level significantly,” he notes.

The efficiency levels apply to two- and four-pole three-phase squirrel cage induction motors rated for 400 V at 50 Hz, with S1 class and outputs from 1.1 kW to 90 kW.

“The technically correct construction of the motors ensures a high-quality product that is durable and energy efficient as result of the frequency-converter drives,” concludes Cronin.