Rockwell Automation Sub-Saharan Africa is marking seven years of successful collaboration with panel and cabinet assembler Low Voltage Switchboards. It is a collaboration that is leveraging increased market competitiveness by maximising the capabilities of the industrial automation specialist to package its IEC-rated drive and control equipment in tailored, fully compliant panel technology solutions to industrial markets in sub-Saharan Africa. The fruits of this collaboration are today seen in some of the largest mining and industrial projects across the region.

The association includes the assembly of Rockwell Automation switchgear and controlgear in Low Voltage Switchboards’ modular panel and cabinet configurations.

“Our collaboration with Low Voltage Switchboards broadens our project delivery capabilities with synergies from both sides,” explains Adrian van Wyk, Business Manager – Power and Components Business, Southern & Sub-Saharan Africa, Rockwell Automation. “As Rockwell Automation, we supply a product and the technical ability to deliver solutions required from a customer perspective; which Low Voltage Switchboards then integrates into a structure so that the solution meets both customer and local specifications. It’s an integral part of increasing the competitiveness of Rockwell Automation in delivering full-scale projects that meet local end user- and application-specific standards and quality requirements.”

The association demonstrates Rockwell Automation Sub-Saharan Africa’s continuing strategy to align with independent suppliers to facilitate attractive, competitive and innovative product solutions to industrial end users. “We seek out strategic alliances and collaborators that fit with Rockwell Automation’s view of maximum quality standards through a solution with maximum compliance,” van Wyk continues.

In a company like Low Voltage Switchboards, with a track record of over 18 years, Rockwell Automation has an independent panel building agent that leverages its knowledge of regional industrial applications to supply customised solutions to the specific requirements of each industry and workspace.

“Low Voltage Switchboards is an SABS-certified assembler of IEC 60439- and 61439-compliant electrical switchboards, aligning ourselves with the CUBIC modular panel system brand,” explains Stephan Smit, Operations Director, Low Voltage Switchboards. “These systems provide solutions for main distribution boards, marine panels, MCCs, fully withdrawable systems, PLC panels, 19” modular racks and desks in a range of steels.”

Strategic wins

Since its formation in 2009, the collaboration has supplied EC&I systems to some of the largest mining projects in the world, including the world’s two-largest gold mines, located in Central Africa. “These are systems providing critical control functions in tremendously hostile environments, with high ambient temperatures and high humidity in extremely remote locations,” van Wyk explains. “We’ve supplied equipment to a large portfolio of mining projects in sub-Saharan Africa that cover a range of minerals, from a large ilmenite plant in Madagascar to uranium mines in Namibia. Outside of mining, we’ve supplied critical solutions in oil and gas; food and beverage; and water and wastewater treatment plants.”

In what is becoming an increasingly important component of successful business expansion in today’s industries, Rockwell Automation Sub-Saharan Africa’s collaboration with Low Voltage Switchboards demonstrates the value of strategic synergies in packaging complete, customised solutions that offer attractive and competitive project bids to market.