Local electric motor distributor Zest Electric Motors (Zest) says that there is still capacity for new acquisitions, should a suitable and complementary company come its way.
Chairperson James Blakemore says that with the group’s recent acquisition of motor control centre manufacturer Shaw Controls, the company is one step closer to offering clients a total package solution.
Zest chairperson James Blakemore says that six years ago the company decided to change its focus from a sole distributor of imported goods, to having one-half of its product range locally manufactured. "If we look at the situation now, I think that we are about 65% imported goods, and 35% local content, so we still have some way to go."
"Any business we acquitruck wheel manufacturers worldwidere is chosen because of its success and suitability to fit within the group, and therefore we believe that our input is merely to offer our management expertise and provide a stronger financial base, as there is naturally increased access to capital, allowing for future growth," says Blakemore.
"Our investment in Shaw Controls is in line with our policy of increasing our locally manufactured product footprint. Our focus is the consolidation of the existing silca sand washing equipmentacquisitions so that we can offer our customers a complete package with electric motors, motor control centres, variable speed drives, transformers, and generator sets."
He adds that the company has worked with programmable logic controllers before, and that it was planning to enhance its involvement with the sector.
"We would like to involve ourselves in medium-voltage switchgear, and although there are a lot of players already in that field, if the correct acquiapplications of crusher machinesition came along we would definitely be interested."
Blakemore adds that the group has adopted a very strategic approach to participation in the utilities and mining sectors, and that the application of medium-voltage switchgear in the mining industry is vast.
Shaw Controls is the third local acquisition of the Zest group, with previous acquisitions including electric wire and cable supplier Industrial Cable, and genset manufacturer IMS Engineering. The compcoal used in pulverizer steel plantany is also a supplier of the WEG variable speed drives.
Blakemore says that he believes that the time for engineering has come. "If we look at what is happening in the country, at the government infrastructure spend, the new power stations being built, and at the Gautrain development, it all bodes very well for us."
He adds that the mining sector is also constantly experiencing booms in production, with the focus falling variably on diamonds, gold, or platinucomplete crushing plant in pakistanm. "If one takes a look at what is happening in Africa, it bodes very well for our business. I think we can all look forward to the next five to ten years for good solid growth in the engineering, and especially the electrical sector.
"We are confident that we are very well placed in the next few years to take advantage of opportunities with respect to the economy and upcoming mining contracts."
Blakemore says that six years ago the company decided to change its focus from a sole distributor of imported goods, to having one-half of its product range locally manufactured. "If we look at the situation now, I think that we are about 65% imported goods, and 35% local content, so we still have some way to go."
Blakemore concludes by saying that the company is an ideal size and that the company has access to current technology. "Additionally, we are a large stockholder and even though we have had demands placed on us by customers, we have been able to supply on demand. We have the right infrastructure, products, packages, and synergies."