Prem Rodrigues, vice-president sales and marketing for India, the Middle East and Africa at Siemon. (Image source: The Siemon Company)

The Siemon Company, a global leader in high-performance connectivity solutions for data centres and smart buildings, has introduced Smart Building COMPLETE, a fully unified connectivity and cabling ecosystem designed to support the essential technologies driving today’s intelligent workplaces

Covering everything from Wi-Fi and security systems to AV, access control and sensors, Smart Building COMPLETE provides building owners and operators with a comprehensive, field-proven foundation to plan, construct and manage smarter, more efficient buildings and campus environments.

At the core of Smart Building COMPLETE is Siemon’s advanced PowerGUARD+ technology, delivering extended reach of up to 200 metres. This significantly lowers deployment costs and complexity by reducing or eliminating the need for traditional telecommunications rooms, associated equipment, power, cooling and routine maintenance. Engineered to control heat rise and maintain performance at temperatures up to 75°C, Siemon’s patented, independently verified cabling and connectivity offer the reliability required to deliver uninterrupted power and data to a wide range of connected devices.

Smart Building COMPLETE combines trusted technology with a new suite of intuitive planning and design tools that streamline specification and speed up deployment for customers, designers and consultants. The Cabling Reach Calculator assists users in selecting the right cable type based on real installation conditions and required distances, especially crucial for runs extending beyond 100 metres. The Wired for Wi-Fi tool highlights equipment manufacturer requirements and guides users in choosing the correct cabling solutions for each wireless access point. The Backbone Speed Calculator further supports planning by helping determine the fibre backbone needed for Wi-Fi deployments of any scale.

Sustainability remains a central priority for smart building operators, helping decrease energy consumption, cut operational expenses, reduce carbon emissions and enhance occupant comfort. Smart Building COMPLETE supports these goals through energy-optimising technologies and transparent reporting, assisting operators in meeting green building certification requirements. The solution emphasises transparency through Health and Environmental Product Declarations (HPDs and EPDs) and aligns with leading standards such as LEED, BREEAM, LBC and WELL, ensuring cost-effective, healthy and high-performing indoor environments.

“Modern commercial buildings and campuses must deliver more than just space. They are expected to create safe, efficient, and engaging environments that support the people inside them while maximising facility value for those who operate them. Smart Building COMPLETE, through its PowerGUARD+ technology, extensive application support and a commitment to sustainability, helps building owners and operators create dynamic, future-ready workplaces for a more sustainable tomorrow,” commented Prem Rodrigues, vice-president sales and marketing for India, the Middle East and Africa at Siemon.

 Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa. (Image source: SEW-EURODRIVE)

In a momentous step for the local industrial gearbox and drives market, SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa has formally opened a new service and repair facility alongside its headquarters in Aeroton, Johannesburg

“For the first time, customers can have all aspects of their industrial gearbox dealt with in one place – and to the highest OEM quality standards,” commented Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa.

“This allows us to offer unprecedented warranties on service work, giving the market peace of mind, quicker turnarounds and enhanced uptime on their repaired and refurbished units.”

The company has invested almost R385 million (approx. US$22.5mn) in the new 17 000 m² facility, where construction began a year ago. Significantly this followed just years after company built its R500 million (approx. US$29mn), 26 000 m² head office complex in Aeroton, into which it expanded in 2022. These developments form part of SEW-EURODRIVE’s proactive investment in added service capabilities across the world, which amounted to €1 billion (approx. US$1.16bn) in 2024 alone.

Obermeyer explains that in an unprecedented move the new service facility marks the end of an era in South Africa in which industrial gearbox users would have to involve multiple service providers in a single repair or refurbishment contract.

“The expertise and equipment in this facility allow SEW-EURODRIVE to conduct all aspects of a drivetrain repair – from the gearbox and coupling to the motor, steelwork and electronics,” stated Obermeyer. “We now have all this capability at our disposal, which is gamechanging in terms of quality, reliability and warranties.”

He highlights that the investment in skills and sophisticated hardware now gives the company comprehensive control over the repair process and the results.

“Previously, we were often limited by the fact that other players were involved in the work on many service interventions – and we could not take responsibility for their level of workmanship,” Obermeyer explained. “As a world class OEM and with our steadfast commitment to quality processes and components, we can now offer warranties of two years on our repairs and refurbishments. This has never been possible before and represents a significant and high-value development for customers all over Africa.”

The new service centre will even conduct work on gear units from other manufacturers, he notes, given the depth of the experience and infrastructure at SEW-EURODRIVE’s new world class service and repair facility. Over 65 additional technical staff are in the process of being brought on board at the site including engineering managers, field service engineers and artisans in various specialised disciplines.

“Our centre is being equipped with the some of the most experienced skills in the local market, and our in-house DriveAcademy is busy finetuning their expertise in line with our wide range of drive solutions,” Obermeyer remarked.

Fully equipped with the latest technical infrastructure, the work of the new facility will include vibration analysis and diagnostic testing for motors and drives as well as equipment for 3D scanning and CNC machining. Winding machines will allow for motors to be rewound in-house and tested in line with SEW-EURODRIVE world class OEM standards.

“The facility will also include a fabrication department, so that we don’t have to outsource aspects like base plates, flanges, guards and other steelwork,” he said. “With the capacity to do our own cutting, bending and welding, this department allows us to conduct all this work in-house – speeding up turnaround times and ensuring constant quality control.”

Obermeyer concludes that the breadth of in-house services and engineering equipment at the SEW-EURODRIVE service and repair centre represents a significant investment in the re-industrialisation of the local economy – allowing customers to optimise the longevity and performance of their drive systems and is aligned with the company’s commitment to strengthening its position as the leading industrial gearboxes and drives provided on the African continent.

Mota-Engil riding high on Africa’s construction market (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A dynamic Africa market has propelled Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil in 2025 after it posted higher profits and a record order backlog of €15.7bn for the first nine months of the year

“Activity continues to show strong momentum, driven by sustained growth in Africa,” the company told investors in its latest financial update.

The company, which is part-owned by China Construction Communications and celebrates 80 years in operation in 2026, is now playing an integral role in the roll-out of roads, rail and other infrastructure across much of the continent.

In its financial statement, the company cited its “outstanding performance in Africa”, particularly in the engineering and construction (E&C) segment.

Africa now accounts for over half of the backlog across its business units, it noted, headed by Angola and Nigeria.

In the railways sector, new projects include maintenance on the strategic Lobito Corridor project, as well as other work in Angola and Nigeria, now two of the group’s flagship markets.

Major industrial projects currently underway, or in backlog, include work for DP World on Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Allied Gold’s Sadiola mine in Mali and Managem’s Boto gold mine in Senegal, which was inaugurated at the start of November.

In August, Mota-Engil also picked up a further €162mn in additional work linked to Rwanda’s Bugesera International Airport project.

Its Africa success offset a more modest performance from other key regions, including Europe and Latin America, where the group is also active.

While turnover for the nine-month period was largely flat, at €4.1bn, its net profit spiked 20 percent to €92mn, up from €77mn last year.

The performance may trigger interest from other international contractors seeking higher growth and returns as Africa’s long-term potential begins to take shape and infrastructure gaps are plugged.

Read more:

AfDB cash boost for Uganda roads project

Africa Finance Corp backs Mota-Engil with mining facility

DP World and Mota-Engil to develop Banana Port