MCCs & MOTOR PROTECTION
5
Industry expertise drives SEW-EURODRIVE’s presence at Electra Mining Africa
Motor protection relay solutions I n today’s demanding industrial and commercial environments, reliable motor protection is essential for maintaining uptime, ensuring safety, and maximising asset lifespan. For electrical contractors working with low- voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) systems, selecting and implementing the right motor protection relay solutions is critical. Understanding motor protection relays Motor protection relays are specialised devices designed to detect faults and abnormal operating conditions in electric motors. They provide protection against hazards such as overloads, phase failures, unbalanced currents, ground faults, and locked rotor conditions. Modern relays offer much more than basic protection—they integrate monitoring, diagnostics, and communication capabilities, helping contractors deliver smarter, safer, and more efficient solutions to end-users. Key features and benefits For LV and MV applications, relays must be selected based on system voltage, motor size, and application-specific requirements. Digital motor protection relays, in particular, bring several advantages: • Comprehensive protection: Advanced relays monitor multiple parameters, including current, voltage, temperature, and power factor, ensuring rapid detection of abnormal conditions. • Reduced downtime: Fast-acting trip mechanisms help isolate faults, minimising damage and reducing repair times. • Remote monitoring and control: Many modern relays support communication protocols such as Modbus, Profibus, or Ethernet, enabling real-time monitoring and remote operation—ideal for facilities with centralised control rooms. • Integrated diagnostics: Built-in event and fault logging help contractors and maintenance teams analyse issues quickly, improving troubleshooting and system reliability. Implementation considerations When installing motor protection relays, contractors should focus on proper sizing, correct wiring practices, and seamless integration with existing control systems. For MV systems, considerations such as insulation coordination, CT/VT selection, and arc-flash mitigation become even more critical. LV installations benefit from compact, multifunctional relays that fit easily into standard panels and offer plug-and-play commissioning. Conclusion Motor protection relays are indispensable for safeguarding motors in both LV and MV environments. With the increasing complexity of modern electrical systems, contractors should prioritise advanced relay solutions that combine robust protection with smart features. By doing so, they not only ensure regulatory compliance and equipment longevity but also deliver greater value to their clients through improved safety and operational efficiency.
Smarter technologies and modern engineering solutions are helping industries improve efficiency and competitiveness.
A ccording to Jonathan McKey, National Sales & Marketing Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE, industry- specific focus and life cycle support are the standout features of SEW-EURODRIVE’s presence at Electra Mining Africa 2026. “Our exhibition stands will demonstrate how we partner with customers across the full operational lifecycle – from new installations through to maintenance, upgrades, optimisation and long-term asset management,” McKey says. “The overarching message is about business integration and modernisation to help customers progress along their sustainability and productivity journey.” He highlights that SEW-EURODRIVE has expanded its offerings not only through exciting innovations in equipment and solutions but also through services that assess customers’ existing infrastructure and enhance it to enable more efficient, productive operation. This philosophy shapes both of the company’s stands at the show. “Visitors to our main stand in Hall 5 will appreciate the industry-focused layout, which facilitates conversations that are both relevant and technically focused,” he explains. “Instead of a generalised display, visitors will be able to engage directly with specialists aligned to specific sectors, including mining, materials handling and logistics.” To enhance the value of these vital face-to-face discussions, SEW-EURODRIVE will have management and technical experts on hand throughout the exhibition. Dedicated meeting areas will also facilitate more private discussions on operational challenges, project requirements, or longer-term strategic partnerships. At the company’s second exhibition stand in Hall 4, SEW-EURODRIVE will focus on its electronics portfolio and showcase its on-site energy surveys. The company’s experts will demonstrate how they use advanced tools to conduct these surveys and the key benefits they deliver. “We will unveil selected new technologies at our stands, focusing on how this innovation is driven by customer need,” McKey says. “We avoid promoting products for their own sake; rather, we use these forums to ask visitors about the technical challenges they face, and then we design our solutions to address them.” This extends beyond physical equipment to include digital tools, training, service agreements and maintenance programmes. SEW-EURODRIVE will also showcase its training, digital solutions, after-sales and maintenance services. “Another theme of the exhibition will be the modernisation of existing plant infrastructure,” he says. “This is particularly relevant to mining operations,
where legacy equipment often remains in service for decades.” While older systems may still be functional, their performance may be compromised and their cost- effectiveness suboptimal. SEW-EURODRIVE increasingly works with customers to evaluate existing installations, compare them with current technologies, and identify opportunities for improvement. This can include energy surveys, drivetrain assessments, maintenance reviews, and broader operational optimisation studies. “We can modernise those products, extend their service life, and make an impact across multiple facets of a customer’s business - including running costs,” he says. “We can enhance all of that by modernising the plant with technology.” Importantly, the company aims to reduce the disruption often associated with upgrading legacy infrastructure by using specialised solutions to streamline the transition and mitigate risk. Another key talking point across the stands will be SEW- EURODRIVE’s growing service capability in South Africa, including expanded aftermarket support, reverse engineering and repair services. This capability extends beyond servicing its own products to include other OEMs’ equipment. “Our recently expanded facilities in Aeroton, Johannesburg, have further improved our service capabilities not only for our own product but also for non-SEW products,” he says. “With our depth of technical expertise and specialised workshop equipment, we can reverse engineer and repair obsolete products, restoring them to working order.” By visiting SEW-EURODRIVE, Electra Mining Africa visitors can begin a holistic discussion of their current operational demands and future plans for their specific mine or industrial plant. The experienced SEW- EURODRIVE team on hand at the exhibition will help chart the path to improved asset performance. “Our presence further underscores that mining remains a major global growth sector for us, especially as mines look for ways to extract minerals from the ground more efficiently,” McKey says. “This pressure is accelerating demand for modern drive technology, automation and broader operational optimisation, which are the areas where we see growing opportunity.” McKey also expects strong interest from Electra Mining Africa visitors in infrastructure development and asset improvement more broadly. He notes that SEW-EURODRIVE is increasingly involved in projects that not only support industrial operations but also help modernise economies through better engineering, improved reliability and smarter technologies.
www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
AUGUST 2026
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