Main image: Left: Jadri Hurter, director at Eya Bantu. Right: Brighton Mwarehwa, Offer and Marketing Director, Power Systems at Schneider Electric

In a move that is set to bolster local manufacturing and skills development in South Africa’s energy management sector, Schneider Electric has appointed Eya Bantu as one of its local engineering and customisation licensed partner for its range of PIX Easy, Air insulated medium voltage (MV) switchgear. PIX Easy is an indoor MV switchgear with voltage rating up to 17,5 kV  with withdrawable vacuum circuit breaker up to 2500A and 31.5 kA , providing a high level of safety, simplicity to use and strong reliability.

Eya Bantu was awarded Schneider Electric’s EcoXpert MV Panel Master badge which means the company is certified, under license, to design, manufacture, assemble, test, and sell PIX Easy FR type-tested switchboards.

Eya Bantu has been a Schneider Electric value adding partner for over six years and the new agreement will see the engineering service company manufacturing PIX Easy MV switchgear according to Schneider Electric standards and processes.  Schneider Electric licensed panel builders receive training on the latest technologies and standards and are audited on a regular basis to ensure that they deliver the best service and performance.

Explains Jadri Hurter, director at Eya Bantu: “We are an energy sector HV and MV electrical engineering specialist company, which means we can offer both our customers and Schneider Electric’s customers with purpose-built solutions incorporating the PIX Easy MV switchgear”.

“As a local company we can add even more engineering value to the equipment, offering turnkey solutions to SA companies based on Schneider Electric’s products which will undoubtedly benefit the industry and strengthen relationships in the energy space,” he adds.

Eya Bantu has, as a result of the Schneider Electric agreement, already employed in excess of 15 plus staff members, and with a second assembly plant now in operation there will be even more employment opportunities in the near future.

Adds Brighton Mwarehwa, Offer and Marketing Director, Power Systems at Schneider Electric: “The appointment of Eya Bantu will allow Schneider Electric to be even closer to the customers front, providing improved turnaround on design, manufacturing and after sales support.  Additionally, it will optimise our supply chain, as less equipment needs to be manufactured abroad, saving not only time but engineering and transport costs.”

“Eya Bantu is one of the country’s foremost electrical engineering services companies and will undoubtedly add enormous value to our switchgear and energy management business in South Africa. Schneider Electric recognises the valuable and independent technical expertise and provision of innovative solutions and services provided by Eya Bantu to our mutual customers.  We look forward to a successful collaboration in this next chapter of our valuable partnership,” he says.

Schneider Electric’s PIX Easy Air insulated MV switchgear is used as an electrical distribution technology for various energy segments such as electrical utilities, renewable energy sector, buildings, and various industries.

Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://eyabantu.com/  and https://www.se.com/za/en/  (Schneider Electric) for the information in this article.

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