The contract first awarded in 1997, has been renewed for a further five years. “This contract covers Sasol’s South African sites in Sasolburg and Secunda, as well as Sasol Mining and includes products developed to meet the specific needs for it’s different environments, including flame-proof motors for underground mining,” says Gary Daines, Zest WEG Group’s sales and marketing director.

After the initial contact, Zest Electric Motors quickly established itself as a leading supplier of electric motors and although the initial requirement was focused on LV machines, the company has also supplied medium voltage (MV) motors over the same period, as well as VSD’s.

Daines comments that at the time the original contract was awarded, Sasol was looking for a company that could offer strong support from a local base and that could meet strict key Performance Areas such as technical support, accebility of stock and training.

To support this contract, Zest Electric Motors established a dedicated branch in Trichardt and this branch has subsequently grow sustainability in both stockholding and manpower. Under the company’s banner, it also became an ISO 9001 accredited facility.

“In 1997 Sasol was the first in the industry to embrace the concept high efficiency motors which, back then was visionary, since the campaign to conserve energy had not really taken hold” he continues. “With the more recent introduction of the new IE3 specifications that define minimum efficiency levels, Sasol took the initiative to standardize on the high efficiency levels available in the market. Sasol is at present our only customer to recognize the benefits of installing these electric motors to an IE3 efficiency class.”

“Since 1997 we’ve forged an excellent relationship with Sasol and the new contract demonstrates the excellent spirit of the affiliation and the value that we’ve added,” Daines says.

“And as a result of this certification, we’ve been able to supply other companies with this combination for hazardous environments.”

The company’s extensive stockholding in Trichardt has sustainability reduced this demand on Sasol’s own stores, since a simple online order for a specific product results in a delivery to the Sasol plant in less than an hour.