Industry Africa November - Beka Schréder

B EKA S CHRÉDER

BEKA Schréder guide to

Hostile Coastal Environments Beka Schréder is the leading company for luminaries in its bid to develop Africa. From the start of creating erosion resistant glass to merging of tablet technology and street lighting, advanced forward thinking propels them forward.

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BEKA Schréder

BEKA Schréder guide to “longterm solutions for the hostile coastal and inland environments.”

Mike Garwin

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Beka Schréder is the leading company for luminaries in its bid to develop Africa. From the start of creating erosion resistant glass to merging of tablet technology and street lighting, advanced forward thinking propels them forward.

BEKA Schréder

Ludwick, General Manager of BEKA Schréder had provided an exclusive interview with Industry Africa to discuss about BEKA Schréders long term goals for Africa and how they achieved to become what they are in the present day.

Lighting is something that is often taken for granted. During pure day light, something emitting light along the distance is often unseen or unnoticed as it is overpowered by the sun. However, the cover of darkness changes that narrative in a completely different manner. As our society further progresses, so does our lives and its schedules. Most activities were closed in the dark allowing the period of rest and walking on paths be they in villages, cities or fields without light spells fears of attacks. In the modern age, lives are becoming ever busier and the idea of the ‘night life’ after the vigour’s of work is an example of the miracle of the modern society.

Africa when spotted from the vantage of space is much darker at night then American or European continents. One Belgian company with a large base in South Africa aims to combat this disparity and its name is BEKA Schréder.

BEKA Schréder is Africa’s leading manufacturer of Luminaires and Glass Fibre Reinforced polyester (GRP) Poles. BEKA Schréder started operations in 1978 in Namibia, a country with an area that has one of the most corrosive climates in the world. To combat this issue and provide sight at night to Africa, BEKA Schréder produced a “corrosionresistant Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester Poles and Public Lighting luminaires that continue to provide long-term solutions for the hostile coastal and inland environments.”

Wimpie Ludwick said. It is very clear then that BEKA Schréder as a company since 1978 is wholly invested and interested in developing Africa into the potential it always has.

Whilst Namibia was their first starting point, the wider African countries were eager to try and use products that were suitable for the climate. “Due to the success of our products becoming firmly established in neighbouring South Africa, the decision was made in 1981 to move the head office and factory to Olifantsfontein, a strategically positioned industrial town situated between Johannesburg and Pretoria.”

Quality and reliability have then been

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Wimpie

BEKA Schréder (Pty) Ltd is Africa’s leading manufacturer of Luminaires and Glass Fibre Reinforced polyester (GRP) Poles.

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BEKA Schréder

noted from other countries as early as 1981 revealing the true basis of why BEKA Schréder are the leading manufacturers. This was proved further “In 1989, BEKA Schréder became South Africa’s first lighting company to be awarded ISO 9000 certification. This commitment to quality became the company’s hallmark and has enabled us to become Africa’s largest lighting manufacturer and market leader in exterior lighting.”

Africa is ripe for potential development with its unique climate being a barrier to its complete development. However, as technologies improve alongside understanding of the geographical and geological environment, so does the scope and market to develop into these challenges. “The BEKA Schréder main goal in their own words is “Driving bushiness development and sales throughout the lighting industry, cross segment scope with specifier and end-user engagement.

We provide full scope solutions to enhance people’s lives on a daily basis in terms of safety and well-being in the most sustainable way. We offer an extensive range of high-quality LED luminaires, most of which are locally designed and manufactured, making them the best suited for African conditions.” Since the start of the company, these 40 years had not made them lose sight of their original and continuing path especially when asked about future ambitions in the rest of Africa: “The Schreder group has global supply routes and BEKA Schréder has a sales focus in Africa and Sub Saharan Africa with a team servicing African countries with luminaire specified projects.

We supply our products to various counties all over the globe” The component of a lightingbased industry is the ability to adapt, improve and innovate BEKA Schréder has never failed in this ever-changing industry with aims to encourage use with low impact, efficient lighting systems, “BEKA Schréder will continue to drive technical innovation in manufactured luminaires suitable for evolving markets and providing the end-user improved efficiencies in the years to come. We continuously improve our processes and assembly lines to adapt to the LED and Smart City requirements”. When enquired further, to explain their products and how it matches their desire for Smart City and environmental interest 36 | www.industryafrica.net

We provide full scope solutions to enhance people’s lives on a daily basis in terms of safety and well-being in the most sustainable way.

BEKA Schréder

“Our luminaires are designed to be able to provide light exactly where it is needed. This of course means that there will be very little to no light pollution, glare and ultimately irritation to the people using the ecosystem. We all know that LED’s are have all the ‘green’ energy saving features to make sure there is a positive impact on business and the environment.” they said “Our objective is to provide the right lighting solutions by optimising the optical and mechanical design of luminaires. Using contemporary technologies, our goal is to always offer intelligent and sustainable lighting solutions to reduce energy consumption, as well as the overall cost of ownership.” Commitment to a greener Africa without economic negatives is a brilliant aim that should not only be focused in Africa but within the wider world.

The insight and experience offered

by BEKA Schréder is paramount.

Designing lighting for Smart City requirements is innovation in its core which could be explained as the lifeblood of the company. It is no

surprise great projects were done under their name and guidance: “BEKA Schréder is known in the industry for several key-points, both for public and private customers.

These include the various major highways and connecting routes, Bridges, BRT routes, airports, Industrial applications, Commercial/ Corporate contracts and various stadiums. Certainly, these projects has reinforced our participation in the lighting market, both private and public” These projects that include illuminating the roads could potentially lower accident rates as well as studies so far indicate a positive correlation between lighting and decrease in accidents. All benefits provided are indicative of the aim to create a further developed and ecological Africa.

Being the pioneers of African focused lighting system, competition against BEKE Schréder exists.

When asking about competition, their entrepreneur spirit rose with “Healthy competition is good for business as it challenges the team to strive for the best solutions, service

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We offer an extensive range of high-quality LED luminaires, most of which are locally designed and manufactured, making them the best suited for African conditions.

www.industryafrica.net | 37

industry.africa

BEKA Schréder

The Schreder group has global supply routes and BEKA Schréder has a sales focus in Africa and Sub Saharan Africa with a team servicing African countries with luminaire specified projects. We supply our products to various counties all over the globe

and quality. With our expert commercial team, we position ourselves daily as the leaders in the industry. We also have an in house design centre and applications department to make sure we innovate and increase customer satisfaction.”

This confidence is not unfounded and mirroring the changing innovations of the light industry, BEKA Schréder has every intention to remain the company 38 | www.industryafrica.net

that first carves the path of providing affordable, minimal impact light to Africa: “With the growth of LED’s and new technologies in lighting BEKA Schréder will expand, optimise and develop in this ‘ever-changing’ lighting industry, BEKA Schréder will stay at the forefront of this development with its local manufacturing and development centre.”

The work of BEKE Schréder stands on efficient, quality and intelligence which mirrors the core values that the company subscribes to. It is no surprise that their staff then match the core values of their products. Confidence and pride were shown when asking about their staff that BEKA Schréder shows a level of care and appreciation: “BEKA Schréder has well trained staff in all aspects of the

BEKA Schréder

industry.africa

BEKA Schréder will continue to drive technical innovation in manufactured luminaires suitable for evolving markets and providing the end-user improved efficiencies in the years to come. We continuously improve our processes and assembly lines to adapt to the LED and Smart City requirements

successful company? For BEKE Schréder “We believe in quality and performance. We also believe in efficiency and cost of ownership as mentioned before. Warrantee and after sales service are important factors to consider.” And is it not true for them? Premier quality items were created by them therefore those that look for quality would

look no further than BEKE Schréder.

These customers have been with them for a long time. A proof via the passage of time and in an humble acknowledgement “our company has had stable growth for over 40 years with the support of loyal and informed customers and loyal, motivated and qualified employees.

For that we are very thankful.” www.industryafrica.net | 39

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lighting business, manufacturing and sales processes, and delivering quality products through the experienced commercial team. We believe skill transfer and training is of the utmost importance. We believe that we have one of the most competent and technically qualified commercial, technical and support staff in the industry.”

In long terms, what makes a

B EKA S CHRÉDER