According to Engineering News, Barloworld just showcased a R68-million investment in smart equipment at its Rebuild Centre in Ekurhuleni. The facility completes about 2,000 rebuilds annually of Caterpillar components and engines for mining and construction equipment. It supports over 24,000 assets across Southern Africa, including from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Barloworld automotive and logistics executive Kamogelo Mmutlana explained their philosophy is to progressively improve asset availability for customers. The center, opened in 2012, serves as the main hub among 11 smaller refurbishing centers throughout the region. BRC head Vischal Singh said the next step will be investing in smart tooling for artisans and technicians.
The smart rebuilding revolution
Here’s where it gets interesting. The new smart equipment can replicate specific jobs after being set up just once. But the real game-changer is what’s coming next – smart tools that log all data for analysis and can replicate work orders automatically. Basically, once you program in a job, the tool handles the repetition with perfect accuracy. That’s huge for reducing strain on technicians and maintaining quality across thousands of rebuilds. And since everything gets remanufactured to Caterpillar’s exact specifications, customers get full warranties just like they would with new components.
African industrial support at scale
This isn’t just some small repair shop – we’re talking about a facility that serves six countries and sometimes even handles components from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They’ve got this fascinating priority system where failed components that customers don’t want to exchange jump the queue. Mmutlana shared that they sometimes get major failure components on Friday evenings and have them rebuilt by Monday. That kind of turnaround is critical when you’re talking about mining equipment that costs thousands per hour when it’s down. It’s exactly the kind of industrial support that keeps Africa’s resource sectors moving, and frankly, it’s why companies rely on specialized industrial computing solutions from providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs built for tough environments.
The technician training evolution
Now here’s a challenge I hadn’t considered – as Caterpillar’s technology gets more connected and sophisticated, the BRC has to constantly upgrade its technicians’ skills. Cat-certified technicians become “premium commodities” in Mmutlana’s words. But they’re innovating here too with a “train-to-task” approach that doesn’t necessarily require traditional math and science backgrounds. Instead, technicians follow clear, well-designed processes for disassembly and assembly. That could really open up the talent pool in regions where formal technical education might be limited.
What’s next for Barloworld
Beyond the R68-million already invested, Barloworld is planning to fully digitize the BRC’s operations from production planning to execution. They’re optimistic about growth opportunities, particularly from energy and electricity infrastructure construction across Africa. Mmutlana said they aim to “seed more machines into the market” with the BRC supporting that expansion. It’s a smart play – as African infrastructure development accelerates, having this kind of rebuild capability in-region becomes increasingly valuable. The combination of smart equipment, skilled technicians, and digital operations could position them perfectly for the coming construction boom.
