PFK Electronics - Nov 2019

PFK ELECTRONICS

PFK ELECTRONICS

Leading the Golden Age of

Automotive Innovation PRODUCTION: Benjamin Southwold

PFK is a globally renowned designer and manufacturer of advanced technology, specialising in innovative automotive solutions for manufacturers, major fleet and freight companies and the public transport sector. South Africa is often labelled a golden opportunity for automotive innovation, and it is a characteristic at the heart of the Autowatch and PFK Shurlok brands under which PFK produces every one of its tailor-made solutions in-house. www.enterprise-africa.net / 3

INDUSTRY FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY

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PFK Electronics has been a supplier of automotive electronics systems for over 30 years, established in Durban, South Africa in 1985, today known as a major player in both the local and global markets having established offices in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, the UK, Canada, the USA and Sweden. It has supplied all of the leading automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) producers operating in South Africa, as well as a growing number of international outfits.

“More than just another technology manufacturer,” PFK interjects, “our vision is to be a key strategic partner and business enabler to clients around the world, offering a world-class suite of proactive risk and asset management technologies.” Quality is a core value that defines PFK, with every product manufactured to international standards to give a level of reliability and design excellence which enables them to fulfil the stringent requirements

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of the industry’s most highly respected governing bodies.

The strong partnerships it has constructed and the tailor-made solutions at its fingertips have enabled PFK to design turnkey offerings for the end customer, solutions which leverage the more than three decades of OEM and ISO-certified experience it has accrued. “The company is driven by a strong culture of innovation,” PFK says, “which translates into a finished product through its extensive research, development and world class production standards and capabilities.

“To this end, PFK has the ability to build even the most specialised electronic products from print to design.”

FUTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE TECH The African market represents around one-third of all automotive sales across the Middle East and Africa, and three in particular arise time and again when companies come to setting their sights: South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco. All have major

// OUR VISION IS TO BE A KEY STRATEGIC PARTNER AND BUSINESS ENABLER TO CLIENTS AROUND THE WORLD // sales potential due to their size, population growth and increasing wealth, propelled by a developed OEM presence and a desire to take on new technologies at a rapid rate to help transform their economies and living standards.

South Africa in particular is a key market, as it represents more than 50% of all new car sales across Africa. It is also a manufacturing and assembly hub for a number of OEM’s serving not only the domestic market, but exporting too to a number of destinations across the sub-Saharan region and beyond.

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INDUSTRY FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY

// THE COMPANY IS DRIVEN BY A STRONG CULTURE OF INNOVATION // Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) recorded over 32,000 new cars sold in July 2018, representing a 4.3% increase on the previous year; sales to the car rental industry contributed nearly 19%. “For now, the South African market is looking very attractive,” Medium.com underlined, with the potential to absorb into its infrastructure many more vehicles than it currently has.”

Connected car technology is not new to the continent. In fact, connected car technologies have been used in South Africa and the wider region for several years and the consumer market is now fully ready to embrace the concept and the reality of the connected car.

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“The automotive industry is experiencing a period of intense disruption, and consumers are starting to make their voices heard as to which innovations they value most,” said Karthi Pillay, Africa Automotive leader at Deloitte. “It will be interesting to see how the industry develops as advanced technology becomes more widespread.

“Africans understand the value that the information age brings to the consumer experience,” finished Medium.

“Connected cars like connected things are becoming mainstream here. But with the connected car locals can make their driving experience safer and more enjoyable.”

IN-HOUSE EXCELLENCE “PFK’s goal is to not only be best-inclass in its existing product markets,” it summates, “but to translate its expertise in emerging and exciting new technologies.” An unbending focus on innovation and technological progress has reaped enormous rewards for PFK in an enviably short space of time.

In its early days, PFK designed products exclusively for the South African Defence Force, the success of which led to the creation of the Autowatch brand in 2009. In 2012, PFK was then able to expand its capabilities yet further into control instruments by acquiring Pi-Shurlok, which supplies a variety of body control modules and many other custom-built parts and plastics to Original Equipment Manufacturers.

As a result, production facilities were moved into Pietermaritzburg.

“This state-of-the-art production facility afforded the rebranded PFK Shurlok the ability to custom build unique solutions in high volumes, to a variety of clients and design specifications from around the world,” the company explains. “Our manufacturing and testing facilities in Pietermaritzburg cover an area of more than 8500m², allowing for cutting edge design and rigorous testing of every product we create, including those sold under PFK Shurlok and the three Autowatch brands.”

PFK ELECTRONICS

Under the watchful eye of a team of top design engineers, PFK proudly designs and manufactures all products in-house. Established in 1969, Pi-Shurlok had already garnered international acclaim by the time PFK came knocking, and the takeover and rebranding to PFK Shurlok in 2012 saw its product offering much extended.

“PFK Shurlok is a world class designer and manufacturer of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) products, with unparalleled production capabilities and proven quality standards. The business has an impressive array of awards and certification from a substantial list of globally recognised vehicle manufacturing brands.

// WE ARE THE GO-TO OEM SUPPLIER FOR MOST OF THE MAJOR MOTORING BRANDS //

“We are the go-to OEM supplier for most of the major motoring brands, with awards from Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW and others.”

Today, Autowatch is the leading supplier of vehicle security, telematics and vehicle interlock solutions in South Africa and further afield, having carved out firm footholds in the USA, Australia and Europe. Since their first introduction to the market in 2003, Autowatch Breathalok products have been at the cutting edge of alcohol ignition breathalyser systems, while Autowatch VSS has transformed the decades of realities of vehicle theft and hijackings in South Africa to develop peerless vehicle security solutions.

Completing the Autowatch line-up is PFK’s innovative 852 Video Telematics solution offering. Deploying telecommunication devices and advanced algorithms, it takes tracking and video fleet management far beyond stolen vehicle recovery through its wealth of experience designing and manufacturing systems for major

international companies.

It is a golden age for South Africa and its automotive tech sector, and PFK’s dedication to and application of innovation sees it leading the charge.

“What makes our facilities state-of-theart,” explains CEO Marco Valente, “isn’t necessarily just the technology but also the people, processes, standards and practices that we rigorously maintain and hold to ensure research and development (R&D) and production of the highest quality products.

“PFK’s very nature is to innovate— we have been doing so for nearly four decades when the business started in a small basement facility in Durban.

Today, we have state-of-the-art robotics and technology, which can bring whatever innovations our partners need, to life.”

WWW.PFK.CO.ZA

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November 2019

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Prommac Positions Itself at

Forefront of Innovation Exclusive interview with CG Holdings CEO Jason English ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Logicalis South Africa / Momsen Bikes / Brights Hardware / Singita

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ENTERPRISE AFRICA

NOVEMBER 2019