Carnival City in Gauteng, South Africa, provided a fitting backdrop for ELB Equipment’s recent celebration of success after winning the Powerscreen Global Dealer of the Year Award, bringing customers and staff together for a memorable evening of appreciation.
The event also marked 30 years as the sole supplier of Powerscreen mobile crushing and screening equipment in southern Africa, highlighting the strength and longevity of the relationship between the two companies. Speaking at the event, ELB Equipment CEO Desmond van Heerden said the partnership has always been built on trust and close cooperation on technical matters, while developing strong customer relationships to earn the local market’s confidence and investment.
This was reinforced by Imran Kazi, Powerscreen regional sales manager for the Middle East and Africa, who explained that the Global Dealer of the Year Award recognises the overall performance of the dealership and its ability to understand and anticipate customer requirements, rather than focusing solely on sales volumes.
“The award recognised ELB’s ability to collaborate with customers and understand their needs, while also planning ahead and keeping their equipment operating reliably in the field. It is also a reflection of the entire dealership, from sales and technical support to parts and customer service staff, who work together to make a formidable team.”
ELB Mining divisional director Wakefield Harding added that while the award carries ELB Equipment’s name, it truly belongs to everyone across the business, from sales, service, technical and parts to finance, logistics, administration and marketing.
“Our focus on aftermarket support has been a significant part of our growth strategy in recent years, and our company staff complement has increased by more than 50% since 2020, including 47 employees in our national parts division and a further 19 in our aftermarket division to continue strengthening our support strategy.
“We also operate more than 80 support vehicles across our national footprint and have 14 outlets in South Africa. More recently, we have invested in additional equipment to improve our speed to market, including a 25-t mobile crane and a 55-t rough-terrain crane to support plant erection and other customer requirements where needed.
“We have also been focusing on parts availability, with regional parts departments instructed to stock inventories aligned with the equipment operating in their respective areas. Our objective is to reduce waiting times for critical components and, in turn, further minimise machine downtime,” Van Heerden explained.
He further shared that this investment is being supported by strong business growth, with the company’s annual revenue increasing by more than 180% since 2020 and its staff complement now exceeding 300 people. The next major investment is already under way, with the company having acquired new premises in Jet Park next to the N12 highway. This investment of more than R200-million is expected to meet the company’s future needs, with the new facility scheduled for completion by mid-2027 following extensive preparations and renovations.
Kazi added that the partnership has weathered changing and sometimes challenging trading conditions while continuing to keep pace with evolving technology. He also recognised the current ELB management team for maintaining this momentum.
“Looking ahead, we see changing customer requirements as a major driver of equipment development, and in the southern African context, customers are increasingly focused on operating costs, fuel efficiency and sustainability. As a result, we are developing equipment incorporating electric and hybrid technologies, as well as EV solutions, with new products expected to enter the market over the next two to three years.”
Harding concluded that the achievement was an important milestone, but certainly not the finish line. After 30 years, the partnership between ELB Equipment and Powerscreen is entering its next phase, supported by a substantially larger ELB organisation and an even stronger focus on customers’ needs for equipment uptime and operating efficiency.
