DEHN establishes local subsidiary

Don’t give lightning a chance – DEHN protects AFRICA! “The sky is falling down!” It’s a hysterical warning from a popular cautionary tale, but threats from on high are very real to modern technologies, which are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes. Whether renewable energies, telecommunications or process technology, DEHN + SÖHNE – the international specialist in surge protection, lightning protection and safety equipment – has the perfect solution.

Germany-based lightning and surge protection, earthing components and safety equipment manufacturer, DEHN + SÖHNE has officially opened a local subsidiary in Johannesburg on the 31st of May 2013.
Called DEHN PROTECTION SOUTH AFRICA (Pty) Ltd., the company will be spearheaded by managing director, Alexis Barwise.

Established in 1910 in Nuremberg (Germany), the DEHN group is a fourth-generation family owned business, with more than 1,500 employees across 18 countries and sales activities in more than 70 countries worldwide. The company’s product portfolio includes surge protection for power supply and information technology systems, lightning protection and earthing (grounding) solutions, and safety equipment, which comprises a range of earthing and short-circuiting devices, voltage detectors and protective equipment, as well as safety clothing.

According to Dr. Philipp Dehn, DEHN + SÖHNE managing director, the market slowdown in Europe led the organisation to seek expansion opportunities in developing regions. “We have specifically concentrated on the BRICS emerging economies as part of our ongoing growth strategy, establishing our presence in China, India and Russia over the past few years, and now in South Africa and Mexico. “By expanding our international activities to include the southern African market, we can adapt our sales activities to suit the specific requirements of this region, and also partake in active product availability,” he adds.

Barwise explains that the local subsidiary will have a strong focus on the local telecommunications, oil and gas, energy supply, transportation, mining and solar sectors and is set to broaden its product and solution offering within the marketplace. “The DEHN solution portfolio incorporates around 4,000 devices and components and we certainly see great potential in South Africa to extend our offering. This will include our DEHNsupport Toolbox software, which provides a variety of calculation options in the field of lightning protection, ranging from risk management to the calculation of the length of the air-termination rods, separation distances and length of the earth electrodes. From a services point of view, DEHN PROTECTION SOUTH AFRICA will have the ability to perform a number of engineering and test services, from simulating the effects of lightning parameters to test products, to performing maintenance tests on electrical installations, in line with labour law requirements,” says Barwise.

The company is also introduced a formal partnership program, DEHNpartner, providing varying partnership levels and benefits, for distributors. Furthermore, DEHN PROTECTION SOUTH AFRICA will officially sign up integration partners.

“As a company that has certainly always fostered a pioneering spirit, having invented a number of world firsts – including the first surge arrestor for indoor use, the first separable earth electrode and surge arrester for the protection of measuring and control equipment and data systems – we will certainly carry this attitude through to the local branch,” Barwise concludes.

 Visit DEHN Protection at AfricaCom 2013. Come and meet them at stand P32 by registering for your free ticket to AfricaCom Here