SJ Andrews Electronics recently bought the industrial product division from South African battery supplier Uniross, in a move that sees SJ Andrews covering more of the local supply chain, by supplying raw materials to many local companies.
SJ Andrews is a well-known name to anybody involved in kitting for the local industry. The company is headed by Mark Schroeder and Sue Andrews, who have extensive experience in the battery market, having formerly occupied positions as the technical director and production manager, respectively, of Genbatt. In operation for almost 20 years – 17 of those from its current premises in the Sandton area – the company manufactures and assembles a diverse range of products including batteries, battery charging systems, transformers, power supplies and other power products, as well as solar panels and LED lighting products.
Although its products are not always visible because they are not off-the-shelf items, they find their way into everything from power supplies that end up in power stations, to power products for the mining industry, to GSM products, in South Africa and beyond. Another important market is LED lighting, where the company has developed lighting systems for the mining industry, decorative lighting and signage, and is in the process of developing an LED street light.
The company attributes its long-term success in a small and competitive market in large part to its highly stable staff complement. SJ Andrews currently employs three office staff and 23 people in the production department, with the majority of these employees having been with the company since its inception. By holding onto its employees, the company avoids having to retrain new staff, which takes time and money.
Another vital key to success is that, by running a lean operation, SJ Andrews can be very aggressive with its pricing strategy. To keep costs down, the company buys many components – from batteries to microcontrollers – from suppliers in the East, as well as its tooling. In this regard, it has established accounts and long-term relationships with several reputable suppliers, and takes delivery of imported components on a weekly basis. This in turn allows the company to deliver short turnaround times to its customers and respond quickly to changing market conditions, which has become increasingly important in recent times as companies have strived to avoid keeping too much stock.
For more information contact Mark Schroeder, SJ Andrews Electronics, +27 (0)11 444 1521.
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