Drakenstein Rewinds Keeps Motors Running In The Boland

Replacing a burnt-out electric motor can cost a great deal, whereas rewinding it can return it to tip-top condition at much lower cost. Rashad Williams and Fa-eez Appollis spoke to Jeandré du Preez about how their rewinding business saves farmers money and production downtime.

 

- Jeandre Du Preez

Many farmers have dealt with the frustration of electric motor failure. Buying a new motor is not only expensive; locating, ordering and waiting for a suitable new motor can waste precious production time. However, most electrical motors can be repaired at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one, and it’s quicker than waiting for a new one to arrive.

Rashad Williams and his brother-in-law, Fa-eez Appollis, offer this service through their co-owned business, Drakenstein Rewinds, near Wellington, where they rewind and overhaul electric motors. Both are experienced rewinders, with Rashad having spent most of his working life in the trade.

Seven years ago, Rashad was retrenched. Undaunted, he took to working as an independent rewinder, diagnosing and repairing motors in his garage. Here he was joined by Fa-eez, and their services were soon in demand.

The pair realised that there was a gap in the market for a rewinding service in the Drakenstein area, and in 2014 they launched Drakenstein Rewinds. Starting small, they carried on working from Rashad’s garage, offering electric motor diagnosis, overhauls and repairs.

With business going well, they moved to larger premises earlier this year. Here they service motors from fruit and livestock farms, among others. Rashad emphasises that they are not limited to agricultural sector clients; they also repair household appliances.

REWINDING MOTORS: A DELICATE ART

Diagnosing why a motor breaks down is an essential part of the rewinding process, according to Rashad, and their business has multiple tests and equipment “to jumpstart the repair process”.