Zimplow ventures into solar business
DIVERSIFIED firm Zimplow Holdings Limited is in discussions with international solar equipment manufacturer, Longi, to be able to provide more effective solar solutions, NewsDay Business can reveal.
Longi is a Chinese photovoltaic company manufacturing solar modules.
The discussions between Longi and Zimplow will result in a joint venture between the Chinese firm and Zimplow’s unit, Powermec.
“The business unit is concluding discussions with a reputable international solar equipment manufacturer with a view to avail more cost-effective solar solutions to existing and prospective customers,” Zimplow acting chief executive officer Willem Swan told NewsDay Business.
“This is a joint venture with Longi, who are probably the premium manufacturers of solar panels and inverters and you will see the press for this. We will let you know. It is a very good partnership. We are specifically looking at farms and mines, anything above 100 kV, so 100 kilowatt units. There are two in progress at the moment which we would like to see working.”
Powermec is the group’s mining and infrastructural engineering business unit. Zimplow’s other units are alongside Tractive Power Solutions (TPS) and CT Bolts.
In the five months to May 2024, Powermec’s generator sales were down 25% while parts and service hours revenue decreased by 15% in comparison to the same period last year.
He attributed the negative performance to the strained economic environment and liquidity constraints in the market.
The joint venture will provide an alternative revenue stream for Powermec.
“Powermec is the authorised supplier of Perkins engines, spare parts and related services in the country. Powermec also offers solar packages from domestic up to industrial solutions such as installations, solar panels,inverters and batteries,” Zimplow said.
“Powermec is the authorised distributor of Perkins engines, Perkins-powered generators and genuine aftermarket spares and services.”
Swan said TPS was expected to take delivery of further units in July 2024, together with FAW trucks and was confident that it would meet its 2024 projections.
This will be done through growing its order pipeline, he said.
TPS is the holder of two major original equipment manufacturer distributorships, namely Develon, formerly Doosan- mining and construction equipment and FAW haulage and specialised trucks.
TPS distributes and maintains Develon and FAW equipment in the Zimbabwean market.
“The FAW trucks are literally truck tractors and tippers. In the mining sector, we’ve got from 15 cubic metre to 29 cubic metre tipper trucks coming in. We have tunnel truck, which we have supplied to a local mine. We are very happy with them,” Swan said.
“The power-to-weight ratios on those are absolutely brilliant and then our retail stock will arrive in July. That is at the value of about US$750 000 at least eight will be coming. Some of those are some expensive units with 500 horsepower.”
Swan said the business unit has received the first units of the Develon brand.-newsday
