The Bosch Group has announced that it is strengthening its business in Africa and further expanding its industrial technology portfolio on the continent after acquiring all shares in South African based Hytec Holdings (Pty.) Ltd.
Hytec specializes in the marketing of hydraulic and automation solutions, and is the leading company in the field in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2017, the company and its roughly 770 associates generated sales of some 86 million euros. Hytec has about 40 branch operations, not only in South Africa, but also in Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Ghana, and Kenya.
In a first phase, Bosch Rexroth acquired a 50 percent stake in its marketing partner Hytec in 2014.
“For Bosch, Africa has a lot of potential as a strategic market of the future,” says Uwe Raschke, the Bosch management board member responsible for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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“Together with Hytec, we can take better advantage of the market opportunities in the African growth industries,” says Rolf Najork, the managing director of Bosch Rexroth.
The region is characterized by a lot of end-user business, such as servicing and spare parts for users of machinery.
With its new subsidiary, Bosch Rexroth hopes to further expand this business. Hytec has a well-established marketing network in sub-Saharan Africa, and its associates are well familiarized with what local customers want.
“We are combining this high level of regional marketing knowledge with Bosch Rexroth’s product expertise and technological prowess. This will be a significant boost to our business on the continent,” Najork says.
Hytec will continue to market the products of other manufacturers. Its portfolio includes roughly 30 brands. It will also continue to do business as Hytec, since this is a strong, well-known brand in southern Africa.
Bosch foot print
In recent years, the Bosch Group has systematically expanded its presence on the African continent. Today, it is represented in ten African countries. The company’s focus is on affordable solutions and services for local requirements.
These include training programs for tradespeople in Kenya, for example, or auto mechanics in Nigeria. According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of some 460 million euros in Africa in 2017.
Including the Hytec workforce, Bosch currently employs more than 1,500 associates on the continent.