Exporters Eastern Cape’s 2023 Exporter of the Year winners were announced on Friday evening (20 October) at a spectacular gala event at the Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre in Gqeberha.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Overall Exporter of the Year Winner, which this year went to S4, a Gqeberha-based turnkey automation and machine building solutions company.
S4 also achieved this prestigious title in 2018 and 2020.
Speaking on how S4 managed to increase their export turnover by 118% and their profitability by 125% over the period under review, S4 Marketing Manager Gideon Smith said the success was due to the automation division that had grown internationally.
“Previously we were mostly focussed on software exporting, but this year we have exported international automation as well. Those are larger valued projects and that is the main reason for the growth in profits,” said Smith.
S4 exports to Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, China, the United Kingdom, Mexic
and the USA; and started exporting in 2008. Their recently opened sales office in Germany also assisted in creating new opportunities in the European market for the proudly Eastern Cape company.
“We are humbled by the awards that we have won. We want to thank our team members back home for their hard work and dedication. Thank you to our partners from the European side and all our customers,” said Smith.
The theme for the event was “futuristic” which fitted perfectly with S4’s fully integrated 4IR focus on virtual reality, augmented reality, remote monitoring and diagnostics, as well as the company’s expansion into the Electric Vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors.
Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman Quintin Levey congratulated all the winners who achieved incredible successes despite the tough economic conditions in the country and the turmoil in the world. He encouraged the exporters to continue looking for new opportunities and growth in the different sectors and industries they represent.
Levey also thanked all the stakeholders who had supported Exporters Eastern Cape over the past year, including the sponsors of the Exporter of the Year Awards.
Standard Bank Head of Client Coverage and Business Clients in the Eastern Cape, Leigh-Anne de Witt, explained why Standard Bank was honoured to be the Platinum Sponsor for the awards this year. “We are proud to be associated with this event and the successes of the exporters who will be acknowledged here tonight,” said De Witt.
Other sponsors included Gold Sponsors Volkswagen Group SA and OM & Barker; Silver Sponsors Kingfisher FM and Isuzu Motors South Africa; Bronze Sponsor IDC; Blue Sponsor SJM Flex SA (Pty) Ltd; and Media Sponsor: The Herald.
Congratulations to all the 2023 Exporters Eastern Cape category winners:
- Merit Award for the SJM Environmental Award – Lumotech.
- Merit Award for the SJM Environmental Award – Isuzu Motors South Africa.
- Winner of the SJM Flex Environmental Award – Volkswagen Group South Africa.
- Merit Award for the IDC Job Creation Award – S4.
- Winner of the IDC Job Creation Award – Lumotech.
- Merit Award for the Best Service Provider of Services to Exporters – Toyota Industrial Equipment (recognised for Innovation).
- Winner of the Best Provider of Services to Exporters – BLG Logistics of South Africa.
- Merit Award for the Best Small Business Exporter – Microcare Solar (recognised for Innovation).
- Winner of the Best Small Business Exporter – Marina Sea Salt.
- Winner of Best Medium Enterprise Exporter – S4.
- Merit Award for Best Corporate Exporter – Lumotech (recognised for New Contracts).
- Merit Award for Best Corporate Exporter – Purem Port Elizabeth.
- Winner of Best Corporate Exporter – Shatterprufe.
- Merit Award for the Best OEM Exporter – Volkswagen Group of South Africa (recognised for Capital Investment).
- Winner of the Best OEM Exporter – Isuzu Motors South Africa.
