{"id":5230,"date":"2023-10-23T10:20:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T08:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/?p=5230"},"modified":"2023-10-23T10:20:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T08:20:18","slug":"s4-pulls-off-a-hat-trick-as-the-2023-exporter-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mype.co.za\/business\/s4-pulls-off-a-hat-trick-as-the-2023-exporter-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"S4 pulls off a hat-trick as the 2023 Exporter of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exporters Eastern Cape\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

S4 also achieved this prestigious title in 2018 and 2020.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreviously 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,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

S4 exports to Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, China, the United Kingdom, Mexic
\nand 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

The theme for the event was \u201cfuturistic\u201d which fitted perfectly with S4\u2019s fully integrated 4IR focus on virtual reality, augmented reality, remote monitoring and diagnostics, as well as the company\u2019s expansion into the Electric Vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cWe are proud to be associated with this event and the successes of the exporters who will be acknowledged here tonight,\u201d said De Witt.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From left are Quintin Levey (Exporters Eastern Cape), Ettienne Gerwel (S4), Ryan Smith (S4), Gideon Smith (S4), Deon Joubert (Exporters Eastern Cape) and Leigh-Anne de Witt (Standard Bank)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congratulations to all the 2023 Exporters Eastern Cape category winners:<\/strong><\/p>\n