ABB Electrification Distribution Solutions (ELDS) returns to the AMEU Convention for a second consecutive year highlighting its commitment to supporting South Africa’s municipal electricity infrastructure
ABB’s Distribution Solutions division will participate in the 72nd AMEU Convention, taking place from 4 to 7 October 2026 at The Ranch Resort in Polokwane, where the company will showcase its medium-voltage (MV) switchgear and solutions for utilities and municipalities.
Returning to the convention for the second consecutive year, ABB is also the official lanyard sponsor for this year’s event, reinforcing its commitment to engaging with municipalities and other stakeholders responsible for South Africa’s electricity infrastructure.
Pioneering the electricity future
The 2026 convention, hosted by Polokwane Municipality, is themed ‘Municipal Power: Pioneering the Future of South Africa’s Electricity Energy Market as per the ERAA’. It will bring together municipal electricity professionals, industry stakeholders and government representatives to discuss the future of the country’s electricity sector.
The programme will include a keynote address by Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, highlighting the importance of the convention as a platform for engagement around the challenges and opportunities facing South Africa’s electricity industry.
The event provides an opportunity not only to demonstrate its technology, but to engage directly with municipalities about the practical challenges they face in maintaining and upgrading their electricity networks.
Municipalities are critical stakeholders
“The AMEU Convention is an important platform for us because municipalities are critical customers and stakeholders in the electricity infrastructure environment. It gives us an opportunity to engage directly with them, understand the challenges they are facing and demonstrate how our solutions can address those challenges in a practical, fit-for-purpose way,” comments Egon Worthmann, Electrification Leader and DS Division Manager, ABB, in South Africa.
At its exhibition space, ABB will feature solutions including LeanGear and UniGear MV switchgear, as well as its Compact Secondary Substation solution and other MV switchgear technologies designed for utility applications. A key feature of ABB’s presence will be an outdoor demonstration panel van, providing delegates with an opportunity to engage more closely with the technology and understand its applications in real-world utility environments.
LeanGear, in particular, has been developed with utility requirements in mind, providing a cost-effective, fit-for-purpose approach while retaining the quality and reliability associated with ABB technology. UniGear, meanwhile, provides a high-end solution for applications where reliability and higher performance requirements are critical.
Reliability, maintainability, and local support
“For municipalities, cost-effectiveness needs to be considered over the full life of the equipment. It is not simply about the initial purchase price. Reliability, maintainability, local support and the ability to keep equipment operating effectively over the long term all contribute to the real cost of an installation,” explains Worthmann.
ABB will also highlight its local manufacturing capabilities, with its locally manufactured switchgear containing more than 60% local content, supporting local skills, engineering and supply capability while improving access to products, spares and technical support.
The company’s solutions also extend beyond conventional switchgear, with capabilities including protection and control, SCADA integration, condition monitoring and other technologies that can support municipalities seeking to modernise their networks.
Demonstrating practical solutions
While digitalisation is an increasingly important part of the electricity landscape, ABB ELDS’s focus at AMEU will be on demonstrating practical solutions that address the varying requirements of municipalities across Southern Africa.
“Every municipality has its own operating environment and its own priorities. Our approach is to understand those requirements and provide solutions that are fit for purpose, rather than simply assuming that the same solution will work everywhere,” says Worthmann.
ABB will be available at the AMEU Convention to engage with delegates about its technology portfolio, local capabilities and the challenges facing municipal electricity networks. This includes exploring how municipalities can assess their existing infrastructure, identify critical areas of attention and prioritise investment in the journey towards more reliable and resilient electricity networks.