As South Africa’s energy landscape evolves, one local company is proving that home-grown innovation can lead the way. Power Process Systems (PPS), a South African original equipment manufacturer (OEM) established in 1993, has become a national benchmark for infrastructure protection and industrial resilience, developing electrical enclosure solutions that keep the lights on, safeguard infrastructure, and strengthen revenue collection for utilities.
With over 30 years of continuous innovation, PPS has built a reputation for transforming everyday engineering challenges into globally recognised solutions. Its facilities, located in Johannesburg and Cape Town, is a hub of local ingenuity, combining design, precision manufacturing, and advanced material engineering to produce robust, secure, and intelligent enclosures that meet the complex needs of municipalities and utilities.
Innovation born from necessity
The PPS story began amid a safety crisis in Alexandra, Johannesburg, when Eskom faced widespread risks from unsafe street-level kiosks. Replacing them entirely was financially unfeasible, so PPS was tasked with finding a creative, cost-effective alternative.
“We were approached to offer a solution and developed a shroud which could be placed over the entire kiosk and locked to the existing structure. Eskom then used these to cover all unsafe street boxes,” explains Nhlanhla Zondo, Director at PPS.
That practical innovation laid the foundation for what would later evolve into PPS’s flagship product, the smart I-Kiosk, a fully fitted meter and distribution kiosk that has since become a world-first solution in anti-vandal, intelligent infrastructure protection.
Evolving alongside South Africa’s utilities
From its early fibreglass enclosures to today’s advanced steel and composite solutions, PPS has consistently aligned its products with the needs of the industry. “As the industry matured, we recognised the need to produce safer, stronger, and more cost-effective products. We have adapted accordingly, while never compromising on quality,” says Nhlanhla.
The company’s defining moment came with the rise of electricity theft and vandalism, a growing national concern. “This culture has not only had crippling effects on revenue collection and protection, but it has also driven vandalism and theft of infrastructure and bred an environment of corruption and collusion within some municipal structures,” notes Nhlanhla.
In response, PPS developed the I-Kiosk, an intelligent, anti-vandal meter and distribution kiosk that integrates structural protection with real-time data and access control. It offers a physical and structural anti-vandal design with co-ordinated information integration.
It allows for the environment and access control of the I-Kiosk and surrounds to be managed and monitored and staff to be audited. “This innovation has transformed how utilities safeguard their assets,” highlights Nhlanhla, a testament to how locally engineered technology can deliver global impact.
Local manufacturing, national impact
Today, PPS solutions are embedded in municipalities, utilities, and public entities across South Africa and beyond. Its product range, including pole boxes for overhead reticulation and slam-lock kiosk designs, is redefining how infrastructure safety and operational efficiency are approached.
“As a local OEM, we are proud to offer tangible value in the form of better operational efficiencies for grid operators,” says Nhlanhla. Every PPS product is manufactured locally, using South African materials and labour. “Being at the forefront of innovative technology manufacturing means that PPS is playing a key role in enhancing key technical skills development and capacity building,” he adds.
The company’s workforce of nearly 200 direct employees and over 300 indirect employees play a meaningful role in addressing unemployment and inequality through skills development and youth empowerment. “We see ourselves not just as a manufacturer, but as a driver of technical skills and local capacity-building, particularly among youth,” says Nhlanhla.
Engineering the future of energy
With the energy sector in transition, PPS is positioning itself for the next phase of growth. The company is actively exploring diversification in areas such as renewables, decentralised energy generation, and advanced metering infrastructure.
“The electricity distribution industry is undergoing profound change,” notes Nhlanhla. “We are excited about the opportunities ahead for new technologies, new markets, and new partnerships.” Even as it expands its horizons, PPS remains grounded in the values that have sustained it for more than three decades, namely innovation, quality, empowerment, and a deep commitment to South Africa’s development.
“Electricity plays a meaningful role in driving economic development and improving people’s livelihoods. Our products play a vital role in ensuring that safe electricity is delivered to end users, and in return Eskom and municipalities can enhance their revenue protection mechanisms,” concludes Nhlanhla.
