MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 28 Best Turnkey Generator Systems & UPS Solutions 2025 – Gauteng When Kevin Donaldson acquired the generator sales division of the old Meissner company more than 30 years ago, he had no idea that what started out as a two-year agreement would turn into a successful enterprise that would still be going from strength to strength all these years later. The business, Diesel Electric Services Pty Ltd, has evolved alongside the market that it is today at the centre of, and we had the pleasure of being able to speak with Kevin to learn about this journey. iesel Electric Services Pty Ltd (DES) initially specialised exclusively in the service, maintenance, and repair of diesel generator systems, something that was agreed upon in the terms of sale Kevin was delivered upon purchasing this former division. In the years since however, the knowledge and experience of both Kevin and the dedicated team he has built has resulted in the company expanding, carving out a name for itself as one of South Africa’s leading turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction companies. As well as its service suite, DES’ customer base has also greatly expanded, and it today comprises a great number of industrial, commercial, and financial institutions. Working closely with customers across a diverse range of businesses has led to Kevin and the team deepening their understanding of specific market needs, and this expertise has found its way into what is an all-round reliable and qualityfocused service provision. The company’s commitment to providing all of its customers with bespoke solutions that are seamlessly aligned with the requirements of their sites can be seen through its motto – “Designed, Engineered Solutions” – as well as through its core values of integrity, commitment, innovation, and skills transfer/training. These values run through the veins of the more than 600 specialists DES today employs, and they have also paved the way for affordable and bespoke solutions being delivered across big-name projects. Exploring some of the projects that he and his team have had the pleasure of working on during the past few years, Kevin told us: “We have been involved in various data centre rollouts over the past five years, introducing solutions to this customer base and in so strengthening our partners’ footprints in South Africa.” To date, DES has completed more than 200 different projects, many for the 90 blue-chip clients it currently boasts. Whether a project involves power generation, critical power, or power distribution, it is the goal of DES to exceed the expectations of the customer at the other end of it. The team see to this in a number of different ways, such as focusing on health and safety, offering increased flexibility, and delivering better value than the competition. Simply put, this makes their turnkey power solutions suitable for any application and any organisation. “Every site that we work on is deemed as unique, and any solutions provided are done so in line with the specific requirements of the job. Our proactive approach to design and engineering, as well as our working with customers on a one-to-one basis to understand their needs, set us apart.” Moreover, since DES is a BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) company accredited up to the fourth level of the framework, it goes beyond the field of power generation to serve as a beacon of positivity and upliftment for communities across South Africa. The desire to give back extends even further for DES, which also donates to educational facilities and health service providers across the country, in addition to procuring its staff in a way that sets the wheels in motion for sustained national growth. Looking ahead to the bright future it is working towards, Kevin said: “We are forever widening our project scope, and are focusing on the research and development of products that will act as supporting supply to our existing product list.” On the back of this, Kevin explained: “We are venturing into an era of power generation, where companies must ensure longevity by being self-sufficient.” The solutions DES deliver can help to make this a possibility, making now the perfect time to invest in it. Offering everything from maintenance and servicing to advisory, design, and supply services, Diesel Electric Services Pty Ltd goes above and beyond when it comes to the provision of turnkey solutions for everything from diesel generators to static UPS systems. Thus, the company’s recognition as the Best Turnkey Generator Systems & UPS Solutions 2025 – Gauteng is well deserved, and we wish it the best of luck going forwards. Contact: Kevin Donaldson Company: Diesel Electric Services Pty Ltd Web Address: c D
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