What Hydraulic Engineering Repair Services does

Hydraulic Engineering Repair Services (HERS) is a South African specialist in drivetrain and hydraulic cylinder repair, refurbishment, and distribution for off-highway mobile machinery. Founded in 1971 (originally as Hydraulic and Air Services) and headquartered in Germiston, Gauteng, the company operates two divisions: a Drivetrain Components division (authorized distributor and Kessler Trained Service & Repair Centre for Kessler and Dana Spicer products including axles, transmissions, dropboxes, and torque converters) and a Hydraulic Components division (design, manufacture, refurbishment, and repair of hydraulic cylinders, rock drills, and rotary actuators). All work is performed to OEM standards at a 6,000 m² workshop equipped with SOLIDWORKS/Autodesk Inventor CAD, hydraulic test benches (0-60 MPa), axle and dynamometer test benches, and CNC machining capabilities. The company serves enterprise and government customers across mining, construction, material handling, harbor/ports, airport ground support, and military/defense sectors. Triple ISO certification (9001:2015, 14001:2015, 45001:2018) and B-BBEE Level 1 status support enterprise and government procurement eligibility.

HERS generates revenue through five streams: (1) refurbishment and repair services for drivetrain components, hydraulic cylinders, rock drills, and rotary actuators; (2) 24/7 field service including commissioning, equipment surveys, brake inspections, planned maintenance, and fault diagnosis; (3) spare parts supply (Kessler directly sourced, Dana from European distribution centres); (4) a service exchange program providing immediate replacement with pre-refurbished stock units; and (5) new drivetrain component distribution. Pricing is entirely quote-based and project-specific. The go-to-market combines direct field sales with channel partnerships through the Kessler and Dana Spicer distribution networks and equipment dealer networks in Southern Africa. The company has served customers across 8+ African countries and claims to have rebuilt 20,000+ components since establishment.

HERS is a wholly owned division of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd, a JSE-listed diversified industrial trading group, since December 2015. The company operates with 60 employees, including 22+ trained drivetrain and hydraulic specialists, all of whom have undergone official Kessler training. The company distribution channels include direct enterprise sales, authorized distributor relationships with Kessler and Dana Spicer, and service exchange programs. HERS' marketing relies on its website (hers.co.za), LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, with regional contact selection for all South African provinces.

Name

Hydraulic Engineering Repair Services

Legal name

Hydraulic Engineering and Repair Services (HERS), a Division of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://www.hers.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HERS is a South African specialist in drivetrain and hydraulic cylinder repair, refurbishment, and distribution for off-highway mobile machinery, serving mining, construction, ports, airports, military, and material handling operators across Southern Africa as an authorized Kessler and Dana Spicer distributor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Machinery Repair and Refurbishment Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Differentials, Axles & Final Drive Rebuild/Remanufacturing (TLAKALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clutch, Torque Converter & Flywheel Rebuild/Remanufacturing (TLAKALAL)

Keywords

• Hydraulic cylinder repair
• Drivetrain refurbishment
• Mobile machinery components
• Off-highway equipment services
• Industrial spare parts supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Refurbishment & Repair Services: Core revenue stream encompassing the refurbishment and repair of hydraulic cylinders, drivetrain components (axles, transmissions, torque converters), rock drills (drifters), and rotary actuators for off-highway mobile machinery. All work is carried out to OEM standards with comprehensive warranties.
2. Field Service & On-Site Support: HERS provides 24/7 field service including commissioning, equipment surveys, brake wear inspections, planned maintenance programmes, and on-site fault diagnosis. Revenue is generated through service visits, labour, and associated travel/equipment charges.
3. Spare Parts & OEM Components: Supply of premium drivetrain spares (Kessler directly, Dana from European distribution centres), rock drill spares, and other OEM-approved replacement parts for axles, transmissions, torque converters, and hydraulic systems.
4. Service Exchange Program: Immediate replacement with a fully refurbished service exchange component from stocked inventory. Customers return their removed unit for assessment and restoration to OEM standards. Revenue is generated through the exchange price, with repair cost or replacement cost (for beyond economical repair units) charged to the customer.
5. New Drivetrain Components (Distribution): As an authorised distributor of Kessler and Dana Spicer, HERS supplies new axles, transmissions, and torque converters for agriculture, construction, cranes, material handling, mining, harbour equipment, marine, lift trucks, aircraft ground support, telehandlers, and military vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HERS designs, manufactures, refurbishes, and repairs hydraulic cylinders and drivetrain components (axles, transmissions, torque converters, rock drills, rotary actuators) for off-highway mobile machinery used in mining, construction, material handling, ports, airports, and military applications. The company is the authorised distributor and Kessler Trained Service & Repair Centre for Kessler and Dana Spicer drivetrain products in Southern Africa, supplying new components, OEM spare parts, and a service exchange program to minimise customer downtime. It also provides 24/7 field service including commissioning, surveys, brake inspections, planned maintenance, and fault diagnosis.

Product overview

HERS is a Southern African leader in drivetrain and hydraulic component services for off-highway mobile machinery, offering two integrated divisions: Drivetrain Components (Kessler and Dana Spicer distribution and repair) and Hydraulic Components (cylinders, rock drills, rotary actuators). The company provides a full lifecycle service through refurbishment & repairs, spare parts supply, field service, and a service exchange program. Additional services include TMM rebuilds, final drive repairs, and specialized bucket and brake components. All work is performed to OEM standards with comprehensive warranties and testing certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydraulic Cylinders (design, manufacture, repair, refurbishment, reverse engineering) Design, manufacture, repair, refurbishment, and reverse engineering of hydraulic cylinders for mobile machinery across mining, industrial, ports, and transportation industries. Tested on hydraulic test bench with certification and warranty.
• Drivetrain Axle Refurbishment and Repair Specialist axle repairs for mobile mining machinery, including Kessler, Dana/Spicer, Rock Tough, Caterpillar, Bell, Power Torque, and other OEM brands. Repairs to OEM standards with full testing and warranty.
• Drivetrain Transmission / Dropbox Refurbishment and Repair Expert refurbishment of Dana transmissions and Kessler drop boxes, plus repairs for FUNK, Allison, and other major brands. All units tested with certificate and warranty.
• Torque Converter Refurbishment and Repair Specialist Dana torque converter repairs for off-highway equipment, mining, and mobile machinery. Comprehensive testing with test certificate and warranty.
• Rock Drill (Drifter) Service, Repair and Refurbishment Service, repair, and refurbishment of Sandvik and Epiroc rock drills (drifters) for underground and surface mining applications. Includes testing with certificate and workmanship warranty.
• Rotary Actuator Refurbishment, Repair and Restoration Refurbishment, repair, and restoration of rotary actuators and Drill Positioning Units (DPUs) for drill rigs and mobile machinery. Precision machining and rigorous quality control ensure OEM-standard performance.
• Refurbishment & Repairs Service (Drivetrain and Hydraulic) Component refurbishment and repair services for drivetrain components, hydraulic cylinders, rock drills, and rotary actuators. All work performed to OEM standards with comprehensive warranties and a 3-day quote turnaround.
• 24/7 Field Service On-site field service and support including drivetrain rebuild commissioning, TMM equipment surveys, brake wear inspections, planned maintenance programs, and fault diagnosis. Available 24/7.
• Service Exchange Program Immediate access to expertly refurbished components from stocked inventory for minimal downtime. Customer's removed component is assessed and quoted for restoration to OEM standards; replacement cost is charged for beyond-economical-repair units.
• OEM Spare Parts Supply (Kessler, Dana, Rock Drill) Premium drivetrain spares from Kessler (sourced directly) and Dana (sourced from European distribution centres), plus rock drill (drifter) spares meeting OEM specifications.
• Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) Rebuilds Complete rebuilds of Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM), restoring performance and extending machine life to OEM specifications using OEM parts.
• Surface Machine Final Drive and OEM Axle Repairs (Caterpillar, Bell) Specialist repairs for surface machine final drives and Bell and Caterpillar axles using OEM-approved components and strict quality control to restore functionality and performance.
• Poclain and Black Bruin Wheel Motor Repairs Comprehensive repair services for Poclain and Black Bruin wheel motors through trusted repair partners, ensuring OEM-standard performance.
• Ausco Wet Failsafe Brake and LHD Bucket Supply Supply of Ausco Land Cruiser (Series 79) wet failsafe brake assemblies, spares, and repair services for mining applications, plus replacement buckets for Load Haul Dump (LHD) machines from trusted manufacturers.
• New Kessler and Dana Spicer Drivetrain Components (Distribution) Supply of new axles, transmissions, and torque converters from Kessler and Dana Spicer for agriculture, construction, cranes, material handling, mining, harbour equipment, marine, lift trucks, aircraft ground support, telehandlers, and military vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-day quote turnaround: all units stripped, assessed, and quoted within three working days from arrival at premises.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hudaco Trading (Pty) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015HERS became a wholly owned division of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd in December 2015. Hudaco is a South African industrial trading group listed on the JSE. The acquisition by Hudaco provides HERS with access to group resources, procurement leverage, and strategic direction within a broader industrial trading portfolio. HERS operates under Hudaco's umbrella as Hydraulic Engineering and Repair Services, a Division of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd.
• Kessler (Kessler+Co)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHERS is an authorised distributor of Kessler drivetrain and powertrain components (planetary drive axles, drive-steer axles, gearboxes, wheel drives, and electric drive systems) to the Southern African market. HERS is also an authorised and approved Kessler Trained Service & Repair Centre. All HERS technicians have undergone official Kessler training on their full range of products. Kessler spares are sourced directly from Kessler ensuring full traceability and quality assurance.
• Dana Spicer (Dana)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHERS is an official authorised distributor to the Southern African market for Dana Spicer drivetrain equipment including axles, transmissions, and power-transfer systems. Dana spares are sourced directly from European distribution centres ensuring full traceability and quality assurance. HERS holds a Dana Spicer Distributor Letter confirming the authorised relationship.
• Bureau Veritas CertificationminorOthersBureau Veritas Certification audits HERS' ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 management system certifications. SANCERT additionally audits ISO 9001 compliance.
• AuscominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrough HERS' partner, Ausco Land Cruiser (Series 79) wet failsafe brake assemblies, spares, and repair services are supplied for mining applications.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Babcock Africa: Babcock Africa's equipment and aftermarket division distributes and services heavy mobile machinery across Southern Africa, including drivetrain and hydraulic support for mining, construction, and material handling fleets — directly comparable to HERS' authorised-distributor-and-service-centre model in the same regional end markets.
• Voith: Voith is a global manufacturer and service provider of drivetrain, transmission, and hydraulic components for off-highway and industrial machinery, with remanufacturing and field service capabilities comparable to HERS' Kessler/Dana Spicer-aligned drivetrain rebuild offering.
• Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth designs, manufactures, and services hydraulic cylinders, pumps, motors, and drivetrain components globally with authorised service partners — directly comparable to HERS' hydraulic cylinder design, manufacture, refurbishment, and field service offering for off-highway mobile machinery.
• Hydac: Hydac is a global hydraulic systems, cylinder, and component manufacturer with service and refurbishment operations for industrial and mobile machinery, including Southern African coverage — directly comparable to HERS' hydraulic cylinder design, manufacture, and refurbishment business.

Broad incumbents

• Barloworld: Barloworld operates a large Southern African industrial services and equipment distribution platform (including CAT and other heavy equipment), offering drivetrain, hydraulic, and field service support to mining and construction customers as part of a broader portfolio — comparable to HERS' end markets but with much wider scale and OEM scope.
• Komatsu Southern Africa: Komatsu's Southern African operations distribute and service heavy off-highway machinery for mining and construction, including drivetrain and hydraulic remanufacturing through OEM-authorised workshops — directly comparable to HERS in the same mining customer base but with global OEM backing and broader product breadth.
• Caterpillar (CAT) dealer network in Southern Africa: Caterpillar's authorised Southern African dealer network provides drivetrain, axle, and hydraulic component remanufacturing for mining and construction equipment under OEM specifications — directly comparable to HERS' OEM-standard refurbishment and service exchange model, but at much larger global scale.

Regional players

• Bell Equipment: Bell Equipment is a South African OEM of articulated dump trucks and loaders with its own dealer and aftermarket service network serving the same mining and construction customers as HERS, including drivetrain and hydraulic rebuild capability in-region.
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology: Sandvik provides service, repair, and refurbishment of rock drills (drifters) for underground and surface mining — directly comparable to HERS' rock drill service line — and operates its own authorised service network across Southern Africa.
• Epiroc: Epiroc services and refurbishes rock drills, drill rigs, and mobile mining equipment across Southern Africa through OEM-authorised workshops, directly comparable to HERS' rock drill (drifter) refurbishment and mining drivetrain services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HydraulicEngineeringRepairService
• Instagraminstagram.com/hers_engineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydraulic-engineering-repair-services-hers

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydraulic Engineering Repair Services