Varispeed
Varispeed is a South African electronic motor control solutions provider distributing and servicing AC drives, soft starters, PLCs, HMIs, and engineered panels across sub-Saharan Africa under exclusive partnerships with Yaskawa and Solcon, and its own Alpha Drive Series.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersGauteng, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Varispeed does
Varispeed is a South African electronic motor control solutions provider established circa 1984 and operating as a member of the Hudaco Group, a JSE-listed industrial conglomerate. The company distributes, integrates, and services a comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation products including AC drives and variable speed drives (both low voltage below 690V and medium voltage 2.3kV-15kV), low and medium voltage soft starters, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and I/O systems, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and engineered custom control panels. Its product range combines exclusive sub-Saharan distribution of global brands (Yaskawa, Solcon) with its own Alpha Drive Series, which is tailored for African market requirements at competitive pricing. Underlying technology spans motor speed/torque control via variable frequency, soft-start voltage ramping, PLC-based process automation, and touchscreen visualization with protocol support for Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, Mechatrolink, and BacNet.
Varispeed generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of motor control equipment (one-time capital purchases priced by power rating and specification via contact-based quotation) and complementary professional services including site audits, drive setup, commissioning, field service/on-site repairs, and retrofits. The company operates a sales-led go-to-market via six branch offices across South Africa (Johannesburg HO, Durban, Cape Town, Secunda, Rustenburg, Witbank) with field sales engineers, dedicated regional phone and email channels, and additional distribution through industrial automation resellers across sub-Saharan Africa. Coverage extends to 14+ African countries including Ivory Coast, DRC, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mauritius, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Angola.
Varispeed serves enterprise and mid-market customers across eight vertical sectors: water and wastewater, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, marine, HVAC and refrigeration, agriculture, and solar/energy. Applications include pumps, fans, conveyors, compressors, crushers, cranes, hoists, lifts, and material handling. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 (quality), ISO 14001:2015 (environmental), ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety) certifications, and B-BBEE Level 4 certification valid through 2027. Leadership comprises Managing Director Derek Gilmore, Financial Director Erika van de Velde, and Sales and Marketing Director Kevin Russell, supported by named regional branch managers.
Varispeed firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Varispeed
- Legal name
- Varispeed
- Website
- https://varispeed.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Varispeed is a South African electronic motor control solutions provider distributing and servicing AC drives, soft starters, PLCs, HMIs, and engineered panels across sub-Saharan Africa under exclusive partnerships with Yaskawa and Solcon, and its own Alpha Drive Series.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Varispeed industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Motor Control & Automation
- NAICS
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (33361), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)
- SIC
- Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) (IMAGACAD)
Keywords
Where Varispeed is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gauteng
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Varispeed business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Sale of electronic motor control equipment including AC drives, soft starters, PLCs, HMIs, and auxiliary components. Revenue generated from one-time hardware purchases with varying price points based on power ratings and specifications.
- Professional Services: Services including site audits, drive setup, field service/on-site repairs, commissioning, and retrofits. Offered as standalone services or bundled with product sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Product-based unit pricing with contact quotation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Varispeed product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Varispeed supplies and integrates electronic motor control systems for industrial applications, distributing AC Drives/Variable Speed Drives, Soft Starters, PLCs, HMIs, and auxiliary components from Yaskawa, Solcon, and the proprietary Alpha Drive Series. The company also designs and builds custom-engineered control panels and provides complementary field services including site audits, drive setup, commissioning, retrofits, and 24/7 on-site repairs. Sales and service are delivered through six South African branches with reach across sub-Saharan Africa.
Product overview
Varispeed is a South African industrial automation company (member of Hudaco Group) with over 40 years of expertise in electronic motor control solutions. The company operates as a distributor and integrator, offering a comprehensive portfolio of motor control products organized into core categories: AC Drives/Variable Speed Drives (low and medium voltage), Soft Starters (low and medium voltage), PLC & I/O Systems, HMIs & Visualisation, Auxiliaries & Add-Ons, and Engineered Solutions. The product lineup includes branded offerings from Yaskawa (GA500, GA700, GA800, CR700, LA500, LA700, HV600, MV1000, HMV1000, VIPA PLCs), Alpha Drive (HV10E, HV100, HV320, Alpha Start HTS, Alpha Start HMS1000), and Solcon (RVS-DN, iStart, HRVS-DN, TPS Thermal). These products serve industrial applications across pumps, fans, conveyors, cranes, hoists, compressors, and more in sectors including water/wastewater, oil & gas, mining, marine, HVAC, agriculture, and manufacturing. Varispeed also provides engineering services including site audits, drive setup, commissioning, on-site repairs, and retrofits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AC Drives / Variable Speed Drives Electronic motor control devices that vary frequency and voltage to control the speed and torque of electric motors, enabling energy efficiency, precise control, and system optimization across industrial applications. Offered across low voltage (<690V) and medium voltage (2.3kV–13.8kV) ratings.
- Low Voltage Soft Starters Motor control devices designed to reduce inrush current and mechanical stress during motor startup, with adjustable ramp times, integrated bypass contactors, and motor protection functions. Voltage options from 220V to 1000V with current ratings up to 3000A on heavy-duty variants.
- Medium Voltage Soft Starters High-performance motor starting solutions for large-scale industrial applications operating at medium voltage levels (3.3kV–15kV), with current ratings up to 3000A, reducing inrush current and mechanical wear on heavy equipment.
- PLC & I/O Systems Programmable Logic Controllers and Input/Output systems providing precise, automated control of industrial processes by monitoring inputs and managing outputs according to programmed logic. Supports industrial protocols including Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, Mechatrolink-II/III.
- HMIs & Visualisation Human Machine Interfaces and visualisation systems providing operators with real-time access to system data, control interfaces, and diagnostics for quick decision-making and process management. Touch screen models from 4.3 to 15 inches with IP65 protection; includes the H-Box remote IoT HMI for smartphone/PC monitoring.
- Auxiliaries & Add-Ons Enhancement components including line and motor chokes, potentiometers, encoders, pressure transducers, surge arrestors, PLC extension cards, and network components that improve motor control performance, protection, and monitoring.
- Engineered Solutions (Custom Control Panels) Custom-designed electrical control panels integrating motor control, automation, protection, and monitoring into purpose-built systems for specific application requirements across industrial customers.
- Site Audit Service Professional on-site assessment of customer motor control installations to identify improvement opportunities, energy savings potential, and equipment upgrade recommendations.
- Drive Setup Service Configuration, parameterization, and commissioning support for variable speed drives supplied by Varispeed, sold standalone or bundled with hardware purchases.
- Field Service / On-Site Repairs (24/7) Round-the-clock on-site technical support and repair service for Varispeed-supplied motor control equipment, delivered through certified service and repair centers across South Africa.
- Commissioning Service On-site commissioning of motor control systems to verify installation, performance, and integration with existing plant operations before hand-over.
- Retrofit Service Engineering service to replace or upgrade existing motor control systems with current-generation Varispeed drives, soft starters, PLCs, and HMIs for improved efficiency and performance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 60% energy savings in variable torque load applications
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Varispeed
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Varispeed technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature6 records
Varispeed partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- YaskawacoreExclusive regional partner for Yaskawa products including AC drives, medium voltage drives, servo systems, and PLCs. Yaskawa is a global leader with over 100 years of experience in precision, performance, and reliability motor control technology.
- SolconcoreExclusive regional partner for Solcon soft starters and motor control systems. Solcon provides smart protection for tough environments with decades of field research and engineering.
- Alpha Drive Series (Alpha Series)coreExclusive regional partner for Alpha Drive Series including drives, soft starters, and HMIs. Alpha products are tailored for African industry needs, offering serious performance in compact, easy-to-use packages at competitive pricing.
- Hudaco GroupcoreMember of the Hudaco Group, a South African industrial company. Hudaco is the parent company providing corporate support and structure.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Varispeed competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation major offering Allen-Bradley drives, PLCs, and HMIs. Competes with Varispeed in plant-floor automation and motor control across manufacturing and process industries in Africa.
- Siemens: Global automation conglomerate offering SINAMICS drives, SIMATIC PLCs, and integrated motor control solutions with established channel presence in sub-Saharan Africa. Competes head-to-head with Varispeed in mining, manufacturing, and water/wastewater verticals.
- Eaton: Diversified power management and industrial automation supplier offering variable frequency drives, soft starters, and motor control gear. Competes for similar African industrial and mining customers.
- Hitachi Industrial (Hitachi HiRel / Inverter & Drives): Offers industrial drives and inverters as part of a broader industrial portfolio, with channel presence in Africa. Competes with Varispeed in mid-voltage and low-voltage AC drive applications.
- ABB: Global broad-line industrial automation and electrification major with its own VFD portfolio (ACS series) and direct sales/service in Africa. Overlaps with Varispeed across variable speed drives, soft starters, PLCs, and motors in the same mining, water, and industrial customer base.
- Schneider Electric: Major industrial automation and energy management player offering Altivar drives, soft starters, and PLCs. Has a strong distribution and direct-sales network across Africa and competes for the same enterprise motor control wallet.
Direct peers
- Danfoss Drives: Dedicated VFD and soft starter specialist (VLT and VACON lines) with strong presence in industrial and HVAC applications. Closely comparable to Varispeed's core product focus on AC drives and motor control.
- WEG: Brazilian manufacturer of motors, drives, and soft starters with growing African distribution. Directly competes in motor and variable speed drive packages used in mining, water, and industrial applications.
- Yaskawa Electric: Global leader in AC drives, servo systems, and motion control. While Yaskawa supplies Varispeed as an exclusive regional partner, it competes directly with Varispeed's own Alpha Drive line and represents the technology backbone of Varispeed's portfolio, making it the closest comparable peer by product category.
Emerging players
- Invertek Drives: Smaller UK-based VFD specialist focused on Optidrive general-purpose and solar pump drives. Comparable in product scope to Varispeed's VSD/soft starter focus and increasingly active in African solar pumping markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Varispeed social profiles
Digital presenceVarispeed compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Varispeed financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Varispeed leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Varispeed funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Varispeed M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Varispeed
What does Varispeed do?
Varispeed supplies and integrates electronic motor control systems for industrial applications, distributing AC Drives/Variable Speed Drives, Soft Starters, PLCs, HMIs, and auxiliary components from Yaskawa, Solcon, and the proprietary Alpha Drive Series. The company also designs and builds custom-engineered control panels and provides complementary field services including site audits, drive setup, commissioning, retrofits, and 24/7 on-site repairs. Sales and service are delivered through six South African branches with reach across sub-Saharan Africa.
Is Varispeed a public or private company?
Varispeed is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Varispeed founded?
Varispeed was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Varispeed based?
Varispeed is headquartered in Gauteng, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Varispeed make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Varispeed's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Eaton, Hitachi Industrial (Hitachi HiRel / Inverter & Drives), ABB and Schneider Electric. Direct peers are Danfoss Drives, WEG and Yaskawa Electric. Invertek Drives is listed as an emerging player.
Does Varispeed have an API?
No public API is recorded for Varispeed.
What industry is Varispeed in?
Varispeed's product category is Industrial Motor Control & Automation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGACAD, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). Its NAICS code is 33361 and its SIC code is 3590.