PREI INSTRUMENTATION – INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION COMPANY
PREI Instrumentation is an industrial instrumentation company that attributes its success to more than 70 years of industry excellence, technological advancement, and a dedication to streamlining processes for our industrial clients across South Africa.
A LITTLE ABOUT OUR HISTORY
Our journey began in 1955 as Peter Rothenburg Electrical Instruments (Pty) Ltd. As an industrial instrumentation company, we explored developments across the industry, including manufacturing electrical panel instruments.
We subsequently expanded our scope to include laboratory and workshop test equipment before shifting our focus towards solutions for the process control marketplace.
In 1987, we changed our name to PREI Instrumentation, broadening our offering beyond vibration detection, monitoring, and non-contact thermometry. In 1993, we expanded into the pressure, level, and flow markets, supported by the appointment of our sales support team.
Since 1997, we have acquired distribution rights for a range of industry-leading brands, including CCC, BKVibro, VOITH, OSI Soft, Istech, and Turtle Tough, complementing our existing portfolio.
These developments have strengthened the engineering services our technical division offers, which specialises in rotating machinery control and protection systems. Our services have grown to include:
- Product support
- Project execution
- Root cause analysis
- Condition monitoring and data analysis
- General equipment health investigations
This growth has helped us meet rising client demand with solutions that make a difference, positioning us as a leading industrial instrumentation company. We are Level 2 B-BBEE-certified, with a 51% B-BBEE shareholding.
OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS
- STEVE HERBST
- CHERYLL SMITH
- PIETER ERASMUS
- MARLENE EHLERS
- KEGAN SMITH
- YORICK SMITH
- ZIYANDA MHLAUL
- DOMINIQUE VAN NIEROP
- DAVID MAREMANI
- WIAN DU PREEZ
Steve Herbst – Managing Director
Steve Herbst has delegated his previous responsibilities for our water instrumentation and gas monitoring portfolios to spend more time managing the company and working with our rotating machinery division. When he is not doing that, he enjoys tinkering with our computer system. Have you ever heard a computer scream?
Steve trained as an instrument technician at Iscor before moving to AECI. He gained sales experience at L+N and KENT Instrumentation, particularly in analysers, and later specialised in instrumentation and electrical project engineering and management at SAB and Illovo Sugar.
He joined PREI Instrumentation in 1997 and was appointed group director in 2001, when he also became a shareholder. He is particularly in his element when introducing our analyser range to major players in the water industry. Outside work, he enjoys racing a Westbank V8 car.
Cheryll Smith – Financial Director and Administration Supervisor
Cheryll Smith is the one we all answer to. As our financial director and administration supervisor, her word is law!
Before joining Prei in 2003, Cheryll spent 15 years in banking with FNB, Standard Bank, and Central Merchant Bank. She lives on a farm, where she enjoys spending time with horses.
Pieter Erasmus – Product Manager
Pieter Erasmus manages our instrumentation range for vibration and rotating machinery monitoring. He is also involved in our gas detection product range.
Piet started as an apprentice electrician with the South African Air Force, spent time at PPC, and worked as acting electrical engineer at Mogale G.M. before joining us in 2004. Away from work, he thinks gardening is fun, too!
Marlene Ehlers – Laboratory and Analytical Equipment
Marlene Ehlers is responsible for our laboratory and analytical equipment range, covering the municipal, portable instrumentation, and wastewater markets. She is so knowledgeable that we like to joke that we couldn’t even spell “laboratory” until she joined us.
Before joining PREI Instrumentation in 2010, Marlene spent 22 years at Emfuleni Council, first as a water technologist and later as laboratory supervisor.
Kegan Smith – Rotating Machinery Division
Kegan Smith joined us in 2015, specialising in our rotating machinery division, compressor controls, and vibration monitoring and analysis.
Yorick Smith – Rotating Machinery Division
Yorick Smith joined our rotating machinery division, focusing primarily on life cycle management for our customers’ products.
Ziyanda Mhlauli – Administration and Reception
Ziyanda Mhlauli is our second administration team member and receptionist. When all else fails and panic sets in, call Ziyanda: she knows where everything is.
She’s been with us since 2008 and is an absolute gem.
Dominique van Nierop
[Bio to be added.]
David Maremani – Stores and Instrument Assembly
David Maremani is our stores assistant, local handyman, and instrument assembler and packer. We have even trained him to do fibreglass work, although he is not a fan of the itch!
Wian du Preez – Rotating Machinery Application Sales Engineer
Wian du Preez is a rotating machinery application sales engineer with many years of experience in control systems, particularly distributed control systems (DCS).
He is a young father to a daughter and enjoys helping out on his family’s farm.
CONTACT OUR INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION COMPANY
To learn more about our industrial instrumentation company and our complete range of engineering solutions, contact a PREI Instrumentation representative today.
