Licensing Premnath Rail’s intellectual property and drawing on its mechanised railway equipment could broaden Zeromec’s ability to support railway construction, maintenance and electrical infrastructure work in South Africa.
The agreement also creates a platform for expansion into other African railway markets, combining Zeromec’s local service experience with Premnath Rail’s equipment manufacturing and technical capabilities.
- Zeromec and Premnath Rail signed the agreement at Africa Rail 2026 in Johannesburg.
- The partnership covers South Africa and potential expansion into other African markets.
- Premnath Rail manufactures equipment for railway construction and maintenance.
- Its equipment includes road-rail vehicles, track inspection systems, overhead electrification machinery, rail threaders, tampers and rail-laying equipment.
- Zeromec’s activities include railway maintenance, transformer supply and electrical infrastructure upgrades.
South African railway maintenance company Zeromec and India-based railway equipment manufacturer Premnath Rail have signed a licensing memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening the delivery of railway maintenance and infrastructure services in South Africa and other African markets.
The agreement was concluded at Africa Rail 2026, held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 7 and 8 July.
Speaking to Railways Africa, the companies note that, under the partnership, Zeromec will be able to use Premnath Rail’s intellectual property locally and draw on the Indian company’s railway construction and maintenance equipment to support its customers.
Zeromec Commercial Director Gabriel Matli said the agreement would enable the company to expand its technical capabilities and improve the services it provides to the railway sector.
Zeromec’s activities include railway maintenance, the supply of transformers and electrical infrastructure upgrades, including work to replace ageing infrastructure with new transformer equipment.
“The reason why we got into this MOU with Premnath Rail is so that we are able to service our clients much better,” Matli said.
“The type of equipment that Premnath Rail has at their disposal will help us a lot. This licensing MOU allows us to use their IP locally, and we’ll be able to take it over the South African borders as well.”
Premnath Rail manufactures mechanised equipment for railway construction and maintenance, including road-rail vehicles, track inspection equipment, overhead electrification machinery, rail threaders, tampers and rail-laying equipment.
Premnath Rail Chairman and CEO Vipin Arora stated that the partnership is part of the company’s expansion into African railway markets.
“We are expanding now to the African market with them and hope we will find a very positive and a very good market here because this is the new expanding area of the world,” Arora said.
He added that Premnath Rail believes its equipment can support the practical construction and maintenance requirements of African railway operators and infrastructure companies.
The partnership combines Zeromec’s local railway maintenance and electrical infrastructure expertise with Premnath Rail’s equipment manufacturing and technical capabilities. It is intended to strengthen Zeromec’s ability to serve South African customers while creating a platform for expansion into railway markets elsewhere on the continent.
