Synkron Africa Launches Industrial Automation Training Center In Nairobi

Synkron Africa has launched an industrial automation training center in Nairobi, a facility that will provide engineers in East Africa with hands-on training on automation systems used in manufacturing, energy, and other industrial sectors.

The Synkron Training Center will offer instruction on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial drives such as variable frequency drives (VFDs), control logic, and automation diagnostics. Engineers participating in the programs will work with equipment commonly used in industrial environments. The programs will also provide certification from technology providers including Siemens.

The launch reflects a shift from the longstanding practice where engineers in the region often traveled abroad for specialized industrial automation training. Industry stakeholders say the availability of local training could make it easier for more engineers to access advanced technical skills.

Julius Karanja, Manager of the Center for Development of Electronic Devices at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, said many engineers in the region have historically relied on training programs outside the continent.

“For many engineers in this region, advanced industrial training has traditionally required travelling overseas. That limits how many people can access these skills. Bringing this capability closer to home allows more engineers to develop practical expertise and apply these technologies where they are needed most,” Karanja said.

Technology providers involved in the initiative say access to technical training is an important part of supporting the use of automation technologies in industry.

Rachel Lutwama, East Africa Regional Head at Siemens, noted that the effectiveness of automation systems depends on the expertise of the engineers responsible for operating them.

“Advanced industrial technologies can only deliver their full value when the people operating them have the right skills. Expanding access to world-class automation training locally will help build the technical capacity needed to support industry across the region,” she said.

CIO Africa caught up with Kenneth Mantu, Group CEO of Synkron Africa, during the launch event. He said the training center is part of the company’s services supporting customers across the region.

“We are here today to open the Synkron Training Centre. It’s a new step in what we are doing in the services that we are providing to our customers across the region in terms of specialised training for engineering services,” Mantu said.

He explained that companies have often had to send engineers to countries such as South Africa or Europe when specialized automation training was required.

“More importantly it reduces costs and it allows our largest manufacturers, power providers and industries to be able to optimize their teams, upskill them and drive more value, reduce downtime and increase efficiency of their factories on a daily basis. One of the most critical things is that while it’s possible to send one or two people to Europe or to South Africa, when you are able to have a team of ten training locally and gaining experience locally, you can drive significantly more value for your customers and also more value for the business,” he said.

Mantu also spoke about the role of industry-led training compared to academic programs.

“Our partners in academia have been able to provide strong training from an academic perspective, but where we come in is as industry experts. We work directly in the commercial space and we don’t view this as purely an academic exercise. We look at it from a practical standpoint—how we can impart real-world skills to engineers so they understand how these systems work in the market and in real operational environments,” he said.

According to Mantu, the training will target sectors that rely heavily on automation systems.

“Our target audience includes industries, power providers, cement companies, healthcare institutions and anyone who engages in automation and drive technology. This is essentially the entire infrastructure framework of the country. We serve the African market and Synkron has worked in over 46 African countries, and we aim to continue supporting the continent with the same specialised expertise and teams across the region,” he said.

The training center will offer structured certification programs, practical workshops, and a digital learning system that allows engineers to track the automation systems they are certified to operate and maintain.