Railways are the pulse of a nation’s movement, and when those lines crack, economies stall and safety falters.
At Rail Live 2025 in Madrid, a small South African engineering firm is showing Europe that even from the edges of the map, world-class innovation can travel far. TrackView, the smart guardian of the tracks, has arrived to make that journey.
HisWay Labs is one of nine South African companies selected by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to join its outward selling mission at Rail Live 2025. The firm is introducing TrackView, its patented real time rail-condition monitoring device, to European operators for the first time. Built to resist theft, damage and unstable power conditions, TrackView detects broken rails and abnormal train movements with high reliability.
TrackView began in 2019 with a simple question: “How do you keep trains running safely when infrastructure is always at risk?”
With vandalism, cable theft and harsh operating conditions undermining South Africa’s rail network, HisWay Labs designed an ultra-low power IoT device tough enough for local realities. One that delivers consistent monitoring without becoming a target.
“We had to develop a novel technology that would be theft and vandal resistant because those challenges have negatively affected our railway operations,” said Kent Gibbon, Chief Commercial Officer at HisWay Labs.
“We stepped up to provide a solution that delivers dependable condition monitoring in even the harshest environments.”
That solution now carries patents in South Africa and the European Union. With the EU patent freshly awarded, Madrid became the natural launchpad.
“We needed to introduce TrackView to the European market and understand how it will be received,” Gibbon explained.
“We do not know of another global technology that performs quite like TrackView, which is why this engagement is so important for us.”
Day one of the Rail Live expo has already brought promising discussions with operators and technology integrators seeking innovation that strengthens network resilience. But HisWay Labs is approaching Europe with both ambition and realism.
“Rail products do not move forward through conversation alone,” Gibbon noted.
“Each operator has its own tests and requirements. We are speaking to companies willing to trial TrackView, and the responses so far have been very positive.”
South Africa’s strong showing at the expo is no accident. The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) says the engagements have reaffirmed the country’s standing as a respected engineering hub.
“Localisation is not just about employment, it is a matter of national pride,” said ARIA Chief Executive Officer, Mesela Nhlapo.
“Across the exhibition, countries boldly declare made in on their products. South Africa must rally behind a single identity that recognises our century long engineering history, our innovation and our ability to manufacture world class solutions.”
She highlighted that several international companies, including those from Germany, continue to show deep respect for South African capability.
“The level of technical engagement and the respect they showed to our engineers was mind blowing. We often underestimate ourselves, but the world continues to value South Africa’s capability,” said Nhlapo.
She credited the DTIC for enabling the mission and supporting export readiness among domestic manufacturers.
“This mission is funded and curated by the DTIC, but more than that, the dedication of the officials who planned the programme is what made it successful. Government creates the space, business must step in to secure opportunities,” she said.
South Africa is ready to grow exports and expand its industrial footprint.
“Business is open in the international space. Companies are asking about South African capability, and the world is ready for our innovative solutions,” Nhlapo added.
The company believes that partnerships will be the essential bridge into this highly competitive market. With hopes that they will provide both distribution intelligence and local technical pathways.
“We know Europe is a huge market with established players,” said Gibbon.
As the week progresses, ARIA and the participating companies aim to continue nurturing leads generated at Rail Live and gearing up for major global platforms such as InnoTrans 2026.
“We may be a small engineering firm from South Africa, but we believe we have a product that can compete globally,” said Gibbon.
Azwi@vutivibusiness.co.za
