Supported ventures

Regona Manufacturing

Regona Trading (Pty) Ltd t/a Regona Manufacturing

Brands: Regona Trading, Regona Manufacturing

Flagship product: UAV Helicopter with Enhanced Payload and Stealth Capabilities 

Founding team: Laura Mpo Moruni (Founder & Owner) 

Application: Advanced UAV technology for mining, forestry, agriculture, and security applications

Sector/Industry: Aerospace & Engineering Technology

Subsector: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Surveillance, and Data Analytics

Year founded and commenced operations: 2015

Year partnered with TuksNovation: 2024

Email address: info@regonatrading.co.za  

Website: regonatrading.co.za 

Description

Regona Manufacturing specializes in material handling, fabrication, and offer tailored engineering solutions across various sectors. With strategic partnerships, they deliver flexible turnkey solutions driven by advanced technology and a commitment to service excellence. Regona’s Machine Shop is skilled in precision engineering, offering CNC and conventional milling, turning, grinding, and fabrication. Serving industries such as mining, automotive, and defence, they manufacture components with precision and reliability, working from both approved drawings and samples.

The company also specializes in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology development and is enhancing a locally designed helicopter UAV with an innovative intermeshing gearbox to increase payload capacity from 3kg to 15kg and a redesigned 2-stroke muffler for noise reduction and stealth optimization. These enhancements enable efficient mining surveys, forestry management, and precision agriculture, while also supporting emergency response and security operations.

Growth Objectives

Regona Manufacturing is committed to expanding the capabilities of UAV technology to improve efficiency, security, and sustainability across multiple industries.

The company aims to:

  • Enhance UAV Capabilities: Develop and manufacture an intermeshing gearbox to increase payload and a muffler for stealth optimization.
  • Expand Industry Applications: Deploy UAVs for mining, forestry, and agricultural data collection, improving security and environmental monitoring.
  • Strengthen Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with key stakeholders such as A2D Geoscan, CreoX, and NPT Engineering to enhance product development.
  • Enhance Market Penetration: Position UAVs for commercial use in sectors requiring high-precision aerial data collection.
  • Support Sustainability & Training: Provide skills transfer and training programs in UAV technology for mining, forestry, and agricultural sectors.

Differentiation/Value Proposition

Regona Manufacturing differentiates itself by offering cutting-edge UAV technology with enhanced payload capacity and stealth capabilities.

The key value propositions include:

  • Increased Payload Capacity: The innovative intermeshing gearbox boosts UAV payload from 3kg to 15kg, improving operational efficiency.
  • Stealth Optimization: A redesigned 2-stroke muffler reduces noise, making UAVs more effective for security and environmental monitoring.
  • Multi-Sector Utility: UAVs support mining, forestry, and precision agriculture with high-resolution data collection and topographic mapping.
  • Disaster Response Capabilities: Future applications include UAV-based transport of emergency medical supplies and disaster relief equipment.
  • Local Innovation & Manufacturing: The project fosters skills development, job creation, and economic growth in South Africa.

Business Stage/Phase

Regona Manufacturing is currently in the technology development stage, focusing on product design, prototyping, and field testing.

The company is progressing through:

  • Technology Development: Engineering and testing the intermeshing gearbox and stealth muffler.
  • Pilot Testing & Validation: Conducting field tests across mining, forestry, and agricultural industries to refine UAV performance.
  • Commercialization Preparation: Establishing market entry strategies and securing industry partnerships for large-scale deployment.

Investment Stage/Phase

To achieve its growth objectives, Regona Manufacturing is currently in the Pre-Series A Funding stage, seeking investment for prototype development, field testing, and commercialization.

Funding will be allocated to:

  • Research & Development: Completing the engineering, manufacturing, and real-world validation of the UAV enhancements.
  • Regulatory Compliance & Certification: Ensuring UAVs meet industry standards and operational regulations.
  • Market Deployment: Implementing marketing, sales, and training programs to drive adoption across sectors.

Investment Raised

Regona Manufacturing has raised funding from the following sources so far:

  • Self-funded initial capital to establish operations and begin development.
  • SANSA NEOFrontiers funding round (Seed) in 2024 for UAV development and commercialization.
  • Additional Partnerships: Collaboration with A2D Geoscan, CreoX, and NPT Engineering for product enhancement and market entry.