Latest Lifting Africa Nov-Dec 2021

The official magazine for LEEASA (Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA)

NOV/DEC 2021

Sky Cranes Africa Pty (LTD)

The management of trestles

Steel shortage a bonanza for some

Contents

The official magazine for LEEASA (Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA)

The crane industry continues to feel the ill effects of the global Covid pandemic

4

Chairman’s desk

6

Lifting and rigging solutions for high efficiency and optimum safety

8

The management of trestles

10

Heavy lift planning and simulation for mobile cranes

12

Dekra Industrial’s ‘one-stop’ service further elevated with the addition of lifting inspections division

14

R&B Timber Group impressed with quieter F-series Loggers

16

Why forklift training achieves a better ROI, beyond just safety factors

18

Shumani supplies 35 electric forklifts to major beverage manufacturer

20

Enerpac introduces wheeled load skates for factory moves up to 70 tons

21

Inspection, repair, maintenance is bread-and-butter work for Skyriders

22

Pipes, Pumps & Valves Africa Lifting Africa Golf Day 2021

24

Heavy lift raises Yellow Jersey Logistics to new heights

26

Extending the life of long-travel energy chains

28

Steel shortage a bonanza for some

30

Automation ready below the hook grab for steel, aluminum

32

New onshore wind crane takes a step closer to reality

34

Curtain wall manufacturer reduces manual lifting and streamlines production

35

Mobile harbour cranes with the electric drive in high demand

36

Out in the cold

38

Comansa overcomes the logistical challenges of a historic project

40

These rope runners will rock your world

42

Avoiding electrical accidents

43

BUYERS GUIDE

44

NOV/DEC 2021

Sky Cranes Africa Pty (LTD)

The management of trestles

Steel shortage a bonanza for some

Sky Cranes Africa, +27 (0) 83 648 3901, jacques@skycranesafrica.co.za, www.skycranesafrica.co.za Lifting Africa Managing Editor: Surita Marx Tel: +27 (0) 87 153-1217 Cell: +27 (0) 83 281-5761 Email: surita@liftingafrica.co.za Web: www.liftingafrica.co.za Sales: Lusana Merckel Email: lusana@liftingafrica.co.za Sales Assistant: Tasneen Baatjies Email: sales@liftingafrica.co.za Production Manager: Xane Roestroff Sub-Editor: Debbie van Rensburg

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Disclaimer: Opinions in this Publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication, its editorial board, its editor or its Publishers LEEASA. The mention of specific products in articles and advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this Publication or its publishers in preference to others of a similar nature, which are not mentioned or advertised.

Reliance on any information contained in this journal is at your own risk. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of editorial board makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the correctness or suitability contained and/or the products advertised in this publication. The Publisher shall not be liable for any damages or loss, howsoever arising, incurred by readers of this publication or any other person/s. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility and liability for any damages, includes pure economic loss and any consequential damages, resulting from the use of services or products advertised in this publication. Readers of this publication indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, its officers, employees, and servants for any demand action, application or other proceedings made by any third party and arising out or in connection with the use of any services and/or products or the reliance on any information contained in this publication.

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

3

COVER STORY

The crane industry continues to feel the ill effects of the global Covid pandemic Hopes, however, are high that 2022 will bring increased certainty and opportunity to the market. Lifting Africa spoke to Jacques Roux, managing director of Sky Cranes Africa, for his perspective and outlook.

It is hard to find any good news in the Covid-19 crisis.

The past two years have by no means been easy on industries and the tower crane industry is no different.

“It has been tough out there,” says Roux highlighting that too many cranes are still lying on the ground at present. “The construction industry has been very slow since the outbreak of the pandemic and this, in turn, has impacted on the crane industry. Crane companies have been under real pressure in recent months.”

According to Roux, they have been lucky at Sky Cranes Africa thanks to a contract that kept the team running for most of 2021. “After the initial lockdown when we were able to re-open our business, we successfully won a contract for work on a power station and that kept us busy for a large part of the year.”

Offering competitive pricing and contract specifications Sky Cranes Africa specializes in tower cranes repairs,

erections, dismantling, servicing, spares, breakdowns, load testing and sales.

Despite the drop in projects and the decline in work, Roux remains extremely positive saying quotations and general enquiries are definitely on the increase after everything ground to a near halt in 2020.

“If I compare the enquiries and quotes we are doing now to last year then there is improvement and we are very hopeful for 2022. I think we are going to see an improvement in the market in the next few years. I am very hopeful that we are going to see improvement in the construction sector as well.”

According to Roux, the uptick in requests for quotations on its own is a positive development.

“People are starting to realise that life has to go on despite the ongoing pandemic and that it is essential that we start functioning within this new normal environment. I believe we are going to see projects start to take off again which bodes very well for the crane industry at large.”

Despite the tough operating environment of the past two years companies like Sky Crane Africa and other tower crane companies have managed to hold their own.

“We have proved ourselves resilient to some extent,” says Roux. “During our quiet times, we have kept busy refurbishing our own fleet, making sure we are ready for any future demand. I believe it is important to keep busy and not give up. With that in mind, we have ensured that our staff are trained and that our equipment is in good condition.”

Changing times The market has seen some real changes since the outbreak of the pandemic. With cost-saving at the top of the agenda, most cranes are now bought or rented on an as-needed basis.

“Clients are looking for optimal material handling solutions that ensure maximum productivity on sites all the time,” says Roux. “We have seen a drop in the sale of cranes. Few companies are outright purchasing cranes, but having said that, even the rental market has slowed down.”

Covid had introduced so much uncertainty that many companies were playing a waiting game these days.

Where cranes have been required, it is all about having

4

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

COVER STORY

the right crane for the right application with as little downtime as possible.

“Cranes are being worked hard. Where in the past there would have been a tendency to increase the number of cranes on a site, nowadays we are seeing fewer cranes that have to work harder.”

This has increased the importance of maintenance and refurbishments. “We carry quite a high variety of spare parts to ensure we are able to get cranes up and running in the shortest amount of time for our clients.

Reducing the amount of downtime is a priority.”

He says one of the reasons why there has been a drop in the sale of cranes has been the increase in import duties and shipping costs.

“The cranes are still very reasonably priced, but to get them here is expensive and it has impacted the market somewhat.” Roux is a firm believer in diversity. “We have always prided ourselves on a range of capabilities, something that has come to be extremely important in the current market environment.”

“Whether it is selling a new crane or refurbishing or even just maintenance, being able to service the wider market is of critical importance.”

Reliability takes precedence The Sky Cranes Africa team come with a host of knowledge and experience often making them the first port of call for many of their clients. “We have exceptionally well-qualified technicians and our riggers are some of the best in the business. Our first goal is always safety. There are no cutting corners around here.”

Roux says dependability and reliability go a long way in the crane business. “it is not just about commitment, but delivering on that commitment regardless of the circumstances. We are proud of the fact that we have built up a reputation of trustworthiness over the years where people know what they will get if they hire the Sky Cranes Africa team.”

This is important in a world where the focus is on enhanced productivity. “We go out of our way to ensure our clients' needs are met and that their operations run smoothly. We do increased inspections making sure cranes are safe at all times and functioning optimally. It is important to me that we are continuously adding value to our clients' operations so that they don’t have to worry about the cranes and can focus on their core operations.”

Sky Cranes Africa, +27 (0) 83 648 3901, jacques@skycranesafrica.co.za, www.skycranesafrica.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

5

CHAIRMAN’S DESK

LEEASA NEWS Who would have thought that 2021 would have flown by so quickly?

Another challenging year under the belt and most of us looking forwards to a well-deserved rest over the December festive season.

It’s not all doom and gloom and it was great to see a lot of you at the Lifting Africa Golf Day that took place on the 29th of October.

Another well-organised event to be remembered.

It seems we are still all battling with challenges brought on by Covid-19 and there is speculation of fur-ther variants being detected. How this will affect us as a Nation will only be known further down the road and we can only all hope that a sense of normality will return sometime in the future. For now, all we can do is remain safe, healthy and help prevent further outbreaks by being vaccinated and comply-ing with the protocol enforced upon us by the government.

We have had some good news that the KITE expedition in Durban will be taking place early next year and we will Definity be having a conference at the exhibition as long as it still takes place. Please diarise the date of 17th February 2022 at the Durban Exhibition Centre. We will send out correspondence in early January. Attendees will receive 1 CPD point for attending.

We have had a great membership turnout this year and ended off with the following number of members.

• 229 Active Members • 153 Active Lifting Machinery Inspectors (LMI’s) • 77 Active Company Members We hope you all received your copy of the NEW LEEASA VETTING GUIDE with the last edition of Lifting Africa. Please feel free to distribute it to your clientele and request additional hard copies from us if 6

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

required. As mentioned previously there has been a lot happening behind the scenes at LEEASA to ensure con-tinuity and a wellstructured association.

With this in mind, I regret to inform you all that Mr Ken Greenwood who was involved from the very beginning at LEEASA has decided to retire from the association as of 1 December 2021. His knowledge, expertise and wisdom has been entrenched in many of us and will always remain a mentor to us all when needed.

Due to his involvement over the years, LEEASA has decided to make him a lifelong Honorary member of the association and we deeply express our gratitude for the time spent over the years that he has dedicated to the Lifting Industry.

He may be gone but will never be forgotten…..

We will be in communication in early January with regards to the replacement of empty council seats that needs to take place and if you feel you have what it takes to assist the association growing and moving forwards, please contact us to make it known that you would like to be considered for council. (All Council Members will require a clean criminal record as well as compliant financial status and willing to be listed as a director of LEAASA should they be elected to council) In the interim, we have already started sending out quotations for next years membership and you will be pleased to know we will be keeping the membership fees the same for 2022.

Remember to ensure you use the correct reference when making payments so they can be allocated accordingly.

Have a safe and joyful festive season, and we hope to see you all return safely in the new year.

Yours in SAFE LIFTING, Ashley Davis and the rest of the LEEASA team.

Below are a few messages from Ken’s colleagues and council members….

Roger Day It seems forever that Ken has been so deeply involved with LEEASA as Councillor, Chairperson and Director, and who has made a huge impact on the Association and the Lifting Industry in general. Ken has devoted so much of his time to developing and managing LEEASA over the years and this included his representing the Lifting Industry and advising when the Department of Labour was working on revising the DMR 18 regulations.

Nobody will know the many unpaid hours and hours that Ken put into LEEASA, but I do appreciate all that he has done. Thank you, Ken. And now after all these years of dedication, guidance, hard work and perseverance, Ken has decided to take a back seat. Ken is such an active, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic fellow, and I cannot see him sitting back. Ken is a most generous person and always ready to help others and to educate, and I am sure we will continue to see him around, involved in the stuff that he loves.

Ken, in thanking you for your dedication, your contribution, our time together on Council, and your friendship over the years, I wish you a very happy and enjoyable retirement from LEEASA. You can look back with pride!

Best wishes Roger Day Ian Gerrard Dear Ken Having known and worked with you in various aspects for more than

Our industry and all the various bodies involved will miss you very much, as will I. I wish you all the very best for the Future.

Ian Piet Otto “I have known Ken as a friend and colleague for over the last 25 years or so.

We served together on various SABS Technical Standards Committees and were active on the LEEASA Executive and Council since its inception.

I have consulted, often even argued but mostly agreed with his opinions on many issues relating to lifting equipment technical, correct use, safety, legislation and educational matters.

Ken was always the first person that I would consult for advice and his opinion was always valued!

In my opinion, the truth is that LEEASA would not have been a success and survived, if it was not for Ken and Arnold Sommer, who both gave their time to attend to LEEASA matters, mostly without much appreciation of their efforts and unknown to members. They, as well as others including myself, simp-ly did it because we were committed.

When the LME/LMI process started, Ken was the leader at meetings and discussions with the DOL as well as at ECSA. He was the Champion!

Very few people know about the

hours and hours that he spent serving as an ECSA Council Member as well as on the Executive of the CET and the complexities of balancing and satisfying the interests and demands of all concerned parties, without prejudice or favours expected.

I must also mention that Ken always asked about, was concerned and cared for colleagues’ families as well as their health and wellbeing.

I salute Ken as a man and I am proud and privileged to have had him as a friend for so long.

Ken, I thank you sincerely for all that you have shared and taught me.

Go well my friend, you deserve time off and Godspeed for the future!”

Lifting Africa A man who needs no introduction.

An industry stalwart.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, Ken Greenwood.

From a humble start working together on a Lifting Guide, we built a strong bond. I came to you with an idea; publishing a magazine focusing exclusively on the lifting industry. You understood my vision and, as chairman of LEEASA, supported the launch of Lifting Africa magazine in June 2015.

You made time and educated me, elevating – pun intended – my knowledge of the lifting industry.

You went to great efforts. I will always appreciate the hours you took out of your busy schedule to work with me or even just stop by the office for a short chat.

My employee, Lusana Merckel, had this to say: “I came from an entirely

different industry and having to learn the difference between a forklift and a tower crane proved challenging but with the knowledge and insight from industry experts like Ken, needless to say, I have learnt heaps. Thank you, Ken, for all the hours spent together, which for you may have seemed like a casual chat, but for me, was a chance to absorb wisdom. I have enjoyed every story (and the many laughs) you had shared with me.

Your passion for the lifting industry is worthy of admiration, and it is comforting to know you will always be a phone call away”. Publishing Lifting Africa magazine was once a dream but is now a reality. I will forever be indebted to you.

We will always appreciate every sacrifice. Your contribution to making the lifting industry safe and le-gally compliant is worthy of a superlative. Lusana, the Lifting Africa team and I, wish you a welldeserved retirement.

Lots of love.

Feel free to reach out to the council members if the need requires.

Chairman: Ashley Davis | ashley@leeasa.co.za Vice Chair (Treasurer of Finance Committee): Surita Marx | surita@leeasa.co.za Ordinary Members: Andries Agenbag | andries@leeasa. co.za Francois Blignaut | francois@ leeasa.co.za Kyle Graham | kyle@leeasa.co.za

Yours in SAFE LIFTING, Ashley Davis and the rest of the LEEASA team

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Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

7

CHAIRMAN’S DESK

20 years, It was with regret that I learned of you stepping down from LEEASA.

ADVERTORIAL

Lifting and rigging solutions for high efficiency and optimum safety BMG’s Tools & Equipment Lifting team offers a specialist service to diverse sectors throughout Africa, including automotive and tyre manufacturing, paper and pulp, sugar, forestry and agriculture, as well as marine and mining.

“BMG’s dedicated lifting and rigging division, which was established in August last year, supplies a broad range of quality branded equipment, that is enhanced by a technical advisory and support service, designed for simplified, efficient and safe procedures in every application,” explains Tanita Rousel-Brett, Tools & Equipment Lifting, BMG. "Our team of specialists, with over 30 years' collective experience, works together to provide solutions for any lifting or rigging challenge.

“An interesting project for BMG recently was assisting a game farmer to relocate three young giraffes from a game reserve in Nylstroom to Kuwait. We constructed a robust sling especially for the project, using a highstrength McKinnon chain, to load the crate holding the giraffes safely onto a truck.

BMG complies fully with the requirements of the lifting machine and lifting tackle regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Act 85 of 1993. The company’s Lifting Machinery Inspector (LMI) is certified in terms of the Engineering Profession Act 2000 (Act no46 of 2000) and is a registered member of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

BMG has approval from The Department of Labour in terms of the driven machinery regulations 18 (5) of the occupational and safety Act 1993, for examining and testing lifting machines and lifting tackle.

BMG specialists consider the safe operation of lifting and rigging equipment, as one of the most critical aspects in materials handling and recommend that customers' equipment is independently load tested annually, or as per urgent requirements and inspected every three months. BMG has a fully equipped trailer and can offer an onsite load testing service for

customer convenience and peace of mind. Included in BMG’s extensive range of tools, lifting and rigging equipment are electric, chain and lever hoists, geared and plain crawls, chain, wire and webbing slings and hydraulic, pneumatic hoists and winches, as well as manual Tirfor winches and ropes.

The range also comprises high-pressure hydraulic tools, mechanical ratchet jacks, jib cranes and eye bolts.

BMG, +27 (0) 11 620 7467 , tanitar@bmgworld.net, www.bmgworld.net 8

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

TRESTLES

The management of trestles

Trestles are often mistaken for lifting machines instead of a supportive platform on which goods or plants are normally placed or stored.

It is therefore clear that trestles do not have to be load tested by registered ECSA LMIs at specific intervals as required in OHSA DMR 18.

The relevant SANS for Trestles is: SANS 1854:2005 The design and manufacturing of trestles.

Most of the time trestles are used as a supportive stand to stack either a load or equipment such as plant,

pipes or machinery or as a working platform for welding, assembly of parts or components.

Definition of trestles in SANS 1854: A trestle is a self-supporting metal stand for supporting scaffolding boards to provide a working platform.

The Standard requirements for trestles are: 1. Basic material to be used for

fabrication, normally steel or wood.

2. Design and construction.

3. Type, either adjustable or fixed height.

4. Finishing: Paint with a protective coating to protect the trestle against surface corrosion.

5. Stability: The trestle must have a low centre of gravity (not higher than 30% of total height).

6. Load carrying capacity: The trestle must be designed to support a specific load and this load must be stated on the trestle as stated below.

7. Marking: Each trestle must be legibly, indelibly and permanently marked with a unique number and load carrying capacity (SWL).

Where available, the manufacturer’s name should be marked as well.

Suggested marking letter size at least 10 mm in height.

The method of measurement of vertical load-carrying capacity and test for stability and the test report requirements are described in the SANS 1854:2005.

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Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

TRESTLES

Other design and construction requirements can be required, such as: 1. The trestle must be designed and signed off by an Engineer.

2. A drawing and a load test certificate must be included when delivered.

3. Three monthly inspections can be specified, according to a checklist.

4. Yearly non-destructive testing (NDT) can be done.

Trestles requirements can be included in a User’s Fatality Prevention Standard or specified in a Company Operating Procedure.

However, trestles need to be manufactured and managed onsite according to the South African National Standard, which is: SANS 1854:2005 – The design and manufacturing of trestles.

The above information is given as a guide only and based on the writer’s personal opinion.

Phakamisa Safety Consultants, +27 (0) 82 372 4595, potto@icon.co.za, www.phakamisasafety.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

11

MOBILE CRANES

Heavy lift planning and simulation for mobile cranes Planning and preparation before performing any high-risk activity is always good practice, and particularly when lifting heavy equipment, preparedness ensures that there are no surprises, and the lift is performed according to plan, and performed safely.

Some of the planning tools that can be used for heavy and complex crane lifts, are Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and crane manufacturer simulation systems allow the user the ability to simulate the crane set up and simulate the lift virtually, using the specific crane’s load chart and specifications. To lift a 3ton air conditioner unit, on top of a building 60m high, and pace the unit 20m into the building, from the building’s edge.

Crane positioned on roadway ensuring outriggers jacks are not positioned above electrical and other services beneath the road surface. Using simulation software for a 200-ton crane, we are able to select the best boom and fixed fly combination to ensure boom clearance with the building edge, and ability to reach the desired placing radius and height.

Using the outrigger loading calculator, the point loads under each outrigger can be calculated, in tons, in order to ensure that ground conditions are adequate to support the high loadings generated by the crane during the lift. Based on this calculation, the crane supplier can determine what size of outrigger support plate should be used to spread the loading.

Typically, an outrigger pad measuring 2m x 2m should be used under each outrigger, thereby generating pressures of 47 ton / 4m2 = 11.75 tons per m2. If these pressures are still too high, by using a larger outrigger pad of say 3m x 3m = 9m2 the pressure would be

12

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

reduced to 47 ton / 9m2 = 5.2 tons per m2 which is substantially reduced.

The planning software can also be used to establish maximum allowable wind speeds for crane to operate, based on the size of the load.

For load (air conditioner module 2m x 2m = 4m2 (Ap) the maximum allowable wind speed of the crane is reduced from 7m/s down to 6.06 m/s due to the relatively large surface area of the load and compared to the relative light mass of the load.

Lifting operations performed in wind speeds exceeding 6.06 m/s could exert excessive wind load forces on the crane, and cause a failure.

Johnson Crane Hire (Pty) Ltd, +27 (0) 11 455 9222, PeterY@jch.co.za, www.jch.co.za

INDUSTRY NEWS

Dekra Industrial’s ‘one-stop’ service further elevated with the addition of lifting inspections division

As a fully registered Lifting Machine Entity (LME), Dekra Industrial SA can provide registered Lifting Machine Inspectors (LMIs) in various approved categories, to conduct comprehensive inspection and load testing services of lifting and rigging equipment.

This includes overhead cranes, truck-mounted (TM) cranes, lifting tackle, mobile elevating work platforms (or ‘cherry pickers’ as they are commonly referred to), with offshore cranes shortly to be added.

“We are very pleased to have attained our LME registration,” says Johan Gerber, Managing Director of

Dekra Industrial RSA. “Furthermore, the addition of the lifting inspection division broadens our offering even further, being the third element in our ‘one-stop’ approach as a holistic provider of non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection, in addition to corrosion control with rope access, and drone NDT inspections.”

Industrial Lifting Inspections division has been filled by prominent industry expert Jarques (‘JP’) Müller, who is well-known and highly regarded within the lifting industry both locally and pan-Africa, and has been registered as an LMI (Lifting Machinery Inspector) since 2008.

The role of Project Leader:

With over 20 years of experience in the inspections, maintenance, NDT and lifting industries, Müller brings a wealth of experience to the table, having been at the helm of several successful companies over the years before joining Dekra Industrial.

These include SSA Acoustic & Specialised Inspections, Acumax which Müller founded - SGS South Africa, EnerMech, and uNyazi Sales and Services.

By making use of his extensive lifting inspection-related business development and project management experience, Müller will be responsible for a substantial portfolio including divisional set-up, LME applications, procedures and documentation, development and

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Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS

implementation – as well as for driving the management, growth and expansion of the lifting division, and extending Dekra Industrial’s lifting and rigging client base throughout Southern Africa.

“Dekra Industrial is already entrenched in the steel sector, and this new division now opens up opportunities within other vertical areas, for example the maritime industry as well as the general industrial and manufacturing sectors, industrial refineries, oil and gas, light and heavy engineering and mining, petrochemical, offshore and even agriculture.

Every sector uses cranes and truckmounted cranes, offering limitless possibilities,” clarifies Müller.

“I aim to ensure that the highest priority is given to effective operational set-up and management of the lifting inspections division, to meet and exceed client requirements for highquality, safe services,” he notes.

“With an experienced team behind me, and access to the required skills, market intelligence and willpower, I can guide a company, division and/or project to success.

My experience in lifting and rigging around the world includes working in the Netherlands and Nigeria before my return to South Africa in 2007. I was also involved in one of the heaviest load tests ever carried out in South Africa: namely, a 1200 tonne load test in Cape Town harbour. I am therefore greatly looking forward to bringing my extensive lifting-related experience and skills to Dekra Industrial in this next exciting stage of my career!”

Müller comments.

“We are very pleased to have JP on board,” adds Gerber, “as he is extremely well-known in the industry, with a true wealth of experience which will assist us in bringing new opportunities to our current and future clients across a number of industries. Our expansion also includes access to qualified LMIs, and we will ensure the transfer of lifting industry skills within the company too.”

Dekra Industrial’s lifting inspection division is certified in the areas of

all lifting tackle, truck-mounted cranes, overhead cranes and aerial mobile elevating work platforms or cherry pickers, with a certification in offshore cranes currently pending: “Dekra Industrial is also certified by the IWH (Institute for Work at Height), which - while not a requirement of lifting inspections per se - certainly equips us to perform lifting inspections at height if the situation at a client’s site requires it,” notes Gerber.

“Our lifting inspections division further elevates Dekra Industrial’s complement of core NDT inspection service offerings. By making use of our current presence on-site with our NDT services, we can expand our offering so it becomes part of our one-stop strategy, to include certifying and testing cranes for lifting tackle. This potentially presents a suitable set of circumstances to extend our services – we are able to leverage our existing skills and presence into new opportunities.”

Future business opportunities and market segments to target include the offshore arena – where the certification is pending – as well as heavy engineering, petrochemical and industrial.

Explains Müller: “This is because, in these industries, some 80 % of companies make use of overhead cranes, truck-mounted cranes and lifting cranes, where Dekra Industrial is already certified, and where these areas offer long-term relationship possibilities.

We have specific existing and new clients in target industries, such as agri-companies, fabricators and engineering workshops, foundries, mines, distribution centres, retailers, distilleries, shipping yards and crane companies. In addition, we will also be expanding and providing the lifting inspections in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Gerber adds: “With regards to Africa, there are significant opportunities in the lifting arena, for example in mining, as well as the oil and gas industries. Across the continent, many companies look at South Africa’s skills and experience with Lifting Machine Entities and Lifting Machine Inspectors with high regard for the qualifications that we adopt and endorse here.

This means that these firms have confidence in using a South African operation, as they know it is properly registered.

We are thus looking to expand our services within sub-Saharan Africa, both from the NDT as well as the lifting inspections perspectives.

Once again, Dekra Industrial’s onestop offering will stand us in good stead. The new division, therefore, offers an ideal opportunity to extend our services within several industries, both current and new,” he concludes.

DEKRA Industrial RSA, +27 (0) 62 402 8783, jp.muller@dekra.com, www.dekrarsa.com Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

15

INDUSTRY NEWS

R&B Timber Group impressed with quieter F-series Loggers A family-owned business, R&B Timber was established in 1952 by Bob Armour. Today this family business operates at a corporate level with his grandson, Simon Armour, as the chief executive officer and the fourth generation being groomed to carry on the proud family legacy.

The company comprises two timber treatment facilities, Harding Treated Timbers in Harding on the KwaZuluNatal South Coast and Natal Forest Products in the inland area of Richmond, which have a combined production capacity of 120 000³ per year. In addition to the company’s own 2 050ha of timber plantations in the Harding area, agreements with timber corporates and private farmers secure timber to supply the factories and meet market demand.

Products include fencing, vineyard and netting poles for the agriculture market. As well as building poles.

They also specialise in utility and fibre poles used for power lines and fibre optic distribution. Chief Operations Officer, Cliff Gilson said: “The national power utility is traditionally one of our largest customers. We supply decent volumes through their electrical contractor network supplying transmission poles. In addition, there is a good element of export, currently around 30%, primarily into Africa as wooden poles are the most cost-effective way to electrify 16

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

developing countries.” Timber is supplied from Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified plantations, production is according to ISO 9001:2015 standards, and finished products are certified by African Certification and Testing (ACT). In specific markets, products carry the HardPole™ mark of quality – a 20-year guarantee that gives R&B Timber Group considerable strength in the market.

A whole lot of Loggers The company’s fleet of 32 Bell Loggers is divided among the plantation operation and the two processing plants. The Loggers in the plants work full eight hours shifts per day, with some units working an extended shift.

Currently, the machines average 8 000³ to 9 000³ of timber per month with the capacity of doing 10 000³.

The machines have proven themselves indispensable at the plants where they offload trucks of raw material, pack raw material into waiting bays, feed the kilns and treatment plants, stockpile the

finished product and load delivery vehicles, either breakbulk or containers.

“Over the years the group has probably owned around 100 Bell Loggers. Since we’ve started buying loggers from Bell, we haven’t introduced any other log handling machinery because we’ve always had a strong relationship with Bell and received good backup. The Bell Logger is a tried and tested machine, and I can confidently say that it’s an industry leader,” said Cliff.

The bulk of the fleet is A-series machines with between 8 000 and 12 000 hours, but some of the older machines have notched up close to 14 000 hours. “We’ve found the A-series to be a strong machine. We’ve been very happy with our Bell 225As but we’ll be phasing them out to be able to standardise on the F-series. The introduction of the 225F has been fantastic. It has set Bell ahead of the pack again,” he added. R&B Timber has adopted a new policy

F-series benefits To get into the news cycle, R&B Timber Group took delivery of three new Bell 225F Loggers in the first half of 2021 and plans to take additional machines before the end of the calendar year. “Hopefully then we’re in cycle and will replace five to six machines per year,” said Cliff.

Commenting on the F-series, he said: “The lower decibel rating is a massive benefit in our factory environment because we have a huge responsibility to the surrounding residents in terms of noise pollution. It allows us to run a night-time loading operation seamlessly.

From a safety point of view, having all the greasing check points at eyelevel means operators don’t need to climb onto the boom, and because they get checked more often. It also helps having oil and fuel at eyelevel too. Fuel consumption seems to be better. The F-series is a more comfortable machine because there

is less vibration through the pedals and the operator can still think at the end of the day due to the reduced noise level.”

R&B Timber’s F-series Loggers have been fitted standard with Matriarch grabs and 16-ply steel belt tyres, which provide better wear in the aggressive plant environment where nails and wire are common hazards. The company has standardised on doors for safety and an anti-theft fuel sieve mechanism.

R&B Timbers makes use of Bell Equipment’s maintenance team during a machine’s warranty period and thereafter their in-house mechanics take over. “At both plants we have our own mechanics who have been on Bell training.

We don’t take short cuts with our machines and use only genuine Bell parts. We run an intricate service management schedule and our machines get serviced on the hour. Our Loggers work hard in a dusty environment, especially in the winter months, but taking the conditions into consideration and our inhouse maintenance team being disciplined about servicing we have very few unexpected costs when maintaining these machines.

We get a good life span, and they hold their value, which makes buying a new machine substantially easier.”

B-BBEE and community upliftment He adds that Bell Equipment Sales South Africa’s Level 1 B-BBEE status had a “massive bearing” on the company’s choice of supplier.

“Preferential procurement has a huge bearing on our scorecard.

Eskom is a huge customer and there is no way that we can maintain our scorecard if we don’t purchase from Level 1 suppliers, especially those with whom we have a substantial spend.” R&B Timber is the single largest employer in the Harding and Richmond districts with about 600 staff. A further 300 to 400 people are indirectly employed through numerous stump-to-mill harvesting contracts. As a proudly South African company, it supports local businesses wherever possible and has its own extensive social responsibility programme from assisting staff with school fees to skills development, enterprise development and numerous community outreach initiatives.

“We try to give back wherever we can because we see the benefit, especially operating out of small towns and rural areas where there is a lack of skills and general exposure. As such, we appreciate everything that Bell does to support small communities by engaging with growers and supporting community and sporting events, like farmers days and golf days. We are genuinely proud to be partners with Bell.” It is evident that R&B Timber Group is living up to its value system termed HEART, by striving towards honour, excellence, accountability, respect and trust. In this way, they ensure their purpose is strongly acclaimed and that they can significantly impact the lives of all stakeholders.

Bell Equipment, +27 (0) 11 928 9846, susanmy@bell.co.za, www.bellequipment.com

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

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INDUSTRY NEWS

of replacing Loggers every five or six years or between 11 000 and 12 000 hours rather than the previous policy of five years or 10 000 hours.

“We believe at 12 000 hours a machine is still holding good value and is in good condition. It’s a sellable machine but at that age, it’s time to move the unit to a less intensive operation, like loading ad hoc trucks on depots. We know these machines can run far longer but we’ve found in our arduous operation that at 12 000 hours we start seeing metal fatigue, so it’s not just about having to replace engines and wheel motors.”

FORKLIFT

Why forklift training achieves a better ROI, beyond just safety factors Forklift training is an essential and legal requirement for every business where its employees operate forklifts and counterbalance forklifts.

Besides the need to comply with occupational health and safety regulations, investing in forklift training helps businesses achieve a higher return on investment beyond just the safety factor.

In this article, we’ll explore what the potential risks to companies are when they do not invest in forklift training and the potential impact

that it has on a business bottom line. The oppositive effect, reward and benefit are highlighted for those companies who do invest in forklift training. By the end of this article, you’ll be more informed to make decisions that are best for your business.

Legal obligation and Compliance Every business that operates plant

and machinery must comply with The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993 (“OHSA”).

Businesses that fail to comply open themselves up to significant risks including receiving fines and penalties ranging from R50,000 to R100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years for non-compliance.

The OHSA exists for two core reasons: • Protect the health and safety of people at work in connection with the use of plants and machinery; • Protect people other than those of your employees against hazards and risks to their health and safety arising out of activities by people at work.

Businesses using forklifts and other material handling equipment must ensure that their workforce has safe environments to work in and as such are required to maintain safe work systems, plants and machinery. Employees are required to be informed of safety and health risks when operating heavy lifting equipment and other operating

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Adequate supervision is to be conducted at set intervals to ensure that your business and every single employee complies with the provisions and requirements set out by OHSA. This mitigates the risks to your employees’ health and lives, including those people who are exposed to the activities of your employees and business.

In today’s day and age safeguarding, the longevity and risk to your business would mean ensuring you’re your business and workforce comply with the relevant legislative requirements. A management decision to bypass this compliance would mean accepting the consequences of the risk.

Increased efficiency & productivity Every business requires a highperforming and efficient workforce that helps to drive the success of the business. When products, systems and procedures are effectively utilized, this increases the productivity within a business enabling it to generate additional revenue whilst using the same or fewer resources.

Often decreased or poor productivity can be traced back to lack of employee training, ineffective management and supervision, to an ineffective organizational structure where skills and talents are not optimally utilized to workplace stress and behaviours.

For businesses that invest in regular forklift, training benefits include increasing worker skills; becoming aware of and taking advantage of technological advances, to improving management and supervision methods and practices that allow it to improve productivity levels within the workplace. Our forklift training equips managers, supervisors, operators to general employees with knowledge and the skills so that the right people are identified and employed to do the job; know when and how products and machinery are to be operated,

managed and maintained to reduce workplace stress and promote optimal performance output and more.

Operating with old technology to a workforce that is not continuously upskilled leads to hurting your business.

Reduced claims relating to accidents, injuries and death Injuries and death occur when employees are not aware and/or do not understand the health and safety risks associated with their day-to-day operational work, which includes not having an in-depth understanding of the machinery or systems that they operate, and the risks associated therewith to their health and safety. Not every worker will handle heavy lifting or material handling equipment such as a forklift but may be exposed by being in the same environment as the machinery and thereby exposed to health and safety risks.

All employees need to be informed and educated.

Companies investing and encouraging a safety culture to decrease the opportunities for accidents, injuries, and death, whereas those where health and safety is not a top priority open themselves up to employment compensation claims from staff and/or their families as set out under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (No 130 of 1993). These costs can be significant depending on the claim which could range from temporary to permanent disability, medical expenses, other compensation, and death claims.

Compensation is always worked out as a percentage of the wage the worker was earning at the time that the injury, disease or death was diagnosed. Depending on the number of incidents and personnel involved, this could amount to significant costs that impact the business bottom line.

At EIE Group, our forklift training focuses on educating your employees of potential the potential accidents, injuries and deaths that occur due to the incorrect operation and handling

of material handling equipment, to the health risks when exposed and/or operating material handling equipment. We provide your supervisors with an in-depth understanding of what risk factors need to be monitored to safeguard and mitigate risk to personnel as well as the business.

Costs that are harder to calculate When accidents, injuries and death happen in the workplace, this has a direct impact on your workers’ morale. When employees are demotivated, this leads to increased absenteeism, employee turnover and disengaged workers impacting productivity including profitability levels. Investing in forklift and other material handling training along with implementing other strategies to boost employee morale contributes towards creating a positive environment and retaining employees and lowering costs that impact the bottom line.

More business growth due to a positive brand reputation A favourable business reputation drives business revenue and growth. So, what is the impact and costs of a damaged reputation due to poor safety practices? This would be difficult to calculate until such time that an event occurs. The impact can be significant having a direct impact on your bottom line and resulting in having to implement additional strategies to recover financial loss and rebuild your business reputation.

Customers are more confident and comforted to trade with businesses that have a good reputation and demonstrate their commitment and value to safety EIE Group delivers Forklift Training & More As a leader in industrial heavy lifting and material handling equipment in South Africa, EIE Group together with our business divisions, Toyota Forklift and 600SA offer accredited forklift training to forklift driver training via our training academy.

EIE Group, +27 (0) 11 395 0600, info@eiegroup.co.za, www.eiegroup.co.za Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

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FORKLIFT

systems thus you are required to provide them with adequate information, clear instructions as well as invest in ongoing and frequent training.

FORKLIFT

Shumani supplies 35 electric forklifts to major beverage manufacturer

A major beverage manufacturer has been supplied with 35 Doosan B35X-7 electric forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries, in addition to chargers,

by Shumani Industrial Equipment.

The supplier continues to make inroads into the burgeoning foodand-beverage sector, comments MD Victor Nemukula.

This brings the total number of forklifts supplied this year alone to about 50, with 192 new units and 34 used machines to date.

These outright purchases are accompanied by maintenance contracts up to 18 000 hours, which equates to five to six years.

“It is longstanding client relationships such as these that have stood us in good stead since we were established in 2015, and that have been responsible for our ongoing growth,” stresses Nemukula.

“Key customers continue to be an important focus as they invariably have long-term contracts that take advantage of the full range of backup and technical support service we are able to offer.”

Shumani has a full complement of technicians, most of whom are based at its client sites. These technicians provide maintenance on customer equipment, ensuring that Shumani delivers a guaranteed uptime of 95% for maximum productivity.

In terms of modifications to the forklifts supplied, a 900 mm insert has been added to enable the operators to see over the pallets that they are transporting.

These 7-Series four-wheel electric counterbalanced forklift trucks from Doosan feature powerful performance and an ergonomically designed operator compartment that allows the operator to stay in complete control at all times, thereby improving productivity and reducing stress and fatigue.

The operator compartment offers optimal visibility and the latest design in ergonomic hydraulic

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controls. Thanks to an improved durable design and an additional stability system, Doosan’s 7-Series exceeds the highest standards for safe operation. Extended maintenance intervals and advanced technology components reduce overall maintenance costs.

Now the largest black-owned and managed industrial equipment supplier in South Africa, Shumani is an appointed dealer for all Goscor Group companies that import industrial equipment for the South African market. It supplies worldclass equipment across the breadth of the industrial and construction sectors.

Brands on offer include worldleading names like Bendi, Crown, Kalmar and Doosan in the forklift market. Construction equipment brands include Bobcat, Sany, HPower, Weima, Luthian, Ozen and Sullair. In the cleaning equipment market segment, Shumani offers Tennant, Genie, Sentinel and HighPoint.

Shumani Industrial Equipment, +27 (0) 79 873 9163, vnemukula@shumani-industrial.co.za, www.shumani-industrial.co.za

WHEELED LOAD SKATES

Enerpac introduces wheeled load skates for factory moves up to 70 tons

Industrial movers have a new option for moving machines and equipment in restricted spaces. The Enerpac MLS-Series wheeled load skates are a safe and stable option for machinery relocation and installation in a wide range of individual load skate capacities from 3 to 35 tons.

When it comes to safety, the MLS-Series features a stable, wide footprint with padded tops for a non-slip surface. Limited space and minimal headroom are typical challenges when moving equipment. The MLS-Series is compact. Its low-height design is ideal for minimal lift heights and to accommodate limited clearance above loads. It’s also versatile.

The MLSS models provide good directional movement.

Meanwhile, the MLSR models feature 360-degree movement ideal for tight spaces. The easyto-rotate turntable on MLSF models allows enhanced load manoeuvrability. Enerpac MLSSeries Load Skates feature rugged

and reliable bearings for low rolling resistance and durability and high-quality wheels (nylon - MLSR, polyurethane/optional nylon - MLSF/MLSD) for stability and damage prevention to finished floors.

Skate Sets increase Load Capacity The capacity of individual load skates ranges up to 35 tons.

Knowing the weight of the load ensures the correct skates configuration.

Enerpac can supply pre-configured sets with capacities available from 6 to 70 tons. As an example, if the load weighs 70 tons and a skate set is being used the load will be shared between the front and rear

load skates. In this instance, the front and rear skates must have the capacity to handle a minimum of 35 tons each. If requirements change extra modules and accessories are available to widen the scope for load moving jobs, for example for different sized loads, or for loads where the weight is not distributed equally.

For ease of use, the MLSSeries wheeled load skates are configurable with towable or manual connecting bars and handles, depending upon the model.

Enerpac, +27 (0) 12 940 0656, neil.watson@enerpac.com, www.enerpac.com

ST Crane Hire specialises in: • Mobile Crane Hire • Crawler Crane Hire • Abnormal transport • Rigging JHB 082 292 1148 Witbank 082 292 1147

Port Elizabeth 071 883 7921 www.stcranehire.co.za Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

21

INSPECTIONS

Inspection, repair, maintenance is bread-and-butter work for Skyriders

What do a leisure complex, a 50-storey skyscraper and shopping centre and a major food-processing plant have in common? These are all unusual projects where leading rope access specialist Skyriders Access Specialists (Pty) Ltd. was called upon to carry out a range of inspection, repair and maintenance services.

“This is a major growth area for us, especially as ordinary maintenance schedules still have to be adhered for maximum productivity and efficiency, despite the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” comments Marketing Manager Mike Zinn.

Skyriders can field small, flexible and dynamic teams that can offer a range of services while being fully compliant with all Covid-19 regulations. “Building a massive scaffold structure takes considerable labour, while rope access only requires a small team.

The same applies to our drone department, where a two-person team can visually inspect an entire furnace area of a boiler without the need for scaffolding,” notes Zinn.

While the Montecasino leisure complex has its maintenance team and specialised contractors, it sometimes encounters specific issues that require work-at-height and confined-space experience, which is where Skyriders’ expertise is best put to use.

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Recent work it undertook at Montecasino was to replace an anchor system on a bell tower used to suspend advertising banners.

Due to wear-and-tear, some of the anchors had started to come loose and the whole system, therefore, had to be inspected for safety reasons and to mitigate any risk.

Rope access meant that this could be done simply without the need for any extensive scaffolding.

even carried out general routine cleaning in inaccessible areas at a major food-processing plant. A sixperson team oversaw the fast-track project over two days, deploying high-pressure washers using foodsafe detergent to adhere to the strict hygiene and health and safety standards of the food and beverage industry.

A particularly tall feather in Skyriders’ cap was its work at the Carlton Centre in downtown Johannesburg on behalf of a third party tasked to carry out load testing on four winches in the food court area. However, the inaccessibility of the winches posed a major challenge, and subsequently, the company partnered with Skyriders to provide its rope-access expertise.

Skyriders offers a variety of rope-access aided services to numerous industries, such as power generation, petrochemical, mining, heavy industry and facilities management. These services include non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection, concrete inspection, maintenance and repairs, application of coating systems, work at height safety systems, welding, and confined space rescue and standby, to name but a few.

Often called upon to conduct maintenance, repair and inspection services at large-scale industrial structures such as smokestacks and petrochemical tanks, Skyriders has

Skyriders (Pty) Ltd, +27 (0) 11 312 1418, mike@ropeaccess.co.za, www.ropeaccess.co.za

Need a full solution provider, for all your light industrial requirements?

EAZI DOES IT.

Contact us for all your Work-at-Height and Material Handling Solutions.

South Africa +27 86 100 3294 Mozambique +258 87 211 5809 Namibia +264 81 166 6031 Zambia +27 79 490 0775 Zimbabwe +263 78 722 8781

www.eazi.co.za | www.eaziafrica.com |

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Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

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Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

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CONTAINER HANDLERS

Heavy lift raises Yellow Jersey Logistics to new heights Heavy Lift, a business division of EIE Group that specialises in the supply of premium material, port and container equipment, has delivered two Konecranes Liftace SMV 4532 TCE5 reach stackers to Yellow Jersey Logistics, a full-service transportation company.

According to Lenny Naidoo, at Heavy Lift, Yellow Jersey Logistics needed to replace its existing lifting equipment to ensure greater levels of productivity and efficiency. Heavy Lift’s relationship with Yellow Jersey Logistics has spanned some 10 years, and given their expectation and demand for the highest levels of service and operational excellence, we were called on to deliver two of our premier Konecranes Liftace SMV 4532 TCE5 reach stackers,” he says. “The units offer unsurpassed reliability and performance, coupled with technological innovations to ensure operational longevity.”

The reach stackers feature Konecranes’ state-of-the-art TRUCONNECT suite of remote service products that drive improvements in operational safety and productivity. Its remote monitoring feature allows operators to track the real-time usage of the truck and collects vital information pertaining to the truck’s condition from the various control systems and sensors.

Its modern and durable lifting spreader features a top lift 26

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

for 20/40ft containers, +105/360-degree rotation, +/- 800mm total side shift, four lift eyes for sling cargo, and mechanical pile slope (MPS ±2 degrees). In addition, the truck’s smart load-sensing hydraulics have been specially designed to sense the weight of the load and adapt lifting power accordingly. This means that the truck only provides maximum power when required, resulting in fuel savings and greatly reduced emissions and noise.

“The OPTIMA cabin is driverfocused and spacious, ensuring all controls are within easy reach,” adds Naidoo. “It’s large, lowered windows with no corner posts, a thin but strong roof cross-member and curved panels, allows for excellent range of vision.”

The reach stacker’s 7” touch screen allows operators to easily monitor all vital components and functions, while the integrated CanBus technology allows for increased engine and transmission reliability as well as hydraulic and joystick control. Yellow Jersey Logistics’ success comes from its ability to offer exceptional service and

solutions to its customers, and as such, it demands the same level of commitment and high standards when dealing with its equipment suppliers.

“We currently make use of four container handlers from Heavy Lift at our branches in Durban and Johannesburg,” explains Hardus Britz, Intermodal Director at Yellow Jersey Logistics. “The build quality and reliability of the equipment is exceptional, and coupled with first-class support means minimal downtime.”

“It is important for us to find a supplier that takes the time to understand our business. Not having our own mechanics onsite sometimes comes with its problems, but we can always be assured that the Heavy Lift team are on standby to assist us at any given time. We view them not only a supplier, but an integral part of the Yellow Jersey Logistics team,” he concludes.

EIE Group, +27 (0) 11 395 0600, info@eiegroup.co.za, www.eiegroup.co.za

BEAM CLAMPS

Southern Africa’s largest crane company Manufacturers of EOT Cranes, Hoist and Accessories Servicing, Maintaining, Load Testing and refurbishing of all makes of lifting equipment Servicing all sub-Saharan African countries

Cranes + Hoists + Services + Spares + Training

www.morris.co.za sales@morris.co.za +27 011 748 1000

ENERGY CHAINS

Extending the life of long-travel energy chains New components have been developed for polymer energy chains that can easily be installed to extend their service life in long-travel applications in a wide range of applications.

The energy chains, manufactured by the world’s foremost producer of polymer energy chains, igus, are used extensively within the country’s ports, logistics centres, mines and other industries where they can safely guide cables and hoses to reduce damage and abrasion, as well as provide a neat and safe environment around the equipment. The company’s carefully engineered polymer energy chains have become the standard for energy chains used in industry and the company’s E4.1 energy chain system is also widely used in longtravel applications.

The addition of advanced new glide pads and roller chain links for quick retrofitting now enables users

to expand the service life of the chains quickly and cost-effectively, especially where they are used in abrasive environments, at very high speeds or extreme travel lengths. Igus South Africa managing director, Ian Hewat, says more than 25,000 igus energy chains move over long distances every year, whether indoor or outdoor cranes, mobile cranes, storage retrieval units CNC applications, tripper cars, linear robots, Ship-To-Shore cranes, storage and retrieval units or linear robots. In all these areas of application, customers worldwide rely on the tough and modular E4.1 energy chain system from igus.

Where “The energy supply system has an

undercut design and thus a high torsional rigidity. It is quiet and variable in heights and widths. In 90 per cent of gliding applications, the E4.1 is the universal solution.

To extend the service life of the energy chain, especially in abrasive environments, igus has now introduced glide pads with which the chain can be easily upgraded.

The wear-optimised sliding elements can be easily placed on the chain links in the inner radius.

They are made of a highly abrasionresistant igumid polymer.

“Rollers on the new igus energy chains reduce the push/pull forces on long travels and ensure a significantly longer service life of the energy supply system. Their use is particularly worthwhile at high speeds of up to 10m/s or very long travels where the roller chain links reduce the drive power by up to 37 per cent, saving a significant amount of energy. The new roller chain links and glide pads provide a customised energy supply system for every special application from 50mm to 1km travel.

igus South Africa, +27 (0) 11 312 1848, ihewat@igus.de, www.igus.co.za 28

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

ATS Mining Rigga Hoists Range 2 Ton - 8 Ton Mining Rigging/ Winch Moving / Wire Mesh Lacing

ATS Industrial Applications Range 3 Ton - 20 Ton

ATS Air Powered Beam Crawls 1 Ton - 125 Ton

ATS Hydraulic Hoists Ultra Low Headroom 1 Ton - 125 Ton

ATS Ultra Low Headroom Hoists 1- 6 Ton

ATS Ultra Low Headroom Hoists 10 Ton -125 Ton

ATS Ulta Low Headroom Manual Hoists 2- 20 Ton Confined Space Lifting

ATS Rack & Pinion Drive Hoists Air or Manual 2-5 Ton

ATS Air Winches 1- 3 Ton

ATS 2000 (PTY) LTD +27 (0) 11 887 2605 info@ats2000.co.za www.ats2000.co.za

ATS Industrial Air Hoists 16 Ton - 125 Ton

ATS 250 Ton BOP Hoist System, Pneumatic or Hydraulic Hoists Oil & Gas Industry ATEX Rated

INDUSTRY NEWS

ATS 2000 - Leading Heavy Duty Pneumatic Equipment Manufacturers

ATS Low Headroom Air Hoists 0,25 Ton - 6 Ton

ATS Articulated Mono Beam Air Hoists Manufacturing & Production Lines

ATS Beam Trolleys Up to 20 Ton Plain or Geared

ATS Beam Clamps Up to 32 Ton Universal Clamps Up to 20 Ton

Our Hoists comply with the following Internationally recognised standards SANS1638 ASME B30.16 ABS CDS API 7K DNVGL-ST-0377 NORSOK R-002 EN14492-2

ATEX Made in South Africa

Since 1976

ATS2000 (Pty) Ltd , a South African Manufacturer since 1976 of Pneumatic Hoists, Pumps & Saws. The business is 51% black owned. All products are designed, manufactured tested and certified to international standards. Employing 170 people at the Wynberg - Sandton factory - With a team of hands-on qualified engineers, meeting the demanding standards required supplying the Mining, Oil & Gas Sector and Exporting more than 30 countries around the world “Our team is waiting to meet your expectations”

OVERHEAD CRANE

Steel shortage a bonanza for some South Africa’s current steel shortage is compounding an already serious obstacle to the efficient functioning of the subcontinent’s overhead crane market: declining service footprints.

Currently, only Condra has both the capability to manufacture and enough steel with which to do it.

By contrast, other manufacturers are suffering material shortages exacerbated by a declining capability in terms of geographic reach, further lengthening lead times for this type of machinery.

Condra’s order book is benefiting, with the company continuing on-time execution of orders at its factories in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Typical of these is one for a widespan overhead crane secured by Cape Town subsidiary BB Cranes working in close cooperation with structural steel company 30

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

Even though BB Cranes secured the Dolphin Offshore Chandling contract from Cape Town, Condra is executing manufacture at its Johannesburg works to reduce shipping costs.

Condra’s crane for this workshop will be an overhead electric overhead travelling machine with a span of almost 30 metres, allowing the full floor area to be serviced.

The order was placed in mid-August for delivery end of November.

The crane will work to maintain the equipment brought in by Dolphin from oil exploration vessels and offshore oil and gas extraction platforms.

During the tender phase of the contract, Condra proposed that the crane lifting height be maximised to 9,1 metres – almost the full height of the workshop walls – by designing girders with angled ends to match the slope of the workshop roof.

Such a design allows the crane to be mounted with much of the machine’s volume-occupying unused space within the roof itself.

Commenting on South Africa’s current steel shortage, Condra’s managing director Marc Kleiner said that the situation was compounding difficulties in the market.

“Right now, we have an advantage because we have steel stocks, including essential square-bar,” he said.

“But the steel supply situation for all manufacturers is likely to ease come November.”

Kleiner cautioned that service footprints beyond South Africa would nevertheless remain a problem for most companies:

“Condra is the only company to increase service levels in central and southern Africa.”

“Other participants are hindered because their manufacturing and staff levels have been negatively affected by the overall economic climate.”

In recent months, Condra has captured an increasing share of the sub-Saharan market for cranes and hoists, with notable recent orders from Cameroon, DRC, Angola, Botswana and Mozambique.

The company’s product lines of cranes, hoists and component sub-assemblies continue to enjoy a reputation for the lowest overall lifetime cost under harsh operating conditions.

Condra, +27 (0) 11 776 6000, sales@condra.co.za, www.condra.co.za

Crane capacity will be 10 tons.

There will be variable speed drives on the hoist and the long- and cross-travels, and control will be by the pendant.

Besides their angled ends, the 28,7-metre long twin girders have been designed with splices to comply with regulatory restrictions on the road between Johannesburg and Luanda, where load lengths cannot exceed 18 metres because of curves.

Splice designs have become a common feature among Condra’s export orders.

For the Dolphin Offshore Chandling crane, steel plates welded eccentrically to the four inside faces of the male box girder will result in a friction grip to reinforce girder strength and integrity beyond that delivered by the splice bolts alone.

An internal box insert traversing the splice will deliver additional strength and rigidity, resulting in an almost seamless splice with a projected girder life over 20 years.

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

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OVERHEAD CRANE

Vlottenburg Engineering. The customer, Dolphin Offshore Chandling, has placed an order on Vlottenburg Engineering for a new maintenance workshop in the Angolan port of Luanda.

EOT CRANES

Automation ready below the hook grab for steel, aluminum

our grab is the hands. They act in concert to position the crane within millimetres of the load, engage the grab to the load, and carry it to a destination based on the work to be performed on the coil, the type of steel, and the size.

“In the past it was often up to the crane builder to agree with the automation integrator and come up with a custom package for the end user. This model involved a lot of silos and throwing designs over the wall for rework.

It was time consuming and less repeatable. About a year ago, we were presented with a few potential projects and decided to collaborate.”

One of these partners, Edgardo La Bruna, of Janus Automation, notes that the steel and aluminium handling marketplace has reached an automation tipping point, and he used the latest show, staged by the leading association body for mill cranes, as a barometer.

He said: “It was the first show where an important portion of the activity was related to automation. The percentage of new crane installations that require automation is of course growing all the time, but we’re seeing more demand for retrofits—and requests for cranes to be able to be easily converted for more automation in future.”

Airpes has led the collaborative design of a grab for handling steel or aluminium coils in semi- and fully-automated electric overhead travelling (EOT) crane applications.

The automation-ready grab, which will typically be utilized to lift 25- to 60-ton coils, is a standard product but can be adapted to suit end users' requirements. Currently, two 30-ton and two 25-ton grabs are in production, but numerous others are under offer. Compatible with any crane in the steel and aluminium sectors, it can be installed as a retrofit or part of a new build.

example, covers continuous severe service cranes, capable of handling loads approaching a rated capacity throughout their life.

In semi-automatic applications, some features assist the operator but allow more manual control; fully-automated cranes, useful in demanding environments like metals, are programmed to repeat the lifting process without manual input.

The system meets Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) duty classification D, E, or F. CMAA Class F, for

Tad Dunville, general manager at Airpes Americas, said: "The automation system is like the brain, the hoist is the heart, and

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“The automation-ready grab is designed to be a standard product that meets most of the needs of any automated crane with easily serviceable components.”

Dunville added: “The concept of automation-ready is here to stay.

Below-the-hook equipment is a critical component in any semi- or fully-automated material handling system; problems in this area will dramatically impact a project or production process.”

“Previously, there was no steel coil grab formally designed for automation applications—most were modified after delivery by the next person in the value chain.

By realizing that designing for automation and involving engineers from various stakeholders, we came up with something that presents a product that easily meets expectations and, importantly,

EOT CRANES

cuts down significantly on reengineering and modification by the integrators and crane builders.”

The automation-ready grab can be adapted—to a rigid mast crane, a wire rope hoist, an existing crane, in various capacities and duty cycles—but users get the same package of components that ensure repeatability and serviceability.

A specific hook and lower block package can be retrofitted to the existing crane or built new. This contributes to stability, the accuracy of positioning, and the anti-sway design.

Dunville said: “We can land a coil not just in a fixed point like a storage rack or a de-coiler, but also on a truck or railcar. That’s a big deal because trucks and railcars have different configurations, wheelbases, deck heights, and are positioned differently every time.”

“We can account for that and still land the coil perfectly. The computer knows the most optimal path, never takes a smoke break, and never calls in sick.

“Safety is enhanced because it is now possible to completely process and ship a coil without touching it.

Some of our customers have found that safety really pays.”

“In other words, by eliminating hand contact with coils, they have literally stopped injuries to hands and fingers that were costing millions.”

The automation-ready grab will be provided and serviced by Airpes’s existing channel partners and dealer representatives.

Airpes, airpes@airpes.com, www.airpes.com

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

33

ONSHORE WIND CRANES

New onshore wind crane takes a step closer to reality

As developers chase stronger flows, onshore wind hub heights are growing beyond the reach of conventional crawler cranes. Mammoet’s new WTA lifting system allows theoretically infinite hub heights and paves the way towards emissions-free turbine erection.

The WTA assembles wind turbine generators by attaching directly to the tower itself, using a series of clamps to self-assemble and then climb to each lift location. It assembles tower sections, hubs and nacelles, and has a capacity of 150 tons.

Its innovative concept means that the WTA can keep working when conventional crawler cranes can’t.

It operates in wind speeds up to 20m/s, reducing downtime during construction and extending the

build season. As the WTA has a significantly reduced footprint and is much smaller and lighter than any type of crawler crane, it actively lowers the need for groundwork on site. Pads can be smaller, and ground pressure requirements are lessened - maxing out at the 15t/m2 typically needed for assist cranes.

The system’s small size means quicker and more cost-effective mobilization. While a conventional crawler crane can require up to 50

truckloads to reach the site, the WTA gets there with just nine.

With no boom laydown requirement, much fewer components and a lower total weight, the WTA are also faster from pad to pad.

Relocation time is reduced by approximately 50%, compared to using crawler cranes. It, therefore, shaves weeks off wind farm construction schedules.

Powered entirely by electricity, it also opens the door for a 100% emissions-free journey from factory to the first Megawatt – with transport to site via electric or hydrogen-powered truck, on-site manoeuvres via ePPU-enhanced SPMT and carbon-free WTA lifting.

The WTA system is now designready and can be ready to enter the market during Q2 2023.

Mammoet, +27 (0) 11 882 4499, martijn.kuipers@mammoet.com, www.mammoet.com 34

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

BRIDGE CRANES

Curtain wall manufacturer reduces manual lifting and streamlines production Woodbridge Glass and Werner Systems design, build, engineer, fabricate, assemble, glaze, and install unitized curtain wall systems for building façades.

Woodbridge Glass performs the installation, and Werner Systems performs the design, fabrication, and all other related processes in-house. Werner Systems also manufactures its composite and plate panels, as well as any structural embeds required for their systems. At the Werner Systems manufacturing plant, components are moved throughout the facility to construct the unitized panels.

To assemble the panels, heavy materials must be moved between workstations. For a long time, Werner Systems moved the parts manually. Groups of four to six workers were required to lift each unit and move it from station to station throughout the plant.

However, moving the heavy parts and components manually was inefficient and unproductive, as it was slow and took workers from more useful tasks. It was also unsafe since strains from overexertion were always possible.

To improve the operations, several jib cranes were installed to lift and move the heaviest components.

When Werner Systems moved into a new plant, a new solution was required. Managers at the new plant worked with Spanco dealers at Facilities Engineering, a material handling solutions provider based in Anaheim, California, to find the best

solution for their application.

Solution To provide material handling capability for their unitized panel assembly, Werner Systems purchased a series of Spanco Freestanding Workstation Bridge Cranes. These Spanco Workstation Bridge Cranes serve several different areas and multiple steps of the manufacturing process. In one location, Spanco Workstation Bridge Cranes assist workers in placing glass panes into the assembled frames. The easy movement provided by the low-friction polyamide wheels allows workers to move and place the large panes precisely. In another location, workers use additional workstation bridge cranes to complete the final phase of assembly and transfer the unitized panels to the shipping department.

Most recently, they have installed two new Spanco Freestanding Workstation Bridge Cranes, one with 106-foot runways and the other with 46-foot runways. Both cranes have a trolley-clevis height of 17 feet, a bridge span of 32 feet, and a capacity of 4,000 pounds.

With the two newest cranes, Woodbridge Glass/Werner Systems uses a total of eight Spanco systems throughout their facility.

Impact Steve Siciliani, a principal owner of Woodbridge Glass and Werner Systems, told us that the Spanco Workstation Bridge Cranes have been crucial to improving their operations. The cranes can lift and move the components and fabricated panels safely without damage. They also relieve workers from manual lifting, which reduces the risk of injuries. Steve also explained that the competitive pricing, short lead times, and easy installation allowed them to implement their new material handling operation quickly. He told us that the workers using the Spanco systems love the ease of use, which makes the entire material handling process more efficient than before.

Steve also told us that Woodbridge Glass/Werner Systems is likely to utilize additional Spanco equipment in the future: “as the economy grows, we are going to expand our operations, and I will no doubt be purchasing more Spanco Bridge Cranes.” With the cranes handling the heavy lifting, workers can produce more units with less effort, allowing the company to boost overall productivity.

Spanco, info@spanco.com, www.spanco.com Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

35

MOBILE HARBOUR CRANES

Mobile harbour cranes with the electric drive in high demand In the 2021 sales year, demand for Liebherr mobile harbour cranes with an e-drive has risen sharply. Compared to 2019, the number of units equipped with an electric motor has even doubled.

Liebherr has been successfully using a hybrid drive concept consisting of a diesel engine and an electric drive for the mobile harbour cranes product segment for over 20 years.

In addition to emission-free handling, the benefits of e-drive include cost savings and less maintenance.

Rostock, November 2021 Electrification is entering a new market phase. A significant shift in focus for electrified cranes can be observed.

Liebherr has been offering a hybrid drive concept consisting of a diesel

engine and an electric motor for its maritime mobile harbour cranes for over 20 years.

The diesel engine is used exclusively for moving the crane along the quayside.

As soon as the crane has reached the desired position, the machine is connected to the local power grid by cable. The actual handling of goods is thus possible without emissions.

If required, during operation with an electric drive, the energy recovered from the lowering can be fed into the local power grid.

In this way, the operational cost of electrically driven cargo handling can be reduced even further.

Hydrostatic drive concept All Liebherr mobile harbour cranes are equipped with the hydrostatic drive concept widely used in the Liebherr Group.

The principle is based on the main drive that supplies power to pumps and a hydraulic transfer gearbox.

The main drive can be a diesel engine or an electric motor.

All energy-consuming movements are connected to a closed hydraulic

36

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

circuit and are fed by it when required.

Closed hydraulic loops are used for all main functions such as hoisting, slewing, and luffing. The benefits of the hydrostatic drive are extremely precise control, a minimum number and size of components, and the standard use of reverse power.

Compared to other drive systems in the market, this innovative drive principle generally saves diesel or energy during crane operation and enables sustainable and efficient operation.

Strong increase in demand This type of hybrid drive concept has been used successfully for many years.

It is noticeable that the demand for electric motors with power from the local electricity grid has increased enormously in the last 2 years. Compared to 2019, the demand for LHM cranes with an e-drive has doubled. I n the meantime, more than a third of all Liebherr mobile harbour crane orders have an e-drive installed and the trend is rising.

Retrofitting electric drives is also

MOBILE HARBOUR CRANES

possible and is increasingly being used by mobile harbour crane customers.

Various e-drive options For the emission-free operation of the LHM, it can be connected to a low-voltage network from 400 volts or a high-voltage network up to 20 kV. In the case of a high-voltage supply, this is converted into low voltage via a transformer mounted on the undercarriage, so that only low voltage is present in the crane itself.

Liebherr offers the option of a cable reeling drum for the safe movement of the crane with the cable.

Cable lengths of between 70 metres and 200 metres can be accommodated, depending on the voltage present at the feed point.

This ensures emission-free electrical travel of the crane along the quayside, as well as e-powered lifting.

Liebherr Africa, +27 (0) 11 365 2000, info.laf@liebherr.com, www.liebherr.com

Mechanical and Hydraulic Fleet Maintenance Solution

SPECIALISE IN HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE REPAIRS • Forklift • Truck mounted crane • Yellow plant • Mobile crane • Aerial Platform / Cherry Picker WASTE COMPACTOR REPAIRS (REFUGE TRUCK) AND REFURBISHMENT AND METAL FABRICATION

LOAD TESTING OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Levi’s Trio Engineering was founded in 2008 on vision of a successful intimate business fine-tuned to meet the engineering and service requirements as well as a comprehensive fleet maintenance solution to our valued clients.

We are agents for ODF products with a range of hydraulic components, including gear and piston pumps, hydraulic control valves, hydraulic fittings, and hydraulic system solution.

MECHANICAL AND HYDRAULIC HOSE BREAKDOWN 24/7

Providing excellent service, exceptional quality, competitive prices, and timeless delivery.

LME 195 & B-BBEE LEVEL 2

GENERAL ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING / REPAIRS OF HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS PO Box 11585, Randhart, 1457

66 Jacoba Street, Alberton North

011 907 9258

086 742 9410

admin@levistrio.co.za

www.levistrio.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

37

TOWER CRANES

Out in the cold

selected steel mills must exceed the requirements of regional certification and be verified through the Manitowoc global supplier audit system.

Advanced torque and loading technology Cement, sand, steel and other site materials come in all different weights and sizes and won’t always be accurately measured ahead of lifting. The challenge of moving these materials is then often exacerbated by high winds. This is where Potain’s advanced torque and load-limiting technology plays an important role.

The torque limiter on Potain tower cranes prevents them from lifting or moving the load forward when the specified tilting torque is exceeded. This prevents damage due to excessive torque during the operation. In addition, Potain’s load-limiting device protects the hoist mechanism from overloading and prevents damage to the wire rope.

Five ways Manitowoc’s advanced engineering design helps Potain cranes thrive in extreme temperatures.

One of the biggest threats to the progress of construction projects is extreme weather and its damaging impact on on-site equipment, including cranes.

This is especially true of winter weather where temperatures can fall as low as -20˚C in some parts of the world.

To operate in such an environment, it's important to ensure that equipment is high quality, well maintained and able to withstand high winds and sub-zero temperatures.

Here we look at five ways Potain’s top-quality engineering optimizes 38

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

crane efficiency in cold weather.

High-quality steel A tower crane's main metal structure is steel; the jib, tower top, turntable, cap, balance arm and underframe all comprise metal materials produced by welding.

High specification steel is essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of these structural components and provide a high level of resistance to freezing temperatures.

Potain cranes are produced from low-alloy high-strength industrial steel of the highest grades. Before any steel can be supplied to Manitowoc for use in Potain cranes,

Better steel design Seamless round steel designs, as seen in the jib sections of Potain cranes, are scientifically proven to offer more reliable performance than steel sections with angles.

The circular design allows the jib to withstand extreme forces and tension.

Comprehensive testing All Potain crane designs undergo a rigorous testing process at our Product Verification Centers where they are exposed to various workload stresses. This includes a controlled corrosion test environment along with a temperature and humidity chamber to constantly improve crane design for all weather conditions, including extreme cold.

High-quality components Faulty crane components may not always be spotted immediately, especially those in the air on a tower crane. Wire rope damage, brake failure, bolt and pin connection failure and weld cracking can all cause operational faults and delay progress on the Jobsite. Connector corrosion is

TOWER CRANES

one of the major hidden dangers on sites in extreme weather, which is why Potain prides itself on producing high specification components and welding. By using a range of top-specification welding and metal production technology, including ESAB plasma cutting equipment and high precision CNC machinery, Potain

ensures maximum reliability of the components, no matter how low the mercury drops. When buying a Potain crane, customers join a global community that has enjoyed productive and reliable operation over almost 100 years. The experts at Manitowoc design and engineer every crane for every conceivable site condition. From the design

of the smallest link to the quality control applied to every solder joint – nothing is left unchecked. This is why Potain remains the number one tower crane brand from pole to pole.

Crane & Hoist Equipment SA, +27 (0) 83 413 7524, info@che-sa.co.za, www.che-sa.co.za

May your days be happy, and your heart be light. May your Christmas be merry, and the new year bright!

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

39

TOWER CRANES

Comansa overcomes the logistical challenges of a historic project

A Comansa 21CM550 tower crane is working on the construction of the first cable-stayed railway bridge in India, which is considered an engineering wonder.

A 25-ton 21CM550 tower crane is working on the construction of Anji Khad Bridge, the first cable-stayed railway bridge in India, 331 metres above the river.

This is a historic project for the Indian railway and it's viewed as an engineering wonder thanks to the difficulties involved in the construction process and the technology used.

In January 2017, Indian Railways awarded HCC (Hindustan Construction Company) the contract

to build a cable-stayed bridge for the prestigious Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (a public company in India) to connect Katra and Reasi Station on the JammuBaramulla line.

Initially, an arch bridge was planned in Anji Khad but, in the end, an expert technical committee decided that the location was unsuitable for this kind of bridge and the decision was made to build a cable-stayed bridge with a single pylon standing 331 metres above the riverbed.

To respond to the demands of the project and the challenge involved in constructing the pylon at such a remote, complex site, HCC selected a 21CM550 flat-top crane, in Comansa's 2100 series, designed to ensure optimal performance in projects where particularly heavy loads must be moved, such as those in bridge construction. Thanks to its easy assembly and smaller space requirements, the flat-top design patented by the crane manufacturer has overcome the logistical challenges linked to the complicated topography in the area.

40

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

Additionally, the automatic trolley change, along with the Power Lift system, allows variable loads to be dealt with efficiently while ensuring the crane achieves maximum efficiency.

In addition to these logistical challenges linked to topographical aspects, Anji Khad Bridge is being built in difficult terrain.

This factor is not a problem either, given that Comansa cranes are equipped with a lightning protection system that has been designed to prevent damage to electronic devices. Furthermore, they're designed to withstand wind pressure by European C25 standards.

In addition, Comansa is enjoying the collaboration of M/S Escorts Limited, its local partner in India, which allows it to use a trusted technical service and acquire spare parts as quickly as possible to meet the project's demanding deadlines and open this great project in December 2022.

COMANSA, info@comansa.com, www.comansa.com

RGM CRANES

AFRICA’S LARGEST CRANE MANUFACTURER

RGM Cranes’ 30 years in the heavy lifting industry have allowed it to amass a wealth of knowledge in the manufacture and supply of overhead cranes and gantries in Africa. By acquiring an uncompromising understanding of the very specific requirements of various business environments, the company is able to design, manufacture, install and maintain lifting equipment for optimal safety and productivity.

All crane inspections and testing are conducted according to SANS 1037-2006 specifications. In addition to enhancing safety measures through the provision of high-quality lifting equipment, RGM Cranes maintains a R25-million stockholding to ensure rapid and efficient turnaround times for its customers.

HEAD OFFICE +27 11 422 3690 info@rgm.co.za

24H BREAKDOWN Dries Kruger +27 82 930 7149

www.rgmcranes.co.za

CRANE SALES Emel Fleischmann +27 82 653 8824

ADDRESS Cnr Dusseldorf & Ruhr Rd Apex, Benoni, Gauteng

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

These rope runners will rock your world The Notch Rope Runner Pro is an SRT device designed for secure ascents and smooth descents. Developed in conjunction with Kevin Brigham, the original device’s inventor, the Rope Runner Pro is the continuing development and progression of the most popular model in the market – the Rope Runner.

The most significant change that they have made is the new onepiece design with Slic pin retention.

This ensures that no part will accidentally fall when you’re changing ropes while up on a tree.

They also improved and rounded

the top to reduce palm pressure when descending.

The first bollard is made from stainless steel for extended durability, while the second and third ones are made from aluminium for lightness. Each of

them has concave designs that allow for a smoother descent while reducing the break-in period.

The Rope Runner Pro is approved for SRS and MRS climbing, giving you the flexibility to use it for different techniques. You can also adjust the friction setting to be dialled-in just right for the rope size you employ for climbing.

The enhanced ergonomics of this climbing equipment will allow you to be more productive in the field.

Notch has taken the feedback from the first Rope Runner and vastly improved it to give you the Pro version.

With this device, you will have the confidence to climb quickly, switch ropes without fear, and descend much more smoothly.

Tiger Supplies, customerservice@tigersupplies. com, www.tigersupplies.com 42

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

MEWPS

Avoiding electrical accidents Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are one of the safest ways to work at height. However, operators must remain vigilant regarding their external environment, especially when working near power lines, to avoid electrical risks.

All about electrical risks Electrocution is one of the leading hazards with the use of aerial work platforms. It is often due to: • Lack of awareness of the proximity of overhead power lines • The complacency of the voltage running through the cables • Accidental contact of equipment with an overhead power line Remember, electricity can arc!

You do not need to touch the power cables to be electrocuted.

Arc flashes are sudden bursts

of energy through the air due to a high-voltage gap between two surfaces. They can also be caused by equipment failure, dust, or corrosion. Intense heat can seriously burn the workers nearby.

Overhead power line guidance Always keep a safety gap between you, your equipment and the power line.

Before work can begin, contact the utility operator to determine if the energy source can be deenergized. If 'de-energizing is not

possible, do not go nearer than the minimum approach distance (MAD) recommended by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF).

According to the IPAF, the safest distance to approach ‘live’ overhead cables when a boom is fully extended is: • 15 meters (50 ft) from electrical pylon • 9 meters (30 ft) from cables on wooden poles Should the operator need to work any closer to power lines, seek expert advice (contact the power supplier) and ask for extra supervision.

Electrocutions can be prevented through proper planning, risk assessment, site management and continuous observation by the operator of potential electrical hazards.

Make sure an emergency plan is in place for a prompt rescue; timing can make a very significant difference to the injuries sustained.

Haulotte Africa haulotte@haulotte.com, www.haulotte.com Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

43

BUYERS GUIDE

FORKLIFTS

AERIAL PLATFORM

LIFTING TACKLE

Yale Lifting Solutions Giovenzana International

T: +39 039 5951 1277 E: giovenzana@giovenzana.com W: www.giovenzana.com

Bell Equipment Southern Africa T: +27 (0) 11 928 9846 E: susanmy@bell.co.za W: www.bellequipment.com

BRAKES

T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

Magnet Service Binder T: +27 (11) 791 3460 C: 071 857 3660 F: +27 (11) 791 3464 E: sales2@binder.co.za W: www.binder.co.za

CHAIN BLOCKS

Jungheinrich

T: +27 (0) 10 596-8460 E: info@jungheinrich.co.za W: www.jungheinrich.co.za

Yale Lifting Solutions

T: +27 (0) 11 776 6000 E: sales@condra.co.za W: www.condra.co.za

COMPACT CRANES

Fastlift Cranes & Services

T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Kemach Forklifts

T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

T: 0086 135 8547 4543, E: rsa@xcmg.com, W: www.xcmg.com

HOISTS

Morris Material Handling SA T: +27 (0) 11 748-1000 F: +27 (0) 11 748-1093 E: sales@morris.co.za W: www.morris.co.za

44

T: +27 (0) 861 707-707 F: +27 (0) 861 707-706 E: sales@kiloton.co.za W: www.kiloton.co.za

W: www.onlinetoolshop.kiloton.co.za

LOAD TESTING

GregBev Enterprise

C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

INSPECTION

Load Testing & Inspection Specialists

Cranemec Group S.A

T: +27 (0) 16 366-1393 F: +27 (0) 16 366-1392 E: info@cranemec.co.za W: www.cranemec.co.za

T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

LOAD TESTING AND RE-CERTIFICATION

C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

GregBev Enterprise

C: +27 (0) 82 854-5143 C: +27 (0) 72 395 4342 E: info@gregbev.co.za W: www.gregbev.co.za

Premier Load Testing & Services

Liebherr Africa

T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

HYDRAULIC TOOLS

GregBev Enterprise

ST Cranes

CRAWLER CRANES

T: +39 02-9784488 F: +39 02-97003509 E: info@demac.it W: www.demac.it

T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

IY Safety & Inspections

XCMG,

CRANE HIRE

T: +27 (0) 82 292 1148 E: ricky@itlgroup.co.za W: www.stcranehire.co.za

DEMAC SRL

Kiloton

Condra Cranes

T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

HOSE AND CABLE REELS

Goscor Lift Trucks

T: +27 (0) 10 594 4339 E: lifttrucks@goscor.co.za W: www.goscorlifttrucks.co.za

Haggie

Yale Lifting Solutions

T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

IY Safety & Inspections

T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

Condra Cranes Polokeho Lifting & Testing Services T: +27 (0) 10 822 6611 E: eben@polokeholt.co.za W: www.polokeholt.co.za

Fastlift Cranes & Services

T: +27 (0) 11 776 6000 E: sales@condra.co.za W: www.condra.co.za

T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Giovenzana International

T: +39 039 5951 1277 E: giovenzana@giovenzana.com W: www.giovenzana.com

HP Cranes Consulting Jekko s.r.l.

Premier Load Testing & Services T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

Shosholoza Consulting

T: +27 (0) 14 495 1994 C: +27 (0) 79 391 2990 E: info@shosholoza.africa W: www.shosholoza.africa

T: +39 0438 1410083 F: +39 0438 1710123 E: info@jekko.it W: www.jekko-cranes.com

MOBILE CRANES

REPAIRS

T: +27 (0) 11 740-9725/28 E: donavan@hpcranes.co.za W: www.hpcranes.co.za

J Express Crane Services IY Safety & Inspections

T: +27 (0) 82 773-7019 C: +27 (0) 82 956-3176 E: bianca@iysafetyinspection.co.za W: www.iysafetyinspection.com

T: +27 (0) 11 864-8402 F: +27 (0) 11 864-8408 M: +27 (0) 83 425-5535 E: jexpress@telkomsa.net

Levi’s Trio Engineering

Fastlift Cranes & Services

T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

BUYERS GUIDE

REMOTE CONTROLS

MINI CRANES

Konecranes

T: +27 (0) 11 898-3500 F: +27 (0) 11 898-3533 E: ReplyToMe.za@konecranes.com W: www.konecranes.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

Liebherr Africa Yale Lifting Solutions

T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

MOBILE CRANE SPARES

MAINTENANCE Liebherr Africa

Levi’s Trio Engineering

T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

OVERHEAD CRANE

Kemach Forklifts

T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

Morris Material Handling SA T: +27 (0) 11 748-1000 F: +27 (0) 11 748-1093 E: sales@morris.co.za W: www.morris.co.za

Yale Lifting Solutions

T: +27 (0) 11 794-2910 F: +27 (0) 11 794-3560 E: crm@yalelift.co.za W: www.yale.co.za

SERVICES

J Express Crane Services T: +27 (0) 11 864-8402 F: +27 (0) 11 864-8408 M: +27 (0) 83 425-5535 E: jexpress@telkomsa.net

RIGGING AJM Engineering

Levi’s Trio Engineering

T: +27 (0) 11 453-0728 E: info@ajmengineering.co.za W: www.ajmengineering.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 907 9258 F: +27 (0) 86 742 9410 E: admin@levistrio.co.za W: www.levistrio.co.za

Premier Load Testing & Services T: +27 (0) 14 596-5100 / 5026 C: +27 (0) 72 711-9510 E: savannahm@premierload.co.za W: www.premierload.co.za

By Carpel SRL - Italy

T: + 39 (0) 39 532-0952 F: + 39 (0) 39 532-0825 E: info@bycarpel.it W: www.bycarpel.it

Polokeho Lifting & Testing Services T: +27 (0) 10 822 6611 E: eben@polokeholt.co.za W: www.polokeholt.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

45

BUYERS GUIDE

STEEL WIRE ROPES

SLINGS

TOWER CRANES Phakamisa Safety Consultants

Haggie

T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

SPIDER CRANES

Liebherr Africa

Haggie

T: +27 (0) 11 601 8400 E: distribution@haggie.co.za W: www.scaw.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 365-2000 E: info.laf@liebherr.com W: www.liebherr.com

T: +27 (0) 21 140 1514 (CPT) T: +27 (0) 10 141 0237 (JHB) E: bradley@fastliftcranes.co.za W: www.fastliftcranes.com

Combi Lift

T: +27 (0) 11 900-8010 E: victor@solutions-4u.co.za W: www.combilift.co.za

T: +27 (0) 11 475-5876 E: info@lmi-academy.co.za W: www.lmi-academy.co.za

T: +39 0438 1410083 F: +39 0438 1710123 E: info@jekko.it W: www.jekko-cranes.com

XCMG,

T: 0086 135 8547 4543, E: rsa@xcmg.com, W: www.xcmg.com

46

Smith Capital

T: +27 (0) 11 873 9830 E: mail@smithcapital.co.za W: www.smithcapital.co.za

WATER WEIGHT BAGS

TELEHANDLERS MH Dawood Plant Services

Jekko s.r.l.

TRUCK MOUNTED

STRADDLE CARRIER LMI Academy

Fastlift Cranes & Services

T: +27 (0) 11 462-9620/1 F: +27 (0) 11 462-9620 E: potto@icon.co.za W: www.phakamisasafety.co.za

Kemach Forklifts

T: +27 (0) 11 826-6710 E: info@kemachjcb.co.za W: www.kemachjcb.co.za

TESTING

FB Crane Builders & Repairs T: +27 (0) 11 902 3271 E: sales@fbcranes.co.za W: www.fbcranes.co.za

Lifting Africa - Nov/Dec 2021

T: +27 (0) 11 496-1007 F: +27 (0) 11 496-1198 E: info@mhdawood.co.za W: www.mhdawood.co.za

TRAINING

LMI Academy

T: +27 (0) 11 475-5876 E: info@lmi-academy.co.za W: www.lmi-academy.co.za

DOOWIN Water Bags

T: +86 532 877 88175 M: +86 185 5486 9267 E: sales@doowin-dooflex.com W: www.doowincn.co.za

WINCHES

Dymot Engineering

T: +27 (0) 11 970-1920 F: +27 (0) 11 970-1979 E: pa@dymot.co.za W: www.dymot.co.za

Lifting Equipment conference

Durban Exhibition Centre 17 Feb 2022 LEEASA is hosting a Lifting Equipment conference and ECSA members will receive 1 CPD point

+27 (0) 79 658 5602 - admin@leeasa.co.za - www.leeasa.co.za

The maximum on eight axles.

The LTM 1650-8.1 A lifting capacity of 700 tonnes with either a 54 or 80 metre telescopic boom. Global mobility and convenience thanks to Hillstart Aid, ECOmode, ECOdrive, VarioBase and hydraulic VarioBallast.

Nothing more is possible on eight axles. www.liebherr.com

Mobile and crawler cranes