OVERHEAD CREANES
CRANE OPERATION
Emission-free crane operation African products for African mines Condra has announced that it is to supply six cranes, one portal and five double-girder overhead machines, to a South African mine belonging to an unnamed mining house. Delivery of the cranes will satisfy three separate orders placed consecutively in September, the same month that Condra commissioned a large, customdesigned jib crane for consultants contracted to the same customer. The mining house has been operating Condra overhead cranes and hoists since the late 1990s, employing them in a spread of mines and applications across west and southern Africa. Of the six cranes ordered, four are identical 10-ton overhead machines with spans of 6,5 metres, and two have already been delivered. The first was installed underground and commissioned on November 24 for maintenance duty on pumps, motors and other equipment. The remaining two 10-ton cranes will be completed this year to join the third on site early in 2022. A fifth crane, a 15-ton portal machine, is earmarked for receiving and dispatch duties, while the biggest of the six cranes ordered will be a 25-ton electric overhead travelling workshop unit. Condra’s tenders for the three orders proved successful against multi-company competition. Their prices were not the lowest, supporting growing evidence of a trend toward buyers valuing lower overall lifetime costs over price, these lower costs being achieved through supplier commitment and an ability to
deliver ongoing, reasonably priced after-sales service and maintenance. A similar trend can also be seen in the market for second-hand cranes, where almostnew machines manufactured by companies unable to deliver effective maintenance lose value faster than much older cranes from more reputable firms. “If a crane cannot be maintained, then it has no long-term value,” explained Condra managing director Marc Kleiner, commenting on the sixmachine orders. “Some brands carry risk of rapidly escalating maintenance costs after the guarantee period. Project consultants are not liable for these after the warranty expires, so when a customer needs service at the end of that time, he sometimes finds the cost higher than projected. “Our customers face no such doubts.” Kleiner emphasised that Condra continues to be prepared and ready to support African mining: “We have been supplying cranes to meet mining’s needs for fifty years. We manufacture our cranes locally, and our supplier network – the people who make our gears, our wheels and other complex parts – they are also local. “So we are an African company with a lot of experience of the different climatic and working conditions found on this continent. We are
committed to and ready for any type of mining, manufacturing or machine servicing requirement from any African customer anywhere on the continent,” Kleiner said. The six cranes for the mining house are machines of standard design, fitted out to customer specification. Remotely controlled, there are pendants for alternative manual control. The cranes also feature floodlights to aid operation, and bulkhead lights for safety on all walkways. Other safety fittings include flame-proofing of brakes and electric panels to IP65 standard, and weather-canopies over all motors. Flashing lights and sirens warn when the cranes are in motion. Kleiner is hopeful of further orders from this and other mining customers early next year, with Condra having tendered for a number of overhead cranes and specialised machines such as the recent jib crane.
Emissions and noise are a constantly growing problem that in many cases is not tolerated any longer, particularly in major cities. The industry is expected to deliver sustainable solutions that can help reduce this problem. With the innovative E-Pack, Tadano is offering an environmentallyfriendly solution designed to counter precisely these problems. Potential applications for the E-Pack include crane jobs inside buildings, in dense urban areas, and at night in residential areas and other sensitive surroundings – in other words, under conditions in which the company operating the crane may have to face stricter emission-
related requirements that make conventional crane operation with a normal diesel engine impossible. Crane operation The E-Pack can be used for all crane functions, as well as to run the hydraulic air conditioning system. The performance characteristics with the E-Pack are comparable to those achieved with the diesel engine for the relevant working
points. Low operating costs In addition to zero-emission and low-noise operation, the E-Pack also comes with significant advantages in terms of cost: The intelligent electric motor control system ensures that only the amount of electric power needed to carry out the required functions will be used. This results in lower operating costs in comparison to a diesel system, and in addition, reduces the operating hours of the engine. Electrical connection The E-Pack is powered through the grid via a 400 V / 63 A connection. A mode that makes it possible to operate the crane with a 400 V / 32 A connection with reduced crane power is also available.
“We continue to manufacture what we believe are the best cranes and hoists for African conditions,” he said. “Condra strives for a reputation as the go-to company for the continent’s mines.”
A system that can be transported on its crane When travelling, the crane can transport the E-Pack to the construction site with a trailer. Optionally, it can also carry it with a transport rack at the rear - separate transport to the construction site is not necessary.
Condra, +27 (0) 11 776 6000, sales@condra.co.za, www.condra.co.za
Tadano, +27 (0) 11 230 7300, Craig.sanday@babcock.co.za, www.tadano.com