Steel manufacturing corporation ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has awarded a tender for a 100-t engineered crane to Southern Africa’s largest crane company Morris Material Handling.

Morris Material Handling plays a crucial role in the supply and manufacturing of equipment for industrial applications. Providing electric overhead travelling cranes, wire rope hoists, jib cranes, chain hoists, and accessories, the company has established a laudable reputation for its professional expertise in design, fabrication and assembly of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty lifting products.

Its service division, known as Crane Aid, ensures the continuous operation and safety of lifting equipment, by offering services such as maintenance, load testing, and refurbishment for all makes of cranes and hoists.

AMSA is the largest steel producer in Africa. Headquartered in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, its production capacity nears seven-million tonnes of liquid steel a year. Further, AMSA supplies over 60% of the steel used in South Africa and exports the rest to sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s 10 000 employees and contractors produce flat and long steel in hundreds of grades and specifications. In addition, Vanderbijlpark Works is one of the world’s largest inland operational steel mills.

Morris highlights that it is a “testament to its engineering capabilities and commitment to excellence” that the company was awarded the tender to design, manufacture, and install a 100-t engineered crane at the Vanderbijlpark Works in Gauteng.

The crane [serial number M10284] was designed and built in-house at Morris’ head office in Benoni, Gauteng, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and quality. Morris adds that it employed the latest technologies and the highest-quality components when building the crane.

Further, the 37-m-span double girder, heavy-duty slab handling crane is equipped with an open winch-type hoist featuring dual, synchronised rope drums. It weighs more 220 t and is designed to handle varying sizes of slabs, with an impressive capacity of up to 100 t.

Operating at the Hot Strip Mill within Vanderbijlpark Works, Morris says this crane is crucial to the continued production of the mill.

To meet the demanding production requirements, the crane is designed to hoist at 9 m/min, cross travel at 70 m/min, and long travel at 100 m/min. Further, the crane is controlled from a bridge-mounted cabin, ensuring precision and safety during operations.

Morris asserts that the successful erection and commissioning of this engineered crane marks a significant milestone, as it has already proven its worth in enhancing production efficiency at Vanderbijlpark Works. The company’s role in this project underscores its position as a leading force in the industrial equipment and overhead crane manufacturing industry in Southern Africa.