Crane and hoist manufacturer Condra Cranes will supply six cranes – a portal and five double-girder overhead cranes – to a local mine.

Four of these cranes are identical 10 t overhead machines with spans of 6.5 m, with two already delivered.

The first crane was installed underground and commissioned on November 24 for maintenance duty on pumps, motors and other equipment. The remaining two cranes were completed last year and will join the third on site in early 2022.

A fifth crane, a 15 t portal machine, is earmarked for receiving and dispatch duties, while the biggest of the six cranes ordered will be a 25 t electric overhead travelling workshop unit.

The mining house has been operating Condra overhead cranes and hoists since the late 1990s, employing them in a range of mines and applications across Western and Southern Africa.

Delivery of the six cranes will satisfy three separate orders placed consecutively in September, the same month that Condra commissioned a large, custom-designed jib crane for consultants contracted to the same customer.

The six cranes are of standard design, fitted out to customer specification. They are remotely controlled, with 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 the flameproofing of brakes and electric panels to the IP65 standard, and weather-canopies over all the motors. Flashing lights and sirens warn when the cranes are in motion.

Condra is hopeful of receiving more orders from this and other mining customers this year, with the company having tendered for several overhead cranes and specialised machines, such as the recent jib crane, says Condra MD Marc Kleiner.

“We continue to manufacture what we believe are the best cranes and hoists for African conditions. Condra strives for a reputation as the go-to company for the continent’s mines.”

Further, Condra’s tenders for the three orders for the mine proved successful against multi-company competition, despite its prices not being the lowest. This supports growing evidence of a trend towards buyers valuing lower overall lifetime costs over price, with lower costs 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 almost-new 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,” says Kleiner.

“Condra is prepared and ready to support African mining. We have been supplying cranes to meet mining’s needs for 50 years. We manufacture our cranes locally, and our supplier network that makes our gears, wheels and other complex parts is also local.

“We are an African company with a lot of experience of the different climatic and working conditions on the 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,” he concludes.