From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

South African crane manufacturer Condra Cranes has been appointed mechanical subcontractor to international engineering company MH Automation to manufacture a 5 t double girder electric overhead travelling crane for the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Rescue Simulation Centre. Sabrina Jardim tells us more.w

Sabrina Jardim:

UJ’s Rescue Centre will train helicopter crews and emergency personnel in aviation rescue under various simulated weather and flying conditions. The specialised crane to be supplied by Condra will replicate helicopter movements by lifting, rotating and tilting an AS365 Dauphin helicopter fuselage supplied by Airbus Helicopters.

Condra CEO Marc Kleiner:

Sabrina Jardim:

A four-storey high building with a six-metre-deep wave pool is already being constructed at the Centre. Once equipped with the fuselage, the crane will simulate the operational conditions of a machine hovering over water or land by manipulating the lifting points of the suspended airframe.

Condra CEO Marc Kleiner:

Sabrina Jardim:

Meanwhile, MH Automation is designing and supplying the controls for safe and reliable crane operation. The company is providing a radio remote joystick that will control all airframe movement from the Rescue Centre’s floor through insulated gate bipolar transistor variable-speed drive controls fitted to the hoist motors.

Condra CEO Marc Kleiner:

Sabrina Jardim:

While the project requires cooperation between various engineering disciplines, Kleiner expresses that a challenge faced by Condra involved ensuring that all players involved in the project were aligned with their aims.

Condra CEO Marc Kleiner:

Sabrina Jardim:

Before the Rescue Centre’s official opening, Condra and MH Automation will train the client in crane operation, including on how to exchange the different airframes used for rescue training and underwater escape. Project handover is scheduled for July this year.

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.