Crane and hoist manufacturer Condra supplies a range of equipment to authorised agents across sub-Saharan Africa, including an innovative unpack-and-go machine delivered in containers that become the crane’s gantry.

The design of the five-ton double-girder crane – a one-off currently under manufacture for mine maintenance – makes use of the two 12‑m shipping containers as gantry supports. After hoist, crab, girders, end-carriages and other components have been unpacked for assembly, an installation team positions the containers exactly 9.8 m apart, then bolts rails to the tops to form the gantry. A roof is then installed to weather-proof the resulting 120 m² workshop.

Condra’s authorised agent in Tanzania, Lynx Supply and Services, recently placed additional orders for the company’s wheel blocks, spare parts and a separate 10 t, 10-m-span single-girder gantry crane for a mining house. Lynx will carry out installation and commissioning of both overhead cranes.

Other recent orders from sub-Saharan Africa include a 10 t portal crane for a maintenance application in Ghana. The design of the crane overcomes floor loading limitations by spreading the machine mass across multiple nylon-treaded wheels at the base of the portal’s supporting legs.

Condra’s sub-Saharan agent network also includes Integrated Engineering Services in Zambia, Integrated Engineering Services in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namcranes in Namibia and KL Cranes in Botswana.

The company notes that it provides rapid-response technical service and after-sales support to all its agents – with a commitment to delivering parts anywhere in Africa in five days or less, with a turnaround time of less than 48 hours in South Africa, to ensure minimal production losses because of crane downtime.

Condra asserts that its design philosophy is focused on robust strength and durability, giving it a reputation for mechanical reliability under corrosive and abrasive environments, and under extremes of temperature, humidity and altitude.