The Southern African materials lifting and handling industry has celebrated its first ever sectoral awards ceremony, the Lifting Awards. Hosted by sector-specialist media platform Lifting Africa, the event was sponsored by (in alphabetical order) Electra Mining, Haggie Distribution, RGM Cranes, RiConnect, and Yoke Industrial Corporation, and was held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg       

“The Lifting Awards shine a spotlight on the visionaries, trailblazers and unsung heroes driving our industry forward,” highlighted Lifting Africa MD Surita Marx. “Every winner and finalist represents a story of perseverance, innovation and dedication. We are proud to honour individuals and companies whose commitment continues to raise the bar for safety, sustainability and technical excellence.”

Awards were presented in ten categories. These were – Apprentice Technician of the Year, Environment, Excellence in Engineering, Industry Leader, Innovation in Service, Lifetime Achievement, Manufacturer Product Innovation, Project of the Year, Rising Star, and Safety & Training.

Francois de Vos, noted for his expertise in lifting tackle inspections, won the Apprentice Technician of the Year Award. The Environment Award went to Yoke Industrial Corporation for their innovative digital Radio Frequency Identification inspection systems. Sarens was presented with the Excellence in Engineering Award for their Kamoa Copper and Zambia Fertiliser projects. The Industry Leader Award went to Hendrick Mohlahlo for having overseen more than 500 “critical” lifts, as well as for championing training and sustainability. RGM Cranes secured the Innovation in Service Award, for its asset management platform that was driven by Nexxus AI.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to LMI Academy founder and lifelong safety and skills development advocate Ken Greenwood. Liebherr won the Manufacturer Product Innovation Award for its advanced driver assistance-equipped LTM 1110-5.2 mobile crane. As recognition for its technical precision and for boosting the local economy, the Project of the Year Award was presented to Sarens’ Kamoa Copper project. The Rising Star Award went to Mkateko Baloyi, in acknowledgement of her operational excellence and technical skill. The Safety & Training Award was won by the LMI Academy, for its role in transforming safety cultures across industries.

“The awards mark the beginning of a new tradition for our sector,” affirmed Marx. “It is, however, about more than just handing out awards. It is about recognising the people and companies who are shaping the future of lifting in Southern Africa. Their achievements remind us of the strength, resilience and ingenuity within our industry and of the opportunities still ahead.”