Construction World February 2018

CRANAGE & HEAVY LIFTING

CRANE EXPERTS in new venture to FILL INDUSTRY GAP

“Contractors will soon be looking to acquire their own tower cranes as the market improves and as the availability of rental cranes dries up,” says Crous. “At the same time, the past few difficult years have made it unlikely that every contractor can afford new equipment. With our years of experience in the sector, Crane & Hoist Equipment SA is able to procure, refurbish and supply used tower cranes in ‘as new’ condition.” While also in a position to supply new cranes, the company has extensive networks locally and abroad which allows it to source used cranes and supply them in top notch condition in just four to six weeks. “More importantly, we are able to guarantee the quality and cost efficiency of what we supply,” says sales director Louw Smit. “Our team has spent many years in this industry and we know what customers need in terms of equipment being fit-for- purpose. Also, we only deal in quality brands where we can assure the customer of full service and spares back-up.” Excutive team’s experience With an executive team of highly expe- rienced technical tower crane experts, Crane & Hoist Equipment SA are able to partner with contractors to advise on and even manage the customer’s on-site crane requirements and operations. Their relationship with the contractor begins as early as possible in the project cycle, says Smit. “We apply our in-depth understanding of tower crane configurations to the customer’s specific needs on their project,” he says. “When this is done in the early

days of a project, it can allow the optimal solution to be identified and implemented to suit the customer’s operational demands and constraints.” Crane & Hoist Equipment SA is then in a position to source the right equipment for the customer over the term of the project, providing options in terms of rental or sale. This includes the various compliance aspects related to the crane’s certification by the relevant safety authorities. With its in-house Tower Crane Management System, Crane & Hoist Equipment SA is able to support customers with the preparation of service plans and maintenance schedules. This ensures that there are no surprises when the necessary on-site safety inspections are conducted. “Through this system, the customer can maintain a ‘book of life’ for each of its cranes, including a full service history and proof of all necessary maintenance to remain compliant with safety regulations,” says operations director Danie Roos, who brings over 18 years of experience to the business. “This is not only vital for risk management, but also helps maintain the value of the asset and its contribution to the customer’s bottom line performance.” Cross-border work The team is also well-versed in cross-border work, tackling the challenging logistics and bureaucratic hurdles involved in working in other parts of Africa. Crous notes that the extended downturn in most of Southern Africa’s construction sector has meant that certain specialised skills related to cranes, hoists and lifting technology in this industry may have

T his is the view of Brenden Crous, managing director of recently established Crane & Hoist Equipment SA, who is looking to fill the gap in this environment within sub-Saharan Africa. companies will be requiring quality crane services, they will be constrained when it comes to pricing. A Potain MC 175 tower crane standing tall in Rosebank. Contractors are looking forward to a better year in 2018 but margins will still be tight. This means that while

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2018