[ CRANES ]
[ CRANES ]
MAMMOTH lifts seamless for JCH
Development in Africa continues and this has seen an increased need for a capable lifting specialist .
Steve Robson , Executive Business Development at Johnson Crane Hire .
Johnson Crane Hire has an established reputation as a lifting specialist that gets the job done . This standing is starting to pay dividends for the company . It operates a fleet of cranes that offer the necessary depth and range of cranes , but it is the heavy lift capability that really sets the company apart from other crane hire operators .
Operating one of the largest heavy lift fleet of cranes in sub-Saharan Africa , the company is able to undertake complex heavy lift assignments with ease .
Steve Robson , Executive Business Development at Johnson Crane Hire , is quick to point out this is not just because of the enormous investment in its fleet of cranes , but also because the company has the depth of resources to underpin its service offering . “ Having such a large and comprehensive fleet is without doubt a major differentiator , but we believe that the proficiency of our people is just as important ,” he says . “ Undertaking such a complex and specialised activity as a heavy lift requires the ability to engineer the lift from the initial assessment right the way through to the actual completion of the job .
“ What is important is that Johnson Crane Hire can undertake these mammoth projects in a seamless operation ,” Robson says .
Johnson Crane Hire ’ s heavy lift division makes use of 3D CAD software for both the design and engineering of the lift as well as the simulation thereof . “ With full time and dedicated mechanical engineers as part of our heavy lift team , we understand the complexity and requirements that go into the planning and execution of these complex lifts ,” Robson states . “ This level of attention to detail is essential during the planning stages .” Planning is a critical activity , especially when undertaking specialised lifts in remote areas . Robson says the company is no stranger to working in Africa and is well positioned to extend its footprint even though there are differences from country to country ; the lifting specialist has the distinct advantage of understanding the conditions across the continent .
Describing just how complex the logistics around a heavy lift project can be , Robson says that after all the planning has been completed the crane being taken to the lifting site must be broken down into modular components . These are then loaded onto trucks with all the auxiliary equipment including the boom configuration and luffers and this is then transported either via road or sea to the country where the lift is taking place . “ Depending on the crane size and configuration selected to do the lift and the local road ordinance ruling , there would be between 40 to 50 abnormal loads , and moving this several thousand kilometres is no mean feat ,” explains Robson .
Adding to the mix is Johnson Crane Hire ’ s internal skills pool and the strong relationships the company has with its logistic partners . This enables the company to undertake the logistical exercises for each lift with relative ease . All aspects of the logistics are thoroughly interrogated to ensure that potential risks are identified early on . This includes route surveys , bridge formulae calculations , permits and road ordinance
Johnson Crane Hire undertaking a lift using a 400t crawler crane .
Johnson Crane Hire ’ s 750t Liebherr LG 1750 lattice boom all terrain crane working at a wind farm installation .
22 | HIRE SA | APRIL 2017