Company Announcement - Demand from its customer base has led to Elephant Lifting Equipment expanding its product offering to include larger overhead cranes from 30 tons upwards. “We took a decision to increase our existing 10 ton capacity and have successfully supplied a number of 30 ton capacity overhead cranes into the local mining industry,” says Grant Walton, Elephant Lifting Equipment managing director.

Walton says that a significant feature of the Tusker overhead crane is that it has been designed without a rope guide. This results in reduced maintenance costs and decreased downtime. The hoist is extremely robust as it has fewer working components and its simple design readily lends itself to the demanding local operating conditions. The overhead crane is designed to accommodate a wireless remote system with range limiting features that facilitate optimum safety and a digital readout capability which indicates the hoist’s load.

An accredited company, that has fulfilled all the requirements necessary to be issued with an LME (Lifting Machinery Entity) number, Elephant Lifting Equipment has a proven track record in the supply and load testing of overhead cranes, chain hoists and electric hoists. The company’s team of qualified artisans are registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa as Lifting Machinery Inspectors. “The main focus with our lifting tackle is on traceability. This means that a recognisable brand logo is apparent on all equipment we supply. This not only underpins the fact that stringent quality control systems are in place during the production cycle, but it provides customers with the complete reassurance that these products are manufactured to the highest standards,” says Walton.

He explains that each piece of lifting tackle supplied has a unique certificate which details the design standard that is strictly adhered to in the manufacturing process. “We do not permit any compromise on the product’s structural integrity. All of our products are designed with safety in mind, in strict conformance to South African legislation that protects the user from accidental overloads or shock load.”

In an industry first, the company offers existing customers an online certificate verification system, whereby at any stage the customer is able to access any certificate issued since the inception of the programme. Certificates include new supply, inspection and load testing.

Elephant Lifting Equipment is a complete single source solutions provider, supplying customers with the design, fabrication, engineering, installation, commissioning, support and service, load testing, inspections, repair and refurbishment of all lifting equipment. The incumbent technical expertise of its highly skilled and knowledgeable engineering team enables the company to devise a range of lifting equipment that is designed for African conditions. All equipment is mechanically simple without compromising on the features that are required to provide reliable and safe lifting capability.

“It is important to possess the technical acumen to assess each particular application and recommend the most appropriate solution, which encompasses safety, efficiency and cost effectiveness. An example of fit for purpose solutions is that a light duty workshop crane, fitted with a robust chain hoist, would be used for general lifting with a lower duty cycle, whereas at the opposite end of the spectrum one finds a production crane with a higher duty cycle,” says Walton.

Close discussion with customers regarding the particulars of each application will ascertain working load limit, the environment in which lifting is done, the duty cycle, as well as the electrical and drive requirement. “Our in-house engineering capability will take all these factors into account and design a suitable solution. In addition to supplying the overhead crane, we also consider the supply of all below the hook attachments and can provide custom made lifting and spreader beams, as well as various slings and components,” Walton concludes.