CRANE AND LIFTING Johnson Crane Hire prides itself on its ability to provide turnkey project lifting solutions that are driven by client-specific needs
In response to growing customer demand, mobile crane hire company Johnson Crane Hire (JCH) in July established a new branch in the manganese-rich mining area of Deben, in the Northern Cape, says the company’s Mpumalanga South, Vanderbijlpark and Northern Cape regional manager, Nigel Levendale.
“While we have been active in the Northern Cape for some time, we previously transported cranes from our other branches as the need arose. However, we have established strong relationships with a number of our clients, specifically in the mining sector, so the decision to have a permanent presence in the area was part of our strategic plan to grow our footprint in the area,” he details.
The new facilities include offices, a fully equipped workshop and a yard. The branch is manned by branch manager Raymond Swanepoel, two salespeople, two fully qualified service technicians, a safety representative and an administrator.
“We have a fleet of nine cranes with capacities ranging from 25 t to 100 t, based on known customer demands within the area. Should clients require heavier lifting capacity, we are able to quickly access the cranes at our other branches. To provide clients with more uptime, we have invested in an extensive stockholding of the requisite components required for the current fleet,” says Levendale.
He adds that the Northern Cape branch is currently busy with several contracts in the area, including a large solar energy project and a number of ongoing projects for the iron-ore and manganese mining sectors. JCH has also completed several projects for engineering and steel clients.
Competitive Edge
Levendale, who has 13 years’ experience in the crane hire industry, explains that JCH has seen an upsurge in demand for quality lifting services from the construction and mining sectors. He says the company differentiates itself by providing turnkey project lifting solutions driven by client-specific needs that call for individualised and customised packages.
He points out that maintaining a close partnership with clients ensures that any associated risks that the client may have identified in their risk assessments are discussed and mitigated.
Levendale says the company’s work on any project starts with site visits to the project, followed by a complex and customised solution-design process that considers environmental and site conditions, as well as the required load-bearing capacity. The company also conducts two-dimensional and three-dimensional rigging studies to provide a visual overview of the proposed lift, whereby it also supplies the client with full reports on the method statement and risk assessment.
“Our attention to fine detail is complemented by a large, well-maintained fleet of the latest-technology cranes, a highly trained and qualified team of crane operators and access to an experienced and knowledgeable rigging crew. These factors all combine to provide clients with the most comprehensive lifting solution available,” Levendale concludes.