Articles

Refurbishing a high-rise building is seldom simple. When the project involves replacing an entire glass façade on a structure that rises 160 meters above ground, the difficulty increases significantly. At those heights, every engineering choice affects safety, productivity, and project timelines. This makes access solutions just as important as the refurbishment itself. That was the challenge SkyJacks faced when chosen to design and deliver a custom suspended access system fo

Manitowoc has launched Potain Power Solutions, a new range of energy storage systems to support tower crane operations and reduce the reliance on generators or unstable local power infrastructure. They are suitable for a host of applications, from remote off-grid projects to urban jobsites, where their clean, silent operation helps meet strict noise and emissions regulations. The systems are purpose-built for the demanding operational needs of tower cranes. Unlike conventiona

Soft shackles are becoming increasingly popular in off-road recovery, marine operations, and industrial lifting. Compared with traditional steel shackles, they are lighter, safer, and more flexible. Made from high-strength synthetic fibers such as UHMWPE or HMPE, soft shackles offer exceptional strength-to-weight ratios while reducing the risk of injury during failure. What Is a Soft Shackle? When shackles are no longer heavy. Soft shackles replace steel with braided UHMWPE f

Seatrium Ltd. has acquired six Liebherr Ram Luffing cranes, RL 2600, for TenneT’s 2-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind transmission system in the Netherlands. Two cranes will be allocated to each of the platforms IJmuiden Ver Beta, IJmuiden Ver Gamma and Nederwiek Beta. They will integrate the LiMain system to support remote maintenance on unmanned platforms. With offshore wind power gaining strategic importance across Europe, reliable high-performance equipment is vital for advanci

Long boom tower cranes are a staple in large-scale construction projects. Their ability to lift heavy loads over long distances makes them indispensable for high-rise buildings, bridges, and industrial facilities. As urban development accelerates worldwide, these cranes are becoming more prevalent and technologically advanced. Understanding how they are used in real-world scenarios can help stakeholders make informed decisions and optimize their operations. Quick Primer Long

When the Environment Fights Back, Your Termination Needs to Win Saltwater. Abrasion. High heat. Dragging loads. Some applications will destroy an ordinary termination, and some industries simply cannot afford that risk. The Talurit® STS oval carbon steel ferrule system was engineered precisely for these conditions. It’s the trusted choice across Nordic offshore, aquaculture, fishing, and crane operations (and for good reason). Extra Solid. Extra Reliable. The STS ferrule’s r

As businesses in the Eastern Cape navigate fluctuating production cycles and continued pressure to maximise return on investment (ROI), forklift rental is proving to be a practical solution for companies that need additional material handling capacity without the financial commitment of expanding their permanent fleet. This is particularly evident during the province's busy mid-year citrus export season, when producers require additional equipment for harvesting, packing an

For operations that use heavy industrial equipment, downtime is one of the most significant operational challenges. Unlike smaller assets that can be easily replaced or moved, heavy equipment is often highly specialised and costly to transport. In many cases, moving a machine requires abnormal load permits and extensive logistical planning, making every hour of downtime a direct threat to productivity and profitability. Lenny Naidoo, National Product Specialist for Heavy Li

Hiab, a leading provider of smart and sustainable on-road load handling solutions, launches an all-new MULTILIFT Optima range today. Engineered for high-frequency standardised operations, the updated product range fuses cost-efficiency with premium reliability, setting a new benchmark for day-to-day productivity. With this launch, Hiab doubles its 20- and 25-tonnes capacity lineup, expanding from 2 to 4 solutions: MULTILIFT S-Type: Proven classic for standardised hauling The

A 50th anniversary celebration became an opportunity to make a difference for vulnerable children when Johnson Crane Hire, together with Tadano and its South African distributor MMS Mobile Cranes, raised nearly R90,000 for Hope Haven Home of Safety during a special charity golf day held at Benoni Country Club on 15 July 2026. The event brought together customers, sponsors, business partners and representatives from across South Africa’s lifting industry to celebrate Johnson C

MCM Group supplies construction and agricultural equipment across South Africa — and understanding how VAT applies to your purchase can save your business tens of thousands of rands. Whether you buy a TLB, front end loader, or excavator, MCM branches in Cape Town, George, Gauteng, and Bloemfontein provide full tax invoices so you can claim your input VAT without hassle. VAT on construction equipment in South Africa sits at the standard rate of 15%. If your business is VAT-reg

MYCRANE, the first global platform for crane rental and purchase, has facilitated the rental of a 400-tonne Sany SCC4000E crawler crane for Bheemaa Infra Solutions, a steel fabrication and structural engineering contractor engaged on the Amaravati Government Complex — the landmark secretariat development forming the administrative centre of Andhra Pradesh’s planned new capital city. The six-month fixture, currently ongoing, was arranged entirely on the MYCRANE platform, conne

Delivered within an exceptionally short three-month timeframe, the crane underlines Liebherr’s ability to align engineering, production and commissioning with demanding project schedules while providing an integrated package that supports operational readiness from day one through on-site assistance, tailored container handling equipment and long-term service assurance. Setting the pace for a new logistics gateway. The Liebherr LHM 550 has been supplied in a container-focused

Choosing the right pallet material is no longer a simple cost-per-unit decision. For modern supply chains, pallets influence safety, damage rates, sustainability reporting, and long-term operating costs. While wood and then plastic pallets dominate the market, recycled rubber pallets offer an excellent alternative for buyers who prioritise durability, modularity, sustainability and total cost of ownership for closed-loop industrial or sensitive loads. This guide compares wood

In addition to the XLC18000M crawler crane with a 1,300-ton capacity, Sarens has incorporated into its global offering XCA160H all-terrain cranes for rapid transfers and precision work on the ground, and XCR90 crane units for operating in difficult environments and surfaces. The new XLC18000M will be the first of the new cranes delivered by XCMG to arrive in South Africa, where it will begin operations immediately at a wind farm near Cape Town before providing support to mini

New Holland’s hybrid telehandler prototype pairs battery electric drive with compressed natural gas to deliver a full-day low-emission autonomy – a 70% reduction in CO2 and no compromise on lift performance. We get the engineering story behind this already award-winning design. For farming operations looking to cut emissions without sacrificing a minute of working time, the gap between battery-electric machines and conventional diesel has remained stubbornly wide — until now.

AXCS Equipment continues to accelerate its evolution as a global equipment manufacturer, building on the solid foundation established, following ASKO Holding’s acquisition of Hy-Brid Lifts in 2023. Today, AXCS is strategically expanding beyond its roots in lightweight aerial work platforms into a broader equipment portfolio that includes both access solutions and material handling equipment for North American and international markets. “2023 was a turning point for the busine

How intelligent lifting systems are enhancing crane safety and efficiency. Picture this: a massive concrete panel hangs 80 feet in the air, swaying in the wind. Below, crew members grip taglines, shouting over the noise as they try to guide the load safely into place. It’s tense. It’s risky. And it’s the kind of moment every job site supervisor wants to avoid. Now imagine the same lift, but this time, no one is near the load. Instead, a single operator stands at a safe distan

Premium quality and cutting-edge radio technology: The FSE 526 is the ideal solution for the safe and reliable control various cranes and machines. The radio receiver enables the transmission of up to 25 control commands (on/off) as well as 3 analog commands and is available with many proven HBC features. It combines technological excellence with dependable performance, setting new standards in industrial radio control. Valuable features at a glance Frequency management: Opti

By Stephanie Erasmus, Managing Director and Founder, Kwick Access Rentals A Decade in the Making Ten years ago, I set out to build something different in access rental. This year marks that milestone, and over the past decade the leadership behind it has grown too: an industry veteran with more than three decades of experience establishing access rental businesses across Southern Africa now serves alongside me as chairman and shareholder, and together we’ve digitised our flee