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On 6 March, the lifting industry marks the 80th birthday of Piet Otto, founder of Phakamisa Safety Consultants and a long-standing member and former EXCO member of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association of SA (LEEASA). This milestone is not only a personal celebration, but a moment to recognise a professional legacy that has significantly shaped lifting machinery inspection standards, technical competency development, and regulatory compliance within South Africa’s lifti

Fassi introduces a new evolution in the TECHNO range: the F1750R.2.9. HXP TECHNO, a 9-hydraulic-extension version that further expands operating possibilities and underscores the company’s technological leadership in the sector. The new model, which is capable of handling elevated loads without any increase in installation space, presented for the first time in Bern, during Transport.ch, together with Mobas SA, the official Fassi distributor in Switzerland. Following the succ

It is scary that almost 7 years since I first raised concern with the way in which LMI’s and LME’s are conducting “performance tests” on forklifts in South Africa. The major concern in 2019, was the methodology that was utilised to conduct such a “performance test”, with slings and a load cell to generate a “static load test”. It is apparent some individuals from recent interaction on a WhatsApp Group either do not have knowledge of The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 o

Warehouses are under pressure to store more stock in the same amount of space, and that’s where articulated forklifts start to make a noticeable difference. These machines are built to move through extremely narrow aisles while still lifting to heights normally reserved for larger equipment. Because of this mix of their reach and overall manoeuvrability articulated forklifts have steadily become a very practical choice for warehouse owners trying to increase storage capacity

Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, distributor of Jungheinrich® lift trucks, narrow-aisle and automated guided vehicles in North America, announced the launch of the Jungheinrich® EFG C20Q-C40Q, a bold and innovative electric forklift designed for narrow-aisle operations where precision, performance and efficiency are essential. The EFG C20Q-C40Q represents a forward-thinking approach to electric lift trucks, said Luca Ghiotto, Manager of Product Marketing at Mitsubishi Logisnext

As A Square Forklifts moves forward as the new official agent for STILL equipment in Southern Africa, the company is placing a strategic focus on strengthening the brand’s regional presence and growing its market share across key industrial and logistics sectors. Lifting Africa spoke to Craig Bradford, Managing Director at A Square, to find out more. The appointment comes at a time when businesses across Southern Africa are placing renewed emphasis on uptime, safety, producti

The invention of wire ropes nearly 200 years ago had a major impact on the world of lifting. Prior to that for thousands of years fibre ropes were used. In mining, running ropes were typically made from materials such as jute, manila and hemp. In some mines iron chain was also used but had the serious feature of unexpected failure (the weakest link concept) and miners were very reluctant to use it. Ropes made from fibre did not last long and were relatively weak. As mining d

Leading dock-levelling and materials-handling specialist REV Designs & Installations has steadily grown into one of South Africa’s most innovative engineering firms in the lifting-equipment sector. Based in Springs, the company designs and manufactures a wide range of loading, docking and lifting equipment including some of the largest scissor lifts ever produced in the country. A key factor in the success of the business is the careful design and specification of materials a

This course has been designed to assist management to implement and maintain a Safe Lifting Program in the work place. The contents have been carefully selected to cover all the issues that are relevant for management to be legally compliant and for lifting equipment used, to conform to relevant Standards and industry requirements. It will assist management, supervisors, technical, safety and engineering staff to do so. The course covers the different types of lifting equipme

For 23 years, Chimes Crane Hire has been a trusted name in lifting, rigging, and transport, a brand built on reliability, technical expertise, and enduring client relationships. Yet in a market defined by accelerating infrastructure demands and complex projects, heritage alone is not enough. Sustainable growth requires vision, leadership, and the courage to evolve. When Bradley de Klerk became Managing Director, he saw the need for change. “We saw a clear opportunity to expan

If you could only use one word to describe the global materials handling sector in 2025, it would surely have to be “uncertainty”. The geo-political landscape shifted rapidly through the year as new tariffs on imports into the US were imposed, lifted, threatened and changed. The materials handling sector faced an uncertain year in 2025 This had a seismic impact on the global economy, creating widespread confusion, uncertainty around investments, leading equipment producers to

Replacing an overhead crane is costly. There is capital expenditure. There is risk. Not only must the buyer consider the scale of financial outlay, but also any possibility of equipment underperformance, or failure if his choice is wrong. The watchwords are care, and caution too. One viable option, often overlooked, is refurbishment. If the function of the crane has not changed, then refurbishment offers at least three clear advantages: cost savings first; improved crane perf

Ben Dobbs, Head of Global Standards and Legislation at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), looks at the development of chain grades. Chain slings provide a versatile, durable and safe means of connecting loads to lifting appliances, but they must be used in the correct manner to avoid dangerous lifting practices and service damage. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case and many slings have been subjected to great abuse in service. Chain slings manuf

Wacker Neuson South Africa is extremely proud to announce the introduction of the globally trusted, precision-engineered German telehandler brand, Weidemann, to Sub-Sahara Africa’s agricultural sector. This strategic move ushers in a new force set to elevate productivity and performance across the region’s farming landscape.“Our introduction of Weidemann to the South and Sub-Saharan African market reinforces our long-term growth vision for Africa and marks a defining moment i

YOKE Industrial Corp. is now a validated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) service provider of the Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of SA (LEEASA). YOKE, a LEEASA member, is a renowned supplier of hardware, including Grade 80 and Grade 100 lifting chain fittings; swivel hoist hooks; shackles; angular contact swivels; wire rope clips; and lifting points. LEEASA was formed by like-minded organisations and individuals from the providers and manufacturers, in add

The public infrastructure investment plan announced by the Government through 2027 is set to have a major financial impact on the country, with an estimated GDP boost of up to 1.5% for every percentage point invested in the sector. During the first quarter of 2025 alone, the industry suffered the loss of more than 119,000 jobs. Younger workers and those with lower technical and professional qualifications have been the most affected by this employment crisis. However, initiat

A lift plan is essential because international legislation and recognised industry standards require lifting operations to be properly planned, assessed and controlled. Worldwide, organisations must be able to demonstrate that lifting activities are executed in a safe and structured manner — and the lift plan is the practical proof that these requirements are met. For the heavy lifting and hoisting sector, lift planning is not optional or limited to complex lifts. Every lifti

With the new AC 5.250L-2, Tadano is literally going one better: With its 79-meter-long main boom, this 5-axle machine is at the top of its class. And the maximum main boom extension of 30 meters is also best in class. Remarkably, all available main boom extensions from 5.8 to 30 meters are self-erecting. The available maximum system length of 109 meters makes the compact AC 5.250L-2 the ideal crane for urban applications, for example for lifting air conditioning units over ob

Condra is to manufacture a second overhead crane for Tongaat Hulett’s Maidstone sugar mill, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The order is for a 23-metre-span double girder electric overhead travelling crane with 25-ton main hoist and 8-ton auxiliary, to work in conjunction with the existing millhouse crane and a 10-ton Condra crane commissioned in the bagasse store in March 2024. Maidstone is one of four South African sugar mills operated by Tongaat Hulett, a leading agriculture

Digitalisation is transforming processes across industries and changing how businesses operate. Around the world, organisations are increasingly embracing digital tools and platforms to enhance efficiency and innovation - and the lifting industry is no exception. Leading this shift is Mycrane with its newly launched Marketplace solution. Lifting Africa finds out more about this game-changing development. As the world’s first global platform for online crane rental, Mycrane ha