AFRICA | REGION REPORT
Projects like a 25-ton double girder
crane in Walvis Bay, and several cranes for Richards Bay clients reflect RGM Cranes’ ability to adapt to varied industries and operational needs. Beyond Africa, RGM Cranes has made significant inroads into the UK market, having sold 22 cranes and with several additional projects currently underway. From mining and manufacturing to logistics, the company remains a trusted partner in lifting solutions across regions. At the core of RGM Cranes’ success is its commitment to quality. The company’s expert team works closely with clients from the initial concept stage through to design, manufacturing, and installation, ensuring that every lifting solution is tailored to meet specific needs. “Our clients trust us because we prioritise
reliability,” Dowling notes. “It’s not just about selling a product—it’s about delivering a solution that works every time.” This dedication doesn’t end with the installation of a crane. RGM Cranes’ comprehensive after-sales support ensures that clients receive the ongoing assistance they need to maintain peak performance and compliance with safety regulations. As RGM Cranes continues to expand
its footprint across Africa and the United Kingdom, its mission remains clear: to deliver industry-leading lifting solutions and empower businesses with reliable, innovative technology.
Reflecting on the company’s journey,
Dowling concludes, “The work we do is about more than lifting loads. It’s about lifting industries, supporting growth, and providing our clients with the tools they need to succeed. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited for the future we’re building—both for our company and the industries we serve.” By focusing on quality, innovation, and
customer support, RGM Cranes is not just meeting the demands of today’s industrial landscape—it’s shaping the future of heavy lifting in Africa. In other news, BB Cranes is to
manufacture its first 30-metre-span overhead crane, a record for this Cape Town-based company and the direct result of improved manufacturing capabilities and a recently expanded factory floor. The wide-span double-girder electric
overhead travelling crane is one of six ordered by boatbuilders Robertson and Caine, the largest manufacturer of catamarans in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest globally. BB’s 30 metre span, 5-ton capacity crane is for the factory in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. Robertson and Caine has also ordered
two single-girder and two double-girder BB machines, all with 5-ton capacity. They will span 20 metres (two cranes),
19 metres and 18 metres. The sixth crane on order is a 10-ton double-girder machine
with a span of 20 metres. BB will assemble all six from standard components and fit them with twinned short-headroom Condra hoists – two per crane. There will be variable-speed drives on the long- and cross-travels for precise boat positioning. A spokesman for BB Cranes said three
of the six cranes would be manufactured simultaneously with two other wide- span machines ordered by Rovic, an independent agricultural machinery manufacturer that commissioned three double-girder overhead cranes in the first half of 2024, two of them designed with 28-metre spans just two metres shy of BB’s new 30-metre record. “Our crane spans are usually anything
between 18 and 25 metres, so we see the 28-metre-span machines for Rovic – and especially the 30-metre span crane for Robertson and Caine – as justifying our decision to expand BB’s capabilities and increase our factory floor space,” the spokesman said. BB has steadily upgraded its capabilities
and procedures at Rivergate Industrial Park since 2022, when BB Cranes became a member of the Condra group. In June 2024, the company increased its
factory floor area by 400 square metres. “All of these cranes represent turnkey
deliveries from design through to installation. For us, they are affirmation of BB’s decision to grow,” said the spokesman. Robertson and Caine has been BB
Cranes’ customer for 20 years. Current work for the boatbuilders includes partial on-site automation of a 16-ton crane used in repetitive applications, control of which will be reduced to the single push of one button to accelerate production and improve productivity. The BB Cranes spokesman explained that the number of enquiries for automated cranes was increasing. “We offer automation across our product
range, working in collaboration with Condra’s design office,” he said. “Condra is accumulating automation
experience and is currently automating a crane for use in wrap-and-protect operations in Gauteng. We hope to see more automated cranes among our customers here in Cape Town,” said the spokesman. Currently equipped with eight BB cranes,
Generic photo of a Condra overhead crane in a factory environment. 46 | January 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
Robertson and Caine’s new order will bring its total of BB machines to 14. All six of the new cranes were delivered in November and December 2024.
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