LIFTING EQUIPMENT
Sidewalk to rooftop – lifting for success Lifting a car onto the roof of a three-story building is not a site one sees every day, but this is just what passersby were treated to in Gqeberha recently. The lift and placing of the vehicle on the top of the building were all in a day’s work for the team at Crane Aid Port Elizabeth. According to Jacques Scheepers, Crane Aid PE Branch Manager, the company was approached by Red Bull to place one of their trademark Mini Coopers on top of a building for an event in the city. Not one to shy from a challenge, the team were quick to agree and in February the lift – and de-lift – was concluded, because what goes up, must come down after all. “The events planner wanted the car to be on display at the event that was taking place at a rooftop venue in Gqeberha,” said Scheepers. “We placed the car the day before the event and removed it successfully
the day after the function.” He said the Crane Aid PE branch including technical supervisor Johan Els and Nico Scriven, Salsa Pestana, Damian Alexander, Xolisa Galada and Louis Richards, all technicians and assistants, were excited to be part of the project. “What makes this project important is that it is a testament of the dedication and skill of Crane Aid and Morris when approached with a task,” explained Scheepers. “It also showcases the eagerness and willingness of all the branches and head office to take on any challenge and deliver success no matter what we take upon ourselves.”
Taking on the challenge Showcasing the capability of Morris was part and parcel of the project, said Scheepers, indicating that there was no hesitance on the team side when first approached. “We knew that we could safely and securely do this and immediately set out to make sure we were able to meet the client’s requirements.” According to Scheepers, a platform for the car to be strapped down on was required to lift the car without any danger of it falling. “The job started with designing and building this platform at our branch in Gqeberha. Secondly, we designed and built a spreader bar to ensure that the lifting tackle that was used to lift the car did not damage the vehicle.” For the actual lift, the team used a 50 Ton mobile crane that could easily handle the height and reach of the job. “It was important to use the right equipment. The size of the mobile crane, to ensure it could handle the reach and the height in comparison to the weight of the car, combined with the weight of the lifting equipment was a serious
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Lifting Africa - Mar/Apr 2022
