SURFACE MINING

Condra wins Africa crane order

Company to deliver new machinery to South African mine

 Company to deliver new machinery to South African mine

Company to deliver new machinery to South African mine

Condra, a South Africa-based mine equipment supplier, won a contract to deliver six cranes, one portal and five double-girder overhead machines to a South African mine.

The company said four of the six cranes ordered are identical 10-tonne overhead machines with spans of 6.5 metres, and two have already been delivered. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. 

The first was installed underground and commissioned on 24 November for maintenance duty on pumps, motors and other equipment - the remaining two 10-ton cranes will be completed this year to join the third on-site early in 2022, the company said.

Condra explained that it won the tender for the order even though its bid was not the lowest and said this is evidence of a trend towards buyers valuing "lower overall lifetime costs over price."

These lower costs are achieved through supplier commitment and an ability to deliver "ongoing, reasonably priced after-sales service and maintenance.

It said a similar trend could also be seen in the market for second-hand cranes, where almost-new machines manufactured by companies unable to deliver effective maintenance lose value faster than older cranes.

Marc Kleiner, managing director of Condra, said a crane has no long-term value if it cannot be maintained.

"Some brands carry a risk of rapidly escalating maintenance costs after the guarantee period," he said.

"Project consultants are not liable for these after the warranty expires, so when a customer needs service at the end of that time, he sometimes finds the cost higher than projected."

Condra did not disclose the name of the mine or mine owner.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production