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 performance second (through newer, faster hoists); and operator familiarity third.
This is because modern refurbishment programmes go beyond basic repairs. They integrate updated controls, safety systems, drives and automation technologies to bring older cranes up to or beyond current performance and compliance standards.
Condra, a leading South African manufacturer of cranes and hoists, offers a comprehensive crane refurbishment service, as well as the design and manufacture of new cranes. Recent refurbishments have included machines as old as 40 years, installed and recommissioned with the same warranty as a new crane.
The familiarity factor, not as obvious as cost savings and improved crane performance, cannot be overemphasised as a leading advantage of refurbishment. The continued use of an as-new machine already familiar to operators avoids any need for retraining. Production can continue as before, with no change to established procedures.
If tempted to buy new, the buyer should ask what the cost might be of lost production in the case of breakdown. Always high, this figure can become unimaginably so if long shipping times are needed for component parts to arrive from a foreign manufacturer. How much production will be lost, and at what cost?
Condra, a South African manufacturer, needs about three weeks to refurbish to top standard, and will incorporate any kind of modern technology the customer might specify to upgrade the crane’s capabilities.
The overall cost is almost always less than buying a new crane.
Usually, Condra refurbishes only its own cranes, because spare parts from rival firms are not always available. They are also expensive to import, whereas Condra manufactures all spares locally.
“If the crane is one of ours, then refurbishment is usually worthwhile,” said the spokesman. “We encourage it because new crane prices are about 60% higher today than they were ten years ago. If needed, we can change crane capacity and span. Even cranes twenty years old or more can usually be improved by installing variable frequency drives for smoother acceleration and deceleration. We can also fit enhancements such as remote control, and a digital read-out on the load.
“So, by refurbishing we deliver back to the customer a crane much faster and lighter than before, and we can automate it, too, upgrading the mechanicals to work with new electrical equipment.
“These options are offered during any refurbishment, from standard 2M workshop cranes to the higher performing machines such as Class 3 and Class 4,” the spokesman added.
Condra claims advanced levels of design flexibility and staff availability for all refurbished cranes.
“There are examples of Condra cranes being sold second-hand for their original purchase price, so crane refurbishment makes a lot of sense,” the spokesman said. “But we’re not doing as many refurbishments as might be expected because our products last a long time, and because we very quickly repair existing crane installations. For a refurbishment we need a little more time, usually two to three weeks.”
Refurbishments carry a two‑year warranty if authorised Condra agents service the crane, or one year if not.
Condra has a long pedigree. 2026 marks sixty years since formation as a general engineering company offering a range of locally made competitively priced hoists. Crane manufacture began in 1971. Today, Germiston is home to headquarters and the 22 000m² primary factory site, with a second factory in Cape Town. There are subsidiary companies in Bulgaria and Chile.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Condra is the acknowledged leader in overhead and high-lift cranes, portal cranes and jib cranes, manufacturing from some 250 components and modular sub-assemblies such as hoists, drives, end-carriages, brakes, gearboxes and motors. Condra makes all 250 except for the motors, hooks and ropes, which are imported. The complete hoist range – from 1 to 500 tons in capacity – is locally manufactured, and readily available as part of any refurbishment.
