Crane Manufacture in a Single Factory
BB Cranes, the Cape Town-based subsidiary of crane and hoist manufacturer Condra, closed on June 30th. Sales, service and support will continue through Blue Cranes of Killarney Gardens.
Announcing the closure, managing director Marc Kleiner says Condra remains committed to maintaining a strong presence throughout the Western Cape. “Condra and the Western Cape go back more than half a century and this relationship will continue into the future.”
Doubled investment costs
Marc explains that BB Cranes’ closure was necessary partly because of new and developing crane technologies that would have doubled investment costs if incorporated in two factories. “BB products have always been Condra-manufactured. They are essentially re-branded Condra machines,” he adds.
“So it makes a lot of sense to manufacture in a single factory, and to continue sales, service and support through Blue Cranes rather than BB. Condra’s Johannesburg works will manage all manufacture from now on.”
Technically complex
BB Cranes was formed in 1992 to marry girders to Condra’s technically complex hoists, crabs, end-carriages and other components made in Johannesburg. Condra acquired majority ownership of the company in 2016. Full acquisition took place in 2022.
Johannesburg-headquartered Condra is a leading manufacturer of custom-designed overhead cranes, portal cranes, jib cranes, hoists and general crane components for central and southern Africa, as well as for countries in North America, South America, Asia and Eastern Europe. The company turns sixty in July this year.
