A Condra portal crane in action. (Image source: Condra)

A single, purpose-built Condra top gantry crane is to service Ngwadini Dam, currently under construction as part of the Lower uMkhomazi bulk water supply project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The design, proposed by Condra’s Johannesburg office, was chosen ahead of competing tenders suggesting combinations of individual machines to operate the dam’s trash racks, sluice gates and stop blocks.

Condra proposed a single portal crane: one machine fitted with two hoists traversing the same platform. The crane will straddle the dam’s 52-metre-high wall as an integral unit to deliver a neater and simpler lifting solution.

The crane’s physical appearance is dominated by cantilevers at both ends of the 31.5-metre girders, while supporting legs are spaced just 19.5 metres apart. The crane will stand 11.3 metres high.

Traversing the girders will be two hoists with capacities of 15 tons and 3 tons. Together they will manage sluice gate and trash rack installation, then execute all aspects of machinery operation and maintenance after the crane is commissioned.

Manufacture at Condra’s Germiston works is almost complete, with delivery scheduled for May and commissioning set to take place in June.

“The main hoist is unusual in its orientation at an angle of 45 degrees to the girder platform,” according a statement by Condra Cranes. “This is necessary to ensure that the rope will run clear of asymmetrically orientated slots accessing the wall’s guide shafts.”

Condra’s design engineers also increased the diameter of the rope drum and reduced its width to attain the required rope lead angle, adjusting the gear reduction and gearbox size to accommodate these changes.

Ngwadini Dam’s gantry crane will feature proximity sensors on the girder rails and ground rails, part of a positioning system with integrated display panel read-out to indicate when the crane is correctly and precisely positioned to execute its various lifting and lowering functions.

It will also feature flood lights, storm brakes, radio control with pendant back-up and a full-length walkway.

All crane components, including the 31.5-metre girders, have a maximum length of 12 metres to allow delivery by vehicle along difficult access roads.

Each girder is spliced at two points in such a way that there will be a smooth path for the crab wheels, with each splice comprising a combination of bolts and steel plates welded eccentrically to all inside faces of the male section of the box girder. This provides a friction grip to reinforce girder strength and integrity beyond that delivered by the splice bolts alone. The end result is an almost seamless clamped joint with a projected girder life in excess of 20 years, the Condra statement noted.

“Condra’s top-gantry crane for Ngwadini Dam is the latest in this company’s long pedigree of machines designed and manufactured for dam walls across southern Africa, among them the reservoirs of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project where machines with extreme lift heights of 158 metres were commissioned in the late 1990s.”

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Junttan has a new-generation product line powered by Volvo Penta engines. (Image source: Volvo Penta)

Junttan has unveiled its next-generation product line with the launch of the DR5 drilling rig, marking a significant milestone in the company’s evolution

This new line is powered by Volvo Penta engines, with the DR5 being the first to integrate the high-performance Stage V / Tier 4f Volvo Penta TAD1385VE. Delivering 405 kW, this compact yet powerful engine is specifically designed for specialised equipment that requires exceptional uptime and reliability.

“For us, this is a strategic choice for the long term,” remarked Tomi Voutilainen, director of product management and engineering at Junttan. “Volvo Penta’s offering doesn’t just meet our technical needs today — it has the range, flexibility, and development paths to support where we’re going tomorrow.”

The decision to partner with Volvo Penta was made following a comprehensive evaluation process that began in 2020, as Junttan sought to equip its machinery for future job site challenges. Beyond meeting technical criteria such as extended service intervals, compact engine architecture, and adaptable power configurations, Volvo Penta stood out for its alignment in values — including a shared emphasis on transparency, responsiveness, and agility.

“This collaboration shows how Volvo Penta supports OEMs with flexible, dependable solutions,” commented Pasi Järvelä, area sales manager at Volvo Penta. “We aim to be a responsive, long-term partner that grows with our customers.”

A forward-looking partnership

Given the global and often remote nature of Junttan’s operations, the partnership with Volvo Penta offers a crucial advantage: access to a broad, reliable service network that supports ease of maintenance and continuous performance in demanding environments. The new-generation portfolio — encompassing pile driving rigs, drilling rigs, and hydraulic power packs — has been engineered to boost operational efficiency, extend maintenance intervals, and reduce overall ownership costs.

Sustainability and innovation are at the core of this alliance. The DR5 exemplifies Junttan’s forward-thinking approach, incorporating a 20-ton reduction in weight compared to earlier models and the capability to run entirely on renewable HVO fuel.

“This partnership is built to evolve,” Tomi added. “Volvo Penta’s roadmap and modular approach give us confidence that we’ll have the power solutions we need — whatever the future brings.”

Also read: Volvo Penta debuts versatile BESS for demanding sites

Eritrea seeks to bolster water security. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Eritrea has announced the construction of a new dam in the Molqui sub-zone area that it hopes will build on efforts to strengthen the country’s water supplies

“A new dam is under construction in the Aitaber administrative area of the Molqui sub-zone,” a statement by the Ministry of Information noted.

“The dam is expected to ensure a reliable water supply for both humans and livestock, as well as support the development of irrigation farming.”

It added that the dam’s construction is being carried out in collaboration with local residents and members of the defence forces, naming Solomon Gebremeskel as coordinator of the project.

Work on the new dam project is around 80% complete it noted, citing Tesfamicael Gebru, administrator of the sub-zone, who indicated that the dam project is part of broader efforts to construct water reservoirs at the national level.

Earlier in April, the Ministry highlighted some of the challenges in terms of securing water supplies and ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure.

Situated within the Sahelian Belt, Eritrea is characterised by arid and semi-arid conditions and has endured recurrent, often severe, droughts for decades.

The country’s surface water is distributed across five major river basin systems: Setit, Mereb-Gash, Red Sea Basin, Barka-Ansebas and Danakil Ba.

“Although limited in volume, groundwater remains Eritrea’s most reliable source of freshwater,” the Ministry said in a statement on 17 April.

However, it added that rivers, lakes and aquifers across the country are increasingly under pressure due to overexploitation, deforestation, minimal recharge practices and the growing impact of climate change.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Water, and Environment introduced a comprehensive legal and policy framework to guide the sustainable management of water resources.

Eritrea’s access to clean and safe water has improved significantly in recent years, from just 13 per cent in 1991 to around 85 per cent today, through targeted investments in infrastructure, supportive policies and broad-based development efforts.

The number of dams and ponds has grown from 138 at independence in 1993 to nearly 800, further enhancing national water storage and distribution capacity.

“In 2023 alone, 16 micro-dams were completed, and were slated for completion in the last year," the Ministry of Information noted. “Furthermore, 17 micro-dams have been scheduled to be launched across 2024/25, underscoring the country’s sustained commitment to expanding access and building resilience."

It added that partnerships and cooperation with international development organisations also play a key role in Eritrea’s efforts, providing technical expertise, funding support and capacity-building.

“Through these collaborations, Eritrea is enhancing its ability to implement sustainable water projects and scale innovative solutions nationwide.”

Raubex Building selects Potain MCT 185 tower crane for key housing project, backed by strong local equipment support. (Image source: Manitowoc)

Raubex Building, a prominent construction firm in South Africa, has added a new Potain MCT 185 topless tower crane to its fleet for use on a major housing project currently underway

The project is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

The crane, set up with a full 65 m jib and standing 36 m tall, will remain on-site for around 13 months. With a maximum lifting capacity of 8 t and the ability to hoist 1.5 t at the jib tip, the MCT 185 combines robust performance with a compact, lightweight design that allows for rapid and straightforward assembly.

According to Hugo van Zyl, plant manager at Raubex Building, the crane's efficient performance and the strong support from local Potain distributor Crane and Hoist Equipment made it the ideal fit for the project.

“We wanted a cost-effective, reliable, and productive crane, so opted for the Potain MCT 185. But it’s the aftersales service that truly sets this crane apart. We've worked with Crane and Hoist Equipment on previous projects, and the company’s commitment to reliable support has always exceeded our expectations. Knowing we can count on the expertise and responsiveness of Crane and Hoist Equipment gives us confidence that this crane will keep performing at its best long into the future, helping us meet deadlines while maintaining high construction standards,” concluded van Zyl.