Manufacturing

Cape Town company sets new record with boatbuilding crane

A. Condra overhead cranes in a factory environment.

All six of the new cranes will be delivered during November and December 2024. (Image source: Condra)

Cape Town-based BB Cranes has received a notable order from boatbuilders Robertson and Caine, the largest manufacturer of catamarans in the southern hemisphere and the third largest globally

Amongst the six cranes that have been ordered are two single-girder and two double-girder BB machines with 5-ton capacity, spanning 20 metres (two cranes) and 19 metres; a 10-ton double-girder machine with a span of 20 metres; and a 30-metre span, 5-ton capacity crane for the factor in Montague Gardens in Cape Town.

The latter is the crowning jewel of the order. It represents a record for the Cape Town-based company and is a direct result of a company effort to improve its capabilities. BB has steadily upgraded its capabilities and procedures at Rivergate Industrial Park since 2022, when it became a member of the Condra group. In June 2024, the company increased its factory floor area by 400 square metres.

Justifying expansion

BB will assemble all six from standard components, and fit them with twinned short-headroom Condra hoists – two per crane. There will be variable-speed drives on the long- and cross-travels for precise boat positioning.

A BB Cranes spokesman explained that three of the six cranes would be manufactured simultaneously with two other wide-span machines ordered by Rovic, an independent agricultural machinery manufacturer that commissioned three double-girder overhead cranes in the first half of 2024, two of them designed with 28-metre spans just two metres shy of BB’s new 30-metre record.

“Our crane spans are usually anything between 18 and 25 metres, so we see the 28-metre-span machines for Rovic – and especially the 30-metre span crane for Robertson and Caine – as justifying our decision to expand BB’s capabilities and increase our factory floor space,” the spokesman added.

“All of these cranes represent turnkey deliveries from design through to installation. For us, they are affirmation of BB’s decision to grow.”

Automation on the rise

Robertson and Caine has been BB Cranes’ customer for twenty years. Current work for the boatbuilders includes partial on-site automation of a 16-ton crane used in repetitive applications, control of which will be reduced to the single push of one button to accelerate production and improve productivity.

The BB Cranes spokesman explained that the number of enquiries for automated cranes was increasing. “We offer automation across our product range, working in collaboration with Condra’s design office,” he surmised. “Condra is accumulating automation experience, and is currently automating a crane for use in wrap-and-protect operations in Gauteng. We hope to see more automated cranes among our customers here in Cape Town.”

How to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in a warehouse

A visual infographic of Brady's battery solution

The solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk. (Image source: Brady)

Brady Corporation is offering a new, more cost-efficient solution to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in storage

Able to automatically measure 0,5°C temperature differences per second, the solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk.

Brady’s new battery temperature monitoring solution involves 3 components: self-adhesive battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded temperature sensors, RFID readers with up to 16 antennas, and a customisable RFID software platform. The self-adhesive UHF RFID-embedded labels can be applied inside battery cell boxes for fast temperature change detection. Alternatively, every battery cell can be labelled with Brady’s on-metal, printable UHF RFID labels to enable more elaborate advantages in Li-ion battery supply chains.

Every second, the RFID antennas and readers automatically power all labels and sensors in range to collect temperature readings with 0.5°C accuracy. Every temperature reading, and matching battery storage location, is collected by the RFID software platform. When customisable temperature thresholds are reached, the software platform triggers 3^rd party devices via standard API. With almost continuous, automated and accurate temperature monitoring, warehouse stakeholders can receive early warnings via sms, email or even racking warning lights. They can be guided in time to specific warehouse locations for unstable Li-ion battery isolation. Alternatively, Brady’s software platform API can also trigger an autonomous vehicle to automatically remove an unstable battery.

Click here to see how you can benefit from automated battery temperature monitoring in a single, comprehensive visual

Beady battery infographic explaining the solution

Cost-effective

Battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded sensors are a more cost-effective battery temperature monitoring solution than powered RFID tags or IR cameras. UHF RFID labels and their temperature sensors receive power wirelessly from RFID antennas and readers in range. They are available at significantly lower costs – up to 5 times less than battery-powered RFID tags – and do not require maintenance.

The number of RFID readers needed to completely cover storage locations in a warehouse heavily depends on warehouse setup, racking height and storage volume per racking compartment. Brady can connect up to 16 antennas to a single RFID reader that provides high accuracy, high speed temperature monitoring for all storage locations in 12 metre wide and 4 metre high racking.

The automated, and almost continuous, nature of the temperature monitoring solution enables Li-ion battery manufacturers and logistics companies to significantly increase safety and reduce risk at advantageous costs.

Discover battery monitoring case studies by clicking here

Automated inventories

By adding an RFID reader gate at designated warehouse exits, Brady’s solution can also enable automated, real-time warehouse inventories. RFID labelled items are read by Brady’s RFID readers the moment their label enters reader range. When they pass through a designated RFID reader gate, these items can easily be subtracted from the inventory by the RFID software platform. When used in this way, the solution can provide cost-effective battery track & trace inside the warehouse from entry to exit, complete with battery cell box or battery cell temperature fluctuation in between.

Get some inspiration from Brady's free guidebook here

This article is authored by Brady Corporation

Modular training workstation to inspire current and future professionals

Key stakeholders from Bosch Rexrtoh posing for a picture with the new solution.

The flexibility of the solution enables it to accommodate various courses in the hydraulic and pneumatic training environment. (Image source: Bosch Rexroth)

Bosch Rexroth Africa’s Training Department has launched a modular training workstation in order to enhance its training services and address the shortage of hydraulic and pneumatic skills in Africa

Available to customers, training, providers and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as well as universities, the workstation is designed to be customisable and adaptable – enabling it to meet unique training needs of users.

The workstation aims to provide participants with practical experience with real-world equipment and machinery for industries such as fitting, millwright, diesel, mechanics, earth-moving and mechatronics and can accommodate various courses.

Building a skilled workforce

Bosch Rexroth Africa Training Department is a registered and accredited training provider and this new initiative is aimed at supporting continuous learning and upskilling of crucial skills to be build a more competent workforce.

“By demonstrating the practical benefits and real-world applications of these training workstations, we hope to inspire current and future professionals to embrace continuous learning and development,” remarked Allen van Gert, group training manager.

Starlinger enhances woven plastic packaging capabilities

Starlinger plastic tape fabric used in packaging cement bags

Sacks made of plastic tape fabric for packaging dry bulk goods such as cement provide a lightweight, resistant and sustainable alternative to paper and film sacks. (Image source: Starlinger)

Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft m.b.H., an Austrian machine manufacturing company, has acquired the woven packaging division from German machinery producer, Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H)

The company has also taken over W&H’s Viennese subsidiary company, W&H Machinery GmbH, a specialist in woven packaging. This development is aimed at strengthening its position as a world-leading supplier of machinery for woven plastic packaging and the integration of the related technologies holds significant potential for synergy effects in engineering, services and sales.

“The acquisition of W&H’s woven packaging division means that we can extend our portfolio and offer even more individual solutions to producers of sustainable woven plastic packaging,” remarked Angelika Huemer, CEO and managing partner of Starlinger. “We expect synergy effects and advantages for our customers not only with regard to technology, but also through our well-developed worldwide sales and service network.”

The products of W&H’s woven packaging portfolio will be marketed by Starlinger in the future. With regard to service and spare parts, Starlinger takes over the worldwide support of the customers.

“The decision to part with our woven sack division allows us to focus our resources on growth in the paper and film packaging market,” added Falco Paepenmüller, CEO of W&H Group. “Woven packaging products, on the other hand, fit perfectly into the existing portfolio and infrastructure of Starlinger. When we chose the buyer, it was especially important for us that our customers in the woven packaging market continue to receive excellent and reliable service and support.”

BUA Group to pursue emerging market opportunities with US$200mn finance facility

A picture from a cargo ship looking at another one in a port.

BUA’s portfolio spans sugar and cement production, flour milling, oil processing, real estate development, oil and gas, shipping and ports. (Image source: AFC)

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a multilateral financial institution, has facilitated a US$200mn corporate finance facility for BUA Group to support its medium-term objectives by unlocking capital to pursue emerging market opportunities

BUA Group is a Nigerian conglomerate spanning food, infrastructure, mining and manufacturing sectors and will utilise the financial support to pursue its expansion plans, thereby boosting its industrial base and Nigeria’s export manufacturing capacity.

“The success of this transaction reflects the strength of AFC’s financial advisory expertise in providing top-tier strategic, corporate finance and technical guidance to leading institutions across Africa,” remarked executive director and head of financial services at AFC, Banji Fehintola. “We are proud to have played a central role for BUA in their continued expansion, driving local manufacturing, job creation and economic prosperity in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”

Boosting Nigerian self-sufficiency

The financing was approved by Afreximbank in two tranches, the first US$150mn of which has been dispersed. It marks the second successful financial advisory mandate that AFC has closed for the BUA Group.

“With Afreximbank’s support, BUA can increase investments to strengthen industrial capacity and meet regional demand,” remarked Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON, chairman of BUA. “Our goal is sustainable growth that boosts Nigeria’s self-sufficiency and Africa’s global trade presence, creating jobs and building economic resilience.”

Kanayo Awani, executive vice president, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, added, “We are delighted at this partnership, which promises to deliver significant impact through job creation, import substitution, and export diversification – thereby boosting Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”