Morris Material Handling SA (Pty) Ltd stands as Africa’s largest crane company, offering a comprehensive suite of products and services essential for the demanding environment of the mining industry. With a significant footprint across numerous African countries, Morris provides robust and reliable lifting solutions designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and productivity in mining operations. Our expertise in design, fabrication, machining, and assembly of light, medium, and heavy engineering products ensures that we can meet the unique challenges of the mining sector.
Morris Material Handling supplies and manufactures a wide range of cranes, hoists, and accessories, many of which are specifically suited for the rigorous and often hazardous conditions found in mines. Our product range is predominantly based on the ABUS range of lifting equipment from Germany, manufactured to the highest European Standards, which we have distributed as the sole Sub-Saharan agent for over a decade.
Specialised Products for the Mining Industry
Morris Material Handling supplies and manufactures a wide range of cranes, hoists, and accessories, many of which are specifically suited for the rigorous and often hazardous conditions found in mines. Our product range is predominantly based on the ABUS range of lifting equipment from Germany, manufactured to the highest European Standards, which we have distributed as the sole Sub-Saharan agent for over a decade.
Cranes
We offer a diverse selection of cranes that are vital for material handling in mining:
- Process and Heavy Duty Cranes: These cranes are engineered to handle the intense loads and continuous operation typical of smelting processes and metal production facilities.
- Single Girder Cranes: Versatile and efficient for a variety of lifting tasks within a facility.
- Double Girder Cranes: Ideal for higher capacities and spans, often required for large-scale operations in metals and smelting. Morris has recently erected twin double girder bridge cranes for a company supplying iron ore to the steel industry, showcasing their capability in related sectors.
- Underslung Cranes: Suitable for specific structural requirements where the crane runs beneath its runway.
- Portal Cranes & Semi-Portal Cranes: Often used for outdoor applications or in areas where overhead structures are not feasible, such as stockyards or material handling areas.
- Jib Cranes: Provide localised lifting solutions at workstations for efficient material movement. Morris has supplied ABUS Pillar Mounted Jib Cranes with electric chain hoists to facilities like Voith Turbo South Africa for sorting and various workstations.
- HB Systems & Lightweight Mobile Gantry: Offer flexible and adaptable lifting solutions for specific needs.
Hoists
Our range of hoists includes:
Similar to our cranes, we offer Explosion Proof Electric Chain Hoists and Explosion Proof Wire Rope Hoists for hazardous mining environments. These hoists, designed and manufactured in Italy by ETS, meet the highest safety standards, complying with ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, FEM regulations, IEC 60079 standard, and European safety standards (EN). They are suitable for gas zones (1, 2) and dust zones (21, 22), addressing common risks in mining operations like the presence of combustible dusts. ETS ensures full traceability of high-quality materials used in their products.
Accessories
To complement our crane and hoist offerings, we also provide essential accessories such as DSL Systems, various Lifting Tackle, and Morris Push Button and Joystick Remotes, which enhance operational control and safety.
Services for the Mining Industry
Morris Material Handling SA understands that consistent performance and safety are paramount in the mining industry. Our comprehensive service offerings are designed to maximise uptime and extend the lifespan of your lifting equipment.
Inspection and Preventative Maintenance
Our service department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing minor and major services.
- Minor Service includes inspection of mechanical and electrical components, greasing, oiling, immediate running adjustments, and recording wear on critical parts like brake linings, crane wheels, and wire ropes. Preventative maintenance recommendations are also provided.
- Major Service involves a more in-depth inspection, including opening gearbox and electrical motor inspection covers for thorough checks and cleaning. It can optionally include Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of crane welds, cabin, and crab welds, as well as stripping wheels and brakes for detailed inspection. All electrical control panels and junction boxes are inspected and cleaned.
Corrective Maintenance
When faults occur, our corrective maintenance service aims to quickly restore your equipment to operational condition. Following a detailed inspection, our highly trained technicians are available 24/7 throughout Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa to provide safe corrective solutions for urgent breakdowns. You can reach Crane Aid, Morris’s service division, via their 24/7 breakdown number for quick response times.
Crane Rail Alignment
Precise crane rail alignment is critical for the longevity and efficient operation of overhead cranes in mining. Our Runway Survey uses a remotely operated Total Station to provide visual inspection and 3D measurements of crane rail alignment and condition, analyzing span, elevation, and straightness. This analysis helps identify issues like improper installation, corrosion, worn pads, rail misalignment, or structural damage, preventing premature wheel and rail wear, costly repairs, and inefficient crane operation. Adhering to SANS requirements for gantry tolerances also minimises risk.
Fabrication and Refurbishments
Morris Material Handling SA excels in the fabrication of engineering products. Through Crane Aid, we also service, maintain, load test, and refurbish all makes of cranes, hoists, and lifting equipment, ensuring your existing assets can continue to perform optimally.
Crane Maintenance Training and Spare Parts
We offer comprehensive crane maintenance training to equip your personnel with the necessary skills for in-house upkeep. Additionally, a wide range of spares and associated electrical equipment are readily available to support ongoing operations.
Benefits of Morris Cranes & Hoists in the Mining Industry
- Enhanced Safety: Our explosion-proof products meet stringent international standards (ATEX, ISO, OHSAS), mitigating risks in hazardous mining environments. Regular inspections and preventative maintenance further ensure safe operation.
- Operational Efficiency: Tailored crane and hoist solutions, combined with expert corrective and preventative maintenance, minimise downtime and ensure smooth material flow. Accurate crane rail alignment reduces wear and improves efficiency.
- Extended Equipment Lifespan: Comprehensive maintenance, rail alignment, and refurbishment services help prolong the life of your valuable lifting assets, protecting your investment.
- Reliability and Support: As Africa’s largest crane company with a strong presence across the continent, Morris provides unparalleled 24/7 service backup and highly trained technicians for quick response and reliable support.
- Compliance and Expertise: Our products adhere to the highest European standards, and our services ensure compliance with safety regulations like SANS. Our long-standing experience and professional expertise are unmatched in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Morris offers a range of cranes, including single girder, double girder, and underslung cranes, that can be adapted for various mining applications. For areas with explosive gases or dust, our Explosion Proof Overhead Cranes are specifically designed to meet safety requirements for Zone 1, 2 (Gas) and Zone 21, 22 (Dust).
We provide Hazardous Environment Cranes and Hoists, which include products from ETS certified to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and other international safety standards. These units are designed with explosion-proof classification (Exd and Exd/e enclosure protection) to safely operate in environments with gas, mist, vapors, and dust.
Crane rail alignment, performed through our Runway Survey, is crucial as it can significantly increase the lifespan of an overhead crane and its structure. It provides precise information for corrective alignment, prevents premature wheel and rail wear, and ensures the crane operates efficiently and within regulatory tolerances, minimizing risks.
Yes, through Crane Aid, our service division, we offer 24/7 breakdown support with a dedicated number (+27 0800 015 659) for urgent corrective maintenance, ensuring quick response times by highly trained technicians across Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Absolutely. Morris Material Handling SA offers Refurbishments as a key service, capable of servicing, maintaining, load testing, and refurbishing all makes of cranes, hoists, and lifting equipment. This helps extend the operational life of existing machinery.