Tower crane distributor SA French has received a R50-million purchase order for two cranes that will be used for the construction of Eskom’s new base-load power station Medupi, in the Limpopo province, the AltX-listed company said on Tuesday.

SA French, which distributes French company Potain’s cranes in South Africa, said the order was for an MD1100 and an MD485 tower cranes.

“We have sold various cranes in the MD485 category, but the MD1100 is the largest tower crane purchased in the firm’s 26-year history and will be the largest tower crane in Africa to date,” CEO Quentin van Breda said in a statement.

The MD1100 and MD485 cranes can lift a maximum of 40 t and 25 t, respectively. The larger crane will be equipped with an 80 m jib and the smaller with 40 m.

The cranes would be shipped from France and will take approximately 30 days to erect and commission once they have arrived on site. The MD1100 would be on site mid March 2009 and the MD485 in January 2009.

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