Company Announcement - The FITASC Compak clay target shooting Sporting World Championship 2014 was held from 15 to 17 August 2014 at Hippo Creek Shooting Range near Vanderbijlpark. In preparation for the championship, the range was required to erect a tower which would house locally manufactured and imported clay target launchers. Johnson Crane Hire offered its lifting services in a gesture of community-minded spirit. Dean Wepener, branch manager for Johnson Crane Hire Vanderbijlpark, explains that the shooting range, which is situated 15 km outside Vanderbijlpark on the Lindequesdrift road, is an existing clay target shooting range offering 10 shotgun (clay target) disciplines. However, in order to bring its facilities up to world class standards, the range needed to erect a new tower on which three hi-tech clay target launching machines would be mounted in east-, west- and north-facing directions.

Wepener says that he was approached by Ryan Lotter, one of the contestants, to provide Hippo Creek with a lifting service for the 56 m high cell phone tower, which was donated by the Cavaleros Group. Transportation was provided by Madison Freightlines and Gauteng Rigging Services undertook the rigging required. Access to the range was extremely challenging for both the transportation and heavy lift crews. In order to erect the tower Johnson Crane Hire first needed to cut down a number of trees.

The tower, with a mass of 22 tons, was brought to site in two sections and offloaded 60 m from its final location. Wepener says that the two sections then needed to be placed onto an extendable step deck, designed by Johnson Crane Hire. Using a 50 t and a 140 t crane and with assistance from the Madison Freightlines team, the tower sections were moved closer to the desired location by the Johnson Crane Hire team. “The ground conditions were less than desirable, with serious space constraints as well as little level ground on which to place the 140 t LTM1130 crane’s outriggers. Our crane operators were severely tested but performed with aplomb and fortitude,” Wepener comments.

The final operation started with cables being inserted to winch the clay target launchers into place. The first part of the operation required lifting the 30 m long base into position and bolting it down. The second section of the tower was then lifted on top of the first section and locked in place. The GRS rigging team then fixed the target launchers in place.

“Although the unusual environmental conditions encountered extended Johnson Crane Hire’s time on site, the actual lift was accomplished quickly and efficiently, due to the expertise of the team. Ingenuity and a willingness to work under duress is a hallmark of Johnson Crane Hire employees and contributed to the success of the lift,” says Wepener.