A major refurbishment project in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is being supported by German hoist manufacturer GEDA GmbH’s transport platforms and material hoists, which are being supplied on a rental basis to improve productivity and address labour and cost pressures on site, says lifting solutions provider SkyJacks.

The equipment is being used during the renovation of the Oceans Building, which is an anchor property within the Oceans Mall development, where the structure has been fully scaffolded to enable large-scale refurbishment work.

SkyJacks divisional director Stephan Naude explains that the use of specialised transport platforms has simplified site logistics and reduced manual handling requirements in what is a constrained construction environment.

Naude reports that the deployment of GEDA lifting technology on the project has resulted in time savings of about 30%, while enabling work to be completed with about half the workforce typically required.

The company reports that this reflects the growing importance of efficient, rental-based capital equipment solutions as contractors defer capital expenditure and seek to optimise labour utilisation.

GEDA supplied two GEDA 500 Z/ZP transport platforms and a GEDA 300 Z materials hoist for the project, while SkyJacks arranged the equipment to be used on a rental basis and delivered ongoing on-site technical support.

SkyJacks notes that rental and short-term hire models are increasingly used to give contractors access to high-performance equipment without the financial burden of ownership.

SkyJacks says the GEDA 500 Z/ZP units were selected for their versatility, as they can operate both as material hoists and as transport platforms for personnel, owing to dual independent control systems. The company explains that the platforms offer lifting speeds of up to 24 m/min in materials mode and 12 m/min in passenger mode, supporting faster vertical transport on multistorey sites.

Further, the compact design, high load capacity and modular platform options of the GEDA 500 Z/ZP allow the units to be configured to suit site-specific requirements, while the open platform design improves loading efficiency and ergonomics, the company avers.

SkyJacks notes that the GEDA 300 Z materials hoist complemented the larger platforms. The hoist uses lightweight aluminium masts to simplify installation and features a swivelling cabin and integrated loading ramp to support safe materials handling on each level. The company notes that the unit’s compatibility with both 230 V and 400 V options allows it to adapt to different site conditions.

Naude concludes that the project demonstrates how access to the right capital equipment, supported by rental and technical services, can help construction companies maintain productivity while responding to economic pressure and labour constraints.