The South African coastal city of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, is known for its cultural richness shaped by African, Indian influences. But on one of its major construction sites, German engineering is also taking centre stage. As part of the extensive renovation of the Oceans Building, an anchor property within the well-known Oceans Mall – a transport platform from Bavarian hoist manufacturer GEDA GmbH is driving efficiency and ensuring smooth project execution.
The building has been fully scaffolded for the large-scale refurbishment, a complex logistical task made significantly easier through expertise ‘Made in Germany’, with project teams reporting a 30% time saving and the ability to work with half the usual workforce thanks to GEDA’s lifting technology. These results, highlighted by long-standing South African partner SkyJacks, demonstrate the significant impact that the right hoisting solutions can have on cost-effectiveness, ergonomics and the ongoing shortage of skilled labour.
GEDA supplied two GEDA 500 Z/ZP transport platforms and a GEDA 300 Z material hoist for the project. SkyJacks handled all rental requirements and provided on-site technical support throughout.
Flexible solution for the most demanding requirements
The GEDA 500 Z/ZP proved invaluable on the project thanks to its versatility. Designed for the tough demands of everyday construction sites, it can operate both as a pure material hoist and as a transport platform for people, made possible by its two independent control systems. With lifting speeds of 24 m/min in material mode and 12 m/min in passenger mode, the unit supports rapid construction progress.
Its compact design, high load capacity and range of platform variants allow the GEDA 500 Z/ZP to be tailored to the specific needs of any construction site. The open, spacious platform provides ample room for various building materials, ensuring efficient loading and unloading at each level.
Also contributing to the renovation was the GEDA 300 Z – smaller in size but equally reliable. Despite its compact footprint, the hoist delivers robust performance, supported by lightweight 2 m aluminium masts for easy assembly. It features a convenient loading/unloading ramp and a 90-degree swivelling cabin, enabling safe and ergonomic working on each floor. With a 300 kg load capacity and compatibility with both 230 V and 400 V power versions, the GEDA 300 Z adapts seamlessly to different site layouts. Together, these hoists made transporting even large scaffolding components remarkably straightforward.
Enthusiasm among project partner SkyJacks
Stephan Naude, Divisional Director at SkyJacks, was extremely satisfied with the successful outcome of the project: “We have had consistently positive experiences with GEDA transport platforms and material hoists in the past. But this project in particular once again highlighted how efficient and economical it is to use the right lifting technology. The enormous reduction in the workload for staff is particularly noteworthy. Thanks to the GEDA hoists, we were able to work with half the team and achieve a time saving of around 30% – an impressive result that is reflected in all areas: from cost-effectiveness and ergonomics to overcoming the shortage of skilled workers.”
