Canada-based SafeLift Crane Aid has returned a 40t overhead crane in Northern Manitoba to operational status after engineers completed recommissioning and load testing to support the region’s increasing mining activity.
Technicians performed the load test using certified waterweights, which allowed the equipment and necessary materials to reach the remote location without the logistical challenges and costs that typically come with transporting traditional solid weights.
This approach reduced on-site labour time and eliminated significant freight costs, as all required test gear could be transported in a single pick-up truck.
The load test involved suspending a 35t weight from the headframe crane to verify its operational capability before resuming work in the mining sector.
The use of certified waterweights for high-capacity validation ensures compliance with relevant regulatory standards while supporting efficient commissioning for clients in distant locations.
SafeLift Crane Aid conducted the procedure as part of its broader service offering, which includes inspections, testing, maintenance, and modernisation of overhead cranes and hoisting equipment.
SafeLift Crane Aid operations manager Bradley Sliedrecht said: “By utilising waterweights for the load test, we were able to eliminate the high freight costs associated with transporting traditional test weights to this remote location while significantly reducing labour hours on site. The result is a safer, more efficient commissioning process with substantial savings for the client.”
SafeLift Crane Aid, a division of Venter Cranes headquartered in Saskatchewan, provides sales, service, and parts supply for both overhead cranes and hoists throughout Canada.
The company supports industrial customers across industries such as mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure, with a focus on safety and regulatory compliance.
Services encompass annual and periodic inspections, preventive and corrective maintenance, technical support, and OEM parts supply for various lifting systems.
Teams work with maintenance and engineering staff to reduce downtime and keep lifting equipment in compliance for safe and reliable operation.
Last month, SafeLift Crane Aid commissioned and load tested 10 new jib cranes at a facility in Saskatoon.
