Page 22 - Energize January 2022

NEWS

‘One-stop’ service adds lifting inspections division

s a fully registered Lifting Machine Entity (LME), Dekra Industrial SA is able to provide
registered Lifting Machine Inspectors (LMIs) in various approved categories, to
Aconduct comprehensive inspection and load testing services of lifting and rigging
equipment. This includes overhead cranes, truck-mounted (TM) cranes, lifting tackle,
mobile elevating work platforms (or ‘cherry pickers’ as they are commonly referred to), with
offshore cranes shortly to be added.
“We are very pleased to have attained our LME registration,” says Johan Gerber,
Managing Director of Dekra Industrial RSA. “Furthermore, the addition of the lifting
inspection division broadens our offering even further, being the third element in our ‘one-
stop’ approach as a holistic provider of non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection, in
addition to corrosion control with rope access, and drone NDT inspections.”
The role of Project Leader: Industrial Lifting Inspections division has been filled by
prominent industry expert Jarques (‘JP’) Müller, who is well-known and highly regarded
within the lifting industry both locally and pan-Africa, and has been registered as an LMI
(Lifting Machinery Inspector) since 2008.
With over 20 years of experience in the inspections, maintenance, NDT and lifting
industries, Müller brings a wealth of experience to the table, having been at the helm of
a number of successful companies over the years before joining Dekra Industrial. These
include SSA Acoustic & Specialised Inspections, Acumax - which Müller founded - SGS South at a client’s site requires it,” notes Gerber.
Africa, EnerMech and uNyazi Sales and Services. “Our lifting inspections division further
By making use of his extensive lifting inspection-related business development and elevates Dekra Industrial’s complement of
project management experience, Müller will be responsible for a substantial portfolio core NDT inspection service offerings. By
including divisional set-up, LME applications, procedures and documentation, development making use of our current presence on-site
and implementation – as well as for driving the management, growth and expansion of the with our NDT services, we can expand our
lifting division, and extending Dekra Industrial’s lifting and rigging client base throughout offering so it becomes part of our one-stop
Southern Africa. strategy, to include certifying and testing
“Dekra Industrial is already entrenched in the steel sector, and this new division now cranes for lifting tackle. This potentially
opens up opportunities within other vertical areas, for example the maritime industry as presents a suitable set of circumstances
well as the general industrial and manufacturing sectors, industrial refineries, oil and gas, to extend our services – we are able to
light and heavy engineering and mining, petrochemical, offshore and even agriculture. Every leverage our existing skills and presence
sector uses cranes and truck-mounted cranes, offering limitless possibilities,” clarifies Müller. into new opportunities.”
“My aim is to ensure that the highest priority is given to effective operational set-up Future business opportunities and
and management of the lifting inspections division, in order to meet and exceed client market segments to target include the
requirements for high-quality, safe services,” he notes. “With an experienced team behind offshore arena – where the certification
me, and access to the required skills, market intelligence and willpower, I am able to guide a is pending – as well as heavy engineering,
company, division and / or project to success. petrochemical and industrial.
My experience in lifting and rigging around the world includes working in the Explains Müller: “This is because,
Netherlands and Nigeria before my return to South Africa in 2007. I was also involved in one in these industries, some 80 percent of
of the heaviest load tests ever carried out in South Africa: namely, a 1200 tonne load test in companies make use of overhead cranes,
Cape Town harbour. I am therefore greatly looking forward to bringing my extensive lifting- truck mounted cranes and lifting cranes,
related experience and skills to Dekra Industrial in this next exciting stage of my career!” where Dekra Industrial is already certified,
Müller comments. and where these areas offer long-term
“We are very pleased to have JP on board,” adds Gerber, “as he is extremely well- relationship possibilities.
known in the industry, with a true wealth of experience which will assist us in bringing new We have specific existing and new
opportunities to our current and future clients across a number of industries. Our expansion clients in target industries, such as agri-
also includes access to qualified LMIs, and we will ensure the transfer of lifting industry skills companies, fabricators and engineering
within the company too.” workshops, foundries, mines, distribution
Dekra Industrial’s lifting inspection division is certified in the areas of all lifting tackle, centres, retailers, distilleries, shipping
truck-mounted cranes, overhead cranes and aerial mobile elevating work platforms or cherry yards and crane companies. In addition,
pickers, with a certification in offshore cranes currently pending: “Dekra Industrial is also we will also be expanding and providing
certified by the IWH (Institute for Work at Height), which - while not a requirement of lifting the lifting inspections in sub-Saharan
inspections per se - certainly equips us to perform lifting inspections at height if the situation Africa.”

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