Franna pick-and-carry cranes stand out for their unique mobility, agility and safety, making them ideal for the challenging terrain, tight spaces, and dynamic demands of mining and industrial operations. Franna cranes operate without outriggers, enabling fast set-up and quick transitions between lifts – crucial in remote or time-sensitive environments.
Their articulated frame design offers outstanding manoeuvrability, allowing operators to navigate sites that would be inaccessible to conventional crane types. In addition, Franna machines are engineered for high road speeds, meaning they can be driven between job sites instead of requiring heavy transport. From a performance perspective, Franna cranes provide a compelling combination of lifting strength and versatility. Even though they may not always match the capacity of large all-terrain cranes, their ability to pick up a load and carry it directly to its required location gives them a unique operational advantage.
Safety is built into their design. Modern Franna models include features such as overload protection, dynamic load moment indicators (LMI), and ergonomic operator cabins to enhance both control and visibility. In sum, for African mines and industries – where mobility, reliability, rapid deployment, and safe operation are paramount – Franna cranes offer a smart, efficient, and practical lifting solution.
Over the past five years, Paterson Simons has been proud to serve as the official Franna dealer for West and Central Africa. From the outset, our mission has been more than simply sales – it has been about providing comprehensive support: new units, spare parts, servicing, and support for legacy Franna fleets that previously lacked local representation. From the very start of our representation, Paterson Simons focused on making Franna more accessible across a broad territory, including Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Senegal. By combining dependable machinery supply with in-region parts support and service, we’ve aimed to build confidence in Franna’s value proposition – even for customers who previously had little or no local support.
In September 2025, our team attended Vertikal Days, the essential event for the lifting and working at height industry, as part of our ongoing commitment to stay at the forefront of crane and lifting technology. The event served as a valuable touchpoint for our Franna engagement – giving our parts, logistics and sales teams firsthand exposure to industry developments, new models, and technological trends.
Meeting with the Franna team at the show was an important opportunity to strengthen ties, exchange technical insights, and reaffirm our shared commitment to delivering innovative lifting solutions tailored to customer needs in West & Central Africa.
As we move into the next phase of our Franna journey, Paterson Simons remains committed to:
- Expanding reach & support – deepening our presence across existing territories and exploring new markets.
- Technical excellence – ensuring our teams are ever more capable in diagnostics, service, and maintenance.
- Innovation & insight – staying at the cutting edge of crane technology and sustainability trends, as reinforced by engagements like Vertikal Days.
- Customer centricity – never losing sight that our value lies in enabling our customers to do more, safer, and more reliably.
To our customers, partners, and to Franna itself: thank you for the trust, the collaboration, and the ambition. Together, we’re building not just crane deployments, but a legacy of support, performance, and partnership across West and Central Africa.
Images below from our visit to Vertikal days, first image below shows James Heels, Group Business Development Manager, in a Franna AT22
