Franna®, a leading manufacturer of pick and carry cranes, will celebrate 40 years of innovation, engineering excellence and collaboration with the Australian crane industry at the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) National Conference 2026, returning as Platinum Sponsor for the industry's flagship event.
Since its establishment in 1986, Franna has worked closely with crane owners, operators and industry stakeholders to continuously refine the pick and carry concept, delivering practical lifting solutions that improve safety, productivity and mobility on site. Manufactured in Brisbane and recognised across construction, infrastructure, mining, utilities and industrial applications, Franna has built its reputation by listening to customers and engineering products around real-world lifting challenges.
Having joined Franna as a Design Engineer in 1989, just three years after the brand was founded, General Manager Danny Black has witnessed first-hand much of the journey and its evolution alongside the Australian crane industry.
"Reaching 40 years is a proud milestone for Franna," said Danny Black. "It's an opportunity to recognise the people and businesses that have been part of that journey, from our employees and distributors to the customers who continue to work with our products every day.
"We're proud of our history, but we're equally focused on the future. CICA provides the ideal opportunity to celebrate how far we've come, while also sharing some of what comes next."
A major feature of Franna's presence at CICA 2026 will be the celebration of two long standing customers who are marking significant milestones of their own.
Borgers will take delivery of its 100th Franna crane during the event, recognising decades of investment in the brand. The milestone machine will be presented in a distinctive Aboriginal inspired livery to mark the occasion.
"Taking delivery of our 100th Franna crane is a significant milestone for Borgers and one we are proud to celebrate alongside Franna's 40th anniversary. Franna cranes have been an integral part of our fleet for many years, and reaching this milestone reflects our shared commitment to customers across the Australian crane industry," said Shawn Borger, CFO of Borgers.
General Crane Services WA will also celebrate 15 years in business at CICA 2026, having grown its fleet and operations alongside Franna during that time. A specially wrapped crane supporting the Telethon charity initiative will feature as part of the celebrations, highlighting the company's commitment to both industry and community.
"Celebrating 15 years in business at the same time Franna marks its 40th anniversary makes this year's CICA particularly special,” said Nick Bucciarelli, Managing Director, General Crane Services WA.
“Franna has played an important role in our journey, helping us grow our fleet in support of customers across Western Australia. We're proud to recognise both milestones together and to continue building on a relationship that has delivered value for our business and our customers."
On Thursday 29 October, Danny Black will join the CICA Manufacturers' Panel, a cornerstone of the national conference that brings together leading crane manufacturers to discuss innovation, emerging technologies and the key trends shaping the future of the crane industry.
The following day, Jaco Britz, Director of Engineering, will deliver a technical presentation, 40 Years of Engineering Progress, exploring the evolution of Franna cranes and the engineering advancements that have helped drive safety, productivity and performance across four decades.
While the anniversary celebrations will provide a focal point for Franna's presence at CICA 2026, the event will also look ahead, with the brand offering attendees an early preview of the latest addition to the Franna product portfolio, while contributing to industry discussions on the future of lifting technology.
"Our history has always been defined by listening to customers and solving real lifting challenges," continued Black. "That approach created the original Franna and it continues to drive our engineering focus today. As we celebrate 40 years at CICA, we're excited to celebrate the past but also give the industry a first look at what's next for the Franna product portfolio."
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