Global heavy lifting and engineered transport specialist Sarens has signed on as the official table sponsor for the 2026 Southern African Lifting Awards, reinforcing its commitment to a region emerging as a critical hub for high-stakes industrial infrastructure.

The move highlights how international players are increasingly competing for visibility in Africa’s expanding lifting, rigging, and logistics sectors. Hosted by trade publication Lifting Africa, the awards platform has rapidly gained traction following its inaugural event last year, drawing capital and attention from both multinational corporations and regional suppliers.

For Brussels-based Sarens, the sponsorship follows a dominant performance at the 2025 event. The company’s regional joint venture, Sarens Siba, secured top accolades for both Project of the Year and Excellence in Engineering. By maintaining a high profile at the 2026 event, the company aims to solidify its market position while preparing a fresh slate of competitive entries for this year’s contest.

The lifting provider’s financial backing underscores the growing commercial relevance of the event. Tim Biesemans, Sarens’ Regional Director for Southern Africa, stated that the sponsorship is designed to support industry benchmarks in safety and engineering capability, while acknowledging the clients and partners driving complex local projects.

Sarens operates across several capital-intensive sectors, including renewable energy, mining, petrochemicals, and infrastructure, all of which are seeing heightened investment across the African continent. Surita Marx, managing director of Lifting Africa and founder of the awards, noted that the active investment from global leaders signals a broader maturation of the region’s heavy-machinery and materials-handling ecosystem.

As the 2026 event gains momentum, it is drawing a broader coalition of industrial sponsors looking to capture market share. Organisers confirmed that Taiwan-based Yoke Industrial Corp. and digital asset-management platform RiConnect will return as platinum sponsors. Meanwhile, Electra Mining Africa has renewed its sponsorship alongside new backing from recruitment specialist Lifting Placements, signalling robust institutional support for the region’s industrial services supply chain.