Lift-In & Installation of Five Sterilization Autoclaves

At a glance

5 autoclaves · ~5 t each · 7.25 m long · 20 cm ceiling clearance · 5 specialists · 3 days

The challenge

Five new, large-format autoclaves had to be taken off the trailer, moved across the plant and set onto their foundations inside a hall that left almost no room to manoeuvre — and the delivery plan handed over simply wasn't safe.

• Two independent obstructions: the autoclave was too long to pass through the gate, and inside the hall the forklift's working height (~4.60 m) left only 20 cm under the 4.80 m ceiling.
• Brand-new equipment with zero tolerance for damage — any contact or deformation would be unacceptable.
• Work inside an active, still-under-construction hall, with five units to place precisely on their foundations.

Our approach

1. 1

   Survey & measurement

   On-site visit with a full survey of the gate, ceiling, trailer and forklift mast reach; both obstructions were documented in a formal technical report.

2. 2

   Engineering & rigging

   A 7 t forklift, a 60 t crane and a spreader beam to distribute the load evenly along the full length of each autoclave, protecting the shell from deformation.

3. 3

   Unloading

   Our own unloading and transport plan replaced the unworkable one: unloaded kerbside at the trailer, fed into the hall on transport skates, then rolled to its final position.

4. 4

   Installation

   Positioning and setting all five autoclaves onto their foundations, levelled with a laser level.

5. 5

   Commissioning

   Commissioning by the client's supervisors; NM Solutions delivered the unloading, transport and installation.

Results

All five autoclaves were received, moved and installed with 20 cm to spare under the ceiling. Through accurate measurement and sound rigging we did, safely, what the original plan had made impossible — and prevented any risk of dropping or damaging brand-new equipment.