Customer:
One of the UK's largest and best performing aerospace metallic manufactured details suppliers.

Machine Types:
Metal forming and machinery, including CNC centres, to manufacture engine and airframe structures.

Project:
Relocation of CNC lathes from first floor to ground floor.

Case Study:
In 2000 Merritts were employed by the aerospace suppliers to install machinery on its first floor production area in Ilkeston. Seven years later, some of the machines were to be relocated to the ground floor as part of a production restructure.

The seven machines comprised various Bridgeport CNC lathes, weighing a maximum 4T.
Access from the first to ground floor was provided by an aperture in the floor slightly larger than the largest machine. Such restricted access called for an innovative relocation process.

Merritts were able to supply the same personnel who had initially installed the machines and so were familiar with both the equipment and site conditions.
The relocation process commenced with the removal of motors and guards from the machines prior to jacking onto machine moving skates and positioning adjacent to the floor opening.

Simultaneously an industrial lift truck was positioned on the ground beneath the aperture and the forks were raised through the opening to first floor level. The machines were each skated onto the forks and lowered through the opening to the ground floor. They were then moved through the factory to a new position where they were lined, leveled and reassembled.

Challenges on this project came as a result of the restricted access between the floors. The dimensions of the floor opening were very close to those of the machines and necessitated extreme precision in handling and excellent communication between the personnel of each floor level.

The project was completed successfully with minimal disruption to ongoing production.