Handling and lifting solutions for laboratory equipment in Nantes

Our Bovis Atlantique agency in Loire Atlantique (44) is a specialist in heavy and complex handling. We operate near Nantes in Loire Atlantique as well as in Brittany for all handling, transport, lifting and installation services for heavy, fragile and bulky machines and equipment.

This know-how is particularly suitable for services related to the medical and hospital sector. Indeed, these establishments use many high-tech machines, materials and equipment that are therefore fragile. The sensitivity of this equipment is therefore a handling constraint for transport and handling specialists.

In a sector as crucial and strategic as the health and medical industry, the transport of this type of sensitive equipment requires special attention. As such, the transport of machines must be strictly supervised to avoid disrupting the activity at all costs.

Bovis Atlantique recently organised the transport and complex handling of a shelter for a university hospital. A Shelter is a modular shelter designed to protect medical equipment. The project consisted of delivering this voluminous equipment from Nantes to the Poitiers University Hospital.

Upstream methodological analysis

After identifying the specific constraints of the project, our project manager developed the most suitable methodology.

This is how our specialists have previously analysed the nature, weight and points of fragility of the equipment to be transported. The evaluation of the constraints of access to the site was also studied upstream.

Only after comparing the different solutions does the team make the decision on the precise type of lifting and handling.

Stress assessment

The modular shelter to be delivered was 14 meters long, 3.50 meters high and 3.20 meters deep. Suffice to say that this equipment was characterized by extraordinary dimensions. It also weighed a very high 18 tons. This equipment was therefore a complexity to transport due to its large dimensions and weight.

In addition, access to the site was restricted. Indeed, the delivery was to be made in an English courtyard inside the hospital center.

Simulations were therefore carried out to anticipate the movements taking into account the particularities of this operation. This anticipation has made it possible to deal with unforeseen events and to ensure smooth handling.

Choice of methodology 

After comparing the different solutions, the team made the decision to first unload the equipment from the manufacturer's site using our 60-tonne capacity crane.

The choice then fell on an exceptional 2nd category transport from Nantes to the University Hospital.

Access constraints led the specialized technicians to opt for the installation of a crane for the positioning of a crane with a capacity of 250 tons. This crane system allowed our crane operators to transport the equipment above the building.

The equipment was then lowered inside the English courtyard of the University Hospital and delicately placed on the ground.

The installation of the shelter was successfully completed.