Case Study: MRI Unit Extraction from Meriter Hospital

Meriter Hospital required a 27,000 pound MRI unit to be removed from the second floor. Although our experienced crew has transferred similar - even heavier - machines before, the procedure is complicated. This project also presented an obstacle: the driveway could not completely handle the weight of the machine, and so the crib needed to place the majority of the weight onto the column heads below. First, however, we needed to remove an 8,000 pound precast concrete panel from the building, opening access to the second floor.

Our 15,000 pound-capacity fork truck was placed on top of the weight-distributing crib to pick the panel. Then, we built the crib up to reach the second-floor access area. We rolled the MRI out and onto the crib. Here, we had to work with another challenge: an overhang dropped lower than the machine and crib. We jacked the crib down about two feet to allow the MRI unit to glide under the overhang. A crane stood ready to place the machine onto the waiting trailer. The empty crib was partially removed, the fork truck replaced the precast concrete panel, and our job was complete. Once again, we moved a large piece of equipment through the tightest corners, as we've been doing since 1888.