Machine relocation in medical technology: Relocation of a complete machinery fleet

Installation with pinpoint accuracy: SCHOLPP was commissioned by DOT GmbH in Rostock to relocate an entire fleet of machinery on the factory premises. This was carried out as a joint project by the SCHOLPP branches in Berlin, Bremen, and Rostock. A project manager and a team of experienced installers handled all of the tasks, from dismantling and transportation to reinstallation. The project was planned down to the last detail, began early on a Monday morning, and was completed right on schedule by Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend.

DOT in Rostock is one of the world’s leading providers of medical coating technologies for orthopedic and dental implants and instruments. Due to the tight production schedule, the company wanted to minimize downtime for the production process that was to be relocated internally. A task that’s right up SCHOLPP’s alley.

Planned down to the last detail: Efficient use of technology and personnel

Erik Engel from SCHOLPP’s Bremen office took over as project manager for the Rostock office. Using the machine bill of materials, he planned the necessary equipment, the time slots, and the installation team. “We organized our processes so that we dismantled and reinstalled the machines one by one. This allowed our customer, DOT, to quickly begin preparing for recommissioning, machine by machine,” explains Erik Engel.

According to his calculations, an installation team consisting of colleagues from Bremen and Berlin would be sufficient. He promised the client that he would complete the project within five business days. “Our experience and this structured approach allow us to keep time and cost factors under control in relocation projects of this kind. Of course, that makes the customer happy,” Engel continues.

Time-saving: Smart dismantling and flexible transport

Eight machines of various types had to be relocated, including machine tools such as CNC milling machines, lathes, and bar-turning lathes, along with their conveyors. These were part of a fleet of machinery in a production area that was scheduled to be moved from an old building at the site to a new section of the plant. The production facilities also included various shelves, cabinets, and materials. All of that was also moved by the SCHOLPP team.

During the dismantling process, which began on a Monday, the items to be transported were first broken down, after the utility connections had been disconnected - the machinery into manageable large assemblies and the materials into efficient package sizes. At the same time, everything was positioned for rapid removal. Transitions and uneven terrain were covered with steel plates to ensure that all of the components could move smoothly.

Depending on their size and weight (ranging from 3.5 to 11.0 metric tons), the parts were transported by the team either using a forklift (16 metric tons) and heavy-duty moving skates or by truck equipped with a loading crane over a distance of 120 meters on the factory grounds. “This allowed us to handle all of the transport operations flexibly and quickly,” Engel emphasizes.

One after another: Smooth delivery and just-in-time installation

In the new production building, the eight machine tools from the existing inventory and one additional new machining center were to be installed partly on the ground floor and partly on the first or second floor. To lift materials to the upper floors, a free-floating crane platform (16 metric tons) - known as the “Flying Carpet” - was attached to a truck-mounted crane (80 metric tons). Special brackets had been installed on the building beforehand to ensure the platform could be docked precisely.

With a delicate touch and well-planned maneuvers, the machines and equipment components were moved into the production building piece by piece. “We took the approach of working with our DOT colleagues on a just-in-time basis. As soon as we finalized a machine location, they were able to begin connecting the utilities and recommissioning the machine,” Engel explains, illustrating the organizational principle behind the reinstallation process.

Perfect timing: Schedule met and rapid recommissioning

As a result, this 5-day machine relocation was carried out professionally and efficiently. “Huge praise to the team for their dedication and this great performance. I think we have a knack for finding the ideal balance between the number of machines and local conditions, as well as between the amount of technical equipment and the size of our crew,” Erik Engel sums up. Right on schedule, the SCHOLPP team finished its work on Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. There was then nothing to prevent DOT’s production from being recommissioned quickly.

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