Project Brief

Air handling Unit & Plant Installation.

Butterfield of Skipton (BOS) was contracted by R N Wooler to carry out the installation of new air handling units and associated plant at the Morrisons store in Bradford Victoria.

The project involved complex lifting, handling, and positioning tasks, all of which had to be completed during a limited overnight window between store closure and scheduled deliveries.

Scope of project

What we did…

• Offloading & Lifting:
  Using our lorry-mounted crane, we offloaded two new air handling units from the delivery vehicle and placed them onto pre-prepared plinths outside the building.
• Plant Unloading & Internal Movement:
  We transported our forklift truck to site on the back of the crane flatbed, which was then used to unload four large and tall plant components from a curtain-sider lorry.
• The plant was first lifted out and placed safely on the ground.
• Each unit was then maneuvered into the building using a combination of machine skates under one end and the forklift under the other, pushing the load lengthways.
• Challenging Access Conditions:
  The delivery yard sloped downhill, followed by an uphill slope into the building. Careful positioning was required to ensure plant sections remained stable and secure when unattended or while the forklift was repositioned.
  Our fully qualified and highly experienced forklift operators worked with precision to control movement and maintain safety at all times.
• Internal Positioning & Orientation:
  Once inside the building:
• The units were jacked up and skate positions adjusted to allow tight directional changes around corners.
• Plant was pushed into the final room and re-lifted from the correct orientation side to ensure accurate positioning on a mezzanine floor.
• Further movement across the mezzanine was completed using skates and jacks, followed by final placement.
• Structural Steel Adjustments:
  Prior to the install, BOS operatives also fabricated and installed additional purlins between existing roof members in one bay of the building. This was to allow R N Wooler to build a dividing wall around the new plant post-installation.

Challenges Overcome

How we did it…

• Tight Access & Oversized Loads:
  With tall, long pieces of plant and limited visibility, our operatives relied on clear, concise, and continuous communication to coordinate movement and avoid hazards during transit and placement.
• Time-Critical Working Window:
  All works had to be completed overnight on a Sunday, between store closure and vital scheduled deliveries. This required fast, precise execution without compromising on safety or quality.