When Downtime Isn’t an Option: Inside a Major Crane Lift at Slade Health

MOUNT KURING-GAI, NEW SOUTH WALES.

There’s never a “good time” to shut down cooling in a live pharmaceutical facility.

So when it came time to replace a critical chiller at Slade Health, the challenge wasn’t just removing and installing new infrastructure — it was doing it without interrupting the environment their operations rely on every day.

That meant a carefully staged temporary cooling solution, detailed coordination across multiple trades, and a major crane lift executed with precision in the middle of a live operational site.

AE Smith recently delivered the complex chiller replacement project for Slade Health, one of Australia’s leading providers of compounding pharmacy services supporting hospitals and healthcare providers nationwide.

The defining moment of the project came when the existing chiller was lifted out and the new unit craned into position — a high-impact operation requiring meticulous planning, technical expertise and seamless coordination delivered by Borger Cranes. This was a highly coordinated operation involving Coolchange completing the mechanical works, EC Power delivering the electrical scope, and Johnstons Controls managing the BMS integration.

But while the crane lift was the most visible part of the works, the real challenge was ensuring the facility never lost critical cooling capacity throughout the process.

Keeping Critical Operations Running

In pharmaceutical environments, maintaining precise temperature and humidity control is essential. Any disruption to cooling infrastructure can have serious operational impacts.

To ensure continuous operation during the replacement works, AE Smith installed a temporary chiller system ahead of the shutdown. The temporary plant was fully piped, wired and commissioned before the existing unit was removed, allowing uninterrupted cooling while the crane lift and installation works took place.

With the temporary system maintaining site conditions, the team could safely progress through the next phase of the project — removing the existing chiller and positioning the new system into place.

Executing the Lift

Major crane lifts within live facilities require more than just lifting equipment onsite.

Every stage of the operation needed to be carefully coordinated — from site access and lift planning through to equipment positioning, safety management and sequencing of mechanical and electrical works.

Working within an active facility meant balancing safety, operational continuity and program delivery simultaneously, all while navigating the logistical complexity that comes with replacing large-scale HVAC infrastructure.

The successful outcome highlights AE Smith’s capability in delivering technically complex projects in critical live environments where planning, coordination and execution all need to align.

Delivering Complex HVAC Infrastructure with Confidence

Having supported Slade Health across NSW and Victoria for many years through ongoing preventative maintenance and HVAC services, AE Smith brought a deep understanding of the facility and operational requirements to the project.

From temporary cooling solutions through to the final crane lift and commissioning, the project demonstrates the value of experienced project teams, strong delivery partnerships and detailed planning when delivering critical infrastructure upgrades.